July 25, 1995 - Part 2
July 25, 1995 - Part 2
(10:25:13)(tape #10121 begins) of who came to the home that evening? Mr. WATKINS. When I arrived with the officers from the Park Police, Ms. Braun and Mr. Rolla, my wife came in her car right behind us and, just as we arrived, Sharon Bowman, a sister of Mr. Foster, Sheila Anthony, another sister, and Webb Hubbell arrived. (10:25:47) Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Then what occurred? Mr. WATKINS. The officers notified Lisa that Vince had shot himself and there were cries of anguish and everyone was trying to comfort the family and comfort those that were there. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Were there children in the home? Mr. WATKINS. There were. Laura Foster answered the door, his daughter. Mr, BEN-VENISTE. Then what ensued? Mr. WATKINS. There were a lot of calls from people. There were people trying to notify their family members-just really people in disbelief and trying to comfort each other. It was a time of-an unbelievably emotional time. Everyone was upset. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Did there come a time when President Clinton arrived? Mr. WATKINS, Yes, Sir. 249 Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Were others in President Clinton's party when he arrived? Mr. WATKINS. Mr. McLarty came with the President. I know that. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Could you describe the Foster home, was it a large dwelling? Mr. WATKINS. No, it was a very modest home and pretty crowded at that time. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. At some point, you've indicated the question was repeated why, why did Mr. Foster do this. You learned that no note had been found at the scene of Mr. Foster's suicide at Fort Marcy Park? Mr. WATKINS. Yes, sir. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. You learned that no note had been discovered in any obvious place in the home? Mr. WATKINS. Right. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Then you contacted Patsy Thomasson to see whether a note could be located in Mr. Foster's office? Mr. WATKINS. As I recall, my best recollection, Mr. Ben-Veniste, is that I beeped Patsy to notify her of the death. She was my Deputy. She knew Vince. She was from Arkansas, and 1 just wanted to notify her. By the time she called me back and had gotten back to me, there had been a general discussion about notes. We knew there had not been one found at the home and I asked her to go look for a note. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Basically, she was the first person you spoke to from the outside after this conversation in the home had occurred? Mr. WATKINS. About the note, yes. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. On this point of White House clearances, is it your understanding that there were a number of people whose clearances had not been processed in a timely way as of July 1993, 7 months into the Administration? Mr. WATKINS. Yes, sir. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Was Ms. Thomasson one of those? Mr. WATKINS, She was. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Was there any substantive reason why Ms. Thomasson's clearance had not been processed up to that point? Mr. WATKINS. No. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. In other words, was there any problem that people were investigating, to the best of your knowledge? Mr. WATKINS. To the best of my knowledge, no. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. To the best of your knowledge, was the delay anything other than a delay in processing the paperwork? Mr. WATKINS. No. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Now, let's continue. You're on the phone with Ms. Thomasson, and what did you ask her-what did she say to you and what did you say to her? Mr. WATKINS. She was shocked also, and I said we were wondering if there might be a note in Vince's office, would you go look for one? That's what I asked her. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. What did she say? Mr. WATKINS. She said yes, I will. 250 Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Did you learn that she had been in a restaurant in Georgetown about 10 minutes from the White House? Mr. WATKINS. As 1 said, I don't recall what restaurant or where I-I think she told me she was in a restaurant, yes, Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Then, at some point later that evening did Ms. Thomasson report back to you? Mr. WATKINS. She did, Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Can you estimate how long it was between the": time you first contacted her and the time that she reported back to you that she gave you her report? Mr. WATKINS. I think 45 minutes to an hour within an hour. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. The report was? Mr. WATKINS. That she had not found a note. Mr. BEN-VENISTE. Did she indicate anything else that she had seen at