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Richard Helms (Full) Watergate Hearings Testimony — Transcript

by Patrick O'Dare · 31,139 words · 4,470 segments · language en · Watch on YouTube

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  1. 0:04[Music]
  2. 0:12now since you spent so much time as
  3. 0:15director of CIA the agency what
  4. 0:21recommendations can you make to this
  5. 0:23committee concerning new legislation to
  6. 0:26help prevent the misuse of the Central
  7. 0:29Intelligence Agency for political or
  8. 0:31other purposes other than the assigned
  9. 0:33purposes delineated in the act
  10. 0:35well senator Montoya I don't know how I
  11. 0:38legislates these matters I've never
  12. 0:41understood how morality and the proper
  13. 0:44conduct and the decency can be
  14. 0:46legislated about the in Washington over
  15. 0:52the years there have been many occasions
  16. 0:55when various people have tried to
  17. 0:57manipulate some organization or another
  18. 1:00in an improper way this is not new to us
  19. 1:04we read about in the papers constantly
  20. 1:06but how you legislate about this I swear
  21. 1:08to you sir I don't know in the Senate of
  22. 1:14the United States a resolution to
  23. 1:16establish a Select Committee of the
  24. 1:18Senate to conduct an investigation and
  25. 1:20study of the extent if any to which
  26. 1:22illegal improper or unethical activities
  27. 1:25were engaged in by any persons acting
  28. 1:28individually or in combination with
  29. 1:30others in the presidential election of
  30. 1:321972 or any campaign canvass or other
  31. 1:35activity related to it from Washington
  32. 1:38NPAC brings you gavel-to-gavel
  33. 1:40videotaped coverage of today's hearings
  34. 1:42by the Senate Select Committee and
  35. 1:44presidential campaign activities here is
  36. 1:47impact senior correspondent Robert
  37. 1:49MacNeil good evening the Watergate
  38. 1:52committee heard today from two former
  39. 1:54senior officials of the Central
  40. 1:56Intelligence Agency about how it helped
  41. 1:58Watergate burglary Howard hunt at the
  42. 2:00request of the White House the request a
  43. 2:03year before the Watergate break-in came
  44. 2:05from John Ehrlichman when hunt was
  45. 2:07working for the White House plumbers
  46. 2:08group former CIA director Richard Helms
  47. 2:11vehemently denied today
  48. 2:13that the agency had any part in the
  49. 2:15Watergate and said he was puzzled why it
  50. 2:17was so difficult to get that message
  51. 2:19across to acting FBI director gray just
  52. 2:22after the Watergate break-in but Helms
  53. 2:24did disclose today that one of the
  54. 2:27Watergate burglars Eugenio Martinez was
  55. 2:29on the CIA payroll at the time of
  56. 2:32Watergate and was hastily dropped Helms
  57. 2:34former deputy Robert Cushman
  58. 2:36now the general commanding the Marine
  59. 2:38Corps described supplying hunt with
  60. 2:40equipment and cues including a disguise
  61. 2:42and false papers in the summer of 1971
  62. 2:45for a secret White House project after
  63. 2:48being us by John Ehrlichman for health
  64. 2:50Cushman also recounted his troubles
  65. 2:52earlier this winter when Ehrlichman said
  66. 2:54he couldn't remember ever making such a
  67. 2:56request Cushman today confirmed that he
  68. 2:59did outside the hearings convicted
  69. 3:01Watergate conspirator James McCord today
  70. 3:04charged that the FBI followed special
  71. 3:06procedures in the Watergate
  72. 3:07investigation that slowed down the probe
  73. 3:10McCord says in a newspaper article that
  74. 3:12the FBI was required to clear all
  75. 3:14important leads with the Justice
  76. 3:16Department before following them up if
  77. 3:18this hadn't been the case says McCourt
  78. 3:20and if agents had searched his home and
  79. 3:21car soon after his arrest they would
  80. 3:24come they would have come up with
  81. 3:25$18,000 and hundred dollar bills and
  82. 3:27enough other clues to have broken the
  83. 3:29case wide open
  84. 3:30alright some of the side lights that
  85. 3:33come out of these hearings are as
  86. 3:34interesting as revelations of major
  87. 3:36developments today such a topic was what
  88. 3:38spies talk about and casual conversation
  89. 3:41impacts Peter Kerr reports that it is
  90. 3:43nothing cryptic have you ever wondered
  91. 3:46what real spies talk about well here's
  92. 3:48part of a conversation tape recorded
  93. 3:50July 22nd 1971 when ace White House
  94. 3:54sleuth a Howard hunt went down to the
  95. 3:56CIA to meet deputy director Robert H
  96. 3:58Cushman for the first time hunt I've
  97. 4:01been charged with quite a highly
  98. 4:03sensitive mission by the White House to
  99. 4:04visit and elicit information from an
  100. 4:06individual whose ideology we aren't
  101. 4:09entirely sure of they asked me to come
  102. 4:11over here and see if he could get me two
  103. 4:12things
  104. 4:13flash documentation and some degree of
  105. 4:16physical disguise general Cushman I
  106. 4:19don't see why not and a little bit later
  107. 4:21in the Congress
  108. 4:22Hut if you pardon my saying so you seem
  109. 4:25to have lost a little weight
  110. 4:26general Cushman yes I've taken some off
  111. 4:29I sort of go up and down when I go down
  112. 4:32it's because I go on the wagon and don't
  113. 4:33eat very much at all and that is hell to
  114. 4:35pay when you're being entertained and
  115. 4:37going to embassies and dinners but it's
  116. 4:39the only way I can lose weight is to be
  117. 4:40miserable really miserable then a little
  118. 4:44later in the conversation between hunt
  119. 4:46and general Cushman hunt says if I'm
  120. 4:50going to put on a physical disguise it's
  121. 4:51going to stick I wouldn't want to be
  122. 4:53seen walking out of here I'm sure
  123. 4:55they've got safe facilities downtown
  124. 4:56Cushman the police I used to meet people
  125. 4:59with an office building right near the
  126. 5:01Press Club there used to be a nightclub
  127. 5:03on the second floor and we used to meet
  128. 5:04people up there
  129. 5:05I had a gal who thought it was just lots
  130. 5:07of fun to be in this business she used
  131. 5:10to have me meeting people out on the dam
  132. 5:11park benches and all this stuff and I'd
  133. 5:14give her hell if necessary
  134. 5:15end of conversation now the transcript
  135. 5:18of this which was recorded by general
  136. 5:20Cushman incidentally also had the
  137. 5:22embarrassing revelation that the meeting
  138. 5:24with hunt was set up by John Ehrlichman
  139. 5:26of the White House staff a fact that
  140. 5:28Cushman really couldn't seem to recall
  141. 5:30during a series of flip-flop memos and
  142. 5:32testimony earlier this year all right
  143. 5:36tomorrow Peter reports the major witness
  144. 5:38will be former acting FBI director al
  145. 5:40Patrick gray who will start things off
  146. 5:42with a 40 page statement that's very
  147. 5:44critical of the White House
  148. 5:46presumably he will also be asked about
  149. 5:48the new McCord charges at the close of
  150. 5:51tonight's broadcast we'll have an
  151. 5:52interview with Dick Cavett who's just
  152. 5:54completed a program with four committee
  153. 5:56members to help you watch the
  154. 5:58intervening hours here is impacts
  155. 6:00nightly viewing guide in our number one
  156. 6:03former CIA director Helms says he felt
  157. 6:06obliged by law to help with a
  158. 6:07psychological profile on Daniel Ellsberg
  159. 6:10he suggests that law dealing with
  160. 6:12government leaks be changed Elm says
  161. 6:14that when John Dean put out feelers
  162. 6:16about using CIA funds he issued orders
  163. 6:19to general Walters that he do absolutely
  164. 6:21nothing to hurt the CIA's reputation in
  165. 6:24our number two Helms admits that one
  166. 6:26Watergate burglar Martinez was getting a
  167. 6:29CI a monthly retainer to keep an eye on
  168. 6:31escapees from Cuba
  169. 6:33Helms also says he bought when Howard
  170. 6:35hunt issued a request for the use of a
  171. 6:37CIA secretary located in Paris in the
  172. 6:40third hour Helms describes his
  173. 6:42resistance to John Dean's inquiries
  174. 6:44about using the CIA to pay bail money
  175. 6:46and salaries for Watergate defendants
  176. 6:48asked why he didn't probe the
  177. 6:50involvement of former CIA employees in
  178. 6:52Watergate Helms says his office turned
  179. 6:54everything it learned over to the FBI in
  180. 6:57the fourth hour the former deputy
  181. 6:59director of the CIA general Robert
  182. 7:01Cushman details Howard hunts request for
  183. 7:03false identification papers for gordon
  184. 7:05Liddy also in that hour he says he
  185. 7:08complained to John Ehrlichman about
  186. 7:09Hunt's request in Ehrlichman said he
  187. 7:11would restrain hunt in the fifth hour
  188. 7:13Cushman testifies that Howard hunt
  189. 7:15wanted a camera in a tobacco pouch for
  190. 7:18use on a new assignment and in that hour
  191. 7:20Cushman admits that the profile of
  192. 7:22Daniel Ellsberg was the only one done on
  193. 7:24an American that he can recall in his
  194. 7:26three years at the CIA now to Senator
  195. 7:29Ervin his gavel and today's proceedings
  196. 7:57committee will come to order
  197. 7:59I am constrained to make some remarks
  198. 8:05concerning a member of this committee
  199. 8:08senator Danny in no way of Hawaii
  200. 8:14senator Inouye is often an American made
  201. 8:21it born American of Japanese ancestry I
  202. 8:25don't know a fine American he showed his
  203. 8:33devotion to our country by fighting on
  204. 8:37this flag not only for the livers of our
  205. 8:41country but for the liberties of the
  206. 8:42free world
  207. 8:43in the Second World War he suffered of
  208. 8:48severe wounds which necessitated the
  209. 8:54amputation of his right arm he was
  210. 8:58decorated with the Distinguished Service
  211. 9:00Cross for extraordinary heroism in
  212. 9:04action with an armed enemy of the United
  213. 9:07States and I and he's proved himself in
  214. 9:13that a lot of days as one of the most
  215. 9:17dedicated Americans this country has
  216. 9:19ever known and I feel that the events of
  217. 9:24yesterday make it appropriate for me to
  218. 9:27make these remarks concerning a member
  219. 9:31of this committee who has proved himself
  220. 9:33was one of the most gallant of all
  221. 9:36Americans in the history of this
  222. 9:38Republic mr. chairman senator Baker was
  223. 9:43chairman may I say that I've known Danny
  224. 9:45Inouye since I've been in the Senate and
  225. 9:47there's no man I think is more loyal and
  226. 9:50dedicated to his country I don't know of
  227. 9:53anyone on this committee who's made a
  228. 9:54greater contribution to its efforts than
  229. 9:58senator no way I have a great affection
  230. 10:01for him as well as a great admiration
  231. 10:03for him
  232. 10:05we are in a tension filled atmosphere
  233. 10:10and it's unfortunate that things of this
  234. 10:12sort of curve I think a mark Center
  235. 10:16knows greatness is that I'm sure it will
  236. 10:19not affect his other consideration of
  237. 10:23the matters that are brought to our
  238. 10:24attention I'm sorry that the events of
  239. 10:28the last several days have occurred open
  240. 10:33think that it would not affect the
  241. 10:35objectivity and the efficiency and the
  242. 10:38effectiveness of this committee and I
  243. 10:41commend you mr. chairman for bringing
  244. 10:44that matter to the attention of the
  245. 10:47official record and I believe now it's
  246. 10:50behind us and we can get on with the
  247. 10:52business at hand thank you sir
  248. 10:55no further comments the council will
  249. 10:58call the first witness
  250. 11:00former director hounds
  251. 11:07you swear that the evidence you shall
  252. 11:10give to the Senate Select Committee on
  253. 11:12presidential campaign activity shall be
  254. 11:14the truth the whole truth and nothing
  255. 11:15but the truth so help you God I do you
  256. 11:20might state your full name and present
  257. 11:23address for the purposes of the record
  258. 11:27my name is Richard Helms and I'm
  259. 11:31presently ambassador to Iran resident in
  260. 11:35Tehran
  261. 13:03I should have addressed you as
  262. 13:06ambassador Helms and mr. chairman the
  263. 13:10ambassador Helms will be questioned
  264. 13:13initially by mr. dated dorsen assistant
  265. 13:15chief counsel pastor Helms how long have
  266. 13:26you held your present position I've been
  267. 13:29in Tehran since the middle of March of
  268. 13:32this year and prior to that were you the
  269. 13:36director of the Central Intelligence
  270. 13:37Agency yes I was the director of Central
  271. 13:40Intelligence was my title how long were
  272. 13:47you a director approximately six and a
  273. 13:49half years I believe the I was sworn in
  274. 13:52on June the 30th 1966 and I left office
  275. 13:56when mr. Schlesinger became director on
  276. 14:00the 2nd of February 1973 how long did
  277. 14:05you how long have you been a were you
  278. 14:08with the Central Intelligence Agency
  279. 14:10from the day at stores opened in 1947
  280. 14:14did you learn ambassador Helms in July
  281. 14:18of 1971 that E Howard hunt had been made
  282. 14:23a consultant to the White House I was
  283. 14:27informed of this and you recall how you
  284. 14:30were informed not specifically any
  285. 14:32longer I just I remember being told that
  286. 14:35he had gone to work for the White House
  287. 14:37but precisely under what circumstances I
  288. 14:39was told and on what specific date I do
  289. 14:41not recall did you have a conversation
  290. 14:44with general Cushman concerning Howard
  291. 14:47hunt in the summer of 1971 yes I recall
  292. 14:51that the general Cushman informed me
  293. 14:54that he had authorized giving the Howard
  294. 14:58hunt a tape recorder and a camera and I
  295. 15:04asked for what purpose and he said he
  296. 15:06wanted to conduct a one-time interview
  297. 15:08and that he'd been properly
  298. 15:10by the White House and that they were
  299. 15:12that he was working at their behest what
  300. 15:15how long have you known Howard hunt oh
  301. 15:20I've known him over the years when he
  302. 15:21worked for the agency and you recall
  303. 15:24approximately how long he worked for the
  304. 15:25agency
  305. 15:26or he must have worked for almost oh
  306. 15:28somewhere over 15 years anyway and what
  307. 15:32was general Cushman's position at that
  308. 15:34time in July of 71 that's correct
  309. 15:38he was the Deputy Director of Central
  310. 15:40Intelligence to your knowledge was the
  311. 15:45tape recorder and the camera given to
  312. 15:49mr. hunt I was informed that it was and
  313. 15:51my preoccupation at the time was to find
  314. 15:53out whether this was these were normal
  315. 15:56pieces of equipment and by normal I mean
  316. 15:59simply available in any store in
  317. 16:00downtown Washington who carried this
  318. 16:02kind of equipment or whether there was
  319. 16:04something tricky about him and I was
  320. 16:05assured they're perfectly routine and
  321. 16:07straightforward pieces of equipment I
  322. 16:09might say parenthetically that were in
  323. 16:12the last couple of days and talking with
  324. 16:15some of the gentlemen a special
  325. 16:17prosecutor Cox's office but some
  326. 16:19memorandum there about a clandestine
  327. 16:21camera having been given to our time I
  328. 16:24frankly sir don't know what a
  329. 16:25clandestine camera is the camera takes
  330. 16:27pictures or it doesn't that's all of
  331. 16:29those well could you describe the camera
  332. 16:32a little bit more ambassador I've never
  333. 16:34seen it do you know whether it was a
  334. 16:36camera that was concealed in some way
  335. 16:37I've been told it was put in a tobacco
  336. 16:40pouch carried in a tobacco pouch will
  337. 16:46you advised of any further requests by
  338. 16:48mr. hunter for assistance subsequent to
  339. 16:51this conversation of which I've just
  340. 16:54been speaking I learned I believe in a
  341. 16:57memorandum that mr. hunt had asked to
  342. 17:00have a secretary who was stationed with
  343. 17:04the CIA in Paris brought back from Paris
  344. 17:08and assigned to him in the White House
  345. 17:10he also wanted this to be done secretly
  346. 17:13and he didn't want anybody
  347. 17:15know about it that to me was
  348. 17:17unacceptable I saw no reason for this it
  349. 17:21seemed to me that the agency was being
  350. 17:23used it was being asked to have somebody
  351. 17:25brought back from parents and the signs
  352. 17:27of a man doing unidentified chores at
  353. 17:31the White House so I got a hold of
  354. 17:33general Cushman and told him that I
  355. 17:35thought this was totally unacceptable I
  356. 17:37wouldn't stand for it
  357. 17:40I don't recall whether it was then or a
  358. 17:42few days later but at some point the
  359. 17:46various additional requests which Hunt
  360. 17:48was making of the agency seemed to be
  361. 17:50totally unacceptable and I asked general
  362. 17:52Cushman to call mr. Ehrlichman and tell
  363. 17:55him that we just weren't going to do
  364. 17:56this anymore
  365. 18:00mr. ambassador Helms I'm advised there's
  366. 18:03some trouble hearing you to the rear of
  367. 18:04the room perhaps if you could bring the
  368. 18:06microphone a little bit closer to you
  369. 18:07this would be the story of my life and
  370. 18:10Senate committees I don't know whether I
  371. 18:12don't raise my voice high enough for
  372. 18:13what but or maybe I'm not speaking into
  373. 18:15the microphone now you've indicated that
  374. 18:21in your conversation with general
  375. 18:22Cushman that you indicated to mr.
  376. 18:26general Cushman that John Ehrlichman
  377. 18:30should be called why was it that John
  378. 18:33Ehrlichman was to be called because it
  379. 18:34was my distinct impression that he was
  380. 18:36the one who had arranged with general
  381. 18:37Cushman to have hunt get these pieces of
  382. 18:40equipment
  383. 18:47ambassador Helms won for the first time
  384. 18:50did you learn of the burglary of dr.
  385. 18:53Lewis Fielding's office that is dr.
  386. 18:56Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrists office
  387. 18:59I forget which weekend in May it was I
  388. 19:02think the second weekend of May this
  389. 19:04year 1973 I was in Shiraz and I picked
  390. 19:09up on Sunday an english-language
  391. 19:11newspaper and saw on the front page of
  392. 19:16it that had been a burglary of an office
  393. 19:18of a psychiatrist in California and the
  394. 19:22burglary had been done is said in the
  395. 19:24newspaper story with the assistance of
  396. 19:26CIA equipment that was the first time
  397. 19:28I'd ever heard of dr. feeling and a
  398. 19:30burglary or the fact that dr. Ellsberg
  399. 19:32had a psychiatrist I do know Bureau
  400. 19:38knowledge whether any equipment was used
  401. 19:40in the burglary that was the property of
  402. 19:42the CIA I've been assured by members of
  403. 19:47the agency and this assurance was given
  404. 19:49me when I was back here in May
  405. 19:51testifying before four other
  406. 19:52congressional committees that the
  407. 19:56equipment that was given to hunt was not
  408. 19:59used in the burglary of dr. Ellsberg's
  409. 20:01office that actually mr. hunt was
  410. 20:03physically not at the office he was
  411. 20:06staked out of dr. ELLs at the dr.
  412. 20:08Fielding's residence and that since he
  413. 20:12wasn't given any burglary equipment by
  414. 20:14the agency I've always wondered how it
  415. 20:16was that he used that equipment in the
  416. 20:20break-in so this is one of the things
  417. 20:23that seems to have been perpetuated is
  418. 20:25one of the myths around here that he
  419. 20:26somehow got burglary equipment from the
  420. 20:28agency which helped him break into
  421. 20:29places and I'm not aware of any burglary
  422. 20:32equipment he ever got from the agency
  423. 20:35ambassador Helms during the summer of
  424. 20:381971 did you learn of a request by a
  425. 20:42member of the White House staff for the
  426. 20:45Central Intelligence Agency to do a
  427. 20:48psychological or psychiatric profile of
  428. 20:50dr. Ellsberg yes I was familiar with
  429. 20:53request some time before this mr. David
  430. 20:58Young who was one of the assistants at
  431. 21:02the White House had originally been on
  432. 21:04dr. Kissinger staff informed me that he
  433. 21:08was being transferred to mr. Ehrlichman
  434. 21:09staff in other words he was going to
  435. 21:11work for mr. Ehrlichman and that he'd
  436. 21:13been given some duties in connection
  437. 21:16with general security procedures in the
  438. 21:18government classification of documents
  439. 21:21investigation of leaks and such of other
  440. 21:24such matters subsequent to that he
  441. 21:28called me and said that he wanted to get
  442. 21:30into these things he wanted to find out
  443. 21:32how the agency and the intelligence
  444. 21:34community handled a classification of
  445. 21:36documents and other security procedures
  446. 21:39I said I thought under the circumstances
  447. 21:41the best thing for me to do would be to
  448. 21:43put him in touch with the agency's
  449. 21:45director of security a gentleman named
  450. 21:47Howard Osborne who would then be able to
  451. 21:50talk with him and be as responsive to
  452. 21:53his requests as the agency could be it
  453. 21:57was apparently to mr. Osborn that mr.
  454. 22:00Young originally made the request for a
  455. 22:02profile on dr. Ellsberg mr. Osborne and
  456. 22:06brought this request to me sued me
  457. 22:10ambassador could you briefly summarize
  458. 22:12at the present time what this profile is
  459. 22:16there had been well I guess I'm sort of
  460. 22:24searching for a word here but in any
  461. 22:26event over a period of some years the
  462. 22:29agency had developed a technique for
  463. 22:33putting together a lot of information
  464. 22:35about a foreigner maybe a foreign
  465. 22:37statesman or a fire
  466. 22:38dignitary and then attempting to analyze
  467. 22:42what sort of a human being he was these
  468. 22:46things were called variously I think
  469. 22:48psychological profile is as good a title
  470. 22:51as any psychological study the idea was
  471. 22:54to give insights and to what motivated
  472. 22:56some of these individuals why they did
  473. 22:59things the way they did and so forth
  474. 23:02David Young knew that the agency before
  475. 23:06wrote papers such as this because he had
  476. 23:09seen them when he was on dr. Kissinger
  477. 23:10staff so he then said that he wanted the
  478. 23:17agency to do this and I remonstrated
  479. 23:19with him I said we have nothing we know
  480. 23:21nothing about dr. Ellsberg I've never
  481. 23:23laid eyes on him in my life we have no
  482. 23:25records on him we know nothing about him
  483. 23:27and I think this is an imposition to ask
  484. 23:29us to do this he pled with me he said
  485. 23:33that this was very important that the
  486. 23:35White House was very much interested in
  487. 23:38getting this material sorted out but mr.
  488. 23:41Ehrlichman regardless of highest
  489. 23:43priority so to dr. Kissinger that we
  490. 23:47should help that we were the only ones
  491. 23:49they knew in town who did things of this
  492. 23:50kind and that practice of doing them and
  493. 23:53that please would we do so I want to say
  494. 23:59here that the agency has a charge under
  495. 24:03the statute of or the National Security
  496. 24:06Act of 1947 which makes the director
  497. 24:10responsible for the protection of
  498. 24:13intelligence sources and methods from
  499. 24:15unauthorized disclosure that's written
  500. 24:17into the law and this is a charge has
  501. 24:20been on the director since 1947 and it's
  502. 24:23been a very difficult charge because
  503. 24:25finding out how leaks occur and how the
  504. 24:27enemy gets privileged information things
  505. 24:29of that kind is very difficult to do
  506. 24:31without having an investigative staff
  507. 24:33and the agency never has had
  508. 24:35negative staff for this these purposes
  509. 24:37and therefore this business about leaks
  510. 24:40and investigations thereof has been a
  511. 24:43very difficult if not impossible charge
  512. 24:45to carry out and when I was testifying
  513. 24:48before the Senate Foreign Relations
  514. 24:49Committee back in May in response to a
  515. 24:53question from Senator Hubert Humphrey I
  516. 24:55suggested that this language in the law
  517. 24:57either be taken out or amended in such a
  518. 24:59way that it was a fair charge on the
  519. 25:01director rather than what I thought was
  520. 25:03an unfair charge but it was that charge
  521. 25:05which gave him the leverage to rather
  522. 25:09oblige me to go along with an effort to
  523. 25:11make this profile did the staff of the
  524. 25:15Central Intelligence Agency they're apt
  525. 25:18to prepare such a profile yes they did
  526. 25:20and was it forwarded to mr. young I
  527. 25:24understand that it was forwarded to mr.
  528. 25:26young that it was found to be
  529. 25:27unsatisfactory that mr. Young
  530. 25:30remonstrated with the people who had
  531. 25:31written it about the fact that it was
  532. 25:33unsatisfactory I believe it was I've
  533. 25:35learned since that it was pointed out to
  534. 25:37them that more material was going to
  535. 25:40have to be provided otherwise they
  536. 25:42couldn't do any better than they've done
  537. 25:43already mr. Young said all right I will
  538. 25:46try and get you some more material which
  539. 25:48I believe he did so that the second
  540. 25:51profile was written and was the second
  541. 25:54profile or delivered to mr. young also I
  542. 25:56believe in other words this is the
  543. 25:58second version I think that's better
  544. 26:00English and did you have a conversation
  545. 26:02with mr. Young in connection with the
  546. 26:05delivery of the second profile to him
  547. 26:07yes as a matter of fact I did call him
  548. 26:10and I told him that the psychologists
  549. 26:13and psychiatrists who worked on this
  550. 26:15were very disturbed about the whole
  551. 26:16exercise they didn't feel that the
  552. 26:19material they've been given was adequate
  553. 26:20that they were being put in an unfair
  554. 26:22position that they didn't want their
  555. 26:24professional reputations put on the line
  556. 26:27as a result of this kind of an exercise
  557. 26:29and that if he was insisting on having
  558. 26:32this then I want his understanding and
  559. 26:34his undertaking but he would not
  560. 26:35identify it with the agency and put
  561. 26:38these fellows in jeopardy
  562. 26:42put these fellows professional
  563. 26:44reputation in jeopardy which is a during
  564. 26:48the period that the two profiles were
  565. 26:51prepared which I believe was took us
  566. 26:53into early November of 1971 what was
  567. 27:00your understanding as to the identity of
  568. 27:02the persons over at the White House who
  569. 27:04were involved in requesting and the
  570. 27:07profile and providing information to the
  571. 27:10agency for the profile I never heard of
  572. 27:15anybody being connected with this
  573. 27:17exercise except mr. David Young and when
  574. 27:20I returned here in May of this year 1973
  575. 27:23I was informed at the agency that during
  576. 27:27this period that this psychologists have
  577. 27:30been consulting with David Young at the
  578. 27:32White House that Howard could have been
  579. 27:33present on one occasion anyway and that
  580. 27:36he had specifically asked them not to
  581. 27:38inform me that he had been present they
  582. 27:40certainly did not inform me so I was
  583. 27:42totally unaware of his identification
  584. 27:44with this exercise many for him whatever
  585. 27:45and the first time you heard about his
  586. 27:48participation was in May of 1973 that is
  587. 27:51correct to the best of your knowledge
  588. 27:54Lasseter Hellmann's was any of the
  589. 27:56material that was used in the
  590. 27:59preparation of the psychological profile
  591. 28:03derived from the office of the
  592. 28:04psychiatrist of dr. Daniel Ellsberg or
  593. 28:07from any other illegal or improper
  594. 28:09source I have never heard that alleged
  595. 28:15bastard Holmes had liked now to direct
  596. 28:17our attention to June of 1972 and ask
  597. 28:21you when for the first time did you hear
  598. 28:23of the break-in of the Democratic
  599. 28:27National Committee headquarters at the
  600. 28:28Watergate it's my impression that I
  601. 28:31heard about it read about it the
  602. 28:33newspapers or heard it on the radio but
  603. 28:36[Music]
  604. 28:42this is not an elapse of memory this is
  605. 28:44just one of those things that this far
  606. 28:47this far back it's hard to know just
  607. 28:49exactly who might have told me or how I
  608. 28:51might have heard it certainly it was big
  609. 28:54news from the moment it happened and
  610. 28:56during the days immediately following
  611. 28:58the break-in were there conversations at
  612. 29:00the CIA concerning the break end as in
  613. 29:04the first place
  614. 29:06sometime on that weekend I received a
  615. 29:08telephone call from mr. Howard Osman the
  616. 29:11director of security to inform me that
  617. 29:14of the names of the individuals who had
  618. 29:17participated in the break-in and also to
  619. 29:20say that mr. hunt in some fashion was
  620. 29:23connected with it
  621. 29:25mr. Osmonds call to me was a perfectly
  622. 29:27routine matter that there was a a charge
  623. 29:33on him as director of security to inform
  624. 29:35me whenever anybody in the agency got in
  625. 29:37any kind of trouble with their present
  626. 29:39employees or past employees in other
  627. 29:41words right now so that I didn't have to
  628. 29:45catch up with these events like suicides
  629. 29:47and house break-ins and rapes and the
  630. 29:49various things that happened to the
  631. 29:51employees of any organization in the
  632. 29:52city like Washington so this is a
  633. 29:54perfectly routine thing and when he
  634. 29:56heard about these xci people who had
  635. 29:58abroad involved in this burglary he
  636. 30:00called me up and notified me about it on
  637. 30:03Monday when I came to the office that
  638. 30:07been no mention in the papers of mr.
  639. 30:09hunt so I got a hold of mr. Hoffman and
  640. 30:11said how come you told me that mr. hunt
  641. 30:12was involved with this and he said well
  642. 30:15there were some papers found in the
  643. 30:16hotel rule or one of the
  644. 30:18rumors Hunt's name on it and it looks as
  645. 30:20though he was somewhere in the area when
  646. 30:22they break in took place so I said all
  647. 30:24right and then from then on obviously
  648. 30:28there were various conversations in the
  649. 30:30agency as we went to work on various
  650. 30:32requests from the FBI for information
  651. 30:34about the people in their background and
  652. 30:36so forth and it formerly been employed
  653. 30:38by the agency am I correct that James
  654. 30:40McCord also was a former employee of the
  655. 30:42agency was and when did mr. McCord and
  656. 30:45Mr Hunt leave the employ of the agency
  657. 30:48they they left it at different times in
  658. 30:521970 they were both retired as I recall
  659. 30:56it now directing your attention to June
  660. 31:0322nd 1972 which was the day before your
  661. 31:09meeting with mr. Ehrlichman mr. Haldeman
  662. 31:12and general Walters at the White House
  663. 31:13did you have a conversation with Patrick
  664. 31:16gray on that afternoon namely the
  665. 31:18afternoon of June 22nd I believe that
  666. 31:21the committee is in possession of a
  667. 31:22memorandum which says that our
  668. 31:24memorandum or a note from mr. gray that
  669. 31:26says I had this conversation I have no
  670. 31:28reason to question that at all I was
  671. 31:30talking back and forth mr. gray at
  672. 31:32various times in connection with this
  673. 31:35Watergate break-in so I have no reason
  674. 31:38to doubt that there was one on the 22nd
  675. 31:40of June in these conversations did you
  676. 31:42discuss the possibility of CIA
  677. 31:45involvement in the break-in I assured
  678. 31:47was degre that the CIA had no
  679. 31:49involvement in the break-in no
  680. 31:51involvement whatever and it was my
  681. 31:54preoccupation consistently from then to
  682. 31:56this time to make this point and to be
  683. 31:59sure that everybody understands that it
  684. 32:01doesn't seem to get across very well for
  685. 32:03some reason but the agency had nothing
  686. 32:05to do with a Watergate break-in I hope
  687. 32:08all the newspaper men in the room hear
  688. 32:10me clearly
  689. 32:11now ambassador Helms I'd like to move
  690. 32:16that into the June 23rd 1972 and ask you
  691. 32:20if you recall attending the meeting with
  692. 32:23mr. Ehrlichman mr. Haldeman and general
  693. 32:27Walters I do recall it
  694. 32:29where was that meeting held that meeting
  695. 32:31was held in mr. Ehrlich goons office on
  696. 32:33the second floor of the East Wing West
  697. 32:38Wing of the White House do you recall
  698. 32:40the time of that meeting the meeting was
  699. 32:42had been originally scheduled for twelve
  700. 32:43o'clock it was changed to one o'clock
  701. 32:45and it took place shortly after 1:00
  702. 32:47o'clock could you please describe to us
  703. 32:51in substance what happens at that
  704. 32:53meeting general Walters and I arrived
  705. 32:57first and waited for a few minutes and
  706. 33:02mr. Haldeman and mr. Ehrlichman came
  707. 33:05into the room as best I can recall what
  708. 33:10was said and mr. Holabird did most of
  709. 33:13the talking so and whatever mr.
  710. 33:17Ehrlichman contributed in the course of
  711. 33:18this was either but not as had heard a
  712. 33:20smile or to agree with what mr. Haldeman
  713. 33:22said I just simply want to introduce it
  714. 33:25this way because then it's a little bit
  715. 33:26easier for me to describe mr. Haldeman
  716. 33:30said that the was a lot of flack about
  717. 33:34the Watergate burglary that the
  718. 33:37opposition was capitalizing on it that
  719. 33:42it was going to it was apparently
  720. 33:45causing some sort of unidentified
  721. 33:47trouble and he wanted to know whether
  722. 33:51the agency had anything to do with it I
  723. 33:53assured him that the agency had nothing
  724. 33:55to do with it
  725. 33:57he then said that the five men who had
  726. 34:01been found in the Democratic National
  727. 34:02Committee headquarters have been
  728. 34:04arrested that seemed to be adequate
  729. 34:07under the circumstances that the FBI was
  730. 34:10investigating what this was all about
  731. 34:13and that they unidentified were
  732. 34:20concerned about some FBI investigations
  733. 34:23in Mexico he also at that time made some
  734. 34:28what to me was an incoherent reference
  735. 34:31to an investigation of Mexico or
  736. 34:34investigation running into the Bay of
  737. 34:36Pigs I don't know what the reference was
  738. 34:39alleged to be but in any event I assured
  739. 34:42him that I have no interest in the Bay
  740. 34:44of Pigs that many years later that
  741. 34:45everything in connection without it been
  742. 34:47dealt with or liquidated as far as I was
  743. 34:49aware and I didn't care what they ran
  744. 34:52into in connection with that at some
  745. 34:58juncture in this conversation mr. hollom
  746. 35:01and then said that something the effect
  747. 35:03has been decided that the general
  748. 35:05Walters will go and talk to acting
  749. 35:07director grey of the FBI and indicate to
  750. 35:12him that these operations or these
  751. 35:14investigations of the FBI might run into
  752. 35:16CIA operations in Mexico and that it was
  753. 35:20desirable that the this not happened and
  754. 35:24that the investigation therefore should
  755. 35:26be either tapered off or reduced or
  756. 35:29something but there was no language
  757. 35:32saying stopped as far as I recall at
  758. 35:37this point the references to Mexico were
  759. 35:42quite unclear to me I had to recognize
  760. 35:46that if the White House the president
  761. 35:49mr. Haldeman somebody in high authority
  762. 35:51and information about something in
  763. 35:54Mexico which I did not have information
  764. 35:56about which is quite possible the White
  765. 35:58House constantly as the information
  766. 35:59which others don't have but it would be
  767. 36:01a prudent thing for me to find out if
  768. 36:03there was any possibility that some CIA
  769. 36:05operation was being was going to be
  770. 36:08affected and therefore I wanted the
  771. 36:11necessary time to do this I say this an
  772. 36:14explanation of the fact that it seems
  773. 36:16that since I had consistently pointed
  774. 36:21out that no CIA operations have been
  775. 36:24violated by any investigation up to then
  776. 36:26that
  777. 36:27had nothing to do with the Watergate
  778. 36:28burglary the fact of the matter was that
  779. 36:31if an investigation continued to go on
  780. 36:34it might run into something we were
  781. 36:35doing in Mexico I mean this possibility
  782. 36:37always have to exist nobody knows
  783. 36:39everything about everything so at this
  784. 36:44point I think it was repeated a second
  785. 36:50time that General Walters was to go and
  786. 36:52see acting director gray with this
  787. 36:54charge it was then indicated that acting
  788. 36:58director gray would probably be
  789. 36:59expecting the call that he was looking
  790. 37:01for some kind of guidance in this matter
  791. 37:02and that this should take place as soon
  792. 37:07as possible
  793. 37:07I believe mr. Ehrlichman at that point
  794. 37:09made his sole contribution to the
  795. 37:11conversation which was that he should
  796. 37:14get down and see gray is just as fast as
  797. 37:16he could we left this meeting mr.
  798. 37:21general waters and I and went downstairs
  799. 37:23to the automobile and I spoke to general
  800. 37:27Walters along the following lines I said
  801. 37:30when you go to see Acting Director gray
  802. 37:31I think you should confine yourself to
  803. 37:33reminding him that the agency and the
  804. 37:35FBI have a delimitation agreement it's
  805. 37:38been an understanding for many years
  806. 37:40that if the agency runs and any FBI
  807. 37:43agents or operations and the FBI should
  808. 37:46be immediately notified and if the FBI
  809. 37:47runs and 2/8 any agency agents or
  810. 37:50operation it shall be immediately
  811. 37:52notified I wasn't too sure whether
  812. 37:56acting director gray was familiar with
  813. 37:58this because he had not been acting
  814. 38:00director of the FBI for very long
  815. 38:02I wanted general waters to understand
  816. 38:04about this because he's been with the
  817. 38:06agency I think only about six weeks at
  818. 38:08that time and had been having briefings
  819. 38:09and I wasn't sure whether this had ever
  820. 38:11come to his attention in other words I
  821. 38:13was asking him to make a legitimate
  822. 38:14request of the Acting Director of the
  823. 38:17FBI that if they ran at any CIA
  824. 38:19operations in Mexico or anyplace else
  825. 38:22they were to notify us immediately
  826. 38:23and I thought general waters should
  827. 38:25restrict his conversation with acting
  828. 38:27degre to that point precisely whether he
  829. 38:31did or not well you will have an
  830. 38:33opportunity to ask him and to your
  831. 38:37knowledge did general Walters have a
  832. 38:38meeting with Patrick right yes he had
  833. 38:41one very shortly after this meeting in
  834. 38:44the White House because he reported to
  835. 38:46me later in the day about his meeting
  836. 38:48with gray that he'd been to see him that
  837. 38:51the general purport of what they had
  838. 38:54discussed and then for the first time I
  839. 38:57learned that acting director gray had
  840. 39:00told general Walters at this meeting
  841. 39:02about some money having been sent to
  842. 39:03Mexico I was unaware of any morning
  843. 39:07having been sent there at the time and
  844. 39:09even that explanation didn't say what
  845. 39:11the money was for but also floating
  846. 39:14around in this at the time was the name
  847. 39:17of a Mexican lawyer that we've been
  848. 39:19asked to check out by the FBI to find
  849. 39:21out if it was that if this man was in
  850. 39:23any way connected with the CIA
  851. 39:25his name was Oh Gary I believe and we
  852. 39:28have been running traces which is a word
  853. 39:31of art of going through the records to
  854. 39:33find out and checking with our people in
  855. 39:34Mexico to see if they knew him and so
  856. 39:36forth and I was some days subsequent
  857. 39:39that we got the information back that he
  858. 39:41was indeed a liar in Mexico but we'd
  859. 39:43never had any connection with him and I
  860. 39:44so notified the FBI now on Monday June
  861. 39:5126 did general Walters receive a
  862. 39:54telephone call from John Dean general
  863. 39:58Walters told me that he had been called
  864. 40:00by a man he did not know in the white
  865. 40:03house named John Dean and that Dean had
  866. 40:08asked to see him and when Walter said
  867. 40:12well I what do you want to see me about
  868. 40:14and so forth I believe Dean referred to
  869. 40:17the matters on which we had talked with
  870. 40:19Haldeman and Ehrlichman on the previous
  871. 40:21Friday
  872. 40:22in any event Dean said to general
  873. 40:25Walters if you want to verify my
  874. 40:28bonafide 'yes and who I am and
  875. 40:31i authority to talk with you please call
  876. 40:33John Ehrlichman so by the time Walters
  877. 40:36talked to me he said he had talked to
  878. 40:38Dean had verified by Congress telephone
  879. 40:41conversation with Ehrlichman that it was
  880. 40:43alright to talk to Dean and that he was
  881. 40:45going down to see him now when General
  882. 40:49Walters came back from seeing mr. Dean
  883. 40:53did he talk to you about the meeting he
  884. 40:55reported the meeting to me and told me
  885. 40:57that Dean had raised with him this
  886. 40:59question of the Watergate burglary that
  887. 41:03there was a lot there were a lot of
  888. 41:05problems in connection with problems
  889. 41:07unidentified was there any way in which
  890. 41:10the agency could help them so on it was
  891. 41:17quite clear that some kind of feelers
  892. 41:19were being put out to see a if there was
  893. 41:21any agency involvement or B whether the
  894. 41:24agency was prepared to assist in some
  895. 41:26way which is not at all identified it
  896. 41:30was at this meeting with General Walters
  897. 41:32when he was reporting this to me that I
  898. 41:35told him that I wanted him to be
  899. 41:37absolutely certain that he permitted
  900. 41:42nothing to happen using the agency's
  901. 41:45name facilities or anything else in
  902. 41:47connection with this business I said I
  903. 41:50didn't care whether he wanted to be a
  904. 41:51scapegoat I didn't care what he was
  905. 41:53prepared to quit on the issue I didn't
  906. 41:55care anything about that I simply wanted
  907. 41:57him to do absolutely nothing because I
  908. 42:00told him point-blank that even though he
  909. 42:03was a military officer and even though
  910. 42:04he was a presidential appointee that if
  911. 42:07he did something wrong it would was
  912. 42:08perched the name of the agency no matter
  913. 42:10whether he took the blame or not and I
  914. 42:11was simply not going to have it and I
  915. 42:13wanted him to be abundantly clear on
  916. 42:15this and any conversation yet with mr.
  917. 42:17Dean or with anybody else and as he
  918. 42:19reported to me on the subsequent two
  919. 42:21conversations with mr. Dean I know he
  920. 42:24reaffirmed this but I said now you hang
  921. 42:27in there you're doing fine but don't you
  922. 42:29yield an inch you've alluded to the two
  923. 42:33meetings that general Walters had with
  924. 42:37John Dean on the 27th and 20
  925. 42:40a did general Walters notify you before
  926. 42:42each meeting and briefed you as to what
  927. 42:45occurred after each meeting generals
  928. 42:47were very good about this is the best I
  929. 42:49recall it he told me each time that he
  930. 42:51was going down there and when the
  931. 42:53meeting was over he came back and
  932. 42:54reported what had taken place at it and
  933. 42:56could you briefly summarize first
  934. 42:58ambassador what general Walters told you
  935. 43:01with respect to the meeting of the 27th
  936. 43:04and the meeting of the 28th it is my
  937. 43:07recollection that it was at the meeting
  938. 43:09of the 27th which was Tuesday I believe
  939. 43:12that the issue first came up of whether
  940. 43:15or not the CIA out of its covert funds
  941. 43:18was prepared to provide bail money for
  942. 43:21the defendants in the Watergate burglary
  943. 43:26not only did this issue come up but I
  944. 43:29also believe that the additional point
  945. 43:31was made would it be possible for the
  946. 43:34CIA to pay the salaries of these
  947. 43:37individuals while they served their jail
  948. 43:40sentences general Walters and I have
  949. 43:47told you about the conversation I had
  950. 43:49with general warrants today before about
  951. 43:51how he was to guide himself in this
  952. 43:52matter
  953. 43:54pointed out to mr. Deane that the agency
  954. 43:57couldn't possibly do anything like that
  955. 43:59but he had no authority to do it on his
  956. 44:02own that his authorities derived from me
  957. 44:04and that he knew what my position was
  958. 44:06and in addition he said he couldn't
  959. 44:10couldn't conceivably imagine that a
  960. 44:12thing like that would remain secret
  961. 44:14forever
  962. 44:14and last but not least under the ground
  963. 44:19rules which we operate with the Congress
  964. 44:21salutes the agency operates with the
  965. 44:24Congress of the United States and the
  966. 44:25exceptional expenditure of this kind
  967. 44:27would have to be identified to the
  968. 44:28chairman of the Senate Appropriations
  969. 44:30Committee and the chairman of the House
  970. 44:32Appropriations Committee during the is
  971. 44:37obviously cooled mr. Deane's order and
  972. 44:41it was so reported to you yes during the
  973. 44:45week of the 26th did you receive a
  974. 44:47telephone call from Patrick of gray with
  975. 44:50respect to setting up a meeting
  976. 44:52between representatives of the two
  977. 44:54agencies yes I do recall a conversation
  978. 44:57to set up a meeting because I was
  979. 44:59anxious to have one with him there were
  980. 45:00a lot of crises we were running there
  981. 45:02were in the involvement of these former
  982. 45:04CIA people that we've been passing to
  983. 45:06the FBI there was trying to be a lot of
  984. 45:08leaks out of the FBI for the first time
  985. 45:11that I could remember on matters of this
  986. 45:13kind of leaks of ongoing operational
  987. 45:15material and I wanted to get together
  988. 45:18with him and some of his people to see
  989. 45:19if we couldn't get some of these things
  990. 45:22not straightened out so much it's get to
  991. 45:25walking along and in harmony so we
  992. 45:30agreed to have the meeting the next day
  993. 45:32the next morning which I believe was the
  994. 45:3528th if I'm I may be mistaken it's all
  995. 45:38in the record I'm sure he called back
  996. 45:40and said that he was so busy that he
  997. 45:42couldn't make the meeting it wasn't
  998. 45:43possible for him to hold it and he would
  999. 45:45probably have to put it off until the
  1000. 45:46following week I told him I was sorry
  1001. 45:49about that because I was planning to
  1002. 45:51leave the end of the week in which we're
  1003. 45:53speaking to go to Australia and that I
  1004. 45:55wasn't going to be there the following
  1005. 45:56week and he had a meeting he was going
  1006. 45:58to have to be with General Orders now I
  1007. 46:01asked him about the second two meetings
  1008. 46:07on the 27th and 28th between general
  1009. 46:11Walters and mr. Dean did a summary that
  1010. 46:13you give gave us applied to the two
  1011. 46:15meetings together or was that solely
  1012. 46:18with respect to the meeting of the 27th
  1013. 46:20I am NOT able any longer mr. Council to
  1014. 46:24sort out precisely what out of my own
  1015. 46:27memory what occurred at each of these
  1016. 46:29meetings I have two very clear
  1017. 46:32recollections one was that it was the
  1018. 46:33second meeting that the question of the
  1019. 46:35bail money came up because I don't
  1020. 46:37recall that at all in connection with my
  1021. 46:39longer conversation with general waters
  1022. 46:42and for the first meeting as far as the
  1023. 46:44third meeting was concerned by a
  1024. 46:46distinct impression of that was that
  1025. 46:48this was just more feelers and that it
  1026. 46:50was relatively short because mr. Deane
  1027. 46:52was getting nowhere was general
  1028. 46:55just one or two questions more mr.
  1029. 46:57ambassador you were familiar were you
  1030. 47:01not with the fact that general Walters
  1031. 47:03was preparing memoranda of these
  1032. 47:05meetings yes because after the issue
  1033. 47:09came up with possible bail or paying the
  1034. 47:13salaries of the fellows who had broken
  1035. 47:16in this struck me that we were getting
  1036. 47:19into an area here which was very
  1037. 47:21questionable indeed and that therefore
  1038. 47:24these various meetings ought to be a
  1039. 47:26matter of record in case this ever came
  1040. 47:28up in any future time so it was at that
  1041. 47:30point that in a conversation as I recall
  1042. 47:33it general Walters either general Walsh
  1043. 47:35or I are both of us agreed that this
  1044. 47:37oughta be or these things ought to be
  1045. 47:38reduced to writing in the record ought
  1046. 47:40to be kept am i correct then that you
  1047. 47:45did go to Australia around the 1st of
  1048. 47:47July of 1972 yes I did and that Patrick
  1049. 47:50gray did not schedule the meeting
  1050. 47:52between reschedule the meeting between
  1051. 47:54the two of you before you left I never
  1052. 47:56met with him mr. chairman I have no
  1053. 48:00further questions at this time
  1054. 48:02in a moment Fred Thompson wants to
  1055. 48:05compare today's testimony with some
  1056. 48:07earlier statements made by mr. Helms
  1057. 48:09public televisions coverage of the
  1058. 48:11Senate hearings will continue after a
  1059. 48:13pause for station identification are
  1060. 48:15abridged coverage of these hearings is
  1061. 48:17provided as a public service by the
  1062. 48:19member stations of PBS the Public
  1063. 48:22Broadcasting Service from Washington
  1064. 48:28impact continues its coverage of
  1065. 48:30hearings by the Senate Select Committee
  1066. 48:32on presidential campaign activities here
  1067. 48:35again correspondent Robert MacNeil as we
  1068. 48:38go back to the hearings minority counsel
  1069. 48:39Fred Thompson is about to question
  1070. 48:41Richard Helms
  1071. 49:04this town's as my friends down here
  1072. 49:09maybe we can do this and that at the
  1073. 49:11same time still let me turn this I can
  1074. 49:16face you and be and very good as I
  1075. 49:20understand it you had a conversation
  1076. 49:21with Patrick gray on June the 22nd when
  1077. 49:26you advised him that the CIA was not
  1078. 49:28involved in the break-in was your
  1079. 49:31conversation limited to CIA involvement
  1080. 49:34in the break-in or did you go into
  1081. 49:36whether or not the investigation might
  1082. 49:40undercover other CIA operations possibly
  1083. 49:43I don't recall ever discussing with mr.
  1084. 49:46gray this question of its uncovering
  1085. 49:47other CIA operations strictly the
  1086. 49:49break-in discussion that we had no
  1087. 49:52involvement and I believe that as part
  1088. 49:53of this conversation there was this
  1089. 49:55business about the Mexican lawyer that I
  1090. 49:57don't recall whether he was specifically
  1091. 49:59mentioned the Mexican part was mentioned
  1092. 50:01at that time but mr. gray had on his
  1093. 50:03mind in some way the idea that there was
  1094. 50:06some CIA involvement that they were
  1095. 50:07running into and I was attempting to
  1096. 50:09reassure him that this was not the case
  1097. 50:11as best I knew it
  1098. 50:12CIA involvement in the Watergate
  1099. 50:13break-in itself or in some way connected
  1100. 50:16with it honestly did he state the source
  1101. 50:18of his concern he never did did he
  1102. 50:22indicate whether or not it was due to
  1103. 50:24the bureau's own investigation or
  1104. 50:27whether or not someone else had told him
  1105. 50:28that I'm outside the bureau I was unable
  1106. 50:30to tell I simply was surprised that this
  1107. 50:33kept coming up all right so the next day
  1108. 50:36you had the conversation with mr.
  1109. 50:39Walters and mr. Haldeman mr. Ehrlichman
  1110. 50:42as I understand I'd like to go over
  1111. 50:44briefly what you stated was discussed in
  1112. 50:47that conversation I believe you stated
  1113. 50:49that mr. Haldeman indicated that the
  1114. 50:53Watergate was being capitalized on that
  1115. 50:58filed man had been arrested and that
  1116. 51:01seemed adequate and that sort of thing
  1117. 51:03well obviously the Watergate
  1118. 51:05investigation was was the the reason for
  1119. 51:09the meeting was it not
  1120. 51:10as to what the investigation might
  1121. 51:12disclose that was the basis for the
  1122. 51:14meeting but I can only assume in
  1123. 51:16hindsight that it wasn't to Thompson
  1124. 51:18because at the time nobody had
  1125. 51:20identified to us why we were being
  1126. 51:21called to the White House there was we
  1127. 51:23arrived and waited to hear what the
  1128. 51:24subject of the meeting was when they
  1129. 51:28stated their concern about possible
  1130. 51:33Mexican involvement or Mexican and vomer
  1131. 51:35with the CIA of course they were talking
  1132. 51:37about the Watergate investigation
  1133. 51:38turning up other involvement were they
  1134. 51:41not I assumed this is what they were
  1135. 51:43talking about yes but as I mentioned a
  1136. 51:44moment ago and I do want to underline
  1137. 51:46this I was totally unfamiliar at that
  1138. 51:49time with what the-- what mexico had to
  1139. 51:51do with anything
  1140. 51:54but you had talked to Pat gray the day
  1141. 51:57before I believe you stated that you
  1142. 52:00thought that he might have mentioned a
  1143. 52:02Mexican longer at that time yes sir but
  1144. 52:05and when the Mexican lawyers name was
  1145. 52:08mentioned there was never any
  1146. 52:09implication as to why they were even
  1147. 52:11asking about him so this was not very
  1148. 52:14revealing what I'm concerned about is
  1149. 52:18just the extent to which the Watergate
  1150. 52:21situation was was actually discussed
  1151. 52:24because of course I think it'd be fair
  1152. 52:26to say that some appearances from what
  1153. 52:28has been reported and some of the
  1154. 52:30testimony and this forum and others is
  1155. 52:33that the Watergate investigation was the
  1156. 52:35reason for the concern and that could
  1157. 52:37have been a legitimate concern it could
  1158. 52:38have been a a possible cover-up of the
  1159. 52:41Watergate investigation itself into the
  1160. 52:43Watergate matter and this is the area
  1161. 52:46I'd like to address myself to event and
  1162. 52:48I'd like to refer to your testimony
  1163. 52:51before the Committee on Armed Services
  1164. 52:54Thursday May 17 1973 now I had a little
  1165. 53:00bit of difficult to getting this myself
  1166. 53:01last night and this morning I've just
  1167. 53:03received it and if you like in the
  1168. 53:06course of my discussion of it to
  1169. 53:08forrester recess with the permission of
  1170. 53:10the chairman the committee
  1171. 53:11where you can can have a copy of it or
  1172. 53:14copy of certain pages I feel like we can
  1173. 53:16do that but it's alright with you I'll
  1174. 53:17go ahead and proceed right now and read
  1175. 53:19certain portions of that and ask you a
  1176. 53:21few questions based on them I know the
  1177. 53:28transcript from which mr. Thompson is
  1178. 53:30about to read is nominally classified as
  1179. 53:33secret I take it that there is no
  1180. 53:37objection on the part of the committee
  1181. 53:38or any claim on the part of the
  1182. 53:41committee that it does not have the
  1183. 53:43authority to permit counsel go ahead and
  1184. 53:45read that document as it relates to the
  1185. 53:47mandate for inquiry I understand in the
  1186. 53:53resolution also from the statement made
  1187. 53:57as I understand it to the staff
  1188. 53:59attorneys by the White House attorneys
  1189. 54:02that they left a question of how does
  1190. 54:07this kind of determination of the
  1191. 54:10committee mr. chairman I entirely agree
  1192. 54:12with you I simply wanted to make sure
  1193. 54:13that the record reflected effect that is
  1194. 54:16the committee position that not was
  1195. 54:18Manning the nominal secret
  1196. 54:19classification that by reason of our
  1197. 54:21inherent authority by reason of
  1198. 54:24communications to us from the chairman
  1199. 54:32of the committees which took this of the
  1200. 54:35same committees we took this evidence
  1201. 54:37also said that as far as they handed
  1202. 54:39their power they'd consent to the use of
  1203. 54:41it Thank You mr. towns were mr. Walters
  1204. 54:50and yourself being a question at the
  1205. 54:53same time on this occasion were you in
  1206. 54:55the same room to get that occasion
  1207. 54:57general waters was sitting on my
  1208. 54:59and general Cushman was sitting on my
  1209. 55:01left and we were in the room together
  1210. 55:03the whole time
  1211. 55:06let me read if I might and you prefer me
  1212. 55:10to read other portions that you might
  1213. 55:12remember go back a little further than I
  1214. 55:13will but there's a general preliminary
  1215. 55:19section here and what you stated was not
  1216. 55:21a very long conversation and he'd
  1217. 55:25mentioned the Bay of Pigs
  1218. 55:26as ambassador hams well you could first
  1219. 55:31of all mr. woolsley let's go back to the
  1220. 55:32meeting itself for a moment when mr.
  1221. 55:35Holloman said that it had been decided
  1222. 55:36that the general should call on mr. gray
  1223. 55:38did he say are intimated in any way who
  1224. 55:41had decided to own that course of action
  1225. 55:44ambassador Helms well you can make an
  1226. 55:46intimation I'd rather not drawing
  1227. 55:48information if the Chairman will leave
  1228. 55:49me of that it was mr. Harlan mr.
  1229. 55:51elderman two most senior officials with
  1230. 55:53white house next to president self
  1231. 55:55giving this instruction I really feel
  1232. 55:57like now as I did then that it would
  1233. 55:59have been presumptuous to oppress them
  1234. 56:00any harder as how they had come up with
  1235. 56:04this or they'd got an idea who was
  1236. 56:05behind it mr. woolsley you said mr.
  1237. 56:09Holloman winch in the Bay of Pigs did he
  1238. 56:11mention Watergate case itself in the
  1239. 56:14course of the conversation
  1240. 56:15ambassador Helms no mr. woolsley he did
  1241. 56:19not
  1242. 56:21ambassador Helms no Senator Symington
  1243. 56:24general Walters you confirm that do you
  1244. 56:27general Walters yes sir he didn't
  1245. 56:30mention the water key senator Symington
  1246. 56:34I heard you volunteer volunteering and
  1247. 56:37as long as you did I thought it should
  1248. 56:40be on the record mr. woolsley maybe this
  1249. 56:43is something that we should get cleared
  1250. 56:44up but the committee was given a copy of
  1251. 56:47general Walters affidavit general
  1252. 56:50Walters he did in the introduction when
  1253. 56:53he said this case had stirred up a lot
  1254. 56:55of thing and the opposition is
  1255. 56:57attempting to exploit it
  1256. 56:59that was the reference I testified to
  1257. 57:03previously I believe as we came in he
  1258. 57:05said the Watergate has stirred up a lot
  1259. 57:06of things
  1260. 57:07opposition's attempting to exploit its
  1261. 57:09general Walters talking and it has been
  1262. 57:12decided that you will go that was the
  1263. 57:15inevitable lead-in to the whole
  1264. 57:17reference Senator Jackson decided that
  1265. 57:21you would go general office mr. gray and
  1266. 57:23tell him if he pursues the Mexican part
  1267. 57:26of the financing of this business will
  1268. 57:28uncover CIA assets or scheme for moving
  1269. 57:32money mr. woolsley I should perhaps read
  1270. 57:35into the record here a few sentences
  1271. 57:36from general Walters affidavit quote as
  1272. 57:39I recall it mr. Haldeman said the
  1273. 57:41Watergate instance was causing trouble
  1274. 57:43and being exploited by the opposition it
  1275. 57:47had been decided that the White House
  1276. 57:49that I would go to the acting FBI
  1277. 57:51director Dre and tell him now that the
  1278. 57:54five suspects were arrested further
  1279. 57:56inquiries into the Mexican aspect of the
  1280. 57:58matter might jeopardize on the CIA's
  1281. 57:59activities in this area was there any
  1282. 58:03discussion in the meeting at all of
  1283. 58:05Watergate ambassador hams not to the
  1284. 58:08best of my recollection and I frankly
  1285. 58:11was hard put at the time to understand
  1286. 58:13what Mexico was involved with this was
  1287. 58:17only a week after the break-in I didn't
  1288. 58:19know why Mexico was being mentioned
  1289. 58:20never occurred to me that it had
  1290. 58:23anything to do with the Watergate
  1291. 58:25burglary Senator Simon general Walter do
  1292. 58:28you agree with that general longest to
  1293. 58:29me the whole question was connected by
  1294. 58:31virtue of the beginning of the thing
  1295. 58:33when he said Watergate could be opened
  1296. 58:36as a preliminary as a leading as to why
  1297. 58:38he wanted me to go
  1298. 58:39it was obviously a lead end of this but
  1299. 58:42he didn't go into any discussion of the
  1300. 58:43Watergate other than what I said in the
  1301. 58:48beginning and then you go to other
  1302. 58:52matters mr. that let me see if I've
  1303. 58:56summarized this correctly the question
  1304. 58:58was put directly to you first as one
  1305. 59:01hunter was in the Watergate discussion
  1306. 59:02and you said there was not I was the way
  1307. 59:06I recalled it mr. Thompson at the time
  1308. 59:08since then I've seen general waters
  1309. 59:11memorandum for
  1310. 59:11record I've talked with him about this
  1311. 59:13and we went over again what had occurred
  1312. 59:15and I frankly at that point had
  1313. 59:17forgotten this lead into the
  1314. 59:19conversation after all I'd been away for
  1315. 59:22some time I've been involved with other
  1316. 59:23things and if my memory was less than
  1317. 59:26perfect at that time it was less than
  1318. 59:27perfect
  1319. 59:28there was no I had no intention of
  1320. 59:30jiggery-pokery or anything else in
  1321. 1:00:03general yes he didn't mention the water
  1322. 1:00:06view and then mr. Wallace said this is
  1323. 1:00:09something we should clear up and he
  1324. 1:00:11refers to general Walters affidavit at
  1325. 1:00:13that time which he had previously
  1326. 1:00:14submitted in which he mentioned these
  1327. 1:00:16these things mr Thomson what I'm
  1328. 1:00:18referring to and what I saw subsequently
  1329. 1:00:20was a memorandum for the record which I
  1330. 1:00:22believe is in the custody of the
  1331. 1:00:24committee which was written several days
  1332. 1:00:27after this 23 June espresso memorandum
  1333. 1:00:31dated June 28 1970 I think that's
  1334. 1:00:33correct and it was that memorandum which
  1335. 1:00:35I subsequently saw which I had not seen
  1336. 1:00:38at the time that I was testifying
  1337. 1:00:40I talked to general Walters about it I
  1338. 1:00:42had no reason to at that point to
  1339. 1:00:44question general Walters memorandum he
  1340. 1:00:47has an excellent ability to recall as
  1341. 1:00:50you will probably are aware he's an
  1342. 1:00:52excellent linguist and anybody that can
  1343. 1:00:55speak five or six languages with the
  1344. 1:00:57ability that he can and certainly has
  1345. 1:00:59the mental equipment to recall something
  1346. 1:01:02for five days after the event took place
  1347. 1:01:05and I've obviously talked to him about
  1348. 1:01:09this and I had clearly forgotten that
  1349. 1:01:12introductory aspect of the sounds are
  1350. 1:01:14you are you basing your testimony now
  1351. 1:01:16your own memory or upon mr. Walters
  1352. 1:01:20memory I mean you've accounted your
  1353. 1:01:25faith in his memory which I'm sure is
  1354. 1:01:27probably well-placed but I would think
  1355. 1:01:33that this would be a rather significant
  1356. 1:01:35matter if Haldeman and Ehrlichman has
  1357. 1:01:37been widely reported from the basis of
  1358. 1:01:40this memorandum when she just referred
  1359. 1:01:41to I suppose
  1360. 1:01:43came in and says five people have been
  1361. 1:01:45arrested and that ought to be enough and
  1362. 1:01:47that's the lead-in to just as to how the
  1363. 1:01:49CIA or the FBI she conductance
  1364. 1:01:52investigation and the basis of CIA
  1365. 1:01:54contact with FBI would think that this
  1366. 1:01:56was something that that that you would
  1367. 1:02:00remember so I'm really trying to
  1368. 1:02:02determine whether your testimony is
  1369. 1:02:04based upon your own independent
  1370. 1:02:06recollection or just after having read
  1371. 1:02:09this memorandum and your faith in
  1372. 1:02:11general Walters recollections well
  1373. 1:02:13that's the combination of the two mr.
  1374. 1:02:15Thompson because when he jogged my
  1375. 1:02:16memory and we went back over the meeting
  1376. 1:02:18together then I did recall these other
  1377. 1:02:21remarks having been made well I charge a
  1378. 1:02:23memory here and the testimony before the
  1379. 1:02:27committee also after remember the
  1380. 1:02:32committee of naming raised
  1381. 1:02:33of affidavit of the memorandum general
  1382. 1:02:36walters said this that he did in the
  1383. 1:02:39introduction when he said referring to
  1384. 1:02:41the watergate mentioning to the
  1385. 1:02:42watergate he did in the introduction
  1386. 1:02:45when he said this case has stirred up a
  1387. 1:02:47lot of things and the opposition is
  1388. 1:02:50attempting to exploit it
  1389. 1:02:51I believe Europe testimony here today
  1390. 1:02:53was attempting to capitalize on that was
  1391. 1:02:57the reference that testified to
  1392. 1:02:59previously I believe I assume he's
  1393. 1:03:01referring to his affidavit or a
  1394. 1:03:02memorandum I believe as we came in he
  1395. 1:03:06said the Watergate has stirred up a lot
  1396. 1:03:07of things but opposition is attempting
  1397. 1:03:09to exploit it it had been decided that
  1398. 1:03:12you will go that was inevitable lead-in
  1399. 1:03:15mister mr. Walker mr. woolsley I should
  1400. 1:03:20perhaps reading the record a few
  1401. 1:03:21sentences of general Walters affidavit
  1402. 1:03:23and then at that time they read into the
  1403. 1:03:25record a few sentences of General Motors
  1404. 1:03:27affidavit which you just referred to
  1405. 1:03:29which is decided by the White House I
  1406. 1:03:40should go to acting director FBI agree
  1407. 1:03:42and at five suspects were arrested
  1408. 1:03:44further inquires and the Mexican aspect
  1409. 1:03:47of the matter might jeopardize don't see
  1410. 1:03:49any activities and another question is
  1411. 1:03:51goodbye
  1412. 1:03:53was there any discussion in the meeting
  1413. 1:03:55all of Watergate ambassador Helms not to
  1414. 1:03:58the best of my recollection all I didn't
  1415. 1:04:00recall it at that time but when I went
  1416. 1:04:03over this with general Walters and we
  1417. 1:04:04tried to piece this meeting together
  1418. 1:04:06then that I did recall if these matters
  1419. 1:04:10had been alluded to did it occur to you
  1420. 1:04:13or has it affected you that consciously
  1421. 1:04:16or subconsciously the fact that it could
  1422. 1:04:18be very least to some extent
  1423. 1:04:21embarrassing for general Walters if you
  1424. 1:04:25testified contrary to to him did you
  1425. 1:04:27discuss that possibility with him when
  1426. 1:04:29you went over these matters no because I
  1427. 1:04:31saw him just a moment before we actually
  1428. 1:04:33went into the room of course it was
  1429. 1:04:37after you got into the room before you
  1430. 1:04:38realized that you had any it was
  1431. 1:04:41unfinished in your testimony was it not
  1432. 1:04:43that's right and you were in the room
  1433. 1:04:45before you first realized what this
  1434. 1:04:48memorandum said were you not in the
  1435. 1:04:52memorandum in fact as a matter of fact
  1436. 1:04:55that memorandum was not on the table at
  1437. 1:04:57that time as I recall it there was an
  1438. 1:04:59affidavit that I believe that those
  1439. 1:05:01memoranda were submitted subsequently
  1440. 1:05:03the committee I may be wrong the and and
  1441. 1:05:08comparing your testimony today with what
  1442. 1:05:10his memorandum says a couple of things
  1443. 1:05:13do strike me his memorandum dated June
  1444. 1:05:1728 says that June twenty thirty thirteen
  1445. 1:05:23hundred on request I called the director
  1446. 1:05:25Helms on John Eric when Robert Haldeman
  1447. 1:05:29in Devlin's office in the White House
  1448. 1:05:30Haldeman said that the bugging affair at
  1449. 1:05:32the Democratic National Committee
  1450. 1:05:33headquarters of Watergate apartments had
  1451. 1:05:35made a lot of noise and that the
  1452. 1:05:37Democrats are trying to maximize on it
  1453. 1:05:40then down here he says since
  1454. 1:05:46since five suspects have been arrested
  1455. 1:05:48this should be sufficient let me ask you
  1456. 1:05:50a few other things about this memorandum
  1457. 1:05:52while while we're on it mr. towns he
  1458. 1:05:58states in here also that Holloman said
  1459. 1:06:04the whole affair was getting
  1460. 1:06:05embarrassing and it was the president's
  1461. 1:06:06wish that Walters call Andre and
  1462. 1:06:10suggested him that since five suspects
  1463. 1:06:12have been arrested this should be
  1464. 1:06:13sufficient it was not advantageous to
  1465. 1:06:16have the inquiry pushed comma
  1466. 1:06:18especially in Mexico do you call the
  1467. 1:06:21president's name being mentioned no I'd
  1468. 1:06:23still don't agree with the general
  1469. 1:06:25Walters about that I don't recall it
  1470. 1:06:27having been put that way
  1471. 1:06:33director Hamm said again reading from
  1472. 1:06:36the Walters memorandum yet talked agree
  1473. 1:06:39on the previous day may plain to him the
  1474. 1:06:42agency was not behind the matter and it
  1475. 1:06:44was not connected with it none of the
  1476. 1:06:46suspects none of the suspects was
  1477. 1:06:49working for it nor had worked for the
  1478. 1:06:53agency in the last two years yet told
  1479. 1:06:56ray that none of the investigators was
  1480. 1:07:00touching any covert projects of the
  1481. 1:07:03agency current or ongoing did you tell
  1482. 1:07:07mr. gray that it was touching none of
  1483. 1:07:10the covert projects of the agency or did
  1484. 1:07:12you have any basis for saying that at
  1485. 1:07:14that time I was unaware of any covert
  1486. 1:07:16projects of the agency that had been
  1487. 1:07:18touched on up to that time did you did
  1488. 1:07:21you tell ray that if you recall or did
  1489. 1:07:23you just simply tell him the CIA was not
  1490. 1:07:25involved in the Watergate breaking I
  1491. 1:07:27told him what CIA was not involved in
  1492. 1:07:28the Watergate break-in I do not recall
  1493. 1:07:31whether I told him that it did not thus
  1494. 1:07:33far run and then he CIA covert projects
  1495. 1:07:37did you tell him that none of the
  1496. 1:07:39suspects was working for the CIA nor had
  1497. 1:07:42worked for these and last
  1498. 1:07:44yes then at least one of the suspects
  1499. 1:07:50had worked for the FBI previous to
  1500. 1:07:54afford CIA freeze for the last two years
  1501. 1:07:56is that who was that well I'm asking you
  1502. 1:08:00you said none of them had worked with
  1503. 1:08:02the CIA within the last two years I
  1504. 1:08:04assumed that before that one at least
  1505. 1:08:05one of them had well mr. McCord had been
  1506. 1:08:08an employee of the CIA for some 20 years
  1507. 1:08:10before he retired Mr Hunt had worked
  1508. 1:08:13there at least 15 maybe more and a
  1509. 1:08:16couple of the Cubans had at one time had
  1510. 1:08:18the contractual relationship with the
  1511. 1:08:21agency you know which two Cubans
  1512. 1:08:25do you mind giving me the names I'm not
  1513. 1:08:28a computer and I would be Barker perhaps
  1514. 1:08:33mr. Barker Barker I think had a
  1515. 1:08:35relationship back in the early 60s I
  1516. 1:08:37think it Sturgess another individual I
  1517. 1:08:41think he at one time it had some
  1518. 1:08:43connection of Artie Martinez had been on
  1519. 1:08:46a sort of a retainer to report on
  1520. 1:08:50individuals who came in from Cuba as to
  1521. 1:08:54whether they'd be worth interrogating or
  1522. 1:08:56interviewing or not in Florida and he'd
  1523. 1:08:58been on that retainer of about $100 a
  1524. 1:09:01month on the understanding that he would
  1525. 1:09:05report him from time to time when he had
  1526. 1:09:07something to report when I found out
  1527. 1:09:09that he was still on the and I had this
  1528. 1:09:13connection with the agency at the time
  1529. 1:09:15of this break-in he was cut off was it
  1530. 1:09:20cut off right after we had discovered
  1531. 1:09:23that he was involved in the break-in
  1532. 1:09:26you mean Martinez was on retainer by the
  1533. 1:09:29CIA at the time of the break-in that's
  1534. 1:09:33right but in Florida for the purposes
  1535. 1:09:38I've identified
  1536. 1:09:41beg your pardon in Florida I didn't
  1537. 1:09:44understand that last statement mr.
  1538. 1:09:48Martinez was resident in Florida as far
  1539. 1:09:53as the agency knew because he lived in
  1540. 1:09:57Florida and because he was a Cuban exile
  1541. 1:09:59he was kept on a loose arrangement
  1542. 1:10:02whereby he would report to the agency
  1543. 1:10:05from time to time Cubans who got out of
  1544. 1:10:08Cuba
  1545. 1:10:09either legally or illegally whom he
  1546. 1:10:11thought might have some information that
  1547. 1:10:13would be useful to the United States
  1548. 1:10:14government and then he would report in
  1549. 1:10:16and give the name of this individual
  1550. 1:10:19when was he taken off retainer by the
  1551. 1:10:23CIA he went on when it was ascertained
  1552. 1:10:26that he was involved in the break-in he
  1553. 1:10:29was taken off right then when was it
  1554. 1:10:31ascertained that he was involved in the
  1555. 1:10:32break-in well I assume and then when his
  1556. 1:10:35name was given to us by the FBI which
  1557. 1:10:40was the Imagine within 24 hours or 48
  1558. 1:10:43hours or 72 hours after the break is how
  1559. 1:10:46was this done did you do the CIA
  1560. 1:10:49communicate when mr. Martinez was there
  1561. 1:10:52any paperwork involved
  1562. 1:10:53I don't recall the precise details of
  1563. 1:10:56the way it was done there are many
  1564. 1:10:57people in the agency you can tell you it
  1565. 1:10:59may even be in your records already the
  1566. 1:11:01agency has been most cooperative in
  1567. 1:11:02turning over lots of written material
  1568. 1:11:05about these various matters and I
  1569. 1:11:07imagine it's in there someplace I just
  1570. 1:11:08don't remember well it seems to me mr.
  1571. 1:11:13Helms that there might well have been
  1572. 1:11:15concerned as to the role of the FBI or
  1573. 1:11:18the CIA by all parties involved at this
  1574. 1:11:23particular time
  1575. 1:11:24right after the break-in in June of 72
  1576. 1:11:26if in fact one of the persons who had
  1577. 1:11:29broken in was at that time on a retainer
  1578. 1:11:31by the CA did you know at the time of
  1579. 1:11:35your conversation with mr. Halden mr.
  1580. 1:11:37Arrington on the 23rd that mr. Martinez
  1581. 1:11:40was in fact on retainer
  1582. 1:11:41I don't recall I imagine I may have but
  1583. 1:11:45that doesn't mean that the CIA was
  1584. 1:11:46involved in the burglary no sir no sir I
  1585. 1:11:49mean I don't think you ought to put
  1586. 1:11:50words in my mouth
  1587. 1:11:51I didn't think I was the issue seems to
  1588. 1:11:55be whether or not there was a legitimate
  1589. 1:11:57concern with regard to either at that
  1590. 1:12:01time whether the CIA was involved in the
  1591. 1:12:03burglary or whether or not other covert
  1592. 1:12:07CIA activities might be exposed or
  1593. 1:12:09whether or not Haldeman and Ehrlichman
  1594. 1:12:11quite frankly were using this as an
  1595. 1:12:13excuse to cover up the Watergate
  1596. 1:12:15investigation which which also quite
  1597. 1:12:18frankly has been widely in plaid to say
  1598. 1:12:22the least now that's what I'm trying to
  1599. 1:12:24get at now you've already mentioned the
  1600. 1:12:27fact that you talked to Patrick gray and
  1601. 1:12:29there was some talk besides the people
  1602. 1:12:32involved in the Watergate break-in
  1603. 1:12:34McCord was a former CIA agent hunt was a
  1604. 1:12:37former CIA agent Martinez was on
  1605. 1:12:41retainer at the time of the break-in
  1606. 1:12:42Sturgess form a contact form employee of
  1607. 1:12:47the CIA you know also in Mexico as I
  1608. 1:12:50understand there was some talk about an
  1609. 1:12:52attorney down there as being a CIA
  1610. 1:12:54contact I suppose would be the correct
  1611. 1:12:57way to put that would it not that was
  1612. 1:13:00what we were asked if we had any
  1613. 1:13:01connection with him you talk to mr. gray
  1614. 1:13:05I believe on June 27 about a mr. Gary
  1615. 1:13:09old and they did you know the FBI had
  1616. 1:13:12asked us if this Mexican lawyer had any
  1617. 1:13:14connection with the agency we conducted
  1618. 1:13:17an investigation to ascertain whether or
  1619. 1:13:20not he had
  1620. 1:13:21and I reported to mr. gray maybe we had
  1621. 1:13:23no connection with the agency we knew
  1622. 1:13:25nothing about it but what I'm trying to
  1623. 1:13:29get at is the 27th
  1624. 1:13:31four days after this meeting there was
  1625. 1:13:34still some discussion mr. four there are
  1626. 1:13:36knives there was a problem with mr. of
  1627. 1:13:39gear Hill as if my notes are correct mr.
  1628. 1:13:43gray called you about this matter at
  1629. 1:13:4411:30 a.m. and you could not or did not
  1630. 1:13:51respond immediately and you returned mr.
  1631. 1:13:53gray is called at 3:40 that afternoon
  1632. 1:13:55and said that to see how he did not in
  1633. 1:13:58fact have any interest in mr. Garre oh
  1634. 1:14:00is that mr. recollection but I want to
  1635. 1:14:03point out mr. Thompson cases any
  1636. 1:14:05question in your mind that from the
  1637. 1:14:07whenever we were initially asked about
  1638. 1:14:10this Mexican lawyer it would have taken
  1639. 1:14:12a few days to ascertain this to be sure
  1640. 1:14:15about it we have two check files and
  1641. 1:14:18records and we'd have to check with
  1642. 1:14:19people in Mexico and this is not
  1643. 1:14:21something that would happen from one
  1644. 1:14:23minute to the next but I don't recall
  1645. 1:14:25when the first inquiry was made to us
  1646. 1:14:27about a man in Doeg area I just simply
  1647. 1:14:30know from the record since I've
  1648. 1:14:31consulted the record on this point that
  1649. 1:14:34I did report this back to mr. gray that
  1650. 1:14:37we had no connection with him the agency
  1651. 1:14:39had no connection with him on the 27th
  1652. 1:14:41of June I believe you have documents
  1653. 1:14:43there in my own handwriting attesting to
  1654. 1:14:45this what mr. towns just showed in order
  1655. 1:14:52that we're as clear as we can be on this
  1656. 1:14:54I would like to ask you one more time
  1657. 1:14:57whether to the best of your independent
  1658. 1:15:02recollection the Talman did say that
  1659. 1:15:06opposition was capitalizing on the
  1660. 1:15:09Watergate and fireman had been arrested
  1661. 1:15:11and that was adequate I can't vouch for
  1662. 1:15:14those exact words but as I reconstructed
  1663. 1:15:17this meeting with general Walters and
  1664. 1:15:19went over with there was some sort of
  1665. 1:15:21our lead in our reference at the
  1666. 1:15:22beginning of the Congress
  1667. 1:15:23to this burglary and it was after you're
  1668. 1:15:27sitting there in the same room with
  1669. 1:15:29general Walters and hearing his
  1670. 1:15:32testimony that it did in fact occur and
  1671. 1:15:35it was after your reading his memorandum
  1672. 1:15:37where he stated that it did in fact
  1673. 1:15:39occur before you first mentioned
  1674. 1:15:42yourself that you recall that it did in
  1675. 1:15:44fact occur that is that correct that's
  1676. 1:15:47relatively yeah I'm sure that's good
  1677. 1:15:49enough anyway sentiment are you just
  1678. 1:16:02have two questions I'm chairman thank
  1679. 1:16:04you did you know James McCord personally
  1680. 1:16:13yes sentiment I how long had you known
  1681. 1:16:16him well it's hard to tell you when I
  1682. 1:16:20might have first met him but I saw him
  1683. 1:16:23from time to time during let's say the
  1684. 1:16:26time that I was director of the agency
  1685. 1:16:27during those six and a half years I
  1686. 1:16:30recall is having a bit of my office on
  1687. 1:16:32two or three occasions on various
  1688. 1:16:34matters what kind of a man was he he had
  1689. 1:16:37a good reputation and what was his
  1690. 1:16:40reputation for veracity I have never had
  1691. 1:16:47any cause to question mr. mccords
  1692. 1:16:49reputation for veracity you say that his
  1693. 1:16:53reputation as a human being as a man as
  1694. 1:16:55an employee was very good yes it was he
  1695. 1:16:58left with a a good record behind him and
  1696. 1:17:01what can you say about Mr Hunt did you
  1697. 1:17:04know him yes I did know it what was his
  1698. 1:17:06reputation
  1699. 1:17:08well mr. hunt was at us well he had a
  1700. 1:17:17a good reputation there were some
  1701. 1:17:19questions at various times during his
  1702. 1:17:22employment about how well he had carried
  1703. 1:17:24out certain assignments but there was
  1704. 1:17:25nothing but Millian about this was just
  1705. 1:17:27a question of his effectiveness mr. hunt
  1706. 1:17:31was a bit of a romantic he used to write
  1707. 1:17:33books in his spare time and I think
  1708. 1:17:38there was a tendency sometimes him to
  1709. 1:17:40get a little bit carried away with some
  1710. 1:17:42of the things he was involved in but
  1711. 1:17:44he'd never done anything illegal or
  1712. 1:17:45nefarious or anybody was aware of and
  1713. 1:17:48when he left the agency he left a record
  1714. 1:17:50a decent record behind him how would you
  1715. 1:17:52say about his reputation for veracity
  1716. 1:18:01well I've said sir that he was romantic
  1717. 1:18:04I think that I just don't have any way
  1718. 1:18:09of being able to answer that I would
  1719. 1:18:11have assumed that in the matters of
  1720. 1:18:13importance he would tell the truth now
  1721. 1:18:16since you spent so much time as director
  1722. 1:18:19of CIA the agency what recommendations
  1723. 1:18:24can you make to this committee
  1724. 1:18:26concerning new legislation to help
  1725. 1:18:29prevent the misuse of the Central
  1726. 1:18:32Intelligence Agency for political or
  1727. 1:18:34other purposes other than the assigned
  1728. 1:18:36purposes delineate it in the act we send
  1729. 1:18:40them on time I don't know how one
  1730. 1:18:41legislates these matters I've never
  1731. 1:18:45understood how morality and the proper
  1732. 1:18:47conduct and decency can be legislated
  1733. 1:18:50about the in Washington over the years
  1734. 1:18:56there have been many occasions when
  1735. 1:18:59various people have tried to manipulate
  1736. 1:19:01some organization or another in an
  1737. 1:19:03improper way this is not new to us we
  1738. 1:19:07read about it in the papers constantly
  1739. 1:19:09but how you legislate about this I swear
  1740. 1:19:11to you sir I don't know well would you
  1741. 1:19:14say that your experience with respect to
  1742. 1:19:17this episode there was an attempt by
  1743. 1:19:21some people to manipulate the agency and
  1744. 1:19:24its facilities there was no question
  1745. 1:19:26that the seemed to be an effort to use
  1746. 1:19:27it in quotes quote use it unquote
  1747. 1:19:31Thank You mr. chairman
  1748. 1:19:49the time from January at the 20th 1969
  1749. 1:19:55at the spring of 72 January the 20th
  1750. 1:19:581969 yes I just went trying to fix this
  1751. 1:20:01right from well basically from 69 for
  1752. 1:20:03the beginning of 16 inauguration day on
  1753. 1:20:06to the spring of 1972 were there
  1754. 1:20:10occasions when you were contacted by
  1755. 1:20:12either the Attorney General John
  1756. 1:20:13Mitchell or the Deputy Attorney General
  1757. 1:20:15Robert mardian well I used to see mr.
  1758. 1:20:19Mitchell quite frequently because mr.
  1759. 1:20:21Mitchell had duties giving him by the
  1760. 1:20:25president that had nothing whatever to
  1761. 1:20:29do with the conduct of the affairs of
  1762. 1:20:31the Department of Justice and so I saw
  1763. 1:20:33him with some regularity in meetings in
  1764. 1:20:36his office on a variety of matters
  1765. 1:20:40having to do with the affairs of the
  1766. 1:20:42agency and with our various operations
  1767. 1:20:46were there any times when in these
  1768. 1:20:51contacts with either mr. Mitchell I
  1769. 1:20:53don't recall your having said whether or
  1770. 1:20:56not you'd ever met mr. Marty and not I
  1771. 1:20:57did meet him I bet he one day mr.
  1772. 1:20:59Mitchell's office as a matter of fact
  1773. 1:21:01were there any contacts that you had
  1774. 1:21:06with either Messrs Marty and or Mitchell
  1775. 1:21:09where you were asked to bring the CIA
  1776. 1:21:12into investigations of a domestic nature
  1777. 1:21:15I don't recall any such meetings I know
  1778. 1:21:22that the time that I mentioned that I
  1779. 1:21:26met mr. Moore
  1780. 1:21:27in mr. Mitchell's office it's my
  1781. 1:21:29recollection that the reason he was
  1782. 1:21:31there was that he'd been put in charge
  1783. 1:21:32of an internal security operation or the
  1784. 1:21:35division of the Justice Department and
  1785. 1:21:37that he was going to get together a
  1786. 1:21:39group of individuals in the various
  1787. 1:21:41intelligence organizations to sit with
  1788. 1:21:43him in an effort to make up some reports
  1789. 1:21:48and analyses and so forth about domestic
  1790. 1:21:52unrest and things of that kind but it
  1791. 1:21:55was always made very clear by me and I
  1792. 1:21:57never was challenged by mr. Mitchell
  1793. 1:21:59that anything that we contributed to
  1794. 1:22:02these meetings had to be as a result of
  1795. 1:22:04our work overseas of material we
  1796. 1:22:07developed there which might have some
  1797. 1:22:09bearing on things in the United States
  1798. 1:22:12as for example the Fetty and the
  1799. 1:22:15terrorists we've been working on them
  1800. 1:22:18we've been working on certain people
  1801. 1:22:20involved in drug smuggling and a variety
  1802. 1:22:26of things but at no time in other words
  1803. 1:22:33or there wasn't any sort of a pattern of
  1804. 1:22:37requests of trying to bring the CIA into
  1805. 1:22:41matters that you would consider properly
  1806. 1:22:42outside the scope of the CIA I'm not
  1807. 1:22:45questioning your reaction at all I don't
  1808. 1:22:48recall them senator wicker
  1809. 1:23:00do you recall discussing with the
  1810. 1:23:04committee staff that you were being
  1811. 1:23:06pushed to enter the domestic
  1812. 1:23:07investigation area this committee staff
  1813. 1:23:11yes well at various times questions have
  1814. 1:23:17come up and well I remember one time
  1815. 1:23:20there was a discussion and with some of
  1816. 1:23:24these the president's foreign
  1817. 1:23:26intelligence advisory board about
  1818. 1:23:28domestic operations and so forth and
  1819. 1:23:30they didn't think they were going
  1820. 1:23:31satisfactorily and could the agency make
  1821. 1:23:33a contribution to this and I pointed out
  1822. 1:23:36to them very quickly it could not there
  1823. 1:23:37was no way but this was a matter that
  1824. 1:23:40kept coming up in the context of feelers
  1825. 1:23:43how can we do a better job isn't there
  1826. 1:23:45somebody else that can take on some of
  1827. 1:23:47these things if the FBI isn't doing them
  1828. 1:23:49as well as they should
  1829. 1:23:50are there no other facilities but it was
  1830. 1:23:52in that context it was not a direct
  1831. 1:23:54pressure on me go do it did you ever
  1832. 1:24:01consider resigning your position as
  1833. 1:24:04director of the CIA because of these
  1834. 1:24:05types of feelers or indications no
  1835. 1:24:10senator Wiker I don't mean to be
  1836. 1:24:12immodest but I felt that I understood
  1837. 1:24:16about these matters and these D
  1838. 1:24:17limitations and I thought I could take
  1839. 1:24:19care of the agency better if I stayed
  1840. 1:24:21where I was I've gathered from your
  1841. 1:24:25statement that you have a great pride in
  1842. 1:24:27the agency I do sir and the only point
  1843. 1:24:32that I'm trying to bring out it let me
  1844. 1:24:34just relate to you to your last answer
  1845. 1:24:36did you have any concern that if you
  1846. 1:24:40left the agency as its director that it
  1847. 1:24:45might get into these other types of
  1848. 1:24:47areas well I don't know that my thinking
  1849. 1:24:50ever went quite that far but because I
  1850. 1:24:53had no
  1851. 1:24:54to suppose that my successor would be a
  1852. 1:24:57a man of inadequate caliber but you felt
  1853. 1:25:01that but I've been around a long time
  1854. 1:25:03and I thought I understood pretty well
  1855. 1:25:05what we were supposed to do and where
  1856. 1:25:06we're not supposed to do and if there
  1857. 1:25:08are any sins the agency is committed
  1858. 1:25:10they're on my shoulders I'm not pawning
  1859. 1:25:12them off on anybody else
  1860. 1:25:14I knew the ground rules I have know the
  1861. 1:25:17laws and all the rest of it and I did
  1862. 1:25:19the best I could to keep the agency free
  1863. 1:25:21and clear and sailing straight and I
  1864. 1:25:25gather you felt you felt that you
  1865. 1:25:27yourself felt that it would do just that
  1866. 1:25:31as long as you were excuse the
  1867. 1:25:34expression at the helm in your in your
  1868. 1:25:43meeting with mr. Holloman was direct and
  1869. 1:25:48general Walters and was general Cushman
  1870. 1:25:53there at that meeting also the 23rd the
  1871. 1:25:55meeting of the toilet yes sir as I
  1872. 1:25:56recall it we were asked to come together
  1873. 1:25:58by Senator Symington and general Cushman
  1874. 1:26:03was sitting on my left in general
  1875. 1:26:04Walters was sitting on my right and we
  1876. 1:26:07were sitting right together at the table
  1877. 1:26:09why wouldn't such a request as mr.
  1878. 1:26:15Haldeman was making and be made to you
  1879. 1:26:17you were the director of the CIA and the
  1880. 1:26:21request that was being made was having
  1881. 1:26:24to do with the Acting Director of the
  1882. 1:26:26FBI so why not talk to you did you were
  1883. 1:26:31you being talked around here I I'd like
  1884. 1:26:33to get just that what I was being talked
  1885. 1:26:35to ran and this I don't know exactly in
  1886. 1:26:40what form this came up but I was assured
  1887. 1:26:43that it has been decided the general
  1888. 1:26:45waters was to do that
  1889. 1:26:46and obviously I wondered at the time as
  1890. 1:26:49to why did you express any you'd make
  1891. 1:26:54any comment at the time saying that he
  1892. 1:26:58shouldn't do it that I should do it no
  1893. 1:27:00that you know turning mr. Hallman was
  1894. 1:27:04tall if you've got anything to say to my
  1895. 1:27:06agency would you please say it to me
  1896. 1:27:07rather than those are my subordinates
  1897. 1:27:10well I did not pronounce right now we
  1898. 1:27:12were sitting right there together the
  1899. 1:27:13four of us and it was being made so
  1900. 1:27:16clear that this was the way it was going
  1901. 1:27:17to be done and had to be done there they
  1902. 1:27:19wanted that then that way
  1903. 1:27:29I have no further questions at this time
  1904. 1:27:30is chairman
  1905. 1:27:35Senta in no way thank you very much mr.
  1906. 1:27:39chairman mr. chairman mr. vice chairman
  1907. 1:27:41before proceeding I'd like to thank both
  1908. 1:27:43of you for your very generous remarks
  1909. 1:27:45this morning if I may I'd like to take
  1910. 1:27:48the liberty of thanking you in Hawaiian
  1911. 1:27:50we would say Mahalo and aloha which
  1912. 1:27:52means thank you very much and I love you
  1913. 1:27:55both mr. ambassador
  1914. 1:28:01you've indicated that as director of the
  1915. 1:28:04CIA you have the statutory
  1916. 1:28:07responsibility for quote the protection
  1917. 1:28:10of intelligence sources and methods come
  1918. 1:28:13on from unauthorized disclosure said
  1919. 1:28:15Renu he is the rest of the things yes
  1920. 1:28:17sir
  1921. 1:28:18now during the period from June of 71
  1922. 1:28:20until your new assignment in Iran did
  1923. 1:28:25you have occasion to report on matters
  1924. 1:28:27falling under that category to the
  1925. 1:28:30President of the United States no sir I
  1926. 1:28:33did not report any matters of that kind
  1927. 1:28:35directly because in the United States we
  1928. 1:28:39had a subcommittee of the United States
  1929. 1:28:44intelligence board charged with security
  1930. 1:28:47this involved the system of clearances
  1931. 1:28:51and how the community would work
  1932. 1:28:53together in classifying documents and
  1933. 1:28:55matters of this kind when there were
  1934. 1:28:58leaks which seemed to be unauthorized
  1935. 1:29:00particularly of material that was in
  1936. 1:29:03intelligence channels the matter was
  1937. 1:29:06referred to this use of security
  1938. 1:29:08subcommittee to see if any information
  1939. 1:29:11could be ascertained as to what agency
  1940. 1:29:13of government had leaked the information
  1941. 1:29:15or what individual and what agency of
  1942. 1:29:17government had given this information
  1943. 1:29:19out these investigations usually aborted
  1944. 1:29:23efforts were made through the security
  1945. 1:29:25officers of the other agencies to find
  1946. 1:29:26out who might have done these things but
  1947. 1:29:28I don't remember any of them coming to
  1948. 1:29:30any successful conclusion
  1949. 1:29:31we had no investigative staff for this
  1950. 1:29:34we had no rights to investigate in the
  1951. 1:29:37State Department for example
  1952. 1:29:38the Department of Defense we simply
  1953. 1:29:41counted on their people to contribute to
  1954. 1:29:43this effort but we had very poor results
  1955. 1:29:47and one of the reasons that I've felt
  1956. 1:29:50burdened by this charge and the statute
  1957. 1:29:53over the years is that it gave me a
  1958. 1:29:55responsibility which I had no devices
  1959. 1:29:57for carrying out were these discussions
  1960. 1:30:00ever held in the Oval Office or the
  1961. 1:30:03Cabinet Room or the president's
  1962. 1:30:05executive office building
  1963. 1:30:07we're not the discussions on matters
  1964. 1:30:10having to do with the use of
  1965. 1:30:12subcommittee I'm sure that at various
  1966. 1:30:14times and those in the four years and
  1967. 1:30:17since January in the 20th 1969 there
  1968. 1:30:22were discussions about leaks I remember
  1969. 1:30:24one early in the administration which
  1970. 1:30:26took place in the Oval Office there were
  1971. 1:30:28several cabinet members there and I
  1972. 1:30:30remember I was there myself were you
  1973. 1:30:34aware that these conversations may have
  1974. 1:30:36been taped I was not mr. Butterfield has
  1975. 1:30:40testified that these conversations were
  1976. 1:30:44being taped
  1977. 1:30:45do you think as director of the CIA that
  1978. 1:30:48is just - no responsibility to get all
  1979. 1:30:51of these tapes there would be my
  1980. 1:30:54statutory responsibility directors today
  1981. 1:30:58in order not to compromise the CIA
  1982. 1:31:03frankly sir wouldn't have occurred to me
  1983. 1:31:05and I didn't know that there any tapes
  1984. 1:31:08in existence while I was director and
  1985. 1:31:10since then I really hadn't thought about
  1986. 1:31:11it if you knew that these were being
  1987. 1:31:15taped do you think it would be the
  1988. 1:31:18statutory responsibility under the
  1989. 1:31:20National Security Act for the director
  1990. 1:31:22of the CIA to call upon the White House
  1991. 1:31:26to receive those tapes well sir others
  1992. 1:31:30that otherwise it might compromise the
  1993. 1:31:32sources and methods of the CIA I
  1994. 1:31:37wouldn't have thought so so during NUI
  1995. 1:31:40because it's that we were supposed to
  1996. 1:31:42protect them against unauthorized
  1997. 1:31:43disclosure and
  1998. 1:31:45Russians with the president and is the
  1999. 1:31:47duly you cleared the cabinet ministers
  2000. 1:31:49would not constitute unauthorized
  2001. 1:31:51disclosure a few days ago we have
  2002. 1:31:53testimony indicating that three of these
  2003. 1:31:57tapes were placed into the hands of a
  2004. 1:31:59private citizen kept away from the
  2005. 1:32:02official custodian for 48 hours
  2006. 1:32:06would you consider that proper I would
  2007. 1:32:10not consider that proper I thank you
  2008. 1:32:13very much sir seventh attorney mr.
  2009. 1:32:23ambassador what will Hunts areas of of
  2010. 1:32:26work at the CIA so de gurney he was with
  2011. 1:32:33the agency for many years and had a
  2012. 1:32:36variety of assignments you might pull
  2013. 1:32:38that Michael I'm sorry I didn't move it
  2014. 1:32:40over I had a variety of assignments and
  2015. 1:32:44I honestly think it would be putting my
  2016. 1:32:46memory to too much of a test to remember
  2017. 1:32:48what they all were I remember there was
  2018. 1:32:49one that he had some assignment in
  2019. 1:32:51connection with the operations leading
  2020. 1:32:53up to the so-called Bay of Pigs but this
  2021. 1:32:56is readily available in the agency you
  2022. 1:32:58could get his personnel record and then
  2023. 1:33:00it would be accurate well I'm not
  2024. 1:33:02interested in a detailed account I
  2025. 1:33:04wanted of his areas were in the sort of
  2026. 1:33:07work that he was doing on June 17th it
  2027. 1:33:15would be hard for me to recall I don't
  2028. 1:33:17but I I just don't remember
  2029. 1:33:24how often does the CIA help out former
  2030. 1:33:29employees and the new loan of equipment
  2031. 1:33:32as in the case of mr. hunt well I can
  2032. 1:33:37only say senator journey that this was
  2033. 1:33:39an extraordinary exception and it was
  2034. 1:33:42done because we had been asked to do it
  2035. 1:33:44by the White House has it ever been done
  2036. 1:33:46before do you know it not to my
  2037. 1:33:49knowledge
  2038. 1:33:52well has it do you think it has been
  2039. 1:33:55done before without your knowledge this
  2040. 1:33:58is always possible senator gurney it's a
  2041. 1:34:00large organization I would hope not but
  2042. 1:34:02I can't say that I've never been done no
  2043. 1:34:04of course at least no other CIA person
  2044. 1:34:08has said to you that yes we did this on
  2045. 1:34:11some other occasion was so and so I
  2046. 1:34:13don't recall that having been said to me
  2047. 1:34:16since this was such an unusual request
  2048. 1:34:19why did the CIA go ahead and cooperate
  2049. 1:34:23with Condon
  2050. 1:34:24well general Cushman had already
  2051. 1:34:26authorized this as I understood at the
  2052. 1:34:29time on the basis of mr. Ehrlichman
  2053. 1:34:31having asked that the agency help at
  2054. 1:34:35that time as I recall it he was simple
  2055. 1:34:40Cushman was simply told that this was
  2056. 1:34:41for him to conduct an interview we had
  2057. 1:34:44no way of knowing was an interview in
  2058. 1:34:46the United States or an interview
  2059. 1:34:47overseas had already been done by the
  2060. 1:34:49time I learned about it and the what
  2061. 1:34:55what was your reaction when Cushman told
  2062. 1:34:58you well I was not pleased about it
  2063. 1:35:01because I didn't quite understand why it
  2064. 1:35:03was that he couldn't have acquired these
  2065. 1:35:05things someplace else
  2066. 1:35:06well I must say that same thought occurs
  2067. 1:35:09to me if these were routine items of
  2068. 1:35:15apparatus the White House certainly
  2069. 1:35:17would have resources enough to get those
  2070. 1:35:20themselves I would have thought so
  2071. 1:35:23senator gurney I have learned
  2072. 1:35:25I learned when I came back here in May
  2073. 1:35:28that the rest of other things given to
  2074. 1:35:31him such as a voice change or something
  2075. 1:35:33and I believe a week has become almost
  2076. 1:35:36legendary in this whole matter but I
  2077. 1:35:38don't recall anything about the wig at
  2078. 1:35:39the time but I don't question that it
  2079. 1:35:41was done did general Cushman ever ask
  2080. 1:35:44him now mr. hunt what do you want these
  2081. 1:35:46things for what are you gonna use them
  2082. 1:35:47for what general Cushman told me as I
  2083. 1:35:51recall it was that he was this for a
  2084. 1:35:53one-time interview the general Cushman
  2085. 1:35:55can certainly attest to these things for
  2086. 1:35:56himself but he didn't tell anything to
  2087. 1:35:58you and at that time I think it's only
  2088. 1:36:02fair to remember that nobody had ever
  2089. 1:36:04suggested that anybody was going to do
  2090. 1:36:06anything illegal or improper I
  2091. 1:36:08understand but it's such an unusual
  2092. 1:36:10inquest I'm really surprised that no one
  2093. 1:36:13had a little more curiosity about what
  2094. 1:36:16was going to be done well it was a very
  2095. 1:36:19high-level White House official asking
  2096. 1:36:21for this help and we tried to help when
  2097. 1:36:23it didn't seem to was going to do
  2098. 1:36:26anybody any great harm I guess probably
  2099. 1:36:33your answer would be the same to mr.
  2100. 1:36:36Young's request about the profile as
  2101. 1:36:38I've genuine regrets about being
  2102. 1:36:40pressured into that on Monday morning
  2103. 1:36:43there are a lot of football games they
  2104. 1:36:45played again might have been done played
  2105. 1:36:47differently and I'm you know I'm not
  2106. 1:36:49proud of that one
  2107. 1:36:55there were of course these conversations
  2108. 1:36:58with Haldeman and Ehrlichman which you
  2109. 1:37:03have described and mr. Wallas I guess
  2110. 1:37:05had others that he reported to you Bob
  2111. 1:37:07and then the conversations with mr. gray
  2112. 1:37:11and then of course the conversations
  2113. 1:37:15with mr. Dean when he was pressing for
  2114. 1:37:18things like bail money and and salaries
  2115. 1:37:21while people might be in prison did it
  2116. 1:37:25ever occur to anybody to go to the
  2117. 1:37:27president United States about this time
  2118. 1:37:29and advised him of these very unusual
  2119. 1:37:31things that were going on in the White
  2120. 1:37:33House well sir my preoccupation at that
  2121. 1:37:37time and all through these months was to
  2122. 1:37:41keep the agency at a distance from this
  2123. 1:37:43whole problem and when I saw I've
  2124. 1:37:46realized that these feelers were being
  2125. 1:37:49made there was never a proposal made it
  2126. 1:37:51was never said that will you do this it
  2127. 1:37:53was a suppository but you know it would
  2128. 1:37:56it be possible is this something that
  2129. 1:37:57could happen and so forth and since we
  2130. 1:38:00had stood firm it seemed to me that that
  2131. 1:38:02was adequate under the circumstances
  2132. 1:38:05well I certainly command you for that
  2133. 1:38:08and you you did do the right thing and
  2134. 1:38:11keeping the agency out of it
  2135. 1:38:19in the phone call with with mr. gray
  2136. 1:38:22which you had did you sink in this phone
  2137. 1:38:32conversation that he was trying to
  2138. 1:38:34involve the CIA in anyway I didn't have
  2139. 1:38:39that sensation senator gertie the
  2140. 1:38:41sensation I had was I couldn't quite
  2141. 1:38:42understand why it was that he kept
  2142. 1:38:45thinking that the CIA was somehow
  2143. 1:38:47involved now what what generated this on
  2144. 1:38:50his part I don't know to this day quite
  2145. 1:38:52honestly but it seems strange that he
  2146. 1:38:54should get well we seem to be running
  2147. 1:38:56into some CIA involvement and I couldn't
  2148. 1:38:58understand what he was talking about or
  2149. 1:39:00how he knew this because I couldn't see
  2150. 1:39:02any involvement I couldn't find any
  2151. 1:39:04involvement and what motivated this I
  2152. 1:39:08don't know and I honestly don't know
  2153. 1:39:10even now one one final question mr.
  2154. 1:39:17Thompson went over this with you but I'm
  2155. 1:39:21asking another question that of course
  2156. 1:39:24is this business of whether Haldeman and
  2157. 1:39:27Ehrlichman were making their requests or
  2158. 1:39:29mr. Dean for that matter at the request
  2159. 1:39:34of the president United States and I
  2160. 1:39:36don't want to go over that testimony
  2161. 1:39:38again I've heard it but let me ask you
  2162. 1:39:40this in in all of these transactions
  2163. 1:39:44between you and these people and Walters
  2164. 1:39:46and these people that were lady reported
  2165. 1:39:50to you did you get any idea at all that
  2166. 1:39:53President Nixon was involved and any
  2167. 1:39:55cover-up here and wanting to use the CIA
  2168. 1:39:58in the cover-up President Nixon was not
  2169. 1:40:01put forward by any of these people in
  2170. 1:40:04their discussions they were conducting
  2171. 1:40:05them on their own as far as I was aware
  2172. 1:40:07now what implicit in this was the fact
  2173. 1:40:10that I was talking to the president's
  2174. 1:40:11chief of staff at what conversations
  2175. 1:40:14he'd rather had with the president he
  2176. 1:40:16never said and but he was such a senior
  2177. 1:40:20official that I had to assume that this
  2178. 1:40:23was something that the
  2179. 1:40:25they want it done Thank You mr.
  2180. 1:40:30ambassador that's all senator talmadge
  2181. 1:40:35mr. ambassador you've had long
  2182. 1:40:38distinguished career both as a member of
  2183. 1:40:43the CIA for many years its director for
  2184. 1:40:47more than six years and now as a
  2185. 1:40:50distinguished ambassador representing
  2186. 1:40:52the government of the United States
  2187. 1:40:54would you tell us why you left is
  2188. 1:40:57director the Central Intelligence Agency
  2189. 1:41:01I had a conversation with the president
  2190. 1:41:05after the election I believe it was on
  2191. 1:41:07November the 20th at Camp David and we
  2192. 1:41:13had we talked about the my future and he
  2193. 1:41:21indicated that he wanted to make a
  2194. 1:41:23change
  2195. 1:41:24and this was in the context of making a
  2196. 1:41:28lot of changes in the administration I
  2197. 1:41:31was at that time pushing 60 and about to
  2198. 1:41:34come to what we had in the agency as the
  2199. 1:41:37regular retirement age this is not a
  2200. 1:41:39statutory thing but I had a policy in
  2201. 1:41:41the agency that when officials got to be
  2202. 1:41:4460 that they retired and this therefore
  2203. 1:41:47seemed a good time to do this that is
  2204. 1:41:56why I left did not leave on your own
  2205. 1:41:58initiative then I did not submit my
  2206. 1:42:01resignation in the form of obviously the
  2207. 1:42:05president always has your resignation
  2208. 1:42:06you do serve at the pleasure of the
  2209. 1:42:08president for the time being that's what
  2210. 1:42:10the Commission says
  2211. 1:42:14this was a mutually arrived at
  2212. 1:42:16arrangement you didn't have any
  2213. 1:42:18impression that you have been pushed out
  2214. 1:42:21well it wasn't put to me that way anyway
  2215. 1:42:24when the president makes the suggestion
  2216. 1:42:27you don't have to determine whether
  2217. 1:42:28you've been pushed shove the lid would
  2218. 1:42:34that be would that be an affirmative
  2219. 1:42:36answer thank you sir did the White House
  2220. 1:42:41contact you for reference when they
  2221. 1:42:43implored mr. hunt no sir you think that
  2222. 1:42:47was strange to employ an ex
  2223. 1:42:49representative of the CIA without
  2224. 1:42:52checking on his credentials with the
  2225. 1:42:54director of that agency I did senator in
  2226. 1:42:57fact I went to some trouble at the time
  2227. 1:42:59to see if anybody else in the agency had
  2228. 1:43:01been checked with other than me and I
  2229. 1:43:03always had they gone to the personnel
  2230. 1:43:04officer had they gone to the Security
  2231. 1:43:06office and I established that the no
  2232. 1:43:08contact made with the agency anywhere of
  2233. 1:43:11understand no contact whatever now what
  2234. 1:43:15was your reaction when mr. young came to
  2235. 1:43:18you in the summer of 1971 and informed
  2236. 1:43:24you that the president's assistant mr.
  2237. 1:43:27Ehrlichman had assigned him to lead a
  2238. 1:43:30White House investigation of security
  2239. 1:43:33leaks were you surprised that that was
  2240. 1:43:36being handled outside the FBI
  2241. 1:43:43I suppose that I was senator talmadge
  2242. 1:43:47but there had been so much talk about
  2243. 1:43:49leaks and so much concern about them in
  2244. 1:43:54this particular era that I suppose that
  2245. 1:43:56what would have been normal surprise was
  2246. 1:43:58somewhat dulled by this fact that maybe
  2247. 1:44:02they weren't getting very far and
  2248. 1:44:04establishing how these leaks had
  2249. 1:44:05occurred this was a somewhat of an extra
  2250. 1:44:07effort to get into this I must say I
  2251. 1:44:11want to say to you now that I never
  2252. 1:44:12dreamed that this was going to lead to a
  2253. 1:44:15kind of an activist role I thought this
  2254. 1:44:18was pulling the material together and
  2255. 1:44:20doing those things which for years had
  2256. 1:44:23been done of the government this is not
  2257. 1:44:25the first president who's been concerned
  2258. 1:44:27about leaks that's been a kind of an
  2259. 1:44:29endemic and chronic concern in the White
  2260. 1:44:33House ever since I can remember
  2261. 1:44:34didn't J Edgar Hoover have a reputation
  2262. 1:44:37for running a pretty tight ship he did
  2263. 1:44:40and an efficient organization yes sir
  2264. 1:44:42and anything related into domestic
  2265. 1:44:45activity the FBI normally handled they
  2266. 1:44:48did insist and you insisted on handling
  2267. 1:44:51the foreign activity yes sir
  2268. 1:44:53and you had a perfectly valid agreement
  2269. 1:44:56between the two of you as to who would
  2270. 1:44:58encroach on what activities are not
  2271. 1:45:01encroach on them did you not we did
  2272. 1:45:04senator it worked very well
  2273. 1:45:05yes sir you're thinking a nice new
  2274. 1:45:07language yes sir now when they requested
  2275. 1:45:11a view that you do this psychological
  2276. 1:45:16profile how could such a profile be made
  2277. 1:45:22if such psychiatric records were not
  2278. 1:45:25obtained well sir there's a there's a
  2279. 1:45:29question of terminology senator talmadge
  2280. 1:45:32about this the psychological profiles
  2281. 1:45:37which the agency have been doing on
  2282. 1:45:39foreign individuals
  2283. 1:45:42we're not based on psychiatric records
  2284. 1:45:45they were based on general intelligence
  2285. 1:45:47and from a
  2286. 1:45:47and from this information and from
  2287. 1:45:50interviews and things of that kind all
  2288. 1:45:52this material was put together and an
  2289. 1:45:54effort was made to draw a profile of
  2290. 1:45:57this man as to what kind of a human
  2291. 1:46:00being he was but there was never
  2292. 1:46:01implicit in this ever that you had to
  2293. 1:46:03have psychiatric material in order to do
  2294. 1:46:07it in other words you didn't have put
  2295. 1:46:08him on the couch no sir
  2296. 1:46:10and then of the never were put on the
  2297. 1:46:13couch
  2298. 1:46:14I believe you testified that the only
  2299. 1:46:16involvement the CIA had in this entire
  2300. 1:46:19operation was to provide a tape recorder
  2301. 1:46:24and a camera to mr. young no sir that
  2302. 1:46:28was to mr. hunter mr. hunter and that
  2303. 1:46:31was done at a request from mr.
  2304. 1:46:34Ehrlichman is my recollection of how
  2305. 1:46:36that happened was and general Cushman I
  2306. 1:46:39believe will be here shortly and will
  2307. 1:46:41you know can clarify this specifically
  2308. 1:46:44it was my impression that mr. hunt came
  2309. 1:46:47to see general Cushman and asked him for
  2310. 1:46:50these things having been sponsored by
  2311. 1:46:52mr. Ehrlichman is it your understanding
  2312. 1:46:55over the years that when an assistant to
  2313. 1:46:59the President of the United States or
  2314. 1:47:02the chief of staff of the President of
  2315. 1:47:05the United States or the counsel for the
  2316. 1:47:08President or security adviser for the
  2317. 1:47:11president requests informations or
  2318. 1:47:14materials or equipment from the CIA this
  2319. 1:47:18request is from the president well this
  2320. 1:47:21is implicit in answer and presidents
  2321. 1:47:24have tended in recent years to operate
  2322. 1:47:26through these principal assistants
  2323. 1:47:27because they can't be on the telephone
  2324. 1:47:29all the time themselves and one gets
  2325. 1:47:32used to this course of dealing that's
  2326. 1:47:38right thank you very much mr. ambassador
  2327. 1:47:41I have no further questions mr. chairman
  2328. 1:47:43Thank You senator towns in a moment
  2329. 1:47:45senator Baker will question ambassador
  2330. 1:47:47Helms about James mccords duties at CIA
  2331. 1:47:50public television coverage of the Senate
  2332. 1:47:52Watergate hearings will continue after
  2333. 1:47:54this pause for station identification
  2334. 1:47:56unabridged coverage of these hearings is
  2335. 1:47:59provided as a public service by the
  2336. 1:48:01stations of PBS the Public Broadcasting
  2337. 1:48:04Service impact continues its coverage of
  2338. 1:48:14hearings by the Senate Select Committee
  2339. 1:48:15on presidential campaign activities here
  2340. 1:48:18again correspondent Jim Lehrer as we go
  2341. 1:48:22back to the questioning the former
  2342. 1:48:23director of the Central Intelligence
  2343. 1:48:24Agency Richard Helms is still on the
  2344. 1:48:27stain sounds Baker mr. chairman thank
  2345. 1:48:34you very much miss James when did you
  2346. 1:48:38first come to know mr. McCord mr. McCord
  2347. 1:48:43yes sir
  2348. 1:48:44senator Baker I don't recall exactly
  2349. 1:48:47when I first met mr. McCord
  2350. 1:48:49maybe you indicated that you knew him
  2351. 1:48:51some 20 years if I indicated that and I
  2352. 1:48:57didn't think that I did I simply was
  2353. 1:49:01making a statement to the effect that we
  2354. 1:49:04had worked in this agency the same
  2355. 1:49:06agency over this period of 20 years but
  2356. 1:49:09exactly when he came into my sights when
  2357. 1:49:13our first shook hands with him I
  2358. 1:49:14honestly don't remember it well I
  2359. 1:49:15misunderstood you but I guess your
  2360. 1:49:17testimony then was that you knew of his
  2361. 1:49:20employment by the CIA for about 20 years
  2362. 1:49:23yes sir and I had seen him on various
  2363. 1:49:28occasions during the period that I was
  2364. 1:49:30director there was a project which came
  2365. 1:49:32to my attention from time to time in
  2366. 1:49:34which he was involved and I think he may
  2367. 1:49:35have been in my office three or four
  2368. 1:49:37times during that period did you know
  2369. 1:49:39the nature of his assignment
  2370. 1:49:41responsibilities within the agency
  2371. 1:49:43yes I did could you tell us what they
  2372. 1:49:45were they were in the Security office
  2373. 1:49:47and they had largely to do
  2374. 1:49:50the physical security of our properties
  2375. 1:49:53and plants and things of that kind there
  2376. 1:49:56was one time when he had an assignment
  2377. 1:49:58dealing with a defector and I believe
  2378. 1:50:03that he was the man who was taking care
  2379. 1:50:05of this defector and doing some
  2380. 1:50:06interrogation of it this mr. McCoy
  2381. 1:50:09generally regarded as a good employee
  2382. 1:50:10and effective employee of the agency
  2383. 1:50:13he was we're part of his
  2384. 1:50:15responsibilities to search for and
  2385. 1:50:18monitor the possibility of the
  2386. 1:50:19installation of wiretap equipment in
  2387. 1:50:23u.s. installations by others I can't
  2388. 1:50:26recall whether he was in the counter
  2389. 1:50:28surveillance part of the security
  2390. 1:50:30officer not I'm sorry but this could be
  2391. 1:50:32easily ascertained as it do you know
  2392. 1:50:35whether or not a part of his functions
  2393. 1:50:37were to monitor the current
  2394. 1:50:39state-of-the-art electronic surveillance
  2395. 1:50:42equipment and to make recommendations on
  2396. 1:50:45its usefulness to the agency I don't
  2397. 1:50:47remember if the document to that effect
  2398. 1:50:49I have no reason to question it do you
  2399. 1:50:52know in general whether or not mr.
  2400. 1:50:54McCord was proficient and knowledgeable
  2401. 1:50:57of the general field of electronic
  2402. 1:50:59surveillance I think he must have known
  2403. 1:51:02about it I can only make a comment here
  2404. 1:51:06and I'm not desirous of making anybody
  2405. 1:51:08laugh but it's quite clear that those
  2406. 1:51:10fellows who entered the Democratic
  2407. 1:51:12National Committee didn't know anything
  2408. 1:51:13about the active way of going in the
  2409. 1:51:16buildings and getting out without
  2410. 1:51:17getting caught you sort of adopt the you
  2411. 1:51:20lasso what's there on that I wouldn't
  2412. 1:51:21have gone in there with no arm I'm not
  2413. 1:51:25familiar with that statement but all
  2414. 1:51:29right is it fair to say and I don't mean
  2415. 1:51:31to put words in your mouth that you're
  2416. 1:51:33implying at least or maybe saying that
  2417. 1:51:36the McCord operation was not in keeping
  2418. 1:51:39with modern
  2419. 1:51:40and efficient standards of electronic
  2420. 1:51:43surveillance as you know amateurish in
  2421. 1:51:45the extreme how do you how do you square
  2422. 1:51:50that with the idea that McCord had been
  2423. 1:51:52with the agency for twenty years and
  2424. 1:51:54that he was regarded as an effective
  2425. 1:51:56employee well senator Baker I don't know
  2426. 1:52:00whether these are proper matters for me
  2427. 1:52:03to discuss in this forum but I'd like to
  2428. 1:52:05point something out to you that breaking
  2429. 1:52:10and entering and not getting caught is a
  2430. 1:52:14very difficult activity and for it to be
  2431. 1:52:19done properly one has to have trained
  2432. 1:52:21individuals who do nothing else and who
  2433. 1:52:24are used to doing this frequently and
  2434. 1:52:26are trained right up to the minute and
  2435. 1:52:29how to do it was McCord in that category
  2436. 1:52:31obviously not Wow
  2437. 1:52:33obviously
  2438. 1:52:36obviously obviously the result would not
  2439. 1:52:38bear that out but you see what I'm
  2440. 1:52:40searching for whether or not he was in
  2441. 1:52:43fact proficient notwithstanding that his
  2442. 1:52:45performance was not perfect that was not
  2443. 1:52:47his function in the agency as I ever
  2444. 1:52:49recall it it was to do this kind of
  2445. 1:52:51thing when did mr. McCord leave the
  2446. 1:52:53employee of the CIA in 1970 I forgotten
  2447. 1:52:57what month he retired perfectly
  2448. 1:52:58legitimately it was a normal ordinary
  2449. 1:53:01retirement from the CIA yes sir at his
  2450. 1:53:04request as far as I know what about mr.
  2451. 1:53:08hunt I believe your testimony is that he
  2452. 1:53:10worked for the agency for 15 years
  2453. 1:53:13approximately did you know more I just
  2454. 1:53:14don't remember exactly how many years is
  2455. 1:53:17like any way for a significant length of
  2456. 1:53:19time I did knowing this how well did you
  2457. 1:53:21know I knew him relatively well because
  2458. 1:53:24he and I over many years worked in the
  2459. 1:53:27same general section of the agency what
  2460. 1:53:29was his responsibility of the agency
  2461. 1:53:31well as I replied to Senator gurney he
  2462. 1:53:35had a variety of assignments and I would
  2463. 1:53:37plead with you to simply ask the agency
  2464. 1:53:40to give you the employment record
  2465. 1:53:41because I don't recall it I do this
  2466. 1:53:44already had an assignment in connection
  2467. 1:53:46with the operations leading up to the
  2468. 1:53:47Bay of Pigs I do recall that can you
  2469. 1:53:50describe for us what sort of activity he
  2470. 1:53:52had in the Bay of Pigs operation I think
  2471. 1:53:55you had to do with certain aspects of
  2472. 1:53:57the propaganda in connection with the
  2473. 1:53:59propaganda against the Cuban government
  2474. 1:54:02this was a CIA operation yes and this
  2475. 1:54:05would have been in early 60s obviously
  2476. 1:54:09was Mr Hunt familiar with electronic
  2477. 1:54:12surveillance some surreptitious entry I
  2478. 1:54:15honestly don't know mr. hunt I believe
  2479. 1:54:18was on the payroll in some capacity with
  2480. 1:54:22the CIA was he an employee or a
  2481. 1:54:25contractor he was an employee I believe
  2482. 1:54:29you indicated the staff employee is what
  2483. 1:54:31we call them and that continued through
  2484. 1:54:33shortly after June 17 1972 no he he
  2485. 1:54:38retired and what
  2486. 1:54:40to work in Washington for somebody else
  2487. 1:54:43and he retired sometime in 1970 mr. hunt
  2488. 1:54:47was not 62 or 65 did he retire on
  2489. 1:54:52disability
  2490. 1:54:53no sir he retired because he was anxious
  2491. 1:54:56to make more money that he can make in
  2492. 1:54:58the government he had had some financial
  2493. 1:55:00problems due to the fact that a daughter
  2494. 1:55:02had been in a bad accident and had
  2495. 1:55:04developed some illnesses I believe
  2496. 1:55:07physical as well as psychiatric but he
  2497. 1:55:10went up a lot of doctors bills they had
  2498. 1:55:12a suit in connection with this accident
  2499. 1:55:14and I believe he was looking for an
  2500. 1:55:15opportunity to make more money than he
  2501. 1:55:17could with the government there's mr.
  2502. 1:55:21liddy ever employed with the CIA no sir
  2503. 1:55:24or have any connection with it well
  2504. 1:55:27about having any connection with I found
  2505. 1:55:29is very dangerous I have to watch myself
  2506. 1:55:31about this I was never aware of any
  2507. 1:55:33connection that he had with the agents
  2508. 1:55:34did anyone ever inquire of you whether
  2509. 1:55:36Liddy had any relationship to the CIA
  2510. 1:55:39well I've been asked this at various
  2511. 1:55:42times and I've given the same answer
  2512. 1:55:44that I have to you yes I'm not really
  2513. 1:55:47trying to establish so much that he did
  2514. 1:55:49or did not have a relationship as I am
  2515. 1:55:51trying to establish whether or not an
  2516. 1:55:53inquiry is made particularly on the
  2517. 1:55:58White House staff or someone connected
  2518. 1:56:01with the investigation of the Watergate
  2519. 1:56:03subsequent to June 17 I was never aware
  2520. 1:56:06of any inquiry all right what about mrs.
  2521. 1:56:08Hahn
  2522. 1:56:17somewhere in the dimness of my
  2523. 1:56:19recollection I could we consult the
  2524. 1:56:23actual employment records it seems to me
  2525. 1:56:25that mrs. hunt was at one time employed
  2526. 1:56:29by the agency before she married him or
  2527. 1:56:31something I'm not sure about that
  2528. 1:56:33they've been published speculation with
  2529. 1:56:36the effect that mrs. hunt was very
  2530. 1:56:39closely involved the CIA and possibly
  2531. 1:56:42the superior of her husband mr. hunt
  2532. 1:56:44could you give me any insight into the
  2533. 1:56:45last not true okay wasn't she employed
  2534. 1:56:50in some embassy here in Washington in
  2535. 1:56:52recent years a notion I think that may
  2536. 1:56:54be mutually exclusive miss chalice well
  2537. 1:56:57it is I want to make that clear it is
  2538. 1:57:01perfectly clear perfectly there
  2539. 1:57:06but you have some dim recollection that
  2540. 1:57:09mrs. hunt may at one time have been
  2541. 1:57:11employed with CI but you come into us
  2542. 1:57:13the check of the CIA record I would
  2543. 1:57:14appreciate if you would do that's
  2544. 1:57:16chairman eyes that that be done by state
  2545. 1:57:20what about mr. Barker I believe you
  2546. 1:57:22testified that he had some relationship
  2547. 1:57:24to the CIA but that was a contractual
  2548. 1:57:26relationship and I believe was in the
  2549. 1:57:28early 60s during the time when there was
  2550. 1:57:30a great deal of activity in Florida over
  2551. 1:57:32Cuban operations I believe he was
  2552. 1:57:35terminated in the middle 60s and I don't
  2553. 1:57:38believe there was any relationship with
  2554. 1:57:41him after that time did you know mr.
  2555. 1:57:43Barker no mr. Sturgis no I don't know
  2556. 1:57:46him was he employed at one time with the
  2557. 1:57:49CIA in your files senator Baker there's
  2558. 1:57:55the testimony which is classified that I
  2559. 1:57:59gave on February the 7th before the
  2560. 1:58:01Senate Foreign Relations Committee in
  2561. 1:58:02which I discussed all these gentlemen
  2562. 1:58:04and I was much better up to speed about
  2563. 1:58:06their relationships at that time than I
  2564. 1:58:09am now and if you would mind consulting
  2565. 1:58:11that record I would accept mr. chairman
  2566. 1:58:14in that respect I would propose
  2567. 1:58:16something that the testimony of this
  2568. 1:58:21witness and others before the Committee
  2569. 1:58:24on Foreign Relations taken on May 17
  2570. 1:58:281973 March 6 1973 and the Committee on
  2571. 1:58:33Appropriations on May 16 1973 February
  2572. 1:58:467th 1973 be incorporated in the files
  2573. 1:58:50and records of the committee with leave
  2574. 1:58:53the committee to decide what portions of
  2575. 1:58:55that transcript may be excerpted for
  2576. 1:58:58inclusion in the record as appropriate
  2577. 1:59:00if there's no objection that
  2578. 1:59:02we'll be done mr. Martinez worked for
  2579. 1:59:05the CIA and I believe he's the one who
  2580. 1:59:07was taken off the payroll shortly after
  2581. 1:59:10June 17th 1972 did you know mr. Martinez
  2582. 1:59:13knows is he the only one who was taken
  2583. 1:59:16off the payroll after June 17 there were
  2584. 1:59:18none others on it well I guess the
  2585. 1:59:20answer is yes yes thank you and mr.
  2586. 1:59:24Martinez was receiving $100 a month
  2587. 1:59:27that's my recollection but that's in the
  2588. 1:59:29February 2nd test I won't burden the
  2589. 1:59:31record further with inquiry in that
  2590. 1:59:33respect according to my understanding of
  2591. 1:59:36the summary of the staff interviews with
  2592. 1:59:39you mr. Helms these things appear and
  2593. 1:59:42I'll go through them if you don't mind
  2594. 1:59:44and stop as you may request or you may
  2595. 1:59:47comment on them after I finish on July
  2596. 1:59:497th 1971 general Cushman received a call
  2597. 1:59:54from Ehrlichman advising that punch a
  2598. 1:59:57former CIA employee had been added to
  2599. 2:00:01the Security office at the White House
  2600. 2:00:04this information was passed on by
  2601. 2:00:07Cushman to you on the only I interrupt
  2602. 2:00:12only to say that I had never heard that
  2603. 2:00:15he'd been added to the security officer
  2604. 2:00:17the White House I just heard that he'd
  2605. 2:00:18been employed by the White House I don't
  2606. 2:00:20know where they have a security office
  2607. 2:00:21yes but in any event someone thought to
  2608. 2:00:24notify the agency that a former employee
  2609. 2:00:28of the CIA had been added to the White
  2610. 2:00:30House staff yes so it was clear that
  2611. 2:00:32someone at the White House knew that
  2612. 2:00:34this man was a former CIA agent yes I
  2613. 2:00:37can only assume that and on July 22nd
  2614. 2:00:44according to our information and this I
  2615. 2:00:46understand to be based on a summary of
  2616. 2:00:48your interview with the staff on July
  2617. 2:00:5122nd Hunt visited general Cushman and
  2618. 2:00:55requested the agency the CIA to furnish
  2619. 2:00:58him with identification documents and
  2620. 2:01:00alias and physical disguises are you
  2621. 2:01:04aware of that yes I am because I've seen
  2622. 2:01:07a document
  2623. 2:01:08meeting and they were supplied yes yes
  2624. 2:01:12was there any protest the supplying of
  2625. 2:01:15this material to mr. hunter well as I
  2626. 2:01:20testified earlier when I was informed of
  2627. 2:01:23this somewhat later the some of the
  2628. 2:01:26items you mentioned I don't recall
  2629. 2:01:28having been told that he'd been given
  2630. 2:01:30and it was the tape recorder in the
  2631. 2:01:34camera that I recall having been told
  2632. 2:01:35about and that's what sticks in my
  2633. 2:01:37memory have you later learned on good
  2634. 2:01:40authority particularly from agency
  2635. 2:01:43authority that hunt requested and
  2636. 2:01:46received bogus identification documents
  2637. 2:01:49an alias and a physical disguise yes
  2638. 2:01:53that was a voice changer wasn't it the
  2639. 2:01:55the wig I was coming to that then on
  2640. 2:01:58several occasions hunt met with CIA
  2641. 2:02:01people and received further alias
  2642. 2:02:04documentation specifically the name of
  2643. 2:02:07Edward Joseph Warren disguised material
  2644. 2:02:10which I believe may have included away a
  2645. 2:02:12speech alteration device which some of
  2646. 2:02:15us would devoutly wish for a recorder in
  2647. 2:02:20a typewriter case and a camera and a
  2648. 2:02:22tobacco pouch I have learned that that
  2649. 2:02:24was what he was given and all of those
  2650. 2:02:26things were requested upon't op the CIA
  2651. 2:02:29and CIA supplied them and this post date
  2652. 2:02:33at the time when you were notified this
  2653. 2:02:35former CIA agent was going to work for
  2654. 2:02:37the White House did as mr. Liddy present
  2655. 2:02:44do you did you know or have you since
  2656. 2:02:46learned on more than one of these
  2657. 2:02:48meetings and received similar disguises
  2658. 2:02:51and alias documentation especially in
  2659. 2:02:53the name of George F Leonard at mr.
  2660. 2:02:55hunts request senator Baker I've never
  2661. 2:02:58met
  2662. 2:02:58Olivia I don't know miss did you receive
  2663. 2:03:00this information so I was given this
  2664. 2:03:02information in May of this year by CIA
  2665. 2:03:06people is is it not true that at the
  2666. 2:03:10time that this material was given to mr.
  2667. 2:03:14Liddy it was given to him under an alias
  2668. 2:03:16I believe under the name of George F
  2669. 2:03:19Leonard well that may be but I
  2670. 2:03:20understand the name of George S leonard
  2671. 2:03:23together what the alias documentation
  2672. 2:03:25was supplied by CIA August I'm sorry my
  2673. 2:03:31only point was that at the time he was
  2674. 2:03:34not identified I believe to the CIA
  2675. 2:03:36people as mr. Liddy was he I'm not sure
  2676. 2:03:39I didn't think he was he may or may not
  2677. 2:03:41have been but my notes indicate here
  2678. 2:03:43that mr. Liddy at the request of mr.
  2679. 2:03:46hunt was supplied with an alias to wit
  2680. 2:03:49George F Leonard an alias documentation
  2681. 2:03:52to verify that identity by the CIA this
  2682. 2:03:57post date at the time when the White
  2683. 2:03:59House had served notice on CIA and a
  2684. 2:04:02former agent mr. hunt was coming in on
  2685. 2:04:06August 24th mr. hunt delivered to the
  2686. 2:04:09CIA a film which he had taken for
  2687. 2:04:11developing and it was in fact developed
  2688. 2:04:15for the CIA that's what I or have you
  2689. 2:04:17since learned that I've been told that
  2690. 2:04:19that would that occurred and the see I
  2691. 2:04:20delivered prints from those negatives to
  2692. 2:04:23mr. Wright and kept file copies of the
  2693. 2:04:29prints and negatives and the CIA records
  2694. 2:04:31I was I don't know about these events
  2695. 2:04:37from firsthand have you what I may have
  2696. 2:04:40been informed may not be accurate I had
  2697. 2:04:43thought that when the film was developed
  2698. 2:04:45the film the develop film was returned
  2699. 2:04:47plus the films themselves that the only
  2700. 2:04:49thing the agency retained was some sort
  2701. 2:04:51of a Xerox of the of the photographs but
  2702. 2:04:55as the negative is not still in the
  2703. 2:04:58possession
  2704. 2:04:58of the agency I believe rent but prints
  2705. 2:05:00were of Xeroxes all right Xerox prints I
  2706. 2:05:04say this Senator Baker only in the
  2707. 2:05:08interests of precision because
  2708. 2:05:10photographs that have been xeroxed are
  2709. 2:05:12not as clear as the original prints I
  2710. 2:05:15agree with you they certainly are not
  2711. 2:05:17but one of those photographs we learn
  2712. 2:05:20from another part of the record was a
  2713. 2:05:22picture I believe of mr. liddy
  2714. 2:05:24standing in front of the decimated vials
  2715. 2:05:29of dr. Ellsberg psychiatrist which was a
  2716. 2:05:32rather graphic form of identification
  2717. 2:05:34I'm unaware but you are aware that some
  2718. 2:05:39form of photographic record probably a
  2719. 2:05:42Xerox copy of the photographs of the
  2720. 2:05:45Ellsberg break-in were retained in the
  2721. 2:05:47CIA file this and the CIA received the
  2722. 2:05:50film from Hunt and developed that's
  2723. 2:05:53correct but may I say that at that time
  2724. 2:05:55nobody knew what these films represented
  2725. 2:05:57I've been told that since - surely it
  2726. 2:06:00would arouse some modest amount of
  2727. 2:06:03curiosity to see that and I won't pursue
  2728. 2:06:06that any further because that's not the
  2729. 2:06:08point I'm reaching for but on August 26
  2730. 2:06:11you were advised of increasing demands
  2731. 2:06:13made by Mr Hunt he had already made
  2732. 2:06:16several which had been exceeded to the
  2733. 2:06:18ones I've just described increasing
  2734. 2:06:21demands from CIA for technical and other
  2735. 2:06:24assistance including that to be supplied
  2736. 2:06:27with a personal secretary then located
  2737. 2:06:30in Paris did you have personal knowledge
  2738. 2:06:33of that I did and it was at that time
  2739. 2:06:35that I spoke to general Cushman as I
  2740. 2:06:37said attack that was that effect the
  2741. 2:06:40straw that broke the camel's back yes
  2742. 2:06:42sir you put it very well and you
  2743. 2:06:44declined to go any further and my
  2744. 2:06:46information based on the staff interview
  2745. 2:06:48with you mr. ambassador indicates that
  2746. 2:06:51you were apprised of these facts by
  2747. 2:06:53Cushman and that you told Cushman that
  2748. 2:06:56hunt had now gone too far and that
  2749. 2:07:00Cushman should tell Ehrlichman that
  2750. 2:07:02other persist assistance would be
  2751. 2:07:04afforded to hot yes sir
  2752. 2:07:06Fishman did apprise her like when on
  2753. 2:07:09August 27th and on August 30th Cushman
  2754. 2:07:12sent you a memorandum on which you wrote
  2755. 2:07:15the words good are the word good yes
  2756. 2:07:18would you please read what the general
  2757. 2:07:21Cushman wrote to me on which I wrote the
  2758. 2:07:23word good I think that makes yes sir I
  2759. 2:07:26don't have that in the summary staff
  2760. 2:07:28gave me but I have now been handed as
  2761. 2:07:30what appears to be a Xerox copy of a
  2762. 2:07:33memorandum entitled at the top official
  2763. 2:07:36routing slip item six as Howard hunt and
  2764. 2:07:42under remarks with the date 27 August
  2765. 2:07:451971 in the left hand margin quote I
  2766. 2:07:48called John Ehrlichman Friday and
  2767. 2:07:50explained why we could not meet these
  2768. 2:07:52requests I indicated Hunt was becoming a
  2769. 2:07:56pain in the neck John said he would
  2770. 2:07:59restrain on with the in and below that
  2771. 2:08:04is the initial see I take it which was
  2772. 2:08:07this man is the word good with the
  2773. 2:08:10initial mr. chairman this does not
  2774. 2:08:22appear to be in the record if it is not
  2775. 2:08:23might I ask that it be included now as
  2776. 2:08:26an exhibit to the witness to be marked
  2777. 2:08:28appropriate exhibit in committed to the
  2778. 2:08:30record as such mr. Helms isn't it clear
  2779. 2:08:35from all of this that the CIA at
  2780. 2:08:40whatever level and you to some extent
  2781. 2:08:42we're aware of the fact that mr. hunt at
  2782. 2:08:46least was deeply involved in White House
  2783. 2:08:51activity with CIA support and that she
  2784. 2:08:54blew the whistle after a great number of
  2785. 2:08:56things had already occurred Senator
  2786. 2:08:59Baker if we go to July and August of
  2787. 2:09:031971 I certainly was totally unaware of
  2788. 2:09:09any illegal activity
  2789. 2:09:11and the improper activity or anything
  2790. 2:09:14that would have raised a question about
  2791. 2:09:16the type of thing that mr. hunt was
  2792. 2:09:19involved in I assure you there hadn't
  2793. 2:09:23been any intimation whatever that there
  2794. 2:09:26was any question of a burglary there was
  2795. 2:09:27any question of stealing anything there
  2796. 2:09:29was any question if it's having
  2797. 2:09:30committed any illegal or improper acts I
  2798. 2:09:34don't doubt that mr. Chan I take your
  2799. 2:09:37testimony the same way I do the
  2800. 2:09:38testimony of every other witness I start
  2801. 2:09:41with the good-faith assumption that you
  2802. 2:09:44swear the truth I have no reason to
  2803. 2:09:47doubt that unless other in contradictory
  2804. 2:09:50evidence is made to appear but I don't
  2805. 2:09:53suggest that I'm trying to lead you into
  2806. 2:09:55a contradiction I'm rather trying to
  2807. 2:09:57establish a relationship on which the
  2808. 2:10:02White House or the CIA would base its
  2809. 2:10:04perception of the fear that CIA might
  2810. 2:10:08have been involved in these things now
  2811. 2:10:10let's see how that goes we've got hunt
  2812. 2:10:12we've got McCord
  2813. 2:10:14we've got Barker we've got Sturgis we've
  2814. 2:10:18got Martinez we've got two sets of
  2815. 2:10:20forged identity documents we've got a
  2816. 2:10:23voice alternating device we got away
  2817. 2:10:25we've got a camera a tobacco pouch we've
  2818. 2:10:28got the processing service for that
  2819. 2:10:30we've got the certain knowledge that all
  2820. 2:10:32these things were discussed between
  2821. 2:10:34White House staff and CIA staff and I
  2822. 2:10:37wonder if that doesn't lead us to the
  2823. 2:10:39idea that when these people are caught
  2824. 2:10:40that somebody would certainly say well
  2825. 2:10:43what was the CIA involvement well
  2826. 2:10:47Senator Baker I have the greatest
  2827. 2:10:48respect for you and if you would that
  2828. 2:10:50those were the thought processes that
  2829. 2:10:52have gone through your mind I have no
  2830. 2:10:54reason to argue with him I simply a
  2831. 2:10:56moment ago was not trying to make a
  2832. 2:10:58self-serving statement I was simply
  2833. 2:10:59trying to indicate that there's been a
  2834. 2:11:02tendency it seems to me in the recent
  2835. 2:11:04times to have everything run in real
  2836. 2:11:08time as though all of these things were
  2837. 2:11:10known and it happen
  2838. 2:11:11and that therefore one should have had
  2839. 2:11:13the good sense to know this thing or
  2840. 2:11:15that thing at a certain period of time
  2841. 2:11:17and I simply was trying to point out
  2842. 2:11:19that this was not the case
  2843. 2:11:21well I'm accepting that at face value
  2844. 2:11:23and by the same token I hope mr.
  2845. 2:11:25ambassador you don't think that these
  2846. 2:11:27questions are accusatory certainly not
  2847. 2:11:30of you maybe not even of CIA probably
  2848. 2:11:33not even a CA but I'm trying to
  2849. 2:11:35establish a set of facts on which
  2850. 2:11:39perceptions might or might not be based
  2851. 2:11:42particularly whether or not an inquiry
  2852. 2:11:44should be made after the arrest and the
  2853. 2:11:46attendant publicity about whether or not
  2854. 2:11:49the people involved were in fact CIA
  2855. 2:11:51involved I'm not saying they were I'm
  2856. 2:11:53trying to establish the validity of an
  2857. 2:11:55inquiry in that respect and I have not
  2858. 2:11:58made up my mind on that point I'm going
  2859. 2:11:59to weigh that very carefully as I'm
  2860. 2:12:01gonna weigh all the other evidence and
  2861. 2:12:03it's going to be February 28 before I
  2862. 2:12:05state a conclusion but your
  2863. 2:12:07identification of these components is
  2864. 2:12:09very helpfully and I am grateful for it
  2865. 2:12:12mr. chairman I'll conclude I'm sure my
  2866. 2:12:14time is over but I can't include without
  2867. 2:12:17saying that I think mr. helm said at
  2868. 2:12:20great personal sacrifice has agreed to
  2869. 2:12:23appear before this committee and other
  2870. 2:12:24committees that his information has been
  2871. 2:12:28most helpful that his testimony has been
  2872. 2:12:30forthright I believe and forthcoming it
  2873. 2:12:34may be that at a future time will
  2874. 2:12:36require further information from mr.
  2875. 2:12:38Helms but I hope not
  2876. 2:12:39he has a very important post to return
  2877. 2:12:42to Thank You senator Baker he is not the
  2878. 2:12:52director of the CIA appointed by the
  2879. 2:12:56President subject to confirmation the
  2880. 2:12:58Senate yes mr. chairman does the same
  2881. 2:13:01thing apply to the deputy director yes
  2882. 2:13:03mr. chairman now in as much as all these
  2883. 2:13:08materials were furnished to mr. hunt in
  2884. 2:13:12July August the 1971 at the request of
  2885. 2:13:18mr. John Ehrlichman is it not reasonable
  2886. 2:13:22to
  2887. 2:13:23that the White House knew that the mr.
  2888. 2:13:26hunt was engaged in uncover work at is
  2889. 2:13:28mr. Eric menu that mr. hunt was engaged
  2890. 2:13:31in undercover work mr. chairman I can
  2891. 2:13:40only assume that if mr. Ehrlichman asked
  2892. 2:13:43mr. Huntley helped I'd realized that in
  2893. 2:13:47this life assumptions are very dangerous
  2894. 2:13:49one would it assumed that he'd asked for
  2895. 2:13:51this help for some reason and he must
  2896. 2:13:53have known what the reason was or at
  2897. 2:13:54least I would have assumed that he would
  2898. 2:13:56have known what the reason is but I
  2899. 2:13:57can't prove it and I don't know and I
  2900. 2:13:59didn't know myself at the time well then
  2901. 2:14:01you do know that mr. Ehrlichman
  2902. 2:14:03requested that mr. Ehrlichman was so
  2903. 2:14:06very important to aid in the White House
  2904. 2:14:10and he requested this aid for mr. hunt
  2905. 2:14:14and also you know that the CIA put an
  2906. 2:14:18end to the when the CIA put an end to
  2907. 2:14:21given no help to mr. hunt that mr.
  2908. 2:14:24Ehrlichman was notified that mr. hunted
  2909. 2:14:26become home a pain in the neck so didn't
  2910. 2:14:32that strike you when you learned of
  2911. 2:14:34these things didn't strike you as
  2912. 2:14:35strange that the White House of what
  2913. 2:14:38engaged in undercover work on its own
  2914. 2:14:40initiative rather than resort to the use
  2915. 2:14:43of the FBI who you know senator Ervin at
  2916. 2:14:48that time there was no intimation that
  2917. 2:14:51this was even undercover work what I
  2918. 2:14:54understood Mr Hunt had told general
  2919. 2:14:56Cushman was that he wanted to conduct an
  2920. 2:14:58interview and there was no intimation
  2921. 2:15:02that this was undercover work I'm not
  2922. 2:15:04here as a weak that was so you didn't
  2923. 2:15:08think that the wig was the thought to
  2924. 2:15:09improve the the appearance of the theme
  2925. 2:15:12of the false accuser mr.
  2926. 2:15:15I assume in retrospect because I didn't
  2927. 2:15:21remember about the wig at the time mr.
  2928. 2:15:23chairman as I've testified but I have a
  2929. 2:15:25zoomed retrospect that mr. hunt wanted
  2930. 2:15:28to conduct this interview disguising
  2931. 2:15:31himself as someone else yeah but that we
  2932. 2:15:35didn't know that at the time well when
  2933. 2:15:37my man undertakes to disguise himself as
  2934. 2:15:39someone else he's engaged in under the
  2935. 2:15:41cover work isn't it well we get we run
  2936. 2:15:44into a definitional problem
  2937. 2:15:45well not you that you didn't think that
  2938. 2:15:48you got applied for this voice
  2939. 2:15:50alteration device and all of this thing
  2940. 2:15:52are different though a part in the choir
  2941. 2:15:55did you mr. chairman my problem here is
  2942. 2:16:02that at the time that this was going on
  2943. 2:16:06I do not recall having been told that he
  2944. 2:16:10had been given a week in a voice
  2945. 2:16:11operation device I found that out in May
  2946. 2:16:14of this year so that this business of
  2947. 2:16:16the however one interprets undercover
  2948. 2:16:19work or however one defines it no
  2949. 2:16:21intimation was given to me at that time
  2950. 2:16:23that hunt was involved in undercover
  2951. 2:16:24work well we we've had some discussion
  2952. 2:16:27around some observations some discussion
  2953. 2:16:30that a lot of that most of us human
  2954. 2:16:33beings are sort of like lightning bugs
  2955. 2:16:35we carry illumination behind and see
  2956. 2:16:37barely in retrospect and I do in
  2957. 2:16:39prospect but in retrospect don't you
  2958. 2:16:43think it would be reasonable to infer
  2959. 2:16:44that Mr Hunt was engaged in something
  2960. 2:16:47that might be called detective work if
  2961. 2:16:49not undercover work yes in retrospect
  2962. 2:16:51sir
  2963. 2:16:52so our activity certainly now the same
  2964. 2:16:59thing I believe that you that mr. Liddy
  2965. 2:17:01was punished some material under an
  2966. 2:17:07alias they're not on his own name during
  2967. 2:17:11the same period of time I believe that's
  2968. 2:17:14true yes
  2969. 2:17:19now in a bleep but you stated that when
  2970. 2:17:23you you learned of the break-in at the
  2971. 2:17:25Watergate I leave you out of the country
  2972. 2:17:27anyway I was here they were help yes sir
  2973. 2:17:30I thought you said something about
  2974. 2:17:32readings in a foreign you know an
  2975. 2:17:34American no sir foreign language
  2976. 2:17:36newspaper no mr. chairman the question
  2977. 2:17:38that I was asked which I read about was
  2978. 2:17:41the break-in of dr. Fielding's office oh
  2979. 2:17:43yes that's right I beg your pardon I
  2980. 2:17:45remember now and it just shows that even
  2981. 2:17:49not the chairman of this committee is
  2982. 2:17:51not done it doesn't have my infallible
  2983. 2:17:55memory of something he's heard just now
  2984. 2:17:59after the break-in when was the first
  2985. 2:18:02tough time have to break in you had any
  2986. 2:18:04contact but then they bought it from the
  2987. 2:18:05White House it was that that June 23rd
  2988. 2:18:11me 23rd you and our general Walters were
  2989. 2:18:14requested by the White House to to come
  2990. 2:18:18to the White House well you know yes sir
  2991. 2:18:21we were asked to come to mr. Ehrlichman
  2992. 2:18:22and you had a a conversation with mr.
  2993. 2:18:26Haldeman and mr. Ehrlichman that correct
  2994. 2:18:29and they expressed a concern about the
  2995. 2:18:35possibility that if the FBI continued
  2996. 2:18:37certain investigations in Mexico that it
  2997. 2:18:40might to an affair with some of the
  2998. 2:18:42activities of the CIA yes sir yeah did
  2999. 2:18:46dimension exactly what activities the
  3000. 2:18:49FBI had in Mexico no sir they did not
  3001. 2:18:52was there anything said about Mexican
  3002. 2:18:54checks mr. chairman
  3003. 2:19:04it is my recollection and I can suddenly
  3004. 2:19:08say my honest recollection that the
  3005. 2:19:11first time I heard about any money or a
  3006. 2:19:13check going to Mexico was later on the
  3007. 2:19:20day of the 23rd when General Warner's
  3008. 2:19:23reported to me about his conversation
  3009. 2:19:25with acting director Gray in the
  3010. 2:19:28afternoon earlier in the afternoon I
  3011. 2:19:30believe it that happened about an hour
  3012. 2:19:32and a half after we'd been with mr.
  3013. 2:19:34Ollivander mr. Ehrlichman and mr. gray
  3014. 2:19:36had mentioned the general waters as I
  3015. 2:19:38recall it that there was something about
  3016. 2:19:41a check for something over $80,000 that
  3017. 2:19:44has showed up in Mexico but this was the
  3018. 2:19:47first I'd heard that was all--no
  3019. 2:19:49after you log your visit to the White
  3020. 2:19:51House but on the same day of your visit
  3021. 2:19:53that's right I don't recall mr. Haldeman
  3022. 2:19:55or mr. Ehrlichman missing anything about
  3023. 2:19:57money
  3024. 2:19:58well what specific matters gave them the
  3025. 2:20:05White House concern about the
  3026. 2:20:07possibility that FBI investigations
  3027. 2:20:12might someway collide with the set up of
  3028. 2:20:15the CIA no explanation was given mr.
  3029. 2:20:17chairman and as I testified earlier this
  3030. 2:20:20morning it was not possible for me to
  3031. 2:20:24know everything that we were doing in
  3032. 2:20:26Mexico or what the FBI might be running
  3033. 2:20:28into and I simply thought it was prudent
  3034. 2:20:30to do some checking before I got
  3035. 2:20:32assertive about this now all the
  3036. 2:20:36director the CIA or the Acting Director
  3037. 2:20:39CIA is also a presidential appointee
  3038. 2:20:43isn't it the director and the deputy
  3039. 2:20:48director of Central Intelligence are by
  3040. 2:20:51statute presidential appointees and
  3041. 2:20:53subject to the advice and consent of the
  3042. 2:20:55Senate and the same thing that's
  3043. 2:20:58recently been have
  3044. 2:20:59with respect to the director of the FBI
  3045. 2:21:01isn't as I believe it has I think that
  3046. 2:21:05he now is subject to Conville anyway
  3047. 2:21:06after you had view after um general
  3048. 2:21:09Walters had visited the White House and
  3049. 2:21:13had a conversation with mr. Haldeman and
  3050. 2:21:20mr. Ehrlichman in which they expressed
  3051. 2:21:23concern about the possibility of FBI
  3052. 2:21:27investigations in Mexico colliding with
  3053. 2:21:32the Paula studied the act work of the of
  3054. 2:21:38the agents of the CIA general Walters
  3055. 2:21:41did receive a communication and from mr.
  3056. 2:21:46gray the Acting Director of the FBI
  3057. 2:21:49concerning these Mexican checks
  3058. 2:21:51I believe that acting director gray
  3059. 2:21:53spoke to him in their meeting about this
  3060. 2:21:56I don't remember a communication I mean
  3061. 2:21:58a written communication you know the
  3062. 2:22:00director of the effort I mean mr. gray
  3063. 2:22:02say the thing about especially any
  3064. 2:22:04concern as to whether the FBI operations
  3065. 2:22:08might impede them all the CIA in some
  3066. 2:22:12manner in pursuing an investigation
  3067. 2:22:15about these eight or nine thousand
  3068. 2:22:17dollars in checks Mexicans yes mr.
  3069. 2:22:19chairman I honestly don't remember but I
  3070. 2:22:22believe that the general Walters who had
  3071. 2:22:23the conversation who I believe will
  3072. 2:22:25testify here might be able to clarify
  3073. 2:22:27this for you because he was the one who
  3074. 2:22:29after all that was with him now in
  3075. 2:22:32addition to then then you are general
  3076. 2:22:35Walters heads to several of our meetings
  3077. 2:22:38all the phone calls with mr. Gregg about
  3078. 2:22:41this Malecha my recollection is that
  3079. 2:22:46during this period I did I personally
  3080. 2:22:48did not see acting director gray I
  3081. 2:22:52talked to him on the telephone it was
  3082. 2:22:54only general Walters who visited with
  3083. 2:22:56him and talked with him did you talk to
  3084. 2:22:58mr. gray about the Mexican checks I
  3085. 2:23:01never talked to about Mexican checks I
  3086. 2:23:03talked to mr. gray on the phone about
  3087. 2:23:05this Mexican lawyer Oh Gary Hill was
  3088. 2:23:08something
  3089. 2:23:09that's right but he but to you general
  3090. 2:23:12waffles did report to you that in his
  3091. 2:23:15meetings with mr. gray that mr. gray
  3092. 2:23:17talked about the Mexican sheiks
  3093. 2:23:19yes sir he did but and as I recall this
  3094. 2:23:23now it was a sum of in excess of $80,000
  3095. 2:23:27on the check but nobody ever explained
  3096. 2:23:30to me at that time what this money was
  3097. 2:23:32for or how it got there or anything
  3098. 2:23:34about its purpose then after that time
  3099. 2:23:45it took to make it perfectly clear to
  3100. 2:23:51mr. gray that they could that FBI's
  3101. 2:23:54investigation into the matters relating
  3102. 2:23:59to these Mexican checks would not
  3103. 2:24:00interfere with the CIA well sir what we
  3104. 2:24:04made the clear to mr. gray was that if
  3105. 2:24:07by any chance they ran into any of our
  3106. 2:24:09operations they were to abide by our
  3107. 2:24:11longtime understanding to notify us and
  3108. 2:24:15that ended them out as far as the CIA
  3109. 2:24:17and the Mexican section started mr. then
  3110. 2:24:20a short time after that the mr. Deane
  3111. 2:24:30contacted CIA owned on two successive
  3112. 2:24:33days three 6s research yesterday's and
  3113. 2:24:38the CIA assumed that he was representing
  3114. 2:24:42the White House didn't well you see mr.
  3115. 2:24:45chairman when he mr. Dean called general
  3116. 2:24:48waters general Wallace was not
  3117. 2:24:50acquainted with mr. Dean and since I
  3118. 2:24:55think that they somehow in the
  3119. 2:24:56conversation general waters intimated
  3120. 2:24:59that why should he come down and talk to
  3121. 2:25:00mr. Dean mr. Dean said you get a hold of
  3122. 2:25:02mr. Ehrlichman and he will attest to the
  3123. 2:25:04fact that I'm authorized to talk to you
  3124. 2:25:06and general waters told me he had
  3125. 2:25:08reached mr. Ehrlichman and
  3126. 2:25:10Ehrlichman had so stated yes in these
  3127. 2:25:14conversations just an interesting time
  3128. 2:25:16I'll lump them together the first
  3129. 2:25:19approach that mr. Dean made was that he
  3130. 2:25:21requested that the CIA paid the defense
  3131. 2:25:26of costume know the sport of these five
  3132. 2:25:29men that the ten men had been called in
  3133. 2:25:31the Watergate mr. chairman may I with
  3134. 2:25:34great deference correct your State yes'm
  3135. 2:25:37these were feelers to find out if there
  3136. 2:25:40was some way that the CI might do
  3137. 2:25:42according to general waters reports to
  3138. 2:25:44me he was never requested to do anything
  3139. 2:25:46yes well mr. Dean made inquiry of
  3140. 2:25:52general Walters as to whether or not
  3141. 2:25:55there was any way in which the CIA could
  3142. 2:26:00Bailey's cause I think that's probably a
  3143. 2:26:03goodness and then all the succeeding day
  3144. 2:26:05while he made them after that he was
  3145. 2:26:07advised by general Walters that CIA that
  3146. 2:26:10would be beyond the authority of the CIA
  3147. 2:26:13and that he knew that you wouldn't count
  3148. 2:26:16on us then mr. Dean returned and asked
  3149. 2:26:21if they could range if CIA could arrange
  3150. 2:26:23bail for the persons that rested in the
  3151. 2:26:26Watergate I had distinct a recollection
  3152. 2:26:29and why they're stuck so firmly in my
  3153. 2:26:31mind I'm not entirely sure it was on the
  3154. 2:26:34second day that this question of bail
  3155. 2:26:36and salaries was raised in other words
  3156. 2:26:38there were three sessions Monday Tuesday
  3157. 2:26:39and Wednesday and it was at a Tuesday
  3158. 2:26:41session that these matters came up now
  3159. 2:26:44you stated that you did the best you
  3160. 2:26:48could and you did succeed and not
  3161. 2:26:50stopping any further advances to the CIA
  3162. 2:26:56in this respect and I presume that in so
  3163. 2:26:58doing you were acting under the statute
  3164. 2:27:00and pursuant to the statute which says
  3165. 2:27:03that the CIA is has no law enforcement
  3166. 2:27:08powers of a domestic nature and has no
  3167. 2:27:12in regard to internal security but not
  3168. 2:27:14only that was to chairman but a trust is
  3169. 2:27:18put in the director of the central
  3170. 2:27:20intelligence about the money that's
  3171. 2:27:23given to him by Congress and there are
  3172. 2:27:25certain understandings with the
  3173. 2:27:26appropriate appropriations committees of
  3174. 2:27:28Congress about what this money should be
  3175. 2:27:29spent for and how it shall be handled
  3176. 2:27:31and I was very clear in my mind about
  3177. 2:27:33those and there was nothing about this
  3178. 2:27:35request that we could have accommodated
  3179. 2:27:37within those guidelines and that was
  3180. 2:27:39made very clear mr. Dean I believe it
  3181. 2:27:41was now there's been some examination
  3182. 2:27:46indicating that perhaps you and general
  3183. 2:27:49Walters had some discrepancy there was
  3184. 2:27:52some discrepancy of a slight nature in
  3185. 2:27:57the testimony you gave before believe
  3186. 2:27:59some to sámi to this training and that
  3187. 2:28:01as this understanding was all hanging
  3188. 2:28:04out there in the committee I mean this
  3189. 2:28:05is just the problem of human
  3190. 2:28:07recollections and I realized that
  3191. 2:28:09through these hearings I was told by
  3192. 2:28:11some gentleman this morning that people
  3193. 2:28:13seem to have a good forgettery when they
  3194. 2:28:15get gas chair I don't have to pretend to
  3195. 2:28:19be any better any worse than anyone else
  3196. 2:28:21and my memory is fallible from time to
  3197. 2:28:24time but I'm doing my very best at all
  3198. 2:28:27of these hearings to tell you what I
  3199. 2:28:30remembered at the time but and as far as
  3200. 2:28:33the small disagreement and in general
  3201. 2:28:34Wars and I were concerned that what we
  3202. 2:28:36talked it over and analyzed the
  3203. 2:28:38conversation and reconstructed it I had
  3204. 2:28:40to admit I'd four guys this is not
  3205. 2:28:43what's best not as in any indicator
  3206. 2:28:46meeting any criticism all because I just
  3207. 2:28:49illustrated myself for this morning that
  3208. 2:28:51my memory is quite fallible and also
  3209. 2:28:55there's some other good men's members
  3210. 2:28:57and I strike myself I was a good man
  3211. 2:28:59but there's members of other people have
  3212. 2:29:02been a fallible and the Gospels of
  3213. 2:29:09Matthew Mark Luke and John tell us that
  3214. 2:29:13when the Pontius Pilate the Roman
  3215. 2:29:15governor ordered the crucifixion of
  3216. 2:29:19Christ that he wrote
  3217. 2:29:22a title and had it placed on put on the
  3218. 2:29:25cross and people who have an opportunity
  3219. 2:29:29to know file things to just right and I
  3220. 2:29:32think this more apt to be accurate then
  3221. 2:29:37just what we're here and it's rather
  3222. 2:29:40significant that these the writers of
  3223. 2:29:43these four Gospels disagree this is
  3224. 2:29:45exactly what this title it was put on
  3225. 2:29:49the cross said the 37th of verse of the
  3226. 2:29:5527th chapter Matthew says that the type
  3227. 2:29:57of think that the writing which was put
  3228. 2:30:00on the cross read as follows this is
  3229. 2:30:03Jesus the King of the Jews the 26th
  3230. 2:30:09verse of the fifteenth chapter Saint
  3231. 2:30:11Mark has a different version it says the
  3232. 2:30:15King of the Jews the 38th verse of the
  3233. 2:30:2023rd chapter Saint Luke a still a
  3234. 2:30:22different version of what was on this
  3235. 2:30:25title and it says the title was this is
  3236. 2:30:30the King of the Jews
  3237. 2:30:31and then the Gospel the 19th verse of
  3238. 2:30:36the nineteenth chapter Saint John has a
  3239. 2:30:38fourth person of the same words the same
  3240. 2:30:42title forever Jesus of Nazareth the King
  3241. 2:30:47of the Jews and so I say that though if
  3242. 2:30:51those four good men could have different
  3243. 2:30:55versions of the same words it's quite
  3244. 2:30:59understandable file you and I and other
  3245. 2:31:02human beings have sawed off a label
  3246. 2:31:04memories about things sometimes there's
  3247. 2:31:07another thing I've noticed about the
  3248. 2:31:09human mind and that is this that's
  3249. 2:31:12sometimes sometimes when something
  3250. 2:31:14occurs at first we have a recollection
  3251. 2:31:19that certain things were said and our
  3252. 2:31:24memory does not tell us that certain
  3253. 2:31:25other things were said but when we hear
  3254. 2:31:29the testimony of other people or
  3255. 2:31:31sometimes look at the document that our
  3256. 2:31:32memories become refreshed
  3257. 2:31:34and the things that were hidden
  3258. 2:31:36somewhere in an unconscious part of our
  3259. 2:31:39mind but they'll come fresh to our
  3260. 2:31:42memories again and so long I just want
  3261. 2:31:46to say these things because I don't
  3262. 2:31:48think a tribute to much importance to
  3263. 2:31:50the fact that human beings don't recall
  3264. 2:31:52all conversations and all you've all
  3265. 2:31:55written words exactly alike and I just
  3266. 2:31:58like to say this of mr. Helms for a
  3267. 2:32:01moment the observation of the work you
  3268. 2:32:07did is a direct to the CIA and from the
  3269. 2:32:09context I had with you I think you did a
  3270. 2:32:11a magnificent job in that capacity Thank
  3271. 2:32:14You mr. chairman thank you very much
  3272. 2:32:31chairman mr. ambassador in response to
  3273. 2:32:34the Chairman's question
  3274. 2:32:36you use the word which intrigues me
  3275. 2:32:38feelers I presume feel is coming from
  3276. 2:32:42the White House when did you realize
  3277. 2:32:45that the White House was feeling you out
  3278. 2:32:47about possibility of using your agency
  3279. 2:32:51as a cover-up for why the Watergate
  3280. 2:32:55burglars
  3281. 2:33:02when I used to senator inouye the word
  3282. 2:33:04feelers I was describing what I
  3283. 2:33:08understood was the way mr. Dean put
  3284. 2:33:12conducted a conversation with general
  3285. 2:33:14waters which had to do with whether
  3286. 2:33:19there was a possibility that the agency
  3287. 2:33:22could provide covert funds to provide
  3288. 2:33:25bail for the men who had broken into the
  3289. 2:33:28Watergate and also whether or not when
  3290. 2:33:34they were convicted and sent to jail the
  3291. 2:33:36agency would pay their salaries while
  3292. 2:33:38they were in jail now according to
  3293. 2:33:42general Warner's report to me this was
  3294. 2:33:44not a request of him by mr. Dean it was
  3295. 2:33:48sort of postulating what could be done
  3296. 2:33:50under the circumstances and this is why
  3297. 2:33:53I thought maybe a descriptive word as
  3298. 2:33:55any would be feelers oh don't you
  3299. 2:33:59consider that the suggestions being made
  3300. 2:34:01of the possibilities constituted a very
  3301. 2:34:06serious departure from the statutorily
  3302. 2:34:08prescribed functions of your agency it
  3303. 2:34:11would have been if we had in any way
  3304. 2:34:13become involved in this that being the
  3305. 2:34:16case did you feel that that you should
  3306. 2:34:22have advised the two senior members of
  3307. 2:34:25the House and the Senate the chairman of
  3308. 2:34:27the Appropriations Committee of the
  3309. 2:34:28House and the Senate
  3310. 2:34:30well said no way I didn't and I don't
  3311. 2:34:35recall having thought that that was an
  3312. 2:34:37obligation I had at the time I thought
  3313. 2:34:39that my job was to keep the agency clear
  3314. 2:34:41of all this and as long as I succeeded
  3315. 2:34:43in keeping it clear but that was my job
  3316. 2:34:45and my business and further that these
  3317. 2:34:51conversations were held in such a
  3318. 2:34:54fashion that there was if I understood
  3319. 2:34:57general Walters report to me accurately
  3320. 2:35:00to make the assertion that we'd been
  3321. 2:35:02asked to do this would have been denied
  3322. 2:35:04that this was a possibility that was
  3323. 2:35:06being discussed but I don't want to lean
  3324. 2:35:08heavily on that
  3325. 2:35:10I want to lean heavily on the fact that
  3326. 2:35:12I was trying to keep the agency clean
  3327. 2:35:13and that I didn't as long as I kept it
  3328. 2:35:17clean I felt I was doing my job
  3329. 2:35:19but whatever was being suggested in your
  3330. 2:35:22mind was improper the improper thing
  3331. 2:35:26would have been if we'd done it did you
  3332. 2:35:29advise your successor mr. Schlesinger
  3333. 2:35:31are these feelers I don't recall our
  3334. 2:35:39disgustingness now as a matter of fact I
  3335. 2:35:42had the conversations I was mr.
  3336. 2:35:45Schlesinger when he came into the agency
  3337. 2:35:47had to do almost entirely with
  3338. 2:35:50operational matters and liaison our
  3339. 2:35:51relationships and things of that kind I
  3340. 2:35:53didn't get into these matters as I
  3341. 2:35:54recall them thank you
  3342. 2:36:15mr. Helms I'd like to Pastor Helms I'd
  3343. 2:36:18like to if I can go back to the meeting
  3344. 2:36:22of the 23rd and I'm now using the
  3345. 2:36:26transcript of the hearing specifically
  3346. 2:36:29that portion of transcript which relates
  3347. 2:36:31to mr. Collins recollections of that
  3348. 2:36:33meeting you're now quoting from mr.
  3349. 2:36:36Haldeman that's right that's right I
  3350. 2:36:38think this is a good opportunity to try
  3351. 2:36:40and not so much sell the question as to
  3352. 2:36:43whether or not Watergate was discussed
  3353. 2:36:45because to be candid there was no
  3354. 2:36:48question that it was and so far as mr.
  3355. 2:36:50Holloman was concerned and but rather
  3356. 2:36:54what was said I think that's that's
  3357. 2:36:56what's important I think everybody
  3358. 2:36:58concedes the fact that Watergate was
  3359. 2:37:00discussed at this meeting regardless as
  3360. 2:37:02I say just look if you're a recollection
  3361. 2:37:04of those hearings no be disputes that
  3362. 2:37:06either your later recollection or and
  3363. 2:37:08mr. Hall Evans testimony buddy before
  3364. 2:37:11the committee Solomon said so without
  3365. 2:37:15commenting on either the accuracy of mr.
  3366. 2:37:17Walters recollection or your recitation
  3367. 2:37:19of it and he's talking to mr. - because
  3368. 2:37:24he's given number of different
  3369. 2:37:25statements and depositions in this thing
  3370. 2:37:27that make a rather complex but the
  3371. 2:37:28meeting one of the purpose of the
  3372. 2:37:30meeting is assigned to me by the
  3373. 2:37:31President on the morning of the 23rd
  3374. 2:37:33when he told me to have to have me and
  3375. 2:37:36Ehrlichman meet with director Helms and
  3376. 2:37:38deputy director or Walters in addition
  3377. 2:37:42to ascertaining whether there was any
  3378. 2:37:44CIA involvement I put that as point
  3379. 2:37:47number one whether there was any CIA
  3380. 2:37:50concern about earlier activities of
  3381. 2:37:53people who had been arrested at the
  3382. 2:37:54Watergate I put that as point number two
  3383. 2:37:57and three was to tell us CIA directors
  3384. 2:38:01at the FBI had expressed concern that as
  3385. 2:38:06to whether there was CIA involvement or
  3386. 2:38:08any impingement now he elaborates that
  3387. 2:38:13he elaborates on this in the following
  3388. 2:38:16statements mr. Helms told me at the
  3389. 2:38:20meeting that there was had no CIA
  3390. 2:38:24involvement in the Watergate operation
  3391. 2:38:26and he had so informed director
  3392. 2:38:28gray so I learned that at that meeting I
  3393. 2:38:30didn't know it prior to the meeting
  3394. 2:38:33now and here's what I'd like to to
  3395. 2:38:37question you on as to what your
  3396. 2:38:38recollection is we get into what he
  3397. 2:38:39considered to be the main point mr.
  3398. 2:38:42Haldeman because and there seems to be a
  3399. 2:38:45very difficult point to get across but
  3400. 2:38:48because there were other items of
  3401. 2:38:50concern the matter the question raised
  3402. 2:38:53was not solely the question of whether
  3403. 2:38:55the CIA had been involved in the
  3404. 2:38:56Watergate break-in but also whether the
  3405. 2:39:00investigation of the Watergate break-in
  3406. 2:39:02which was to be thorough and total could
  3407. 2:39:05possibly impinge upon the activities
  3408. 2:39:08totally unrelated to Watergate and
  3409. 2:39:11related to national security
  3410. 2:39:14or to covert CIA operations the
  3411. 2:39:17activities of some of the individuals
  3412. 2:39:19who had also been involved in the
  3413. 2:39:21Watergate and had been arrested at the
  3414. 2:39:22Watergate let me just read that last
  3415. 2:39:25portion but also whether the
  3416. 2:39:27investigation of the Watergate break-in
  3417. 2:39:29which is to be thorough in total could
  3418. 2:39:30possibly impinge upon the activities
  3419. 2:39:32totally unrelated to Watergate and
  3420. 2:39:34related to national security or to
  3421. 2:39:36covert CIA operations now is that
  3422. 2:39:42thien's is that the instruction that you
  3423. 2:39:46recall or is that the subject matter
  3424. 2:39:48that you recall being related from mr.
  3425. 2:39:52Haldeman to general Walters or is it of
  3426. 2:39:55a different nature and if so well I
  3427. 2:39:57recall being asked if there was any CIA
  3428. 2:40:00involvement right and I answered
  3429. 2:40:02negatively correct I recall as I said
  3430. 2:40:07earlier this morning that mr. Hollin
  3431. 2:40:09made some reference to the Bay of Pigs I
  3432. 2:40:11referred to it as an incoherent
  3433. 2:40:13reference because it was frankly in my
  3434. 2:40:16recollection I don't know exactly what
  3435. 2:40:18he point he had in mind but I reacted to
  3436. 2:40:24that question very firmly
  3437. 2:40:27now the Bay of Pigs is the rubric for a
  3438. 2:40:31very unhappy event in the life of the
  3439. 2:40:33CIA it's been a dead cat that's been
  3440. 2:40:36thrown at us
  3441. 2:40:37over the years ever since and therefore
  3442. 2:40:41it's one to which I'm likely to react
  3443. 2:40:44and react rather quickly for the simple
  3444. 2:40:48reason that the Bay of Pigs was long
  3445. 2:40:50since over the problems arising from
  3446. 2:40:53what had been liquidated I was well
  3447. 2:40:55aware of this and I didn't care what any
  3448. 2:40:57investigation had to do with the Bay of
  3449. 2:40:59Pigs he could have gotten into anybody
  3450. 2:41:00involved with it or without it or above
  3451. 2:41:02it or below it I didn't care and I was
  3452. 2:41:05trying to make this clear to mr.
  3453. 2:41:06Haldeman on that occasion the fact that
  3454. 2:41:09some of these people that broke into the
  3455. 2:41:11Watergate had at one time and had
  3456. 2:41:13relationships with the agency including
  3457. 2:41:15Martinez who had had them up and told
  3458. 2:41:17just a few days before didn't make any
  3459. 2:41:21difference to me I mean there was
  3460. 2:41:23nothing that anybody was going to find
  3461. 2:41:24out about investigating them it was
  3462. 2:41:26going to bother us as far as I was aware
  3463. 2:41:29we then get down to the question of what
  3464. 2:41:33an FBI investigation in Mexico might
  3465. 2:41:35turn out and as I explained earlier I
  3466. 2:41:38did not have in my head all of our
  3467. 2:41:40operations and makes it criminal but
  3468. 2:41:42what was more important I didn't know
  3469. 2:41:44where the FBI was investigating in
  3470. 2:41:47Mexico I didn't know who they were
  3471. 2:41:49following I didn't know what they were
  3472. 2:41:51up to
  3473. 2:41:51so I regarded as prudent to inform
  3474. 2:41:55myself a bit about these things
  3475. 2:41:57before I came down flatly and said let
  3476. 2:42:00the FBI go ahead investigate in Mexico
  3477. 2:42:02they'll never run across our operations
  3478. 2:42:04because this might not have been the
  3479. 2:42:06case do I answer your question sir all
  3480. 2:42:10right so that that's what what then did
  3481. 2:42:16mr. Haldeman to the best of your
  3482. 2:42:18recollection tell general Walters the
  3483. 2:42:21thrust of what I understood mr. Haldeman
  3484. 2:42:25to say to general waters was that he
  3485. 2:42:27wanted him to speak to acting director
  3486. 2:42:29Gray to restrain whatever investigation
  3487. 2:42:36the FBI was conducting in Mexico because
  3488. 2:42:39it might run into certain CIA operations
  3489. 2:42:41down there and I've just explained to
  3490. 2:42:43you why it was that I could not save on
  3491. 2:42:46the spur of the moment
  3492. 2:42:47it couldn't possibly happen so mr.
  3493. 2:42:55sender Wiker I'd also like to mention
  3494. 2:42:57here if you don't mind but something I
  3495. 2:42:59said a moment earlier that often the
  3496. 2:43:02White House gets information about
  3497. 2:43:04things that other people in the
  3498. 2:43:07government are not privy to the
  3499. 2:43:08President and other people in the White
  3500. 2:43:09House have a great many sources of
  3501. 2:43:11information and I didn't know what they
  3502. 2:43:13had on their mind about CIA operations
  3503. 2:43:15in Mexico at that point or might have
  3504. 2:43:18had on their mind now immediately upon
  3505. 2:43:22leaving this meeting with general
  3506. 2:43:25Walters did you have any discussion with
  3507. 2:43:28general Walters relative to the
  3508. 2:43:30discussion which had taken place with
  3509. 2:43:32mr. Haldeman and mr. Lee as I testified
  3510. 2:43:34earlier I told general Walters that I
  3511. 2:43:37thought when he saw mr. gray that he
  3512. 2:43:40should point out to mr. gray that
  3513. 2:43:42there's a delimitation agreement between
  3514. 2:43:43the FBI and the CIA we're in if FBI
  3515. 2:43:47investigations run into CIA matters the
  3516. 2:43:50word there to be reported to the CIA and
  3517. 2:43:52if CIA operations from the FBI matters
  3518. 2:43:55they were to be reported to the FBI and
  3519. 2:43:57I thought that this was all the whole
  3520. 2:43:59distance he had to go in his
  3521. 2:44:00conversation with mr. gray it was a
  3522. 2:44:02legitimate request it was made because I
  3523. 2:44:06didn't know whether mr. gray was
  3524. 2:44:07familiar with this he hadn't been acting
  3525. 2:44:09director for very long I wasn't even
  3526. 2:44:11sure general waters was familiar with it
  3527. 2:44:13because he had only been in the agency
  3528. 2:44:14about six weeks or so so I wanted to be
  3529. 2:44:17sure that these two relatively new
  3530. 2:44:19people were not talking about what I
  3531. 2:44:21thought were we're talking about what I
  3532. 2:44:24thought were important and legitimate
  3533. 2:44:25things would it be proper to say that
  3534. 2:44:30you were comfortable with general
  3535. 2:44:33Walters going to Pat gray with what you
  3536. 2:44:37indicated to him outside of the meeting
  3537. 2:44:40and that you were uneasy if he had gone
  3538. 2:44:42to general gray with what had been
  3539. 2:44:44transmitted by mr. Haldeman I accept
  3540. 2:44:46that
  3541. 2:44:49then one last question
  3542. 2:44:58when I asked you in the first round of
  3543. 2:45:01questioning as to whether not you felt
  3544. 2:45:03you were being talked around during that
  3545. 2:45:05meeting of the 23rd and and and as
  3546. 2:45:10you've testified to I've gathered this
  3547. 2:45:13pride that you have in the independence
  3548. 2:45:15of the CIA the belief that you have in
  3549. 2:45:21the in the trust that is imposed upon
  3550. 2:45:23the director by the Congress and I
  3551. 2:45:27gather you you you certainly don't
  3552. 2:45:28hesitate to express those feelings to
  3553. 2:45:30this committee and I gather you don't
  3554. 2:45:31hesitate to express them or you didn't
  3555. 2:45:34hesitate to express them to anybody else
  3556. 2:45:36so while you were director of the CIA
  3557. 2:45:40now do you feel that this might have
  3558. 2:45:42been one of the reasons why you were
  3559. 2:45:44talked around at this meeting of the
  3560. 2:45:4623rd well certainly that occurred to me
  3561. 2:45:51I had mixed emotions about this any
  3562. 2:45:57sensible person I think would have
  3563. 2:45:59wondered why I was not asked to do this
  3564. 2:46:03various interpretations I suppose could
  3565. 2:46:06have been thought up but the fact of the
  3566. 2:46:11way it was handled is in himself an
  3567. 2:46:15unusual event and general waters I think
  3568. 2:46:21and he could speak for himself about
  3569. 2:46:22this thought that maybe they were asking
  3570. 2:46:24him to do it because he was an army
  3571. 2:46:25officer and used to taking orders but
  3572. 2:46:28I've been in the government a long time
  3573. 2:46:29and used to taking orders too so that I
  3574. 2:46:33think one was forced a bit to the
  3575. 2:46:35conclusion that for some reason they
  3576. 2:46:36thought he might carry out the
  3577. 2:46:38instructions more precisely and more
  3578. 2:46:40fully than I might have I just don't
  3579. 2:46:43know
  3580. 2:46:43I've never been told thank you very much
  3581. 2:46:49[Music]
  3582. 2:46:52I'm soon very much time as I understood
  3583. 2:46:55your testimony mr. ambassador hunt was
  3584. 2:46:59supplied with certain equipment I don't
  3585. 2:47:02recall what you said he was supplied
  3586. 2:47:04with but that it was not used in the
  3587. 2:47:07Ellsberg burglary well Senator Baker
  3588. 2:47:10this is the point I was trying to make
  3589. 2:47:14that you read out to me a moment ago the
  3590. 2:47:17equipment that he was given and I submit
  3591. 2:47:20to you as a highly intelligent human
  3592. 2:47:23being could you break into a building
  3593. 2:47:25with that equipment I don't know but
  3594. 2:47:26what I'm reaching for is if it wasn't
  3595. 2:47:29use prevent what was it used for I don't
  3596. 2:47:31know to this day did you give us any
  3597. 2:47:37idea with it were there other operations
  3598. 2:47:39and that required this this rather
  3599. 2:47:41elaborate and exotic spice at you know
  3600. 2:47:49the spice set was if you put it together
  3601. 2:47:52I think it's consistent with what the
  3602. 2:47:55Chairman was saying that this would be
  3603. 2:47:57the kind of thing you would want if you
  3604. 2:47:59were going to conduct an individual an
  3605. 2:48:01interview with an individual whom you
  3606. 2:48:04didn't want to recognize you for who you
  3607. 2:48:06were in other words under an assumed
  3608. 2:48:08name for whatever purposes you have any
  3609. 2:48:10idea we've heard testimony I believe
  3610. 2:48:17from other witnesses that it's the
  3611. 2:48:18practice of the CIA and the event that
  3612. 2:48:21one of their agents gets into trouble
  3613. 2:48:23that the agency takes care of their
  3614. 2:48:26family and
  3615. 2:48:28sort of thing is that in fact a policy
  3616. 2:48:30of the CIA well for example it is now
  3617. 2:48:34public knowledge that mr. Downey and mr.
  3618. 2:48:38Fecteau were working for the CIA when
  3619. 2:48:40they were captured arrested convicted
  3620. 2:48:41and put in jail in China and during the
  3621. 2:48:44period that they were in jail their
  3622. 2:48:45salaries were paid just as though
  3623. 2:48:47they've been on our own when they came
  3624. 2:48:49out they had a quite tidy piece of money
  3625. 2:48:51to take care of them for whatever period
  3626. 2:48:54of time they wanted to use it for it and
  3627. 2:48:55we supported the families of one of them
  3628. 2:48:57during that period is the answer yes yes
  3629. 2:49:05do I understand the thrust of your
  3630. 2:49:08testimony to be that the things I listed
  3631. 2:49:11earlier about the wigs about the camera
  3632. 2:49:14and about the voice altering device
  3633. 2:49:16about the psychological profile possibly
  3634. 2:49:19at a number of other things were all
  3635. 2:49:21done by the CIA but that you learned of
  3636. 2:49:23all or most of them much much later oh I
  3637. 2:49:26was involved in the psychological
  3638. 2:49:28profile I don't want to duck that one
  3639. 2:49:29are i authorized it's being made okay
  3640. 2:49:32what about the others but do I
  3641. 2:49:33understand that you learned that these
  3642. 2:49:34things much like somewhat later because
  3643. 2:49:43you see if you find my answer equivocal
  3644. 2:49:45let me explain it my recollection was
  3645. 2:49:47that I heard about the tape recorder in
  3646. 2:49:50the camera within the timeframe of July
  3647. 2:49:53August 1971
  3648. 2:49:55it's the wig and the other things that I
  3649. 2:49:56did not remember having been told about
  3650. 2:49:58at that time which I learned about
  3651. 2:50:00considerably later and to this day you
  3652. 2:50:02don't know what those things were used
  3653. 2:50:04for no sir you know senator Baker I want
  3654. 2:50:07to explain something the committee I've
  3655. 2:50:08been away in these recent months so I've
  3656. 2:50:10not had access to the newspapers here of
  3657. 2:50:13the full testimony before this committee
  3658. 2:50:15this may have been explained many times
  3659. 2:50:16in Congress and I may have missed it so
  3660. 2:50:19that I'm not I just don't know why
  3661. 2:50:21didn't you when you found out about
  3662. 2:50:23these things launch an inquiry into
  3663. 2:50:29but quite frankly as of the time that
  3664. 2:50:35this was all going on you realize that
  3665. 2:50:38at the time of the Watergate burglary
  3666. 2:50:40there was no evidence that had ever come
  3667. 2:50:42to my attention that this equipment had
  3668. 2:50:44been used for any illegal or improper
  3669. 2:50:46act yeah but you knew it was outstanding
  3670. 2:50:49at the moment you found out this stuff
  3671. 2:50:51had been issued of the support supplied
  3672. 2:50:53by CIA did you do anything to
  3673. 2:50:55investigate what it was used for no sir
  3674. 2:50:57why didn't you frankly it didn't occur
  3675. 2:51:02to me you knew a day after this happened
  3676. 2:51:06that two or three four of your former
  3677. 2:51:09FBI CIA agents and one of them still on
  3678. 2:51:12the payroll was involved did you launch
  3679. 2:51:14yourself an investigation to see what
  3680. 2:51:16was going on about the Watergate
  3681. 2:51:18burglary certainly certainly what you do
  3682. 2:51:21we checked on all these people their
  3683. 2:51:24relationships with our people their
  3684. 2:51:26relationships with the agency we went
  3685. 2:51:28through all of that and turned all that
  3686. 2:51:29material over there go talk to these
  3687. 2:51:31people you pick up the phone and say
  3688. 2:51:33what the world's going on no sir we
  3689. 2:51:35never talked to any of them as far as
  3690. 2:51:36I'm aware after all they were in jail at
  3691. 2:51:40that time Wow
  3692. 2:51:41that's right they were I won't pursue
  3693. 2:51:49this mr. chairman it strikes me though
  3694. 2:51:51that there were there was there were
  3695. 2:51:55great indications maybe hindsight's the
  3696. 2:51:57only way we can look at this they're
  3697. 2:51:59great indications of a deep cross
  3698. 2:52:03identification with at least CIA
  3699. 2:52:04personnel CIA material a past history of
  3700. 2:52:09relationships with CIA that you didn't
  3701. 2:52:12know about it except for the
  3702. 2:52:14psychological profile and I can't help
  3703. 2:52:17him saying but the similarity between
  3704. 2:52:19that contention and I do not doubt it by
  3705. 2:52:23US Director CIA is remarkably similar to
  3706. 2:52:26the contention with the president that
  3707. 2:52:27he didn't know all about
  3708. 2:52:34well now let's halt a minute
  3709. 2:52:43when we looked into these various
  3710. 2:52:45relationships of these individuals with
  3711. 2:52:48the agency we turned over to the FBI
  3712. 2:52:53everything that we were able to
  3713. 2:52:54establish about this now therefore I
  3714. 2:53:00assume that what you're saying is that
  3715. 2:53:05somehow I should have gotten to these
  3716. 2:53:09fellows who were in jail and asked them
  3717. 2:53:13each one of them what he'd been up to
  3718. 2:53:15well it didn't seem to me that that was
  3719. 2:53:17my function sir law enforcement
  3720. 2:53:20authorities the FBI was conducting an
  3721. 2:53:22investigation there were the proper
  3722. 2:53:24authorities to do this and quite frankly
  3723. 2:53:26I if I think I had intruded into this
  3724. 2:53:28matter at that time would have been an
  3725. 2:53:30improper actor that's almost precisely
  3726. 2:53:31what mr. Ehrlichman and mr. Haldeman
  3727. 2:53:33tell us that may be sick but you had
  3728. 2:53:38people in the CIA that you later learned
  3729. 2:53:40had supplied these wigs and
  3730. 2:53:43voice-altering devices and cameras and
  3731. 2:53:45processing equipment and aliases and
  3732. 2:53:47forged documents did you go to the
  3733. 2:53:50people inside the CIA and find out how
  3734. 2:53:52come they did it and for what purpose
  3735. 2:53:54you say it was not for the Ellsberg
  3736. 2:53:56thing I'm consumed by curiosity what
  3737. 2:53:58else was going on what was it eautiful
  3738. 2:54:00but Senator Baker all of this is in your
  3739. 2:54:02record all of these memoranda all of the
  3740. 2:54:05inquiry of these various individuals in
  3741. 2:54:07the CIA you have it there
  3742. 2:54:09I'm stacks you know part of that record
  3743. 2:54:12tells me what those things were used for
  3744. 2:54:14if we exclude the Ellsberg situation I
  3745. 2:54:17don't know what they were useful what
  3746. 2:54:19I'm saying is why don't you know why
  3747. 2:54:21didn't you find out because I thought
  3748. 2:54:25frankly that when these individuals have
  3749. 2:54:27been arrested that that was the FBI's
  3750. 2:54:29job and so did the White House wasn't it
  3751. 2:54:33the FBI's job well maybe it was but I've
  3752. 2:54:38used the analogy once or twice and I
  3753. 2:54:40feel a little ill at ease using it if I
  3754. 2:54:43had someone on mice
  3755. 2:54:44who was caught red-handed robbing a
  3756. 2:54:46jewelry store or let alone the
  3757. 2:54:48Democratic National Committee
  3758. 2:54:49headquarters and I read about it in the
  3759. 2:54:51newspaper then or later I have a hunch
  3760. 2:54:54that I would have jumped up and down and
  3761. 2:54:55screamed until I found out what happened
  3762. 2:54:58I have no reason to question that you
  3763. 2:55:06might have said but I have no reason to
  3764. 2:55:08question that you might have to and
  3765. 2:55:10that's why I'm asking why you didn't
  3766. 2:55:11because I have a great admiration for
  3767. 2:55:14you mr. towns I think you are an
  3768. 2:55:15extraordinary citizen I think you've
  3769. 2:55:17done extraordinary service for your
  3770. 2:55:19country you know I'd like to be worthy
  3771. 2:55:24of your comments senator Baker and I
  3772. 2:55:26trust that I am but at the time that
  3773. 2:55:30these men were arrested it did not seem
  3774. 2:55:34to me that it was a proper thing for me
  3775. 2:55:36to get into that affair as to why they
  3776. 2:55:38had been arrested or their past it just
  3777. 2:55:40didn't seem like a big event at the time
  3778. 2:55:42oh it was it was a big event but it did
  3779. 2:55:44not seem to me that it was a proper job
  3780. 2:55:46for me to undertake to investigate how
  3781. 2:55:48they had gotten there or why they'd been
  3782. 2:55:50arrested all right lest I be
  3783. 2:55:51misunderstood in this Jim say mr.
  3784. 2:55:54ambassador I now continue to have and
  3785. 2:55:58nothing I've asked you by way of testing
  3786. 2:56:00the situation by your evidence should
  3787. 2:56:04imply anything to the contrary I
  3788. 2:56:05continue to have an enormous respect and
  3789. 2:56:08admiration for you for what you've done
  3790. 2:56:09and what you will do and I appreciate
  3791. 2:56:12your testimony thank you one question
  3792. 2:56:16couldn't you couldn't you reason you
  3793. 2:56:18know did you draw the conclusion that if
  3794. 2:56:21you don't undertake them to investigate
  3795. 2:56:23the burglarizing of the Watergate that
  3796. 2:56:26that would have been inconsistent with
  3797. 2:56:27the prohibition of the hack on which you
  3798. 2:56:29operate that you have the CIA has no
  3799. 2:56:32function in respect to internal security
  3800. 2:56:39I'm talking about investigating his own
  3801. 2:56:42staff within his own organization and
  3802. 2:56:44that's
  3803. 2:56:44we doesn't violate any domestic security
  3804. 2:56:48program but didn't you testify that you
  3805. 2:56:51did investigate it inside of the
  3806. 2:56:53Cheyenne turned over the information FBI
  3807. 2:56:55and yes sir and also you have it in the
  3808. 2:56:57records of this committee On June 17
  3809. 2:57:111972 was Mr Hunt a member of the CIA the
  3810. 2:57:19part of the CIA no he was not with mr.
  3811. 2:57:21Liddy a part of the CIA
  3812. 2:57:22no mr. Barker part of the CIA no senator
  3813. 2:57:25was mr. McCord a part of the CIA no sir
  3814. 2:57:28was mr. Martinez a part of the CIA
  3815. 2:57:32mr. Martinez was getting a retainer of
  3816. 2:57:35$100 a month on a fiduciary relationship
  3817. 2:57:39he was not a staff employee of the CEO
  3818. 2:57:41which which operation was down in
  3819. 2:57:43Florida insofar as screening those
  3820. 2:57:45persons coming over from Cuba and
  3821. 2:57:47ascertaining as to whether or not they
  3822. 2:57:49should be would be half of intelligence
  3823. 2:57:52value yes sir mr. Sturges was he a
  3824. 2:57:55member of the CIA no sir not at that
  3825. 2:57:57time mr. Gonzales is he a member the CIA
  3826. 2:57:59no sir mr. Baldwin is he a member the
  3827. 2:58:03CIA no sir
  3828. 2:58:06debarker was he a member the CIA no sir
  3829. 2:58:11so America the only member of the CIA in
  3830. 2:58:14all of these matters on June 17th 1972
  3831. 2:58:19was mr. Martinez who was on a hundred
  3832. 2:58:23dollar retainer down in Florida relative
  3833. 2:58:25to the screening of Cuban exiles
  3834. 2:58:27that's correct
  3835. 2:58:34and you did you turn over the records of
  3836. 2:58:37these men to the FBI yes sir when as
  3837. 2:58:42soon as well I don't know the precise
  3838. 2:58:45dates but the FBI started inquiring of
  3839. 2:58:49the agency about the backgrounds of
  3840. 2:58:51these men as soon as the men have been
  3841. 2:58:53arrested and we started providing the
  3842. 2:58:55information from that day
  3843. 2:59:13I can't if I understand the analogy and
  3844. 2:59:18I'm not sure that I do but perhaps your
  3845. 2:59:22ideas then that because there was
  3846. 2:59:24visible former CIA employees and not
  3847. 2:59:27present CIA employees that that some way
  3848. 2:59:31would relieve you of responsibility you
  3849. 2:59:34might otherwise have
  3850. 2:59:35is that a fair yes I think so I think
  3851. 2:59:38mr. Thompson that I should make it clear
  3852. 2:59:41because I was asked at another hearing
  3853. 2:59:43one time when an individual resigns or
  3854. 2:59:48retires from the CIA that's the end of
  3855. 2:59:50his identification with the agency as
  3856. 2:59:53far as we're concerned certainly under
  3857. 2:59:54American laws one has no way of keeping
  3858. 2:59:58a string on people like this so when
  3859. 3:00:00they walk out the door they turn in
  3860. 3:00:02their badge and their employment where
  3861. 3:00:04the agency is finished unless some sort
  3862. 3:00:06of a contractual or fiduciary
  3863. 3:00:08relationship is established with it this
  3864. 3:00:10was not the case with these others
  3865. 3:00:12except for Martinez I can see that and
  3866. 3:00:16as long as we're talking about analogy
  3867. 3:00:17I'm not reaching any conclusion but just
  3868. 3:00:19really thinking aloud for the same token
  3869. 3:00:23there were no present White House
  3870. 3:00:25employees involved in the break-in even
  3871. 3:00:27they were also former employees so if we
  3872. 3:00:31have an analogy I imagine analysis still
  3873. 3:00:33holds up thank you
  3874. 3:00:43you'll be back at 2 o'clock
  3875. 3:00:46we are recessed two o'clock the counter
  3876. 3:00:54the committee broke for lunch just as
  3877. 3:00:56the questioning started to reveal
  3878. 3:00:58differences between some committee
  3879. 3:01:00members public televisions coverage of
  3880. 3:01:02the Senate hearings will continue after
  3881. 3:01:04we paused for station identification
  3882. 3:01:06unabridged coverage of these hearings is
  3883. 3:01:09provided as a public service by the
  3884. 3:01:10member stations of PBS the Public
  3885. 3:01:13Broadcasting Service impact continues
  3886. 3:01:21its coverage of hearings but a Senate
  3887. 3:01:23Select Committee on presidential
  3888. 3:01:25campaign activities here again
  3889. 3:01:27correspondent Robert MacNeil as we pick
  3890. 3:01:30up the testimony again assistant chief
  3891. 3:01:32counsel David Dawson is questioning
  3892. 3:01:34Richard Helms the committee will come to
  3893. 3:01:39order
  3894. 3:01:39and counsel Thank You mr. chairman the
  3895. 3:01:54normal contact from the White House to
  3896. 3:01:58the CIA dr. Kissinger was there much
  3897. 3:02:03contact between mr. Ehrlichman or mr.
  3898. 3:02:06Haldeman and the CIA there was some of
  3899. 3:02:09course not nearly as much there was more
  3900. 3:02:11with mr. Ehrlichman and there was with
  3901. 3:02:12mr. Haldeman can you give some give us
  3902. 3:02:15some idea the number of contacts between
  3903. 3:02:18mr. Ehrlichman and the CIA during the
  3904. 3:02:20time you were director but that would be
  3905. 3:02:22difficult to mr. Council because I don't
  3906. 3:02:27know any way to come up with a statistic
  3907. 3:02:29I suppose that I've had a dozen or so
  3908. 3:02:33contacts within myself over
  3909. 3:02:36three or four years and where many of
  3910. 3:02:38these requests for information or
  3911. 3:02:39requests that the CIA do something
  3912. 3:02:41whether were a variety of things there
  3913. 3:02:43were meetings I attended that mr.
  3914. 3:02:45Ehrlichman called I recall one
  3915. 3:02:49particular activity when the White House
  3916. 3:02:53was redoing the method of classification
  3917. 3:02:55of documents and devising some new
  3918. 3:02:58procedures for declassifying documents
  3919. 3:03:01there were some meetings in order to
  3920. 3:03:03rewrite these regulations and I remember
  3921. 3:03:05attending at least one the may have been
  3922. 3:03:06to now in connection with the request in
  3923. 3:03:11July of 1971 for the CIA to furnish
  3924. 3:03:14supports for mr. hunt
  3925. 3:03:17as your understanding is it not that mr.
  3926. 3:03:20Ehrlichman contacted General Cushman is
  3927. 3:03:22that correct
  3928. 3:03:22that was my distinct impression and in
  3929. 3:03:25June of 1972 when you were at the
  3930. 3:03:30meeting in mr. ehrlichman's office am i
  3931. 3:03:33correct that it was miss general Walters
  3932. 3:03:35who was asked to go to Patrick gray by
  3933. 3:03:38mr. Ehrlichman he was asked by mr.
  3934. 3:03:40Haldeman
  3935. 3:03:40Sooni by mr. Haldeman yes did you make
  3936. 3:03:43any connection then or subsequently
  3937. 3:03:45concerning the fact that the two
  3938. 3:03:48deputies who were asked to participate
  3939. 3:03:50in the fashion described were both
  3940. 3:03:52military men well I didn't know whether
  3941. 3:03:56it had to do with the fact they're a
  3942. 3:03:57military
  3943. 3:03:58there are particular appointees of this
  3944. 3:04:01administration or Jax just exactly when
  3945. 3:04:03they're old friends and therefore seem
  3946. 3:04:05to be easier to deal with am i ray don't
  3947. 3:04:06know which of these considerations loom
  3948. 3:04:08the largest now were you aware prior to
  3949. 3:04:16the May 22nd 1972 announcement by the
  3950. 3:04:20president of the organization known as
  3951. 3:04:23the plumbers or the fact that there was
  3952. 3:04:25such an organization in the White House
  3953. 3:04:27you mean the May 22 1973 excuse me 73
  3954. 3:04:31I've never heard of a plumbers unit were
  3955. 3:04:35you familiar with an investigative unit
  3956. 3:04:36in the White House I didn't know there
  3957. 3:04:38was any unit in the White House that was
  3958. 3:04:40actively carrying out if you like
  3959. 3:04:43burglaries or activist activities of
  3960. 3:04:45this kind now with respect to the
  3961. 3:04:50material supply to Howard hunt you
  3962. 3:04:55referred to the wig as a fairly famous
  3963. 3:04:58item was the wig that was applied to mr.
  3964. 3:05:03hunt by the CIA the same wig allegedly
  3965. 3:05:07worn by hunt the red wig when he saw
  3966. 3:05:11Dida beard I've been told in recent
  3967. 3:05:14times that the wig provided by the
  3968. 3:05:17agency was a brunette wig it was a dark
  3969. 3:05:21hair anyway and that so the agency
  3970. 3:05:25technicians rather resented the fact
  3971. 3:05:27that the red wig had been tied into the
  3972. 3:05:29CIA because it was such a lousy fit
  3973. 3:05:41mr. Helms ambassador Helms are you
  3974. 3:05:43familiar with the memorandum which there
  3975. 3:05:47was a covering routing slip from general
  3976. 3:05:50Cushman to you with the date August 23
  3977. 3:05:531971 on it yes seriously this is indeed
  3978. 3:05:59the memorandum as you showed me that's
  3979. 3:06:00correct and I just like to have you
  3980. 3:06:07identify it
  3981. 3:06:07please cameras
  3982. 3:06:14[Applause]
  3983. 3:06:19yes I am familiar with a memorandum soon
  3984. 3:06:24because I like the Ambassador and hold
  3985. 3:06:26it for another minute and is that
  3986. 3:06:27memorandum the memorandum in chief if I
  3987. 3:06:32if I may use that expression deal with
  3988. 3:06:33the request of mr. hunt for the
  3989. 3:06:36Secretary to which you referred earlier
  3990. 3:06:41yes and there's a portion of the routing
  3991. 3:06:45slip is that a portion of that in your
  3992. 3:06:47handwriting yes there is and could you
  3993. 3:06:50read the routing slip to us please
  3994. 3:06:52including the portion which I understand
  3995. 3:06:54is in general Cushman's handwriting and
  3996. 3:06:56the portion that is in your handwriting
  3997. 3:06:57the part that is in general Cushman's
  3998. 3:07:00handwriting appears first it says FYI
  3999. 3:07:03and guidance on how to handle and then
  4000. 3:07:08general Cushman's initial appears I note
  4001. 3:07:11back to him says if Hunt renews the
  4002. 3:07:14request please let me know and I'll
  4003. 3:07:17speak to Ehrlichman about it or rather
  4004. 3:07:20they speak too early but at once these
  4005. 3:07:22Xeroxes are not famously good mr.
  4006. 3:07:26chairman with the committee's permission
  4007. 3:07:28I would like to have that received in
  4008. 3:07:29evidence without objection it will be
  4009. 3:07:33marked appropriate as an exhibit
  4010. 3:07:36received in evidence as such
  4011. 3:07:43bastard Helms this morning you were
  4012. 3:07:47shown or it was read to you the
  4013. 3:07:51memorandum dated August 31 1971 I would
  4014. 3:07:56like to show you a copy of that at this
  4015. 3:07:58point and to refresh your recollection
  4016. 3:08:04this is the one that deals well with
  4017. 3:08:07states I called John Ehrlichman Friday
  4018. 3:08:09and explain why we could not meet these
  4019. 3:08:11requests I indicated Hunt was becoming a
  4020. 3:08:14pain in the neck John said he would
  4021. 3:08:16restrain hunt it's signed by general
  4022. 3:08:19Cushman and you wrote good is that
  4023. 3:08:20correct yes sir I direct your attention
  4024. 3:08:22to the last typewritten page of that
  4025. 3:08:25memorandum and I read you number three I
  4026. 3:08:29told mr. and the name is blanked out at
  4027. 3:08:31request of the CIA that mr. hunts latest
  4028. 3:08:35requests drew us even further into the
  4029. 3:08:37sensitive area of domestic operations
  4030. 3:08:39against Americans and that all such
  4031. 3:08:41requests should be referred to general
  4032. 3:08:43Cushman's office meanwhile these
  4033. 3:08:45requests should not be met and there's a
  4034. 3:08:48signature initials D DCI which
  4035. 3:08:51represents a position in the CIA what
  4036. 3:08:55does that paragraph mean I don't know
  4037. 3:08:58what this gentleman had reference to it
  4038. 3:09:00is signed by the executive assistant to
  4039. 3:09:03the Deputy Director and what he was
  4040. 3:09:05referring to there I have no idea
  4041. 3:09:06I heard of no specific Americans being
  4042. 3:09:09involved
  4043. 3:09:10that time do you have any knowledge of
  4044. 3:09:12domestic operations against Americans no
  4045. 3:09:15sir I don't know what he had in mind
  4046. 3:09:24in your conversations with Sumi mr.
  4047. 3:09:28chairman this I believe has been
  4048. 3:09:29received in evidence and copies were
  4049. 3:09:31supplied this morning of both and each
  4050. 3:09:37senator had exceed the copy this morning
  4051. 3:09:40do you know what general Cushman was
  4052. 3:09:43told concerning mr. hunts operations
  4053. 3:09:46I don't specifically mr. Council all I
  4054. 3:09:51recall was what I said this morning that
  4055. 3:09:53when hunt came to him and asked for this
  4056. 3:09:56assistance he said it was for a one-time
  4057. 3:09:59interview and do you know whether the
  4058. 3:10:04camera that was given to mr. hunt was
  4059. 3:10:09returned to the CIA prior to September
  4060. 3:10:153rd 1971 which has been given as the
  4061. 3:10:18date of the burglary I don't know I have
  4062. 3:10:20heard it said that the camera was not
  4063. 3:10:24returned but that's really hearsay I'm
  4064. 3:10:27not sure that that was accurate
  4065. 3:10:28information but it was somehow my
  4066. 3:10:30impression that he did not return this
  4067. 3:10:32equipment question the records of the
  4068. 3:10:34CIA I believe the camera was returned
  4069. 3:10:37but the recorder was not was it but you
  4070. 3:10:41have this in the record stone that is
  4071. 3:10:43what I think it should be in the records
  4072. 3:10:44of the committee because I don't think
  4073. 3:10:45this show should depend on my memory
  4074. 3:10:47it's a relevant fact and I would like to
  4075. 3:10:49identify myself with what the record
  4076. 3:10:52shows very good is ambassador now
  4077. 3:10:54earlier you were asked by Senator
  4078. 3:10:56Talmadge whether you were asked by the
  4079. 3:10:59White House concerning mr. hunt in terms
  4080. 3:11:03of supplying a reference and you
  4081. 3:11:05indicated that you were not so consulted
  4082. 3:11:08what reference would you have given you
  4083. 3:11:09pass
  4084. 3:11:11well that's a terribly difficult
  4085. 3:11:12question
  4086. 3:11:13asked me in July our August of 1973
  4087. 3:11:18after all the evidence that's been
  4088. 3:11:20brought forward I think that what would
  4089. 3:11:28have been in my mind at the time was to
  4090. 3:11:31wonder why they wanted him and what his
  4091. 3:11:35talents were that they wanted to avail
  4092. 3:11:36themselves of and I think my answer
  4093. 3:11:38would have been largely dependent on
  4094. 3:11:40what they told me am I correct that in
  4095. 3:11:42the last year's of mr. hunts service
  4096. 3:11:45with the CIA he was given a somewhat
  4097. 3:11:47different assignment than he had before
  4098. 3:11:51yes I believe that in his recent years
  4099. 3:11:54there he was stationed in Washington for
  4100. 3:11:56one thing and but precisely what his
  4101. 3:11:58duties were at the time I don't know but
  4102. 3:11:59they were not particularly operational
  4103. 3:12:01but as I explained this morning he was
  4104. 3:12:03having some family difficulties and so
  4105. 3:12:05forth and he was trying to work these
  4106. 3:12:08out as well as do his job and so on so
  4107. 3:12:11that I can only assume that we were
  4108. 3:12:17taking these human factors into
  4109. 3:12:19consideration and had assigned him at a
  4110. 3:12:22place where he can commentate himself
  4111. 3:12:24did a question arise at a later time as
  4112. 3:12:28to whether in fact mr. Ehrlichman had
  4113. 3:12:31communicated to the CIA with respect to
  4114. 3:12:33Mr Hunt
  4115. 3:12:35yes and not terribly long ago it seems
  4116. 3:12:40to me that it was at the end of last
  4117. 3:12:44year that and I would like to say mr.
  4118. 3:12:51chairman that I believe that there is in
  4119. 3:12:53your record paper which will give the
  4120. 3:12:58precise dates and details about these
  4121. 3:13:00things but my recollection is that
  4122. 3:13:03sometime in
  4123. 3:13:05November I guess it was November or
  4124. 3:13:07December of 1972 mr. William Coley and
  4125. 3:13:11mr. John Warner of the agency visited
  4126. 3:13:16mr. Henry Peterson at the Justice
  4127. 3:13:19Department and I believe mr. Peterson
  4128. 3:13:21had mr. Earl Silbert with him and
  4129. 3:13:23perhaps two or three other people I'm
  4130. 3:13:24not sure who all the individuals were
  4131. 3:13:26and during this meeting they were going
  4132. 3:13:30over some material having to do with
  4133. 3:13:31Howard hunt and the question came up
  4134. 3:13:34about who had got who had arranged for
  4135. 3:13:36Howard hunt to get assistance from the
  4136. 3:13:38agency and mr. Colby identified the
  4137. 3:13:42individual in the White House's mr.
  4138. 3:13:43Ehrlichman as best I recall it some days
  4139. 3:13:48go by and one day I got a call from mr.
  4140. 3:13:50Dean who said that he had understood
  4141. 3:13:54that it had been stated to mr. Peterson
  4142. 3:13:57that mr. Ehrlichman was the man who had
  4143. 3:13:59sponsored mr. hunt and that mr.
  4144. 3:14:04Ehrlichman didn't remember this and I
  4145. 3:14:07could there be some confusion my
  4146. 3:14:10recollection of the conversation was
  4147. 3:14:11that I said I general Cushman was the
  4148. 3:14:14one who had dealt with this matter and
  4149. 3:14:16that I thought they could get the
  4150. 3:14:18information from him mr. Dean then said
  4151. 3:14:21he thought there ought to be a meeting
  4152. 3:14:23to discuss this and I said fine but be
  4153. 3:14:25sure that you have general Cushman at
  4154. 3:14:27the meeting then subsequent to that
  4155. 3:14:30telephone call a meeting was called in
  4156. 3:14:32mr. ehrlichman's office about this
  4157. 3:14:36matter I went to this meeting with mr.
  4158. 3:14:39Colby since mr. Colby had had the
  4159. 3:14:41conversation with mr. Petersen and we
  4160. 3:14:44found in mr. Lincoln's office mr.
  4161. 3:14:46Ehrlichman mr. Dean and there were the
  4162. 3:14:47two of us the general Cushman was not
  4163. 3:14:49there mr. Colby was asked to explain
  4164. 3:14:54when he had had to say and he did so mr.
  4165. 3:14:58Ehrlichman as I recall it said that he
  4166. 3:15:00didn't remember these conversations or
  4167. 3:15:02this Congress
  4168. 3:15:03with the general Cushman the median net
  4169. 3:15:07ended up in a rather unsatisfactory
  4170. 3:15:08manner because the only person that
  4171. 3:15:11could have been helpful and this was
  4172. 3:15:12general and at the very end mr.
  4173. 3:15:15Ehrlichman said well why don't you have
  4174. 3:15:17general Cushman call me he asked mr.
  4175. 3:15:21Colby to do this and I verified - mr.
  4176. 3:15:23Colby that was to call general Cushman
  4177. 3:15:26and let him know now also if memory
  4178. 3:15:29serves when I got that first telephone
  4179. 3:15:32call from mr. Dean I believe I
  4180. 3:15:34instructed mr. Colby to tell general
  4181. 3:15:36Cushman this meeting might be coming up
  4182. 3:15:38so that he would be prepared for it was
  4183. 3:15:42there any reason given why mr. why
  4184. 3:15:44general Cushman was not at the meeting
  4185. 3:15:45there was no reason given that I recall
  4186. 3:15:47and general Cushman to be the person
  4187. 3:15:51most familiar with the question on how
  4188. 3:15:53namely who called he was really the only
  4189. 3:15:55one that could verify it now during the
  4190. 3:15:59recess we did look at one or more
  4191. 3:16:02records and discover that the first
  4192. 3:16:05transmission from the CIA to the FBI
  4193. 3:16:07occurred on June 20th 1973 would that be
  4194. 3:16:11consistent with your recollection 1972
  4195. 3:16:13sir if it was it was in 72 this would
  4196. 3:16:16have been it does and it corresponds to
  4197. 3:16:19my recollection is mentioned in this
  4198. 3:16:21morning's testimony when I said that as
  4199. 3:16:23soon as the FBI started asking his
  4200. 3:16:24questions about these people we began
  4201. 3:16:26replying so that would track very well
  4202. 3:16:30with respect to general Walters
  4203. 3:16:33memoranda on the subject of how they
  4204. 3:16:37represent your recollection as well as
  4205. 3:16:40general Walters recollection could you
  4206. 3:16:43please stay to us again what contact you
  4207. 3:16:46had in terms of reading them or speaking
  4208. 3:16:49to general Walters before he wrote them
  4209. 3:16:55well when general walters and i decided
  4210. 3:17:00that there should be a memorandum for
  4211. 3:17:02the record of these various meetings and
  4212. 3:17:04conversations if i recall it he wrote
  4213. 3:17:08several on the same day
  4214. 3:17:10in other words EU was catching up he
  4215. 3:17:14wrote the meeting of the 23rd and i
  4216. 3:17:15think he wrote his meeting with Abdeen
  4217. 3:17:18with on the 26th and on the 27th and
  4218. 3:17:22there may be another memorandum it
  4219. 3:17:24certainly is all of your record there
  4220. 3:17:26but in any event he was writing them all
  4221. 3:17:28to catch up and then i began to believe
  4222. 3:17:30after that he began to write member and
  4223. 3:17:33for the record assumes he'd had a
  4224. 3:17:34meeting so this wasn't necessary any
  4225. 3:17:36longer i don't recall how carefully I
  4226. 3:17:39read these various memoranda because
  4227. 3:17:41he'd reported to me the contents of
  4228. 3:17:43these meeting orally each time and I
  4229. 3:17:45didn't feel at that juncture as I recall
  4230. 3:17:47it constrained to read through every
  4231. 3:17:49line to be sure that this was exactly
  4232. 3:17:51what he told me in other words I was not
  4233. 3:17:52distrustful his record but you did
  4234. 3:17:55peruse them to the extent of making sure
  4235. 3:17:57that they were generally accurate is
  4236. 3:17:59that correct I think so yes and before
  4237. 3:18:01general Walters wrote each memorandum he
  4238. 3:18:03had already articulated to you almost
  4239. 3:18:07immediately after the meeting the
  4240. 3:18:09circumstances of what occurred at each
  4241. 3:18:11meetings act now there was some question
  4242. 3:18:14this morning as to whether or not the
  4243. 3:18:19president's name was invoked during the
  4244. 3:18:21June 23rd 1972 meeting and I believe
  4245. 3:18:26it's your best recollection that it was
  4246. 3:18:28not is that correct yes that's correct
  4247. 3:18:31general Wallace as I recall the language
  4248. 3:18:33is Mara and said something about it is
  4249. 3:18:35the president's wish I did not recall
  4250. 3:18:37that language having been used when for
  4251. 3:18:40the first time did you take note of your
  4252. 3:18:43difference with the general Walter's
  4253. 3:18:47memorandum I believe we discussed that
  4254. 3:18:49even at the time as to just exactly how
  4255. 3:18:52this had been put so that was one
  4256. 3:18:54instance in where you saw fit to I'm
  4257. 3:18:56afraid there is a disagreement even now
  4258. 3:18:58between this is two I just
  4259. 3:19:01this was worded but in in other words
  4260. 3:19:02you did discuss possible disagreements
  4261. 3:19:04in the subject matter of the memoranda
  4262. 3:19:06even and I think he felt at the time
  4263. 3:19:08that since this was just a memorandum to
  4264. 3:19:10jog his memory and so forth that there
  4265. 3:19:12was no reason to put down that we had a
  4266. 3:19:13difference or to re-edit the language to
  4267. 3:19:15read ich tape the memorandum it's very
  4268. 3:19:18interesting mr. council a lot of
  4269. 3:19:20memoranda funded known then what one
  4270. 3:19:22knows now would have been compiled more
  4271. 3:19:24carefully the language would have been
  4272. 3:19:26more judicious that would have been a
  4273. 3:19:27lot of things happened that didn't
  4274. 3:19:29happen well well thank you for the
  4275. 3:19:30memoranda that we do have mr. ambassador
  4276. 3:19:35now one question that I think is quite
  4277. 3:19:37important I believe you testified that
  4278. 3:19:41you were asked whether there was during
  4279. 3:19:43the same June 23rd meeting as to whether
  4280. 3:19:46there was any involvement by the CIA in
  4281. 3:19:50the Watergate is that correct were you
  4282. 3:19:55so asked that yes I believe I was mister
  4283. 3:19:57counsel and you replied no yes
  4284. 3:20:00now before mr. Haldeman turned to
  4285. 3:20:04general Walters and told him to go and
  4286. 3:20:06speak to Patrick ray was any question
  4287. 3:20:10directed at you or general Walters as to
  4288. 3:20:14whether further investigation by the CIA
  4289. 3:20:18might uncover assets or operations of
  4290. 3:20:21the CIA in further investigation of the
  4291. 3:20:23FBI the FBI might uncover assets or
  4292. 3:20:27operations of the CIA in Mexico I don't
  4293. 3:20:31recall that this point was ever put to
  4294. 3:20:35either of us in the form of a question
  4295. 3:20:37it was my recollection and is my
  4296. 3:20:40recollection that general Walters was
  4297. 3:20:42asked to go and speak to mr. gray about
  4298. 3:20:45this because there was the possibility
  4299. 3:20:47that it might run into CIA operations I
  4300. 3:20:49was not asked whether it
  4301. 3:20:51wouldn't did you comment one way the
  4302. 3:20:54other at that meeting as to whether you
  4303. 3:20:56whether you thought it might uncover
  4304. 3:20:58such operations was there any discussion
  4305. 3:21:00of that subject I'm sorry mister counsel
  4306. 3:21:03I don't recall on me at any time did the
  4307. 3:21:10CIA announced that it was conducting an
  4308. 3:21:13investigation into the Watergate
  4309. 3:21:16announced that it was conduct yes no
  4310. 3:21:19you're in a public announced yet
  4311. 3:21:21was there any decision made within the
  4312. 3:21:23CIA that there would be an investigation
  4313. 3:21:26of the Watergate or is the opposite true
  4314. 3:21:29I'm talking about any CIA discussions as
  4315. 3:21:32to whether there would be an independent
  4316. 3:21:33investigation by the CIA and I'm not
  4317. 3:21:35trying to be picky when we talk about
  4318. 3:21:36Watergate now we're talking about the
  4319. 3:21:38burglary right I'm talking about the
  4320. 3:21:39burglar yes there was no public
  4321. 3:21:42announcement we simply did as I
  4322. 3:21:43indicated this morning and that is
  4323. 3:21:45checked with the various people that
  4324. 3:21:46have had to do with the burglary check
  4325. 3:21:49on their records check with others that
  4326. 3:21:51have had dealings with him to be sure
  4327. 3:21:52what their status was and all the rest
  4328. 3:21:55of it and am I correct that there were a
  4329. 3:21:56number of quite numerous amount of
  4330. 3:22:00communications between the CIA and the
  4331. 3:22:03FBI in the Justice Department
  4332. 3:22:06many and to your knowledge was any
  4333. 3:22:09relevant information withheld from the
  4334. 3:22:12CIA for by the CIA to the FBI the
  4335. 3:22:15Justice Department information that you
  4336. 3:22:17were aware of while the events were
  4337. 3:22:23taking place in June July or August in
  4338. 3:22:261972 sir I don't believe so does the
  4339. 3:22:31record show that the the
  4340. 3:22:33I'm not suggesting that at all I'm mr.
  4341. 3:22:35ambassador I'm just asking for your
  4342. 3:22:36knowledge I have no knowledge of the
  4343. 3:22:38contrary well I I don't either so but I
  4344. 3:22:41just wanted to be sure that my
  4345. 3:22:43recollection tracked with the facts
  4346. 3:22:51senator Baker mr. Chairman I have no
  4347. 3:22:53further questions Thank You mr. Thompson
  4348. 3:23:00mr. ambassador
  4349. 3:23:02did General Walters indicates you to
  4350. 3:23:05indicate to you between the time of June
  4351. 3:23:08the 23rd and June the 28th that he was
  4352. 3:23:12in any way concerned about the propriety
  4353. 3:23:14of the request or order that mr. Hall
  4354. 3:23:18would have given him
  4355. 3:23:24I don't know whether we you ever
  4356. 3:23:28mentioned the propriety of it I think
  4357. 3:23:30that in fact I'm sure that we discussed
  4358. 3:23:34why the request was being made we'd been
  4359. 3:23:37asked to do it what was behind it we
  4360. 3:23:40didn't have the information to put
  4361. 3:23:41together at that time and I'm sure as
  4362. 3:23:44associates would we were you know
  4363. 3:23:46expressing wonderment to each other's to
  4364. 3:23:48what was what this was all about do you
  4365. 3:23:52know why for example he waited until
  4366. 3:23:56June the 28:28 to prepare this
  4367. 3:24:02memorandum which we've been referring to
  4368. 3:24:04where he sets all these things away 25
  4369. 3:24:07days in order to do that mr. Thompson I
  4370. 3:24:10don't know and but he will certainly be
  4371. 3:24:13able to testify to that but didn't
  4372. 3:24:14discuss this but as I indicated this
  4373. 3:24:17morning I don't remember any more which
  4374. 3:24:20one of us was the one that decided or
  4375. 3:24:23whether we just agreed in the
  4376. 3:24:24conversation together after the request
  4377. 3:24:27from Dean for the agency to provide bail
  4378. 3:24:30or salaries for the breakers in or in
  4379. 3:24:34breakers or whatever they are that at
  4380. 3:24:36that time it seemed desirable to put
  4381. 3:24:39some of this on the record because this
  4382. 3:24:41was getting a bit far afield and into a
  4383. 3:24:43rather strange area we thought and that
  4384. 3:24:45these various meetings that ought to be
  4385. 3:24:47caught up and I think that's the reason
  4386. 3:24:50that on the same day he did the several
  4387. 3:24:52at the same time in between the time of
  4388. 3:24:54your conversational 23rd at the time he
  4389. 3:24:57prepared this memorandum Dean had
  4390. 3:25:00contacted him three times had he not in
  4391. 3:25:0326 27 28 days Monday Tuesday Wednesday
  4392. 3:25:06anyway I believe that's right yeah so
  4393. 3:25:08would you could you say about that time
  4394. 3:25:10then that he had become he had become
  4395. 3:25:14concerned about the matter and was
  4396. 3:25:17covering his tracks so to speak well you
  4397. 3:25:19see mr. Thompson I I wish you'd help me
  4398. 3:25:26with the point here
  4399. 3:25:27it is my recollection contrary to what
  4400. 3:25:30those memoranda show that it was on
  4401. 3:25:32Tuesday the second meeting with mr. Dean
  4402. 3:25:35that mr. Dean made mentioned bail and
  4403. 3:25:37salaries whereas general waters
  4404. 3:25:40memorandum indicates that that comes on
  4405. 3:25:42the Monday and because my recollection
  4406. 3:25:45is that it came on the Tuesday that it
  4407. 3:25:47was after that that I said we agreed
  4408. 3:25:49that he should write these memoranda and
  4409. 3:25:51therefore he wrote the first to them on
  4410. 3:25:53the very next day I don't know whether
  4411. 3:25:59his memory not over is there may be some
  4412. 3:26:03difference between the memorandum and an
  4413. 3:26:05interview my understanding was frankly
  4414. 3:26:07but on the 26th Dean had asked him if
  4415. 3:26:10there was any way that the FB the CIA
  4416. 3:26:13could possibly be involved and whether
  4417. 3:26:16or not the CIA could could have been
  4418. 3:26:18involved without law of his knowledge
  4419. 3:26:19and then the following day on the 27th
  4420. 3:26:23mentioning the witnesses involved and
  4421. 3:26:26whether or not salary could be paid them
  4422. 3:26:29and bail money could be raised and on
  4423. 3:26:32the 28th just as more general discussion
  4424. 3:26:34as to whether or not mr. general Boggs
  4425. 3:26:36had any any ideas as as to how the
  4426. 3:26:39matter could be his memory may
  4427. 3:26:41straighten that out and how I don't know
  4428. 3:26:44but the reason that I cling to my
  4429. 3:26:49recollection in this particular case is
  4430. 3:26:51that the question of bail and salaries
  4431. 3:26:53hit me rather hard I've made an
  4432. 3:26:57impression on me and it was that which I
  4433. 3:26:59believe motivated us to say you better
  4434. 3:27:01start getting this in the record and I
  4435. 3:27:03think that happened on the Tuesday which
  4436. 3:27:05I believe is the 27th and therefore he
  4437. 3:27:07would have been writing these memorandum
  4438. 3:27:08there and I know it's difficult to
  4439. 3:27:12conclude what another man was thinking
  4440. 3:27:14I assume you were talking to him from
  4441. 3:27:16time to time might we conclude then that
  4442. 3:27:18it was not so much the 23rd meeting the
  4443. 3:27:21in and of itself but the subsequent
  4444. 3:27:23contact with Dean that inspired him to
  4445. 3:27:27put the matter in writing yes I think
  4446. 3:27:29that's right is the combination of this
  4447. 3:27:31thank you sir I have a question are
  4448. 3:27:34there other questions of the witness if
  4449. 3:27:37there are no other questions mr.
  4450. 3:27:39Chalmers on behalf of the committee may
  4451. 3:27:40I thank you for your appearance you
  4452. 3:27:43reiterate we have some appreciation of
  4453. 3:27:45the inconvenience that it may have
  4454. 3:27:46caused you we are grateful for your
  4455. 3:27:49testimony and wish you good luck Thank
  4456. 3:27:53You mr. chair and I thank the committee
  4457. 3:27:54for its consideration thank you sir when
  4458. 3:27:56counsel called the next witness please
  4459. 3:28:00general question the next witness is
  4460. 3:28:07Marine Corps commandant Robert Cushman
  4461. 3:28:09who was deputy director of the CIA in
  4462. 3:28:111971 when the agency provided assistance
  4463. 3:28:14to e Howard hunt fisherman is 58 years
  4464. 3:28:17old and a graduate of the Naval Academy
  4465. 3:28:19he was an aide to then Vice President
  4466. 3:28:21Nixon from 1957 to 1961 here in the Navy
  4467. 3:28:25Cross the Legion of Merit and the Bronze
  4468. 3:28:27Star during World War two
  4469. 3:28:28President Nixon named him to hit the
  4470. 3:28:30Marine Corps last year

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