Watergate Hearings - Testimony of John J Caulfield May 22, 1973
Watergate Hearings - Testimony of John J Caulfield May 22, 1973
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 22, 1973 - Testimony of John J. Caulfield. He reads his statement to the Committee. Caucus Room, Russell Senate Office Building, Washington DC
Watergate Hearings - Testimony of John J Caulfield May 22, 1973
Senator Sam ERVIN. (pounding gavel) Committee will resume. Mr. Sam DASH. Alright, Mr. Caulfield you were in the midst of reading your statement, I would suggest you go back a sentence or two so we have continuity with what you're saying. Mr. CAULFIELD. Yes sir. Mr. DASH. Actually perhaps to the last full thought that you wanted to express in your statement. Mr. CAULFIELD. (continues reading prepared statement) I'll pick it up a couple sentences back Mr. Dash. I told him that the White House officials with whom I was talking were complaining, because they felt that Mr. McCord was the only one of the watergate burglary defendants who was refusing to co-operate. At no time on this occasion or on any other occasion do I recall telling Mr. McCord to keep silent if called before the Grand Jury or any Congressional Committees. His response to my conversation was that he still wanted his immediate freedom and he felt strongly that if the White House had any interest in helping him secure that freedom that they could do something about the two calls which he was sure had been intercepted. I told him I would check on this matter again and get back to him. I was not attempting to exert pressure on Mr. McCord by telling him of comments I was hearing from the white house, merely I was attempting to let him know the kinds of things I was hearing from Mr. Dean concerning the White House's attitude towards him if that would be of any assistance to him. Later on Sunday I telephoned Mr. Dean to report of my meeting with Mr. McCord. I told him that in my opinion Mr. McCord had absolutely no interest in the offer of executive clemency. I told Mr. Dean that Mr. McCord was still adamant in his belief that the white house had the power to have the charges against him dismissed if it would merely pursue the wire-taps which he had mentioned. (drinks more water) Mr. Dean said that I should tell him that there wasn't much likelihood that anything would be done about the wire-tap situation and in response to my comments about McCord's refusal to consider executive clemency he said something like, "well, what the hell does he know anyway."
Watergate Hearings - Testimony of John J Caulfield May 22, 1973
Mr. CAULFIELD. Mr. Dean told me to go back to Mr. McCord again and commiserate with him, but he did not ask me to renew the offer of executive clemency. I guessed that the reason why he wanted me to see Mr. McCord again was simply to maintain a friendly relationship with him in case there was a need for any further conversation with him through me. I probably would have met with him again, anyway since I felt badly about his predicament and I considered him a good friend. In any event, on Monday January 15, I called McCord to report that nothing seemed to be happening in regard to the wire-tap situation. He became quite angry over the telephone and reaffirmed his belief that if the White House really wanted to help him, they could do so by using the method he had suggested and that he knew that Mr. Magruder who then was going to be a government witness was going to perjure himself. I also mentioned getting together with him, but he said he had no interest in seeing me unless I had something more to talk to him about. He was quite upset, so I did not pursue the matter further. On Tuesday January 16, I again called him in an attempt to meet with him and he again was highly irritated about the White Houses failure to do something about the wire-tap situation and again mentioned Mr. Magruder. I said I would inquire further about the wire-taps and I might have something for him in a week or so.
Watergate Hearings - Testimony of John J Caulfield May 22, 1973
Mr. CAULFIELD. Subsequently I called him and arranged to meet with him again. The exact date of this meeting being unsure in my mind. We again met at the overlook on the George Washington Parkway, he got into my car and we drove out the parkway pursuing a course in the general direction of Warrington, Virginia. I have no specific recollection as to how long we drove, but I would say that it was an hour or two. I would characterize this conversation as a very friendly one, in which a large portion of the time was spent discussing our respective families, how my job at the Treasury Department was going and various other purely personal matters. I gave him my private telephone number at the Treasury department and told him that if he or his wife ever wanted me to do anything for them, they should feel free to call me. I told McCord that if he or his wife should decide to call me to simply use the name Watson and I would know who it was. Frankly, this was merely a device to save me from any possible embarrassment. I do not have a specific recollection as to how it arose, but I believe he asked me if he was still the only one of the watergate defendants that the White House was concerned about. I said that I thought he was, but that I had no knowledge of what relationship existed between the White House and the other watergate defendants. He said that the Cuban defendants were quite nervous and in his opinion might make a statement at any time and that I could pass that along for whatever it was worth. (turns pages over, drinks more water, Caulfield s and his lawyers names CG on screen)