July 18, 1995 - Part 3
July 18, 1995 - Part 3
(12:30:16) Mr. HUBBELL. What I think one of the difficulties was, was that most of this land was being sold by contract for sale, where there wasn't a deed until the final payment was made. There was an at- tempt to try to determine what the status was of each of these con- tracts so that the owners would know who owed what and who had bought what and to clean up the titles, so to speak, of the various parcels of property. Mr. CHERTOFF. Was there also a problem or a difficulty in obtaining the documentation relating to this particular business enterprise? Mr. HUBBELL. My impression was that there was difficulty in obtaining the documentation, mainly because of Mr. McDougal 's problems. Mr. CHERTOFF. What problems were those? Mr. HUBBELL. He had been indicted and he was also, as I under stand it, at that time, and I really don't know this, he was drawing Social Security disability for depression. Mr. CHERTOFF. Now, I'm going to just bring you up to the point in time of July 20. I know a number of other Senators will be wanting to ask you questions about that, so let me just bring you up 51 to July 20 and ask you how it was you learned that your friend Vincent Foster's body had been discovered? Mr. HUBBELL. I was out to dinner with my wife, a very good friend of mine and my children when I was beeped. I had to carry a beeper at that time. I went to the phone and called the Justice Command Center, who I believe is who beeped me, but I'm not sure to this day. I was told by George Stephanopoulos that Vince's body had been found and that it was an apparent suicide. Mr. CHERTOFF. Did you eventually make your way over to the house of Lisa Foster? Mr. HUBBELL. Yes, I went home-I tried to go home to call George back to find out-I couldn't believe it, as you can imagine. So I went to try to get to a private phone. Id forgotten my keys so I was locked out of my house, so I went next door and borrowed a phone to call George back. He told me that the Park Police were on their way to Lisa's house and for me to get there as soon as possible. I reminded George that Vince's sister was right across the street from me and asked if anybody had contacted her. He said no, would I do that. I went across the street and Sheila was there, as well as Vince's sister, Sharon, so both sisters were there. I had to tell them and then we all went to Lisa's house and I was there when the Park Police arrived. Mr. CHERTOFF. I think the last question I'm going to ask you about this is, to bring you up to this stage in the events, were there a number of people at the White House who, during the course of the evening, came to Mrs. Foster's house? Mr. HUBBELL. Yes, there were, including the President of the United States. Mr. CHERTOFF. Apart from the President, can you tell us whom you remember from the senior White House staff that were in attendance in that period? Mr. HUBBELL. David Watkins was there. I'm pretty sure Bruce Lindsey came. David Gergen came. Mack McLarty was there. Bill Kennedy came. I'm sure there were others. I mean-but I can't tell you to this day everybody who was there. Mr. CHERTOFF, What was Mr. Watkins' position at that time? Mr. HUBBELL. I think he was Head of Administration. I think he was in charge of all the day-to-day activities at the White House, including the building, Mr. CHERTOFF. That finishes my questions, Mr. Chairman. Thank you very much. The CHAIRMAN. Senator Sarbanes. Senator KERRY. Mr. Chairman, a point of personal privilege before Senator Sarbanes begins, if I may. I've been sitting here, frankly, disturbed by the demonstration that took place here with the briefcase, which I believe runs counter to the spirit of these hearings for a number of reasons, Mr. Chairman. As a matter of personal privilege I would just like to say, Senator Murkowski held up a briefcase which, for whatever reasons, we were not aware was going to be here and, for whatever reasons, was made available on very short notice. That briefcase was held up in a very dramatic fashion to suggest that, when held like this, these pieces of yellow paper were somehow not visible to Mr. Nussbaum. 52