July 18, 1995 - Part 1
July 18, 1995 - Part 1
(10:15:50) Many of the questions that have been raised, I think, are obviously subject to differing interpretations, and that's one of the things this Committee will have to carefully examine in the days to come. It's also important to recognize that as Deputy White House Counsel, Vince Foster dealt with a range of matters. In effect, there are important privileges with respect to those papers: executive privilege and attorney-client privilege. For instance, we know there was a file dealing with Supreme Court nominees. That's a file over which the executive clearly can assert privilege. Also, attorney-client privilege, since Foster was using some of the personal papers of the Clintons in order to prepare some of their official statements as the Chairman indicated at the beginning, can be asserted. For example, there were mandatory financial disclosure statements that were required. So, as we look at the handling of these documents, I think we need to keep that dimension also in mind. Now, it's my expectation that the Committee will be able to work through the witnesses in the days to come in a very careful and appropriate manner, so as to place ourselves in a position to evaluate the testimony. As I said, the Independent Counsel has indicated that his inquiry has passed beyond this issue and, therefore, we were given the green light; not that we are necessarily bound by that, but it's an important consideration. We've been trying to harmonize our activities with those of the Independent Counsel. Finally, let me just say in closing that these hearings have a tremendous potential to become highly emotional. I've already outlined the fact that much of the conduct we've been examining occurred in the aftermath of the suicide, in the nature of that stressful incident. I think it's very important for the Members of this Committee to try to maintain this inquiry in a civil, rational way. We're here to try to find out what the facts are, to hear the witnesses out, to try to resolve differing recollections and differing interpretations and then to evaluate that. But I think it's extremely important, both for us and for the public, to hear the testimony in full before we undertake the evaluation. I was always taught that's how you're supposed to do it, and I'm hopeful that's what this Committee will do as we now set upon the task of carrying through the fair, impartial and thorough hearings with which we have been charged by the Senate. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Senator Dodd. OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR CHRISTOPHER J. DODD Senator DODD. Thank you, Senator Sarbanes. Is there about 10 minutes left? 12 The CHAIRMAN. I think it's about 10 minutes. If the Senator needs additional time Senator DODD, I thank the Chairman. Mr. Chairman, let me just begin by saluting you and Senator Sarbanes for the very fair and balanced way that I think you've gone about setting up these hearings. The matters before us, as you have pointed out and Senator Sarbanes has suggested, are far too important, I think, to be turned into a political football, and I think it is to your credit that this has not yet happened. Mr. Chairman, I hope we will conduct these hearings, as Senator Sarbanes has just said, in the same spirit of fairness that has characterized their planning.