Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, July 10, 1973 (1/2)
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, July 10, 1973 (1/2)
[00.46.23-MITCHELL testifies about meetings with NIXON during the coverup period] Mr. MITCHELL. Well, the sequence is that the President met at the first meeting at 4:30 to 4:42 -with the parties that are designated here, including Mr. Max Fisher and myself, and then we moved from that to a meeting with some distinguished citizens of the Jewish community and went on to an affair in the same hotel where Nelson Rockefeller had all of his political personnel. and came from there back to the President's suite which shows that the President. Mr. Haldeman, and myself were there form 6:24 to 6:42 and, to the best of my recollection, all we discussed were the activities that had gone on that afternoon and -what impact they had had with what particular people and what was going to happen that, particular night where he had to make a speech in the building in connection with the Salute To the President's dinner. Senator GURNEY. On October 6 there was a meeting in the Oval Office, with the President, At that meeting besides yourself there was Haldeman, Ehrlichman MacGregor, Dole, and Harlow. What was that meeting all about? Mr. MITCHELL. Entirely to my recollection, all Of meetings that I was attending it this, particularly I time, because I was then residing in New York. that I would come down and sit in on These political meetings, and I am sure if Senator Dole was there that obviously had something to do with it. Senator GURNEY. In connection with the campaign? Mr. MITCHELL. With the campaign. Senator GURNEY. That would he true of the meeting of October 17, too. Mr. MITCHELL. Yes sir. And 26th. Senator GURNEY. And 24th--- Mr. MITCHELL. Twenty-fourth. rather. Senator GURNEY. [continuing]. It says here, Mr. MITCHELL. Yes. sir; the 24th. Senator GURNEY. Now then, on -November 6 there -was a phone call to You around 1 o'clock in the afternoon. Do you know what that was about? [00.48.35] Mr. MITCHELL. November 6 was the day before the election, and I remember the call quite -well even though it was very short. The President and I were exchanging guesstimates as to as to how many States he would carry. Senator GURNEY. And on November 24 there was a meeting in New York at your law office? Mr. MITCHELL. Yes, sir. Senator GURNEY. Two meetings, I take it here,, some people were, in one meeting and some other people were in another meeting? Mr. MITCHELL. Yes. sir. Senator GURNEY. What were these about? Mr. MITCHELL. Well, the President decided that he would call, stop in and call, and see the people that he had worked with for quite a number of years at the law firm and, as it indicates here, at least on the sheet that I have, that he met, with the senior partners for a period of time, He also met -with the junior partners, and then he spoke to the entire staff of the law firm, some 400 people. [00.49.37] Senator GURNEY. And on that day did you have any discussion with him about Watergate at all? Mr. 'MITCHELL. No, sir; the prime, discussion was in the smaller group that involved the partners of the firm, dealt entirely with some of the thoughts that he then had that early about the reorganization of the Government. Senator GURNEY. I expect probably the -next one is almost self-evident, a call on December 25, was that about Christmas? Mr. MITCHELL. No question about it; yes, sir. Senator GURNEY. And on March 2, the last one here on the White House logs shows a meeting in the Executive Office Building -with the President and Dean and Ehrlichman and Haldeman. -March 22 I guess it is. Mr. MITCHELL. March 22? Senator GURNEY. It's listed as the 2d at first and then there is another 2 here. I guess, that's been thoroughly discussed already. Mr. MITCHELL. It, as you refer to it, it has, had, to do with Watergate but it had to do with this committee and the stance of the President with respect to it, and particularly with respect to executive privilege. Counsel tells me that some time back along the way I used the words "Executive Clemency" when I should have used executive privilege. I do know the distinction and I hope, somebody can correct the record. [00.51.05]