July 18, 1995 - Part 2
July 18, 1995 - Part 2
(10:40:07) Mr. Chairman, I think the stage has been Set for competent, probative hearings, and I'm confident that Members of the Committee will respect the scope and the intent of these hearings. But it truly remains to be seen from our statements and our actions how the American people will perceive the product of out, labors, and whether or not these hearings will in the end justify - the cost as much for revealing the truth as they will for achieving political objectives. I know, Mr. Chairman, that the truth still outweighs politics in America, and I know the truth that is revealed in these hearings 18 will show the American people that we are not involved in a, constitutional crisis. Nevertheless, there are legitimate questions about the Conduct Of those who are acting on their own in what they deem to be the interest of the President or those associated with the President, and that conduct must be examined and those questions must be answered. Therefore, these hearings are really more about judgment than conspiracy. They are more about personality than criminality. They are more about perceptions than deceptions. Above all, they are more about our maintaining respect for the institutions of Government than someone else's disrespect for the Constitution, As we proceed, Mr. Chairman, I would hope that we probe deeply into facts, not rumor, and find the truth, that we find the answers and lay them out in an uncharged atmosphere that avoids heated rhetoric, bizarre allegations and disrespectful characterizations that have more and more become the daily fodder of our political debate. Our obligation is to seek the truth about the handling of documents at the White House, number one; about contacts regarding Madison later; and about alleged interference with the RTC and the general involvement and interaction of public and private individuals on this matter. But, Mr. Chairman, I hope we do not take the resolution that established the scope of these hearings to be a license to disrespect the rights of those who come before us to witch hunt or to grand stand or to misinterpret bad Judgment as something illegal or conspiratorial. We, as representatives of the American people have a solemn responsibility to complete our task without reaching too far or spending too much or hurting innocent people simply to satisfy a political agenda or philosophy. We should ask tough questions, and we will and we have before; and we will determine who did what and when they did it and why. We should do it quickly and thoroughly and, most importantly, in conjunction with the Special Counsel. I know that you, Mr. Chairman, and the Senior Senator from Maryland are committed to coordinating this Committee's activities with Judge Starr. I know that the Chairman himself has stated we are not going to do some multimillion dollar thing, we don't want, to make the hearing so expansive that it becomes unfocused and we're not going to run roughshod over Judge Starr's work. I know the Chairman means what he says. My understanding, Mr. Chairman, is that we will have the full cooperation of the Administration. The documents which Senator Hatch just showed us, notwithstanding their redactions, were provided by the Administration. Clearly, if they wanted to hide something completely and not titillate you with the mere leaving of a word, the document might better have never appeared. But it did, appear, and the fact of its appearance is a statement about that co operation. I am convinced that we therefore can, fairly and impartially, ultimately evaluate the facts here and once and for all put this issue to rest. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator. Senator Faircloth. 19 OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR LAUCH FAIRCLOTH Senator FAIRCLOTH. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The term "Whitewater" has come to describe not only the failed Arkansas land development of the President and Mrs. Clinton, it has also come to describe a web of interconnected scandals involving personal and political friends of both the President and the First Lady. Today, the Banking Committee resumes hearings on the Whitewater scandal with a focus on the events that transpired shortly after the death of Vince Foster. It's important that we note that the death of Mr. Foster marked the first time that one of the highest ranking White House officials committed suicide while serving in their official capacity. By its very nature, suicide is always a tragedy, but the death of Vince Foster is especially so, given his very close and long- time friendship with the President and Mrs. Clinton and the sensitive nature of the work he performed for them as a White House Counsel.