Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 14, 1973
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 14, 1973
[00.25.30] Senator WEICKER. Which related specifically to getting into the Democratic headquarters, bugging et Cetera. it' had some rather unusual features. I am talking about just the $1 million budget. Mr. MAGRUDER. And, excuse me, Senator. the first meeting we did not discuss, as I recall, targets at that time. Senator WEICKER. I see, Just list the general scope and that was reported to Mr. Strachan. Now, we come to the February 4 meeting At this meeting specific targets were discussed. is that not correct? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes, Sir. Senator WEICKER. And What targets were discussed? Mr. MAGRUDER. Primarily the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, the Fontainbleau Hotel which was to be their headquarters at the convention, potential Democratic candidates headquarters and the subject of the publisher of the Las Vegas paper came up also. Senator WEICKER. And the Democratic national headquarters? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes, sir, I had mentioned that first. Senator WEICKER. Yes. And this is the so-called economy version of the January -17 meeting stripped down to $500,000 budget, is that correct? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes, Sir. Senator WEICKER. And you reported the details of this to Mr. Strachan, is that correct ? Mr. MAGRUDER. Us. sir. In that case I did have this proposal On The blank sheets of paper and as I recollect sent them over to Mr. Strachan. Senator WEICKER. So that Mr. Strachan had both notes of that meeting and possibly also the budget sheets of that meeting? ? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes, sir. he would have automatically have had the budget sheets. Senator WEICKER. Now. on March 20, at -least this is the next date I have Mr. Strachan interceded on Mr. Liddy's behalf when, in fact, you had wanted Liddy fired ? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes, sir. Senator WEICKER. And He persuaded you, talking about Mr. Strachan, to not object to Mr. Liddy's--I am trying again To paraphrase--not to object to his presence on the scene, and that he would be his intelligence operations underneath the finance committee is that right Mr. MAGRUDER. I think "persuade" is too strong a, word, he talked to Mr. Dean talked to me. Mr. LaRue and I had talked. It was the general opinion from their standpoint, and I then agreed with it-was, that it would be best to let him continue intelligence work,] [00.28.03] Senator WEICKER. But the specific request by or the specific reason for continuing Mr. Liddy on as explained by Mr. Strachan, was not for his legal ability but for his intelligence-gathering ability, is that correct? Mr. MAGRUDER. That is correct. We did not keep him on in that capacity, in this legal capacity, in that committee, he, was transferred to the finance committee. Senator WEICKER. I See. Now, upon your return from the meeting at Key Biscayne, Fla., -which meeting as I understand it was held With John Mitchell would you indicate who else was at the meeting? Mr. MAGRUDER. Fred LaRue. Senator WEICKER. Fred LaRue and John Mitchell, you called Gordon Strachan after getting back to Washington? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes, Sir. Senator WEICKER. And what did you tell Mr. Strachan? Mr. MAGRUDER. Simply that the project had been approved at the $250,000 level and what the, targets were and what we--what the plans would be, and which he, had already of course, been aware of. Senator WEICKER. And again, if you Could, just indicate those plans, what those plans were. Mr. MAGRUDER. They were to wiretap the, Democratic national headquarters specifically Mr. O'Brien's office, to possibly if it was appropriate and if we, had the funds to consider the Fontainbleau Hotel which was to be their headquarters at. the convention, and also the McGovern headquarters, or I shouldn't say McGovern, the Democratic presidential candidate's headquarters at that time had not been determined. Senator WEICKER. Did you send to Mr. Strachan at that time the copies of the notes taken at that, meeting with Mr. Mitchell's notation? Mr. MAGRUDER. I would not remember whether I did that. or not, Senator I typically would have destroyed those notes Senator WEICKER. Right. But in any event he was completely apprised as to the content of the Key Biscayne meeting? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes sir. Senator WEICKER. NOW, after Memorial Day, that is the next incident I have in my notes, you informed Mr. Strachan that Gordon Liddy had made a successful entry into the Democratic national headquarters is that correct? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes, sir. Senator WEICKER. Anything else, In that particular conversation that you transmitted to Mr. Strachan? Mr. MAGRUDER. No; I am sure there wasn't because at that time had no other-we, had no fruits of their labors. Senator WEICKER. Am I--I don't want ant to move along too fast here, is my chronology correct, were there other times between here where you had conversations with Mr. Strachan relative to these activities. I don't mean others. Mr. MAGRUDER. There could very well have, Senator, but because there, was nothing specific about them I don't, recollect them.