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.
Mr. DASH. Now, did you have a conversation with Mr. Robert Houston around this time concerning the files that Mr. McCord kept in the security room? Mr. ODLE. Yes, not at that time I don't believe. I believe the following week. Mr. DASH. And can you tell us what that conversation was? Mr. ODLE. I was curious as to what was in the files, and what was down there. Mr. DASH. Had you asked Mr. Houston or discussed with Mr. Houston removal of anything from that file? Mr. ODLE. No. Mr. Houston indicated that there were some personal affects belonging to Mr. McCord pictures and the like that he was gonna return. He mentioned that to me, I don't remember any other discussion of removal of anything else. As I say we, I did sort of go through there to see what was in it. Mr. McCord no longer being with us, it was sort of my responsibility to do that. And then I also went through the files at some length with FBI agents I believe. Mr. DASH. And when you went through Mr. McCord s file, what was this a file that was open or was this a locked file? Mr. ODLE. It would have been kept locked at night probably, it was open when I went through it I believe. Mr. DASH. Could you just briefly describe what was in the file when you went through it. What kind of things? Mr. ODLE. Oh security reports, things like that, the ID system that we maintained. When people left papers out on their desks or forgot to lock their file cabinets there were security reports written up, the normal kinds of things. Mr. DASH. Did you notice any electronic equipment? Mr. ODLE. Yes there was electronic equipment there. It was basically the kind of stuff as I remember that we used at the committee, for example the alarm system, the various doors of the committee offices were alarmed and there was a central alarm system there so if one of them was opened in the middle of the night it would ring and that sort of thing. And the closed circuit television and it's possible that that machine which he leased to for counter measures would have been there. Mr. DASH. Were you aware of any tapes that were in the file? Mr. ODLE. No. Mr. DASH. Did you see any tapes? Mr. ODLE. You know.... Mr. DASH. You're best recollection. Mr. ODLE. You know that's an interesting question, there.....I don't think so. There might have been but, I don't remember. Mr. DASH. Now, do you recall Mr. Houston ever discussing with you or telling you that he removed that material from Mr. McCord s file? Mr. ODLE. No, the things he talked about were Mr. McCord s pictures and his personal diplomas and certificates and memorabilia. Mr. DASH. And you do not know of you're own knowledge that whether or not he did remove that, the materials you discussed, the electronic equipment or any other materials from that file? Mr. ODLE. No. He may have at some, there may have been some things that belonged to Mr. McCord personally which he removed, you know that would have belonged. Mr. DASH. What things are you talking about? Mr. ODLE. Well again I don't know, he just said that he was going to return Mr. McCord s personal possessions to him and I said I saw no problem with that. I assumed that they included these you know things I was referring to. Mr. DASH. As the administrator did he ever give you a report, an inventory or something of what he took out of that file to return to Mr. McCord? (scratches nose, fixes eye glasses) Mr. ODLE. No. No, there was a two page listing of things that were in the room that I saw at one point, but those were not I don't, those were not the things that were removed. Mr. DASH. Now, do you know the name Gary Bittenbender? Mr. ODLE. That's the policeman that came by that day. Mr. DASH. Yes, and had you ever known him before? Mr. ODLE. No I never met him. Mr. DASH. And did he ever come again? Mr. ODLE. No I never seen him since. Mr. DASH. Um now the chart that you have described shows Mr. McCord actually working under you, is that not true? Mr. ODLE. Pardon? Mr. DASH. The chart that you've described on this committee.... Mr. ODLE. Oh yes he did. Mr. DASH. shows Mr. McCord working under your supervision. Mr. ODLE. Yes sir. Mr. DASH. To your knowledge, did there ever come a time when Mr. McCord was assigned to work under Mr. Liddy's supervision? Mr. ODLE. No sir. Mr. DASH. Did you have any knowledge that he was working under his supervision? Mr. ODLE. Absolutely not. Mr. DASH. Did you ever see Mr. McCord and Mr. Liddy together, at the committee? Mr. ODLE. Not really, I may have seen him in the hall a couple of times.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 17, 1973 - Testimony of Robert Odle.
Mr. DASH. Now, you have mentioned and I think you've already identified a um memorandum from the committee, on committee stationary to the attorney general back in 1971. I think you've also indicated that Mr. Haldeman through Mr. Straun kept a fairly constant liaison with the committee. Mr. ODLE. Yes. Mr. DASH. Did you, are you aware of memoranda from the White House to the committee discussing the political campaign program and strategy from time to time? Mr. ODLE. That's fairly broad Mr. Dash, I ..... Mr. DASH. Well did, let me show you a particular memoranda from 1972 from the White House and see if ....(Clerk walks over and hands Robert Odle paper) Could you just read the um, not the material but what that memorandum is captioned, who it's from and to whom it is. Mr. ODLE. Yes, it's from Mr. Fred Malek to Mr. Magruder, and it's co-ordinating functions for the campaign organization. Mr. DASH. And on what stationary is that? Mr. ODLE. White house stationary. Mr. DASH. And what date is that? Mr. ODLE. February Nine. Mr. DASH. And you were at the committee at that time, were you not? Mr. ODLE. Oh yes. Mr. DASH. Are you familiar with that kind of memorandum that would come over from the White House? Mr. ODLE. Well, I have not read this memorandum, but I would not think it unusual for somebody at the White House to say to somebody at the committee what their thoughts were with respect to campaign structure or organization. People at the White House wanted to see the President re-elected, (stutters) I don't, I would not, I don't know that there were hundreds of such memorandums, but I wouldn't without reading it, it wouldn't strike me as... Mr. DASH. Would you briefly read that memorandum to yourself. Mr. ODLE. Yeah, it's a memorandum from, describing, well it's titled "Co-ordinating Functions for the Campaign Organization." I think that's an accurate description of what it discusses. Mr. DASH. And does it relate to the role of the Attorney General in the committee strategy? Mr. ODLE. Oh yes. Yes it does. Mr. DASH. And would you say that that memorandum is merely a suggestion or does it go farther than that? Mr. ODLE. I would say it's a strong suggestion, I think that Mr. Malek or Mr. Magruder at that time were, I don't think either one of them was in a position to instruct the other. Mr. DASH. I think so, that we now know what's in that memorandum, would you please read it into the record please. Mr. FRED THOMPSON. Mr. Chairman before he does, do you mind if I saw a copy of that, or read that myself? Senator BAKER. I think Mr. Chairman, if you don't mind that neither the record nor the committee presumably have seen this rather lengthy memorandum. I wonder if council would supply a copy to us, so we get the full burden and thrust of what you're talking about. And then if we want to break for lunch or some such we can take up this kind of question later. Mr. DASH. Fine. Senator BAKER. But, I'm sure I can't follow what the witness is talking about at this point and I'd like to see a copy of this or any other exhibit that's handed that has content before we proceed to it. Mr. DASH. Senator Baker, we'll make copies and provide that and follow that procedure.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 17, 1973 - Testimony of Robert Odle.
Mr. DASH. Now, by the way in going over the chart, what was the role of Mr. Bart Porter? Mr. ODLE. Mr. Porter was director of scheduling. Mr. DASH. And Mr. Powell Moore? Mr. ODLE. Mr. Powell Moore was assistant director of Public Affairs. Mr. DASH. Now, at the time, have you met or did you know or did you ever work with Mr. Krogh in the White House? Mr. ODLE. I knew Mr. Krogh at the White House, yes. Mr. DASH. And while you were at the White House did you ever attend a Justice Department Taskforce meeting with Mr. Krogh, Mr. Mardian and the FBI? Mr. ODLE. No sir. (Mr. Dash goes over paperwork) Mr. DASH. Mr. Chairman, for the time being, that is all the questions I have. Mr. FRED THOMPSON. Mr. Chairman I have no further questions. Mr. SAM DASH. Lets make copies of that memorandum. Um could Mr. Odle, could you briefly come back prior after the lunch just so we can, the members of the committee can see this memorandum and we can perhaps inquire into it? Mr. ROBERT ODLE. (shakes head yes) What time would that be Mr. Dash? (Senator Baker, Senator Ervin and Mr. Dash agree to 2 o'clock) Mr. ODLE. Two o'clock? Senator SAM ERVIN. (hits gavel) I might state that this gavel was given to me by the chief of the eastern band of the Cherokees to preside over this meeting. The committee will take a recess till two o'clock. (members leave, get up from chairs)