Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, July 10, 1973 (1/2)
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, July 10, 1973 (1/2)
[00.02.00-MITCHELL explains his reasoning for not informing NIXON of the facts of Watergate and the COVERUP] Mr. MITCHELL. As I have testified this morning, I was sure that, knowing Richard Nixon, the President, as I do, I would just, lower the boom on all of this matter and it would come, back to hurt him and it would affect him in his reelection. And that is the basis upon which I made the decision. And apparently, others concurred with it, Now, I am not speaking for them. It, may very well be that I was wrong, that it was a bad matter of judgment. [00.02.37-TALMADGE bears down hard on MITCHELL] Senator TALMADGE. Am I to understand from your response that you placed the expediency of the next election above your responsibilities as an intimate to advise the President, of the peril that surrounded him? Here -was the deputy campaign director involved, here -were his two closest associates in his office involved, all around him were people involved in crime, perjury, accessory after the fact, and you deliberately refused to tell him that. Would you state that the expediency of the election was more important? Mr. MITCHELL. Senator, I think you have put it exactly correct. In my mind, the reelection of Richard Nixon, compared with what was available on the other side, was. so much more important, that I put it In just, that context. Senator TALMADGE. Do you think anything short of a trial for treason would have prevented his election? Mr. MITCHELL. I beg your pardon, Senator? Senator TALMADGE. Do you think anything short of a trial for treason would have prevented his election? Mr. MITCHELL. Well, it depends on what area we are talking about. Mr. Thompson and I went through that, and of course. depending upon what time and what area It -was in. Senator or TALMADGE. . Thank you. Mr. Mitchell. I have no further questions at this time. Senator Gurney. [00.03.47-LEHRER in studio] LEHRER states that TALMADGE tried to probe into MITCHELL'S motivations, and found that there was a mix of personal loyalty and politics. Sen. GURNEY will ask questions next. [PBS Network ID-TITLE SCREEN "SENATE HEARINGS ON CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES"] [00.07.22-LEHRER] introduces questions by Sen. GURNEY. [00.07.32-Committee table, ERVIN, pan r-l to GURNEY] Senator GURNEY. Thank YOU, Mr. Chairman. Senator ERVIN. Mr. Mitchell, you have been sitting there for about 2 hours. Would you like to have a brief recess? Mr. MITCHELL. I am doing fine, sir. I am here at the pleasure of you gentlemen, so I -would certainly be. delighted to sit as long as you do. Senator ERVIN. You may proceed, Senator GURNEY. Mr. Mitchell. YOU were, the President's campaign manager 1968 and the campaign director in 1972. and of course, his close personal friend, I would assume that you had many discussions with him during 1971 and early 1972 about the upcoming political campaign in 1972, that correct? [00.08.28] Mr. MITCHELL. Well, Senator, there were discussions but probably not really as many as you might expect, In other words, we didn't meet daily or even weekly. Sometimes months would go by before We would meet and discuss the subject matter. Senator GURNEY. Well, in any of those discussions, Mr. Mitchell, with. the. President in this time frame did he ever bring up the matter of bugging and electronic surveillance or dirty tricks in the 1972 Presidential campaign? Mr. MITCHELL. Certainly not with respect to anything that had to do with politics. Mr. Gurney--- Senator, excuse me. I should have called you. Senator GURNEY. What about 1968; did that, subject ever come up? [00.09.18] Mr. MITCHELL. It didn't come up during the campaign In 1968. It, came up directly after the election, if this is an area which you want me to get into, It, is past the election at the day that J. Edgar Hoover and Mr. Helms came, up to 'New York to the Pierre Hotel and the President was interviewing his new personnel for his administration There, was a meeting with Mr. Hoover and I was present, because although I was still protesting that I didn't want to become the Attorney General. I think he still--that is, he, the President, thought that he wanted me to. So I was in the meeting with Mr. Hoover in which Mr. Hoover advised the President that the land lines of his plane and the Vice President's plane. somebody working in the campaign here in Washington and another embassy had been bugged during the campaign. Senator GURNEY. In 1968? Mr. MITCHELL. This is in 1968, after the election---- [00.10.25]