Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, July 10, 1973
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, July 10, 1973
[00.42.48-MITCHELL tries to contradict testimony given previously by others] Senator TALMADGE. Was that the first--excuse me. Mr. MITCHELL. I am going into this because, Mr. Stans' credibility 'with respect to his knowledge of the Watergate was quite, severely impugned apparently more severely in the executive committee meeting by Magruder than it was later in public testimony. Senator TALMADGE. Was that the first time you had knowledge Of the Watergate break-in, bugging that day, that conversation? Mr. MITCHELL. On the, 24th? Senator TALMADGE. Yes. Mr. MITCHELL. No, my---- Senator TALMADGE. That was the first time you were. debriefed on it, was it not? Mr. MITCHELL. No, I had been debriefed, Senator, as I mentioned a little earlier either on the 21st Or 22d. Senator TALMADGE. Did you get, full details of it at that time? Mr. MITCHELL. It Was coming from Liddy who was, as I went through with Mr. Thompson, was involving Magruder and said that that he got his approval in the White House and a lot of things that--- Senator TALMADGE. Did he say who authorized the approval in the White House? Mr. MITCHELL. No, he did not. No, he did not. [00.43.58] Senator TALMADGE. The, White House was definitely interested in the campaign, of course, was it, not? Mr. MITCHELL. The campaign what, Senator? Senator TALMADGE. The campaign for reelection. Mr. MITCHELL. No, there is no question about it,. Senator TALMADGE. With whom In the White House did you discuss the Watergate break-in? [00.44.12] Mr. MITCHELL. Well, it depends, of course, as I testified earlier this morning in the context of it. Talking with, starting at the top, with the President, I believe it was the telephone Call that I had On the 20th Of June in which was before the which--this debriefings that I had had and had not any particular knowledge of it, discussed it to the point where I thought it was ridiculous and thought I had been very remiss as being the campaign director and not ever being able to keep a rein on the individuals that were for the campaign, at that time I had my mind, of course, the fact that Mr. McCord was the only one who was involved in the particular incident. Senator TALMADGE. Let me see if I can identify that telephone call, that was on the 20th of June, according to the logs that the committee has. that took place by telephone between 6 p.m.. and 6:12 p.m.. is that correct? Mr. MITCHELL. That is the one, sir. [00.45.20] Senator TALMADGE. What did you fell the President about the Watergate break-in at that time? Did you tell him employees of the Committee To Re-Elect the President were involved in it? Mr. MITCHELL. I assume the President knew that because It had been in the newspapers by then, to my recollection but what I really recall about the conversation was more. Senator TALMADGE. Did you tell him Magruder was involved? Mr. MITCHELL. I did not know Magruder was involved in it at that time. Senator TALMADGE. Who did you tell I him was involved? Mr. MITCHELL. The only ones I knew -were Involved at that time Were the he five that that were accosted on the premises. Senator TALMADGE. When did you talk with Mr. Haldeman about the break-in? Mr. MITCHELL. I have no recollection of it but it -was some time thereafter. Senator TALMADGE. Was it shortly after June 20? Mr. MITCHELL. I would probably believe that would. be the case. Senator TALMADGE. When did you talk to Mr. Ehrlichman about it? [00.46.15] Mr. MITCHELL. Well, I talked to Mr. Ehrlichman--Mr. Ehrlichman Called me In California when I was out there and asked me. in effect, I think there has been testimony to the effect here that somebody suggested he do it. He called me out there and asked me what it was all about and I said. "I do not know. we will find out and we will get back to you." That was the substance of that conversation. Senator TALMADGE. That was either the 17th, 18th, 19th, or thereabouts? Mr. MITCHELL. It was either Saturday or Sunday because on the 19th, which was Monday, we left rather early for I for the return to Washington. Senator TALMADGE. When did you talk to Mr. Colson about It? Mr. MITCHELL. I have no I idea but it would have been somewhere much further down the line. Let me point out----- Senator TALMADGE. Sure. Mr. MITCHELL [continuing]. Senator, that if you would have, I know you are reading from one of these minicharts but some Of the things they do not have up there, is that there is an 8:15 a.m. morning meeting in the White House. Senator TALMADGE. YOU should have ample opportunity to state, whatever you want to, Mr. Mitchell, if that, chart, is different from your views do not hesitate, to say so, we want the facts, Only the facts. Mr. MITCHELL. I cannot see it from here and it, does not make any difference anyway, because, I have got a directory here but what I Would point out, is that, during this period which I have--which I have testified to earlier today, until I left, the committee, as the campaign director, there was a meeting at 8:15 a.m. in the White House every morning. This was the regular staff meeting that involved legislative liaison, Dr. Kissinger, General Haig. et cetera. So, I say when you ask me when did I first, talk to these, people, about the, Watergate, of course, it was a continuing subject matter basically in the concept of the, political problems that presented because by the, I guess the, 20th or certainly the 21st, the Democrats had threatened their lawsuit, they filed it, I think, On the, 22d and -we had had a, verbal press battle over the circumstances from then on constantly day in and day out about the matter. [00.48.28]