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July 20, 1995 - Part 1
(09:50:29) The CHAIRMAN. At the conclusion of yesterday's public session, we spent some time discussing how to get this information or see whether it has any relevance to Whitewater. So we've asked counsel to attempt to work this out so that we would not be forced to consider other measures. I hope that we would be able to work this out in a cooperative manner. OPENING COMMENTS OF SENATOR CHRISTOPHER J. DODD Senator DODD. Mr. Chairman, I'd like to underscore the comments made by Senator Sarbanes and yourself here. I think it is important that we try to reach an agreement. I think we can. My own view-and I don't have all the numbers in front of me, but I think it's important. I think Members here will agree we've had a very cooperative White House on these matters. Literally thousands of documents and pages have been turned over. I think, again, looking at this thing stepping back, putting aside the particular issue here in front of us, there's an obvious-and would be by any Administration in the White House-trying to make sure, not just in their case, but precedent setting in terms of documents and what gets revealed and so forth. That's a normal and expected response, but. I'm impressed with the fact that the White House clearly does want to see us be able to work this out in a way so our counsel and someone can make decisions here so we're not left with the unanswered questions of 146 what's not on those papers, particularly if it's not relevant. If, not relevant, we can say that and move on. I applaud the efforts 11 here and hope by Tuesday we can work something out so this" comes a non-issue. The CHAIRMAN. We have two capable counsels and, if it can be done, I'm sure they will be able to work this out. I hope can we do this and dispel the open questions. I call our first panel: Sergent Cheryl Braun, Detective John Rolla, Major Robert Hines. Sergeant Braun, good to see you again. We apologize for keeping you. I guess we thought we'd get you on 2 days ago, but I'm glad you're here. If you have an opening statement, we'd be pleased to take it. Ms. BRAUN. Good morning, Chairman. I have a brief introduc- tion. Senator DODD. Could you bring that microphone a little closer to you, Sergeant? Thank you. SWORN TESTIMONY OF CHERYL A. BRAUN SERGEANT, U.S. PARK POLICE Ms. BRAUN. Good morning, Mr. Chairman and Members of Committee, I am Sergeant Cheryl Braun with the U.S. Park Polk, I have been a member of the U.S. Park Police for 10 years. During the course of my career, I was assigned for 6 years to the Balti- more/Washington Parkway as a patrol officer. My next assignment was just under 2 years in duration as a plainclothes investigator in the Criminal Investigations Branch. In August 1993, 1 was promoted to the rank of sergeant and as- signed to the Baltimore/Washington Parkway. In May 1994, 1 was assigned to the Crime and Violence Task Force, which worked the Fifth District of Washington, DC. In October 1994, the Crime and Violence Task Force ended and I was reassigned to the Central District, which works the downtown and Mall area of Washington, DC. My current assignment is as a squad sergeant at the Central District. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from University of Maryland. In 1985, 1 attended and completed Prince George's County Police Academy and the Federal Law enforcement Training Center for basic police training. In 1990, 1 tended the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center for the Criminal Investigators School. During my career, I received train- ing on child abuse investigation, robbery and burglary investiga- tion, a homicide seminar through the Harvard and Police Associ- ates and other police patrol-related training. Thank you. The CHAIRMAN. Detective Rolla. SWORN TESTIMONY OF JOHN C. ROLLA DETECTIVE, U.S. PARK POLICE Mr. ROLLA. How are you? This is just an introduction basically My name is John C. Rolla. I joined the U.S. Park Police in 19 I hold the rank of detective in the Criminal Investigations Br where I have been assigned since 1988. 1 have served in the cotics and Vice Unit, and I have been assigned to a Drug En 0 ment Task Force for 2 years. 147 I received specialized training at the FBI Academy and have worked on a number of high-level drug conspiracy cases and smuggling operations. I was promoted to plainclothes investigator in 1990. 1 have completed specialized training courses in narcotics investigation and criminal investigation at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia, as well as homicide investigation courses throughout the Washington, DC Metropolitan area and Metro Dade Police Department in Florida. Presently I am assigned to the Major Crimes Section of the U.S. Park Police Criminal Investigations Branch.
Water Birds - Canadian Goose
(Tape 2) 10:33:11 Female and male canada goose coaxes young up onto bank, misty morning scene 10:48:18 Small gosling climbs onto female's back and ends up falling off onto other side. The mother stands and then sits again and her 2 day old brood climbs under her wing.
Water Birds - White Pelican
(Tape 2) White pelican preens while standing in water
News in Brief: Floods Sweep Seven States.
News in Brief: Floods Sweep Seven States. In the highest flood crest in its history, the Missouri River sweeps over rich farmlands of the middle west (Midwest) and renders 74,000 homeless. Cars, people move through flooded streets of small town. Citizens make barriers with sandbags. Small rowboat with "Water Rescue" on the side. Various other shots of the flooding.
News in Brief: Greek Beauty Contest.
News in Brief: Greek Beauty Contest. The Greeks not only have a word for it but they have the girls to prove it. Lovely is the word for the maidens who compete for the title of Miss Hellas. Swimsuit competition, evening gowns, and sexist commentary.
Easter Bonnets
Easter Bonnets Despite lowering skies and a new raw wind, Easter promenaders are out in force along New York's famed Fifth Avenue. The hats - well, you have to see them to believe them. Tilt up Easter lilies. Crowd, many wearing hats, walk down sidewalk. Little boy (toddler) walks down sidewalk amid crowd. Little girl dressed in a rabbit costume stands looking at camera. Dog being walked is wearing some sort of dog outfit as well. Woman shows off her enormous hat to the camera; it seems to have fake grass on it, and an Easter bunny, little ducks, eggs, etc. Various shots of other hats, including several with flower designs on them. Bizarre unusual hat that doubles as a political statement for the upcoming campaign - it's shaped like a record on a turntable, only the record shows a photo of DWIGHT EISENHOWER with a caption, "I Like Ike." Another woman's hat looks like a stuffed animal rooster or chicken hatching out of an egg.
Nature's Havoc: Floods and Storms Take Enormous Toll.
Nature's Havoc: Floods and Storms Take Enormous Toll. "As a raging Missouri River spreads over the middle west inundating cities and the nation's richest farm land, President Truman confers with the governors of the seven affected states and promises a renewed drive for flood control in the area. Spain also is hit with disastrous floods on the Guadalquivir River." Various shots people building levees; sandbags piled high. Various shots of flooded areas, towns. Stranded residents are evacuated (doesn't look too scary, more inconvenient). Nurses, mothers and children in a Red Cross shelter. Aerials of severe flooding in the Midwest, most of the land underwater. President HARRY TRUMAN looks out the window of an airplane, surveying the situation. Truman gets off a plane, is greeted. Gaggle of press photographers and reporters, those with cameras taking aim. Truman stands with governors (photo op). Various shots of flooding in Spain, the waters halfway up the height of telephone poles. Various shots of rescue workers helping at the scene of a train wreck caused by landslides. Off the coast of Korea, strong waves crash up onto the decks of a United States Navy ship (battleship or cruiser?, either the USS Wisconsin or the USS Manchester). Stormy weather, rough seas.
July 20, 1995 - Part 1
(09:55:40) The CHAIRMAN. Major Hines. SWORN TESTIMONY OF ROBERT H. HINES MAJOR, U.S. PARK POLICE Mr. HINES. Good morning, Chairman. First, I want to thank you for your comments in your opening statement about the Park Police and our investigation. Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, I am Major Robert H. Hines, I joined the U.S. Park Police in 1967 after serving in the United States Marine Corps and the Maryland Army National Guard. From 1985 to 1991, 1 was the Commander of the U.S. Park Police Criminal Investigations Branch. Since 1991, 1 have been the Commander of the Office of Inspectional Services, U.S. Park Police. In that capacity, I also serve as the Force Public Information Officer. Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, I can only reiterate my desire to cooperate with this Committee in every possible way. Thank you. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Major. Mr. Chertoff. Mr. CHERTOFF. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Welcome everybody, It's evident you're all experienced in the area of law enforcement. Sergeant Braun, let me direct my attention to you first. I'd like you to focus, please, on July 20, 1993 at around 6 p.m. Did you get a call to attend a scene of a violent death at that point in time? Ms. BRAUN. Yes, I did. Mr. CHERTOFF. Who did you go to the scene with? Ms. BRAUN. I went to the scene with Investigator Rolla and Investigator Apt. Mr. CHERTOFF. Did you find at the scene the body of Vincent Foster? Ms. BRAUN. Yes, I did. Mr. CHERTOFF. Approximately how long did you remain at the scene that evening? Ms. BRAUN. Until approximately 8:30 in the evening. Mr. CHERTOFF. You remained there with Detective Rolla? Ms. BRAUN. Yes. Mr. CHERTOFF. Where did you go next? Ms. BRAUN. After we left the scene, we went to the hospital briefly to retrieve some property. Mr. CHERTOFF. After you were at the hospital, did you get a call to go pick somebody up? 148 Ms. BRAUN. Yes, we did. Mr. CHERTOFF. Who was that? Ms. BRAUN. We were requested to pick up Mr. David Watkins to allow him and his wife to assist us with the notification of the Fos- ter family. Mr. CHERTOFF. Did you go to pick up David Watkins? Ms. BRAUN. Yes, sir. Mr. CHERTOFF. Can you tell us how Mr. Watkins introduced him- self to you, what he told you his position was? Ms. BRAUN. It's been 2 years. I don't remember exactly how je introduced himself. It was fairly informal. He introduced himself David Watkins, and he presented me with one of his business cards. Mr. CHERTOFF. Did you learn from that business card that he was a senior official at the White House in charge of administration? Ms. BRAUN. Yes. Mr. CHERTOFF. Where did you and Detective Rolla take Mr. Watkins? Ms. BRAUN. We took Mr. Watkins to Mr. Foster's home in Georgetown. Mr. CHERTOFF. Is it fair to say you arrived there sometime between 10 and 10:30 p.m.? Ms. BRAUN. As my recollection serves me, it was around 10 p.m. Mr. CHERTOFF. In the car, did you have any discussion with Mr. Watkins on the way to the Foster residence? Ms. BRAUN. We had a brief conversation. I recall asking Mr. Watkins if he had any indications why Mr. Foster would have committed suicide, and at that point, the only thing that he could tell me was that he knew that Mr. Foster was upset over the Travelgate press that he had been getting. Mr. CHERTOFF. Was there any discussion in the car with Mr. Watkins about whether there was a note that had been found at the scene in Fort Marcy Park? Ms. BRAUN. No, I don't recall any conversation to that effect. Mr. CHERTOFF. Now, what was the reason you wanted to go to the house with Detective Rolla? Ms. BRAUN. We were responding to the Foster home to make the .death notification to Mr. Foster 's wife and relatives. Mr. CHERTOFF, Typically, does that process of making a death notification also involve a certain investigative element? Ms. BRAUN. Yes, it does. Mr. CHERTOFF. What is that? Ms. BRAUN. In a situation like that, it would be to look for information that would confirm that the suicide victim was despondent or had made prior attempts, anything that would help confirm our suspicions that it was, in fact, a suicide. Mr. CHERTOFF. Now, you've said "suspicions" that it was a suicide. Recognizing that we're concerned with your state of mind as it was that night, not what we now know 2 years later-as of that night, had you concluded from an investigative standpoint that it was a suicide? 149 Ms. BRAUN. I was fairly certain that it was a suicide but, during the course of an investigation, you would look for other information just to confirm it. Mr. CHERTOFF. So you still had to hold open the possibility of something else? Ms. BRAUN. That's correct. Mr. CHERTOFF. Can you describe very briefly what occurred, what the scene was at the Foster home when you arrived there with Mr. Watkins?
Experts In Cocktail Contest
Rolling contrast dull and light in imagery Noted liquor mixers, competing to determine the world's best drink, serve exotic concoctions to the judges who select the 'giraffe's neck' for the honor.
Muslems Riot To See Sacred Procession
Rolling contrast dull and light in imagery Huge crowds clash with police when they rush to see the historic Mauled Festival Procession, in which the High Priest and other dignitaries of the Moslem faith take part.
July 20, 1995 - Part 1
(10:00:22) Ms. BRAUN. OK. Investigator Rolla and Mr. Watkins and myself were walking up to the Foster residence. As we were approaching the Foster residence, we noticed that what I now know was Mr. Hubbell and Sheila Anthony and several other Members of the White House Counsel and White House staff were coming down the sidewalk toward the house at the same time. We then went up the steps to the house and knocked on the door and were let into the house by Laura Foster. We introduced ourselves to Laura Foster and she went and got her mother from upstairs in the bedroom area. As Mrs. Foster came down the stairs, Investigator Rolla approached Mrs. Foster and gave her the news that her husband was dead. Mr. CHERTOFF. Understandably, everyone was very upset. During the course of your stay at the Foster home that night, did you have an opportunity to interview Ms. Foster? Ms. BRAUN. 1, personally, did not. I had trouble building rapport with Mrs. Foster. Investigator Rolla had a better time talking with Mrs. Foster. Mr. CHERTOFF. How long do you think you stayed at the house that night? Ms. BRAUN. We were there for approximately an hour, maybe just a little over an hour. Mr. CHERTOFF. Were you there when the President arrived? Ms. BRAUN. Yes, sir. Mr. CHERTOFF. Now, toward the end of your stay at the house, did you come to the conclusion that the office that Mr. Foster occupied at the White House should be secured? Ms. BRAUN. Yes. Mr. CHERTOFF. Would you tell us the reason you reached that conclusion? Ms. BRAUN. We had not found a note at the immediate death scene or in Mr. Foster's vehicle. When we arrived at the home, in our brief interviews that we tried to make with the family, we did not get any information that would confirm that Mr. Foster was depressed or had even discussed the possibility of committing suicide with any of his friends or relatives. So I felt that may be a place where Mr. Foster may have left a note, at his office, maybe for his co-workers to find rather than for his wife. Mr. CHERTOFF. Was it your understanding at that point in time that Mr, Foster had been at the office at some point on July 20, 1993, during the day? Ms. BRAUN. Yes. 150 Mr. CHERTOFF. So, as far as you knew, that might have been the last place that he had been before he went to the park and what happened at the park occurred; correct? Ms. BRAUN. That's correct. Mr. CHERTOFF. Now, can you tell us some of the reasons that you would want to look in the office and what you would be looking for, what you intended to be looking for in Mr. Foster's office? Ms. BRAUN. I want to make it clear that I was never at Mr. Foster's office. Mr. CHERTOFF, I understand that. Ms. BRAUN. If it had been myself, I would have been looking for a note, basically, that says I couldn't go on any longer or something to the effect that he had committed suicide. I would be also looking if for insurance papers, things to show that he had his life in order and was ready to hand over to his family. I would have been- look ing for a journal, a diary, an address book-not an address book but an appointment book with maybe appointments with psychia-trists or something like that. I would have been looking for things that would have helped con-firm that this was a suicide. Mr. CHERTOFF. In other words, you'd be looking for everything that would shed light on his state of mind? Ms. BRAUN. That's correct. Mr. CHERTOFF. Would that also include any evidence of some- thing that might have been troubling him? Ms. BRAUN. Yes. Mr. CHERTOFF. Is it fair to say that in looking at the office, you would have been looking in particular for things in his own hand- writing? Ms. BRAUN. Yes. Mr. CHERTOFF. Would it also have been important to get a sense of the actual arrangement, physical arrangement of his papers the office in terms of whether they were orderly or disorderly? Ms. BRAUN. Yes, that would have been helpful. That would have let me know whether he had left the office in a hurry or if he had organized himself and put everything away. Mr. CHERTOFF. Now, while you were at the Foster residence, did you have a conversation with David Watkins about securing Mr. Foster's off-ice? Ms. BRAUN. I had a brief conversation with Mr. Watkins as I was on my way out the door. Mr. Watkins made a request of the Park Police that we not release Mr. Foster's name to the media until they could get somebody to Hope, Arkansas to notify Mr. Watkins family or his mother Mr. ROLLA. Foster. Ms. BRAUN. I'm sorry, Mr. Foster's mother. I, in turn, asked that Mr. Watkins see that Mr. Foster's office was secured so that we could send somebody in the morning out to check his office.
News in Brief: Chile, 'Mother Of The World.'
News in Brief: Chile, 'Mother Of The World.' The first lady of Chile, lovely Senora Rosa Markmann de Gonzalez Videla, has been selected as the mother of the world. She poses with husband, Chile's president, and views housing development she sponsored. Daily life in Chile: children run through neighborhood street, young schoolchildren (kindergarten?) play in schoolyard. The first lady poses with family members including a toddler grandchild.
The World Of Sports: Motorcycle Hill Climb.
The World Of Sports: Motorcycle Hill Climb. Motorcycle hill climb. Mild wipe-outs, failures, then finally a successful run. Interesting quirk: one of the men attempting this stunt wears a Harley Davidson shirt; he doesn't make it, though.
The World Of Sports: Horse Racing.
The World Of Sports: Horse Racing. Jamaica Racetrack, New York, the Wood Memorial horse race. Spectators watch. In slow motion, Master Fiddler overtakes Tom Fool to win. Winners (jockey & horse) after the race.
ATOM BOMB: GI's And Paratroops Test Blast Effect.
ATOM BOMB: GI's And Paratroops Test Blast Effect. Spectacular scenes of latest A-bomb blast. Newsreel and Defense Dept. cameras record vivid scenes of tactical bomb test, during which hundreds of troops in foxholes, and paratroops dropped shortly afterwards, test the effect of the deadly new weapon. Awesome ball of fire and rise of giant 'mushroom' are seen. (Human experimentation, human guinea pigs.) Funny shot of checkpoint - a couple of police officers are there and a big sign reads "Secrecy Is The Word To Remember." A group of men (reporters?) wait for the big event. Gordon Dean, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, chats with other men. Troops prepare themselves and equipment; soldiers climb into foxholes. Aerial view of big target on the ground (concentric circles). LS atomic explosion. Bright light flashes against spectators, soldiers. Mushroom-type cloud goes into the air. View from inside plane shows pilot operating controls in cockpit. Various shots paratroopers jumping from airplane, landing on ground. Replay: Slow-motion view of the nuclear blast; those vertical lines to the left of it are apparently "rocket trails set up ... to measure the height of the atomic column." Various views of the cloud.
July 20, 1995 - Part 1
(10:05:36) Mr. CHERTOFF. What did Mr. Watkins say to you? Ms. BRAUN. He said yes. He acknowledged my request. I don't remember what his exact words were, but he acknowledged my request. Mr. CHERTOFF. You're quite certain that you made the request and he acknowledged it? 151 Ms. BRAUN. Yes. Mr. CHERTOFF. In your conversation with Mr. Watkins, either at that point or at any earlier point, did he tell you that he had asked somebody to go into Mr, Foster's office and look for a suicide note? Ms. BRAUN. No, Mr. CHERTOFF. Is that something you would have wanted to know? Ms. BRAUN. Yes. Mr. CHERTOFF. Did Mr. Watkins ever say to you that he was the wrong person to make the request of? Ms. BRAUN. No. Mr. CHERTOFF. Did Mr. Watkins say you ought to bring it up with the Secret Service? Ms. BRAUN. No. Mr. CHERTOFF. Did Mr. Watkins indicate to you in any way that he was unable to carry out the request you made to secure the office? Ms. BRAUN. No. Mr. CHERTOFF. Were you aware from any other source that night, July 20, 1993, that somebody had entered or was going to enter Mr. Foster's office on that night to look for a note? Ms. BRAUN. No. Mr. CHERTOFF. Is it fair to say you would have wanted someone from the Park Police there when that happened? Ms. BRAUN. Yes. Mr. CHERTOFF. Now, Detective Rolla, let me turn to you for a moment and, without repeating everything that went before, I want to focus your attention on this last part of the testimony involving the conversation with Mr. Watkins. Were you present with Sergeant Braun during this conversation? Mr. ROLLA. Yes, I was. I didn't. hear the conversation. As we were leaving, she told me she asked Mr, Watkins to secure the office. Mr. CHERTOFF. So you saw her talking briefly to Mr. Watkins? Mr. ROLLA. Yeah, we had both talked to him during the night and, before we left, we exchanged business cards and she had talked to him. I just didn't hear this part of the conversation. Mr. CHERTOFF. But, immediately thereafter, she told you she had made that request? Mr. ROLLA. Yes, that's correct. Mr. CHERTOFF. Did Mr. Watkins at any point during the night indicate to you that it was his intention to send someone into the White House that night to look for a suicide note? Mr. ROLLA. No. Mr. CHERTOFF. Major Hines, let me turn to you. I understand You were not there at the residence; is that correct? Mr. HINES. That's correct. Mr. CHERTOFF. Within several days, did you have occasion to '*talk to Sergeant Braun about the events of that night in the residence? Mr. HINES. Some days after that, 1 did ask her did she request the office to be sealed, and she said she did. Mr. CHERTOFF. Did she tell you who she had requested that of? Mr. HINES. She told me Mr. Watkins. 152 Mr. CHERTOFF. Let me ask you, Major Hines where were you that night, on July 20, 1993? Mr. HINES. I was at my home in Columbia, Maryland. Mr. HINES. I received a call from the field commander, Lieuten- ant Gavin. He informed me that a white male had been discovered at Fort Marcy Park, it was an apparent suicide, and he was id fled as a White House employee. He then gave me the number of a Mr. Burton in the White House, and we left it at the consensus that I should call Mr. Burton and talk to him about the matter, and that I did. Mr. CHERTOFF. Your understanding was Mr. Burton was a responsible person at the White House that you should contact? Mr. HINES. That was my understanding. Mr. CHERTOFF. Why was it that Lieutenant Gavin called you, if you know? Mr. CHERTOFF. Did you receive a call? Mr. HINES. Yes, I did. Mr. CHERTOFF. From whom? Mr. HINES. Because of my role as a public information 'officer and he told me that this person was a high-level White House em- ployee. He knew that it would be something of interest to the news media and was seeking my advice and letting me know, giving me a heads-up on it, that I should be aware. Mr. CHERTOFF. Am I correct that it was approximately at 9:45 p.m. when you got that call? Mr. HINES. That's correct. Mr. CHERTOFF. Did you then call Mr. Burton at the White House? Mr. HINES. Yes, I did. Mr. CHERTOFF. Can you tell us generally what your conversation with him was? Mr. HINES. The earlier conversation was when I expressed MY sympathy; I knew they were in shock. Mr. Burton informed me of the relationship between the President and Mr. Foster, how they were very close, almost like brothers, and his job in the White House. We discussed at that time the process, basically, in a, thumbnail sketch, of what the investigation would be, and I told' him it was apparent from what had been reported to me that it was a suicide. Then we discussed the fact, and I did mention that we needed their full cooperation. We needed to go into the office and look for any kind of reasons or intention that Mr. Foster may have to commit suicide. Mr. CHERTOFF. You said to Mr. Burton that "You" needed to go.,. into the office, meaning the Park Police, not you personally? Mr. HINES. Yes. Mr. CHERTOFF. In order to look for evidence of what Mr. Foster's intentions had been; correct? Mr. HINES. That's true. Mr. CHERTOFF. You asked him to secure or lock the office in some way? Mr. HINES. Yes, I did. Mr. CHERTOFF. What did Mr. Burton say to you? Mr. HINES. I don't recall his response to me, but I assumed that a it was an affirmative response. 153 Mr. CHERTOFF. Did he object in any way to your request? Mr. HINES. No, he did not. Mr. CHERTOFF. Did he tell you that lie was not the right person to whom the request should be directed? Mr. HINES. No, he did not. Mr. CHERTOFF. When you hung up the phone, was it your belief from your conversation with Mr. Burton that you had communicated with a responsible person at the White House who could take the steps necessary to secure the office?
Israel, misc. soldiers, construction, children in underwear
Israel, misc. soldiers, construction, children in underwear
Israel, misc. market, sheep, ceramics, aerial, fashionable women walking down street (heads turn), head shots, man with goatee, soldier, construction workers, gas station, drilling for oil
Israel misc. construction, oil
Israel misc. construction, oil
Lebanon, Boalbek?? festival
Middle East misc. Street scenes, architecture, people, markets, ruins
Israel soldiers