Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 12, 1973
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 12, 1973
[00.07.00--MacNEILL in studio] MacNEILL states that later on, STANS will name the high authority that allowed KALMBACH to receive campaign funds in cash. [00.07.07--cut to committee room, Sen. ERVIN walking to table--MacNEILL V.O.] MacNEILL states that there were eloquent debates during the questioning over which branch of government was properly authorized to investigate Watergate. [MacNEILL continues, v.o., to give hourly summary of the testimony, ERVIN seen to continue his walk to his seat at table] [PORTER seen waiting to testify, appears somewhat nervous] [00.08.37--ERVIN gavels meeting to order, first rather softly, begins to speak, there is still noise, so he bangs the gavel very hard on the second try] Senator ERVIN. The committee will come to order. The witness will return to the stand. Senator Inouye, I believe it is your turn. to question the witness, is that right,? Senator INOUYE. I finished. Senator ERVIN. Are there any other questions? Senator Gurney. Senator GURNEY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Porter, to get, caught up, to date, as I understand it you were the director of scheduling in the Committee To Re-Elect the President in charge of the speakers, the surrogates program, and also the celebrities, entertainment and athletes, and I think that two pertinent pieces of testimony you gave us last week were that you had disbursed some, $69,000 in this, I guess you might call it, sabotage program, and that you also perjured yourself at the trial at, Mr. Magruder's request, on what you paid money to Liddy for. Now, that I might clarify one or two points here, would You explain to the committee how you' disbursed the $69,000? I don't. think that was gone into in much detail last week. TESTIMONY OF HERBERT L. PORTER-Resumed Mr.- PORTER. Yes, sir;' I will. April 7, I passed approximately $31,000 to Mr. Liddy--the purpose of the funds to be used for a purpose I was not aware' of. I passed $8,000 to Mr. Richard Howard at the, White House at Mr. Magruder's request. Senator GURNEY. What did he use that for? Mr. PORTER. I do not know, sir. Senator GURNEY. Did you ask Mr. Liddy what he was going to use. this money for? Mr.- PORTER. No, sir- I did not. Mr. Magruder instructed me to pass Mr. Liddy funds when he requested them, and I did not ask what they were used for nor did he tell me. Senator GURNEY. Go on. Mr. PORTER, I gave $300 at Mr. Magruder's direction to Mr. Douglas Hallet who was at the White House. who worked to help put some reports, together and it was--I do know the purpose of that was to pay roundtrip Mr fare for Mr. Hallet to California for an Easter vacation because he had helped out in the campaign putting these reports together. I paid $1,100 to Lionel Hampton for a band appearance and rally in 'Miami, Fla., in March. I paid approximately $3,700, $3,800 to a Roger Greaves in Los Angeles. I paid- Senator GURNEY. Do you know what that was for? Mr. PORTER. Mr. Greaves, on two occasions, promoted some sign carrying placards to greet, I believe it was, Senator Muskie upon airport arrival in Los Angeles, and also came on to the-was also paid for a period of about 2 weeks, served for a period of about 2 weeks and actually paid a month's salary in fact to do some Dick Tuck type, as I think I cited the other day, Dick Tuck type prank harassments in New Hampshire, Florida, and it lasted for about, 2 weeks and he went back to California. Senator GURNEY. Go on. Mr. PORTER. Gave $200 to Mr. Robert, Mardian for an advance trip to California that he took when the bank was closed I gave approximately $300 to about, I would say, seven or eight people. in various spots around the country to promote the President's campaign at opposing candidates' stops, signs which would say "This Is Nixon Country," or whatever. [00.13.11]