Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, July 10, 1973
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, July 10, 1973
[00.20.45] Mr. MITCHELL. Senator, I still think that relates, that phrase that you read that isn't in the Washington Post, relates back to the same subject matter. [00.20.52-MITCHELL caught in a lie] Senator TALMADGE. You testified a moment ago in response to a question that I asked you that you did have campaign responsibilities prior to the time you resigned as Attorney General. And yet, on March 14, before the Judiciary Committee, I quote again: "Senator KENNEDY. No re-election campaign responsibilities?" That, is a question. "Mr. MITCHELL. Not as yet." Isn't that negative? Mr. MITCHELL That is negative. It relates back to the, Republican Party, Senator, in the way I read the context and this one was so intended. Senator TALMADGE. "No reelection campaign responsibilities?" I ask you who was running? Mr. Nixon ? And is he a Republican? Mr. MITCHELL; I think the answer to both those questions is "Yes." Senator TALMADGE. I would concur with that. I still don't, get, the thrust Of your testimony when you testified a moment ago that you had none, that you did have election responsibilities and yet before the Judiciary Committee of the U.S. Senate on March 14, 1972, you testified exactly the opposite. Mr. MITCHELL. Senator, I go back to the statement that I made, before, that this refers to the Republican Party and this is the reason that I raised the question and responded to it and it, Was my intention to do so in that context. [00.22.19] Senator TALMADGE. Was not President Nixon running on the Republican ticket? He didn't, change parties, did he? Mr. MITCHELL. No, Senator. I stand On the answer that I have, given you. But the, question that I asked of Senator Kennedy was with respect to the, party and he referred to the, Republican Party, and that is the context in which I took it. [00.21.40-EVIDENCE of MITCHELL being very strongly involved in the campaign prior to resigning as ATTORNEY GENERAL.] Senator TALMADGE. Now, there is some stationery from the Committee for the Re-Election of the, President. There is a memorandum to the Attorney General, marked "confidential," December 3 1971. There is a lot of language here. "We recommend that the Committee for the Re-Election of the President assume all White House support activities." It is signed by Jeb S. Magruder and there are three blanks there: One, "approve," one "disapprove," the third, "comment," And by "approve", there is an X. Is that your X mark? Mr. MITCHELL. I haven't the faintest Idea. I don't remember the, memorandum but maybe if I looked at, it. I could tell. Generally I write my name rather than write an X. but I may be able, to identify my X. [00.23.35] Senator TALMADGE. We all admit, Mr. Mitchell, that you are entirely legible and that you write eminently well. Mr. MITCHELL. Senator, that looks like a good enough X to possibly be mine. I am not familiar with it, and I don't, recall the memorandum. Senator TALMADGE. You do not deny it? Mr. MITCHELL. I do not, deny that that could be my X. Senator TALMADGE. Mr. Chairman, I ask that, that be marked as an exhibit and be inserted in the record at this Point. Senator ERVIN. Without objection, it. is so ordered. The reporter will mark- it as an exhibit for the record. Senator TALMADGE.. I also ask that, the colloquy I have read between Senator Kennedy and the then Attorney General, John Mitchell. dated March 14, 1972, before the Judiciary Committee be made part of the record. And as further evidence, Mr. Chairman. I desire to send to Mr. Mitchell a number of documents here wherein he was exercising his responsibility as director of the campaign, one, dated June 22, 1971, one dated January 14, 1972, all marked "confidential," memorandum to the Attorney General one involving the Republican -National Committee budget, the, other a telephone plan for the Florida primary. I send them also to -Mr. Mitchell for identification and I ask that, they be identified, appropriately numbered, and inserted in the record at this point. [00.25.47]