Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, July 10, 1973
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, July 10, 1973
[00.44.32-THOMPSON questions MITCHELL about information given to various figures about the "White House Horrors" spying operations and the Watergate] Mr. THOMPSON. Did you ever talk directly with Ehrlichman about these matters? Mr. Mitchell. Not in that time frame. I am sure they were discussed substantially at later dates. Mr. THOMPSON. In 1973? Mr. MITCHELL. Well. yes, possibly before the end of 1972, certainly in 1973. Mr. THOMPSON. At this time did you know of Hunt's Involvement? Did Liddy tell them about Hunt's involvement? Mr. MITCHELL. Yes; I believe, he did, In fact, I am sure he did. Mr. THOMPSON. So, in effect, what you are saying, is that you were basing your later activities concerning Magruder's testimony and Concerning the payments and these sorts of things as embarrassment upon the hearsay information of this man that, presented these outlandish and wild-eyed proposals, in your office. It would seem like you would want, some verification from him. Mr. MITCHELL. Let us back up. Mr. Thompson, a little bit. You are jumping from the 21st or 22d of June all the Way to knowledge that I obtained in the fall and I keep reminding you that Mr. Dean was also aware of these factors and was discussing, them with me and with other people. We are talking about the White House problems now, is that what you are having reference to? Mr. THOMPSON. Yes, sir. Mr. MITCHELL. SO it was not just what, Mr. Liddy had told Mr. Mardian and Mr. LaRue on the 20th, 21st and 22d of June. There were, further affirmations of the facts that came out of the White House, from Mr. Dean. Mr. THOMPSON. Such as what. concerning these matters that we have been discussing? [00.46.28] Mr. MITCHELL. Well, as I Said a minute ago one of the things that I did not believe that Mr. Liddy had any reference to in the Mardian-LaRue briefing was the Diem papers and how they had been handled. Mr. THOMPSON. Did Mr. Dean verify this to you? Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Dean so stated. he did not show me the spliced cables but he told me about the circumstances. Mr. THOMPSON. But as early as June the money started flowing, the payments started flowing and, of course Mr. MITCHELL. Well, now, you are assuming, Mr. Thompson that I was aware of it. Mr. THOMPSON. Well, I will ask you when you first became aware of---- Mr. MITCHELL. As I said this morning. it -was much later than that and I believe it was at the time that -Mr. Kalmbach ceased in connection With his activities. Mr. THOMPSON. Do you recall the date that you became aware of any money being paid to any of the defendants' or families or attorneys? Mr. MITCHELL. No, I do not recall the date but it was well after the, matter was in progress and in operation. Let me perhaps help you a little bit on that, Mr. Thompson or help myself maybe is a better way to put it. [Laughter]. There is testimony by Mr. Dean that there was a meeting. Mr. THOMPSON. June 23 or 24. I believe. Mr. MITCHELL. On June 28. Mr. THOMPSON. And 28th. Mr. MITCHELL. June 28. You see, Mr. Dean had testified that they had been playing games with the CIA up to the 28th. Then, Mr. Dean testified that there was a meeting in my office with Mardian, LaRue, and Mitchell and I do not know who all else, including Mr. Dean in the afternoon of the 28th in -which it, was decided, naturally Mitchell was always deciding these things, according to Dean, that the White House., somebody in the White House, John Ehrlichman should call Kalmbach and ask him to fly back from California that night of the 28th, -which led to their meetings on the 29th. The only problem with all of that was that I was in New York and could not have been at such a meeting, and I was not aware of it. [00.49.07] Mr. THOMPSON. I believe your logs reflect that, Mr. Mitchell. I think that---- Mr. MITCHELL. I -would hope so because I have been so stating for quite some, time. Mr. THOMPSON. It reflects that, according to your logs, you were in New York on the 28th. Mr. MITCHELL. Yes. Mr. THOMPSON. And that you arrived in the District of Columbia at 5:30. Mr. MITCHELL. Yes, sir. Mr. THOMPSON. There is no indication of any meeting after 5:30. Mr. MITCHELL. That is correct. Mr. THOMPSON. And I assume there was none. Mr. MITCHELL. The passenger that, I had with me coming back from Now York was not about to allow me to go to any more meetings on that particular day. [Laughter-] [00.49.41]