Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17, 1973 - Testimony of Robert Odle
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17, 1973 - Testimony of Robert Odle
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17, 1973 - Testimony of Robert Odle. United States Senate Caucus Room, Washington, DC
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17, 1973 - Testimony of Robert Odle
Senator WEICKER. Mr. Odle, were Jean Roberts and Vicki Churn secretaries to Jeb Magruder? Mr. ODLE. Yes sir. Senator WEICKER. And was Sylvia Panaroti a secretary for both Bob Reisner and yourself? Mr. ODLE. Um, she was the receptionist and she worked for both of us, that's correct. Senator WEICKER. She did perform secretary duties for both. Mr. ODLE. Yes she did. Senator WEICKER. Now under the advertising section is it not true that the November group, was a New York Corporation operating out of the committee to re-elect the president with Peter Dailey (Daley) at the head and Paul Muller as treasurer and Glen Sedan as secretary. Is that correct? Mr. ODLE. I'm, I can testify to the first two, I didn't realize that Mr. Sedan was secretary. Senator WEICKER. Now, just two more questions. In Ken Reitz's function here which I believe is listed as a youth, um was Tom Bell one of his assistants? Do you know, do you know his table of organization, the people that worked for him? Mr. ODLE. Yes sir, Mr. Bell was one of Mr. Reitz assistants, and he was one of the first men to join Ken's staff. Senator WEICKER. Was Bob Padestin one of his assistants? Mr. ODLE. Yes sir. Senator WEICKER. Were Marilynn Johnson and Connie Cudd his secretaries? Mr. ODLE. Yes sir. Senator WEICKER. Uh, did Ken Smith and Eve Vonkenclause work for Reitz on the Speakers Bureau? Mr. ODLE. I'm not sure of the Speakers Bureau, they worked for Mr. Reitz. Senator WEICKER. Was George Gorton college co-coordinator under Reitz? Mr. ODLE. Yes. He was the college director. Senator WEICKER. Angela Miller in charge of the Nixonettes? Mr. ODLE. Yes. Senator WEICKER. And Angela Harris work press for Reitz? Mr. ODLE. She, uh was in the press office, but she spent most of her time working on uh, on youth activities. Senator WEICKER. Now, uh in conclusion uh, I've prepared a chart Mr. Odle which fills in some additional slots, I wonder if you might not go ahead and uh take a look at this chart and tell me whether it is accurate. (Senator Weicker passes chart over to Mr. Odle.) And if it takes time to do that Mr. Chairman, I'd be perfectly glad to go ahead and have Mr. Odle look at it and for the record report back to the committee. Mr. ODLE. I'll be glad to go over it with you right now if you'd like, is that your desire? Senator WEICKER. If, if I don't want to rush you. Mr. ODLE. No sir. Senator WEICKER. Or make any mistake here. Mr. ODLE. Should we start and go through it? (Mr. Odle holds up chart) Mr. Mitchell was campaign director, Mr. LaRue was special assistant. You have the five political co-coordinators here, and that's correct. Senator ERVIN. (speaking, unintelligible, Mr. Ervin tells him to give the first names of the people he is identifying) Mr. ODLE. First name? alright. Senator ERVIN. Initials. Senator WEICKER. I would be perfectly satisfied Mr. Chairman, to have Mr. Odle do this at his (unclear) so that he makes sure of each person on here. I'd rather have it that way, unless Mr. Odle wants to do it that way. Mr. ODLE. I have no hesitation. Senator SAM ERVIN. (unclear) he can ask you questions about the chart, now? Mr. ODLE. Yes, I have no hesitations going over it with you, if you'd like. Now, senator obviously. Senator ERVIN. Senator it might be helpful if you bring it round over here and put it on the stand. Senator WEICKER. Fine. Senator ERVIN. That way he sees it. (Chart is moved to easel, Mr. Odle stands in front of chart with pointer, uses hand held microphone.)
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17, 1973 - Testimony of Robert Odle
Mr. ODLE. Uh, ok we have Mr. Mitchell here as campaign director and Mr. LaRue as his assistant, that's correct. We have the five political director coordinators at that time, and that's correct. I believe that Diane Copperman did work for Don Moseman, same with Barbara Fearce. She did work for Mr. Kopenan (Copenan). Uh, Paul Caprio sir I don't believe related to Mr. Kopenan, I thought that he uh was in the Illinois campaign and Mr. Kopenan was the original director and he did have Illinois as one of his states, so possibly Mr. Caprio did. But, he wasn't at the national headquarters to the best of my knowledge. Deloris Almond was Mr. Fleming s secretary, Neal Mallon and Wyn McKaullaf (McKalluf) did work for Mr. Mardian. Tom Reed was from California, Dick Richards I believe was from Utah rather than Idaho, but he did report to him. He was one of the political coordinators. David Allen, Mark Bloomfield, Bob Meligan were all on that staff. Bob Reisner was administrative assistant to Mr. Magruder, but Vicki Chern (Churn) was really more his secretary than Mr. Magruders, although she did work for both, Jean Roberts, Sylvia. Pat Hutar was in charge of women's volunteers, Jon Faust. This is correct Peggy Weisman was his secretary. Bart Porter was in charge of scheduling. Van Shamway public relations and media. Paul Moore, Ann Door, Joan Donnelly yes, they all worked for him. Mr. Herge did work for Mr. Porter. Bob Tedher had these two assistants, Ted Garish and Dan Evans and Nancy Crouch was the name of the secretary as was Mary Beth Kousy. Bob Merik was in charge of research and planning and Rick Fora originally was his administrative assistant, he later went to the political division. Bob Morgan was in charge of direct mail and Nancy Bradess telephone. David Allen moved from here to here, but you have him both places, so that's correct. No, it may not be correct, I don't know that he did work there. I think that may be incorrect. These people all did report to Nancy Bradess. Mr. Sedan was the council. Senator ERVIN. Pardon me, I think you should tell them who these people did report to, give the names of them. Mr. ODLE. Alright. Glen Sedan was council, Peter Daley (Daily) was in charge of advertising. Mr. Phil Juwana and Mike Scott were two people who reported to Mr. Daley. I was in charge of administration and personnel, and these two people did report to me. Sylvia Panaritis. (unknown senator replies that the court reporter doesn't have the names.) Mr. ODLE. Sylvia Panaritis and James McCord. Over in the citizens and voter block group, Ken Reitz was in charge of youth, he was assisted by Tom Bell, Barbara Perve, Bob Padesta, Marilynn Johnson, Connie Cudd, Ken Smith, Eve (unintelligible), George Gordon, Angela Miller. As I said before, Angela Harris technically was in the press office, but she did spend a majority of her time on youth activities. David Shoe (Shue) Frank Neyle ran veterans, Dick Mackado transient, Bill Stoller physicians, Dan (unknown) lawyers, Larry Goldberg jewish, Dan Todd elderly, Paul Jones black, Clayton (unknown) agriculture, Paul Keyser was head of the business operation, Mr. Kendell was the national chairman. Mr. Defalco at first nationalities and then he later left the staff. Mr. Armonderas spanish and assisted by Frank Almagjer, Donna Lazano, Margo Carlise, Mr. Florence. I don't remember that name, but that's probably correct. And Betty Jean Gonzales. You, of course there's Mr. Shearer was over here to as well at the top of the citizens operation.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities May 17, 1973 - Testimony of Robert Odle
Senator WEICKER. Thank you Mr. Odle. Now, the last question. Uh, in the subject of advertising, Mr. Daley, the approvement, the approving of advertisements. Was this done at the committee to re-elect the president or was the final say so given at the white house? Mr. ODLE. I think that uh, Mr. Haldeman um had an interest in advertising without a question, and I think that uh that in that case that both the campaign director, Mr. Mitchell, or Mr. MacGregor, and Mr. Haldeman jointly made decisions on advertising. I would say that that was the one area he had more interest more than others. Senator WEICKER. Would you also say that in the area of polling ... Mr. ODLE. Yes Senator WEICKER. That this again was a joint matter between Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Haldeman? Mr. ODLE. That I would think that Mr. Mitchell was the campaign director and he exercised final authority, I would say that, that, that was the second area in which Mr. Haldeman was most interested. That is my guess senator. Senator WEICKER. Thank you very much.....(unclear)