August 4, 1994 - Part 11
August 4, 1994 - Part 11
(21:40:28) Of course, he was absolutely fresh and the rest of us were somewhat on the ropes and I want to tell you that he completely dominated the conference at that time. And I just sort of think this story is somewhat relevant as we think of the fact that we have yet another witness coming who, I assume, has somewhat like Senator Bryan been resting himself and preparing for this Senator BOXER. Plus he's very excited anyway. [Laughter.] Senator KERRY. So let's get him on. The CHAIRMAN. Senator Bennett, did you have Senator BENNETT. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I do. At the end of my last exchange with Mr. Stephanopoulos I had a number of very powerful questions that I could hardly wait to ask that have now gone stale as have I. And I will save them for my summation on the Floor or whenever and we won't have that exchange because of the hour. 457 But I would like just for the sake of helping me understand some things and not to score any points off anybody or anything else, go back once again to the fateful day when, according to Mr. Steiner's diary, Mr. Stephanopoulos and Mr. Ickes called to say that Bill Clinton was furious. They also asked how Jay Stephens the former attorney had been hired and so on and so forth. And we've been over the words of his diary so many times I won't bother to repeat them. I've been looking at your statements here. You, Mr. Stephanopoulos, in your opening statement do not mention-well, I'll get it exactly. Other than a sentence that I find highly ironic in this circumstance, "Mr. Steiner was my regular point of contact at Treasury for obtaining information that affected Administration policy." Given the things that have been said back and forth today I'm not sure that will still be the case. Mr. STEPHANOPOULOS. It still is the case. Senator BENNETT. You talk about blowing off steam with respect to Mr. Stephens, you've had your conversation with Senator Hatch about that and then you say "I believe later that day I had a conversation with Harold Ickes and Roger Altman during which the subject of his recusal was discussed." This says a "conversation." Was that a phone call? Mr. STEPHANOPOULOS. Yes, sir. Senator BENNETT. Because that's the context that everyone puts it in. Mr. STEPHANOPOULOS. Yes. senator BENNETT. Now, from the diary, one can draw the inference, it isn't stated specifically but one could draw the inference, that the conversation about Jay Stephens and the conversation about the recusal were the same phone call. Do you have any memory, either one of you, because presumably, Mr. Ickes, you were in on this phone call, indeed, you say in your opening statement, Mr. Stephanopoulos and I called Mr. Altman immediately to confirm that was true. Were the two subjects brought up at the same Mr. STEPHANOPOULOS. There were two separate phone calls, Senator. Let me go over it again as I did in my opening statement. Senator BENNETT. That's all I need. Was Mr. Ickes in on the first phone call? Mr. STEPHANOPOULOS. No, sir. Senator BENNETT. So the first phone call vis-a-vis Jay Stephens was strictly you? Mr. STEPHANOPOULOS, Yes, sir. Senator BENNETT. And to whom was it placed? Mr. STEPHANOPOULOS. Again, I don't know who placed the phone I was having a conversation with Mr. Steiner that be an dis- cussing the issue of Mr. Altman's recusal to The New York Times. Senator BENNETT, OK, that helps clear it, So that the phone call ill which the exchange regarding Mr. Stephens was between you and Mr. Steiner? Mr. STEPHANOPOULOS. Yes, sir. Senator BENNETT. And the phone call regarding the recusal in which Mr. Ickes joined was with Mr. Altman? 458 Mr. STEPHANOPOULOS. Yes, sir, but the issue of the recusal Was also discussed in the conversation with Mr. Steiner. Senator BENNETT. That would explain why his diary Mr. STEPHANOPOULOS. I can't explain his diary, Senator, I can just tell you what happened.