Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
Samuel Dash, attorney. Now, did there come a time when you had a third and final meeting with Mr. Mitchell on the Liddy plan, on or about March 30, 1972? Jeb Magruder. Yes, we had. There had been a delay in the decision making process at the committee because of the ITT hearings. Mr. Mitchell was on vacation at Key Biscayne. I went down to Key Biscayne. Mr. LaRue was there and we met and went over approximately 30 some decision papers mainly relating to direct mail and advertising the other parts of the campaign. The last topic we discussed was the final proposal of Mr. Liddy's which was for approximately $250,000. We discussed it, brought up again the pros and cons. I think I can honestly say that no one was particularly overwhelmed with the project. But, I think we felt that the information could be useful and Mr. Mitchell agreed to approve the project and I then notified the parties of Mr. Mitchell's approval.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
Samuel Dash, attorney. What was the form, by the way, of the memorandum or decision paper that was presented to Mr. Mitchell at this meeting? Jeb Magruder. It was unlike our normal decision process where we had an approved disapproved, comment line at the bottom. It was simply the same 8 1/2 x 11 blank sheets typed up with the basics of the plan, the number of people he would have to hire, the number of electronic surveillance equipment and amounts he would have to purchase, and so on. And I used a system which I think Mr. Reisner has discussed where I made three copies of each document that I would discuss with Mr. Mitchell, one copy went to Mr. Strachan for Mr. Haldeman. The other two copies I brought with me to Key Biscayne. I gave Mr. Mitchell the one copy. He did some marked up some of it. I cannot recall what he marked on these papers, indicated his approval, did not indicate it in any formal sense by initialing it or writing, just indicated the project was approved.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
Samuel Dash, attorney. Now, on the project prior to going down to Key Biscayne you would send over a copy to Mr. Strachan of this plan? Jeb Magruder. My normal method of dealing with Mr. Strachan was at their request we sent the decision papers to them initially before I discussed them with Mr. Mitchell. So if there was any points in those papers Mr. Haldeman or Mr. Strachan could get back to us their opinion on the subject. Samuel Dash, attorney. All right, now this quarter of a million dollar project you say Mr. Mitchell approved in Key Biscayne, what was that project specifically as you can recall? Jeb Magruder. It was specifically approved for initial entry into the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington. And that at a further date if the funds were available we would consider entry into the Presidential contenders headquarters and also potentially at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
Samuel Dash, attorney. When you returned to Washington, Mr. Magruder, did you communication to anyone that the Liddy plan on the quarter million dollar budget was approved? Jeb Magruder. Yes, I attempted to reach Mr. Liddy while I was at Key Biscayne because he had indicated time problems. I was unable to do so. So when I came back to Washington I indicated to Mr. Reisner that Mr. Liddy's project had been approved and would he notify Mr. Liddy? I called Mr. Strachan and indicated to him that the project had been approved and I indicated to Mr. Sloan that Mr. Liddy would be authorized to draw $250,000 over the entire period of the campaign but that he probably would need a sizable amount of that initially. Samuel Dash, attorney. Now when you say that project as approved included the entry of the Democratic National Committee headquarters and perhaps other entries, did that also include the use of electronic surveillance or bugging? Jeb Magruder. I am sorry? Samuel Dash, attorney. When you said the project that was approved in Key Biscayne Jeb Magruder. With Mr. Strachan I discussed it in detail. Samuel Dash, attorney. I am not referring to Mr. Strachan but the project Mr. Mitchell approved in Key Biscayne. I think you said the project included an approval of the entry into the Democratic National Committee headquarters. Did it also include use of electronic surveillance and bugging? Jeb Magruder. It included electronic surveillance and photography of documents, photographing of documents.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
Samuel Dash, attorney. Mr. Sloan was told what? Jeb Magruder. That Mr. Liddy was, allowed to draw $250,000. Samuel Dash, attorney. But Mr. Strachan was given a fairly complete report on what was approved? Jeb Magruder. Yes. Samuel Dash, attorney. Do you recall Mr. Sloan questioning an initial large sum of money, $83,000, which Mr. Liddy requested after okay, approval of the plan? Jeb Magruder. Yes. Samuel Dash, attorney. Could you tell us what happened and how that was resolved? Jeb Magruder. Well, he had called and said that Mr. Liddy wanted a substantial sum at that time. I did not recall the amount, but Mr. Sloan indicates it is $83,000 and I would assume he is correct. I indicated that Mr. Liddy did have that approval. Mr. Sloan evidently then went to Mr. Stans. Mr. Stans went to Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Mitchell came back to me and said why did Gordon need this much money and I explained to him this was in effect frontend money that he needed for the equipment and the early costs of getting this kind of an operation together. Mr. Mitchell understood, evidently told Mr. Stans it had been approved and the approval was complete.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
Samuel Dash, attorney. Did you receive, Mr. Magruder, any progress reports after the approval by Mr. Liddy? Jeb Magruder. No, I did not. Samuel Dash, attorney. Did you know that there was to be an entry in the Democratic National Committee headquarters? Jeb Magruder. Well, I assumed that it would be. I did not know specifically when Mr. Liddy would do that as I recall. I don t remember that he discussed the exact date with me, no.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
Samuel Dash, attorney. Well, do you recall a discussion that you had with Mr. Liddy concerning an effort to enter the McGovern headquarters? Jeb Magruder. Yes. I think after the as I recall, it was after the first entry of the DNC headquarters. Mr. Strachan and I were in my office and Mr. Liddy came in, not in a formal meeting sense, just came in and indicated that he had had trouble the night before that they tried to do a survey of the McGovern headquarters and Mr. Liddy indicated that to assist this he had shot a light out. At that time both Mr. Strachan and I both become very concerned because we understood from Mr. Liddy that he would not participate himself nor would anyone participate in his activities that could be in any way connected with our committee.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
Samuel Dash, attorney. Now, after this entry into the Democratic National Committee headquarters which you have testified to before this committee which occurred on May 27 or around Memorial Day weekend of 1972, did Mr. Liddy report that to you? Jeb Magruder. Yes. Samuel Dash, attorney. And what did Mr. Liddy tell you when he reported that? Jeb Magruder. He simply indicated that he had made a successful entry and had placed wiretapping equipment in the Democratic National Committee. Samuel Dash, attorney. Did he report to you at all that he had a monitoring station at the Howard Johnson motel across the street? Jeb Magruder. My understanding, my recollection was that he had it in the truck somewhere but I guess he did not. That is my recollection was that it was in the truck but I gather it was in the Howard Johnson. Samuel Dash, attorney. Were you aware at any time of Mr. Baldwin's participation in this? Jeb Magruder. No sir.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
Samuel Dash, attorney. When did you get any of the fruits or the results of this bugging and photography operation? Jeb Magruder. Approximately a week, a week and a half after the initial entry we received, I received the first reports. They were in two forms, one was recapitulation of the telephone conversations. They were done in a form in which you would know they were telephone phone conversations but they were not direct references to the, phone conversations. And the second, photography, the pictures of documents that they had taken at the Democratic National Committee headquarters. Samuel Dash, attorney. Was there any special feature about these photographs? Jeb Magruder. Well, the famous fingers were on the photographs, the rubber gloves with the fingers.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
Samuel Dash, attorney. Now, the documents from which you say the of the telephone conversations, where were they placed and what was the form of those documents? Jeb Magruder. They were under the Gemstone stationery. You have seen it since I have. Samuel Dash, attorney. Well, perhaps you can identify this for us. Jeb Magruder. I can see it. I have not seen it since June 19. Samuel Dash, attorney. Take a look at this exhibit which has been entered into the record is that the form of the document? Jeb Magruder. That s correct. Samuel Dash, attorney. Do you recall seeing an envelope of this kind? Jeb Magruder. I think that hat it did come in that form. I remember seeing the envelope. I can't recall whether the Gemstone material did come In that envelope but it could have very well.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
Samuel Dash, attorney. Now, you say you received it in two installments? Jeb Magruder. Yes, sir. Samuel Dash, attorney. And were the installments both installments which included both installments include the typewritten telephone conversations and photographs? Jeb Magruder. As I recall, they both included that. Samuel Dash, attorney. Did you show these so-called Gemstone materials with the photographs to anybody? Jeb Magruder. Yes, I brought the materials into Mr. Mitchell in my 8:30 morning meeting each morning with him. Samuel Dash, attorney. At that time, where was Mr. Mitchell's office located? Jeb Magruder. He was now in the campaign and he had an office in the campaign committee and he had an office in his law firm. And we would meet in either office depending on his schedule. And at that time, I showed him the documents and I think as Mr. Reisner has discussed, I also had two files. He as I recall, reviewed the documents, indicated as I did that there was really no substance to these documents and at that time, as I recall, it was at that time he called Mr. Liddy up to his office and Mr. Mitchell indicated his dissatisfaction with the results of his work. Samuel Dash, attorney. Well, did he tell him anything more than he was dissatisfied? Did he ask for anything more? Jeb Magruder. He did not ask for anything more. He simply indicated that this was not satisfactory and it was worthless and not worth what he had been paid for it. Samuel Dash, attorney. Mr. Magruder did he mention anything about the fact of the O'Brien information. He did not see any O'Brien telephone Jeb Magruder. There was no information relating to any of the subjects we hoped to receive and Mr. Liddy Indicated there was problems with one wiretap and one was not placed in a proper phone and he would correct these matters and hopefully get the information that was requested.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities June 14, 1973 - Testimony of Jeb Magruder
Samuel Dash, attorney. Did you show these documents, the so-called Gemstone documents to Mr. Strachan? Jeb Magruder. As I recall, because of the sensitive nature of these documents I called Mr. Strachan and asked would he come over and look at them in my office rather than sending a copy to his office. As I recall I only had one copy of these documents. As I recall, he did come over and look over the documents and indicate to me the lack of substance to the documents.