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Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 5, 1973
[00.30.25] THOMPSON. It was someone in the Humphrey committee, from what you can tell? Mr. REISNER. From what I can tell, I mean it purported to be. Mr. THOMPSON. How much money was this individual receiving? Mr. Reisner My recollection is that it was approximately a thousand dollars a month, but I could have read that in the newspaper, frankly, it is vague. Mr. THOMPSON. What about Mr. Liddy? Mr. REISNER. Mr. Liddy received several disbursements that were considerably larger than that. I think they were in the nature of $5,000 to $8,000, I am not certain. The reason I remember them is that there were-he would return sums of money and it made the accounting somewhat bizarre, He would return $300 after taking out $8,000, that at sort of thing. I really am not completely clear on that. Mr. THOMPSON. Was there any indication as to the total amount Liddy had received to that time? Mr. Reisner No, there wasn't. I have the feeling that the total magnitude, $40,000 to $50,000, means that, and that is the total magnitude of what wits recorded. I have no idea. Mr. Porter, I do not think, would have hidden any of what he was recording but I only saw what the receipts were there and Mr. Liddy's total figure I would think would be in the nature of half of that. Mr. THOMPSON. Did you state when this inventory took place? Mr. REISNER. In March, later March. of could not pin it down exactly but it was Mr. THOMPSON. Concerning the money in Mr. Porter's safe, could you tell either from anything that you saw there in the, nature of receipts, from conversations With Mr. Porter, from conversations with anybody else about any other operations or individuals who Were being funded, who had been paid money out of the safe of Mr. Porter? Mr. REISNER. Anything else would be by the nature of a supposition. There is nothing else that-- Mr. THOMPSON. Do you know? Mr. REISNER. It is hard. Mr. THOMPSON. Or do you know or have any basis for believing that any demonstrations or counter demonstrations were funded? Mr. REISNER. Yes, there was one occasion in April in which I overheard a conversation. The nature of my job was such that there are pieces of these things that were overheard that after subsequent events they perhaps take some meaning. I was sitting in Mr. Magruder's office at the time he received a phone call. The phone call concerned the fact that there was a desire to get, some counter demonstrators to attend the Hoover funeral, that there was some sort of planned demonstration. It seems to me that that was an activity that Mr. Liddy was then asked to undertake and it seems to me there was some cash in that activity. Mr. THOMPSON. Magruder asked Liddy to take care of this? Mr. Reisner When I say this I say this in an effort to be cooperative because I am talking about only my specific recollection. It may be that that wasn't carried out or that it was carried out differently from the Way in which I heard the conversation and I think only Porter could be of assistance there. That was the nature of the initial conversation. Mr. THOMPSON. Did you have occasion to overhear a conversation between Mr. Magruder and Mr. Porter concerning a possible front for some of Mr. Porter's activities? Mr. REISNER. Yes, I did. Mr. THOMPSON. Could you tell us about, that? Mr. REISNER. That was earlier. That, was either January or February or perhaps in December and it was, again it was the same, the nature of the conversation was identical. It was the beginning of discussion that did not take place with me present. And in the, beginning of that discussion Mr. Magruder indicated to Mr. Porter that Mr. Kalmbach had agreed to find a job for someone who Was going to work for Mr. Porter. That. was the nature of the, conversation. Mr. Thompson. Did he state what kind of work? "Mr. REISNER. The idea was there was a business concern who was going to employ an individual who would work for Mr. Porter. That was, the limit of the conversation that I heard, I think inferentially and from the circumstance under which the conversation took place it was my feeling that that was by way of a front activity, but as to whether it, was in fact, as to whether it was carried out, as to whether Mr. Kalmbach was of assistance I can't help with that. Mr. THOMPSON. What did you think Porter was doing? Mr. REISNER. I am not. certain. 1 think perhaps what he was doing was obtaining information; that, there was possibly people that were working for him who were perhaps disgruntled with other campaigns or perhaps Just individuals, who wanted to be involved in politics and who wanted to obtain information and pass, it on to our campaign. That, was as close as I could come. Mr. THOMPSON. You never asked him? Mr. REISNER. There, were one or two occasions on which I was present in the office and I was shown something. For example, one time I was shown a Xerox copy of what purported to be minutes of an issues group that Senator Muskie had. I do not, know whether those in fact were minutes of any real issues group. Mr. THOMPSON. Who showed you that.? Mr. REISNER. I believe Mr. Porter was giving it to Mr. Magruder. It wasn't, by way of showing it to me. Mr. THOMPSON. You do not know how he obtained that? Mr. REISNER. -No, I do not have any idea, It could have been--It was someone working for Senator Muskie who had decided that they wished to do that. It could also--you can make other assumption that were more negative concerning-- Mr. THOMPSON. When did you first, become aware that the Gemstone file had in do with surveillance activity of some kind? Mr. REISNER. I am not certain. I do not think that I am necessarily. aware at this time what I think that, when I took it, in with Mrs. Harmony's testimony and with other witnesses, it seems to me that I have a pretty good idea of what it was. [00.36.56]
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 5, 1973
[00.36.56] Mr. THOMPSON. On the Monday following the break-in at the Democratic National Committee, the Watergate, did you not shred a file yourself? Mr. REISNER. Yes. I did. The nature of that as I think just to understand the idea of shredding a file would I go through my mind, I think- you have to go into the nature of why files were shredded, there was a tremendous amount of paper in our committee. Part of my responsibility, giving Mr. Mitchell papers, documents, was to make five copies of each document that went to the campaign director. Senator ERVIN. I regret to say there is a signal for a vote in the Senate. 'We will come back as quickly as we can. [00.37.53--MacNEILL in studio] MacNEILL states that the while the Senators vote on an energy bill, there is time to mull over more information about a cash fund in Porter's Safe, much of which went to LIDDY. Solicits viewer response. NETWORK ID [Title Screen "SENATE HEARINGS ON CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES"] MacNEILL introduces more questioning about the CRP cash fund [00.41.32--in to shot of Sen. ERVIN] Senator ERVIN. The committee will come to order. I do not know whether Mr. Thompson finished his examination or not. Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. Chairman, I just have one other question. I have already exceeded my time and I apologize, but I do have one question. If I remember Mrs. Harmony's testimony correctly, she referred to a belief, I believe, that there were possible plants inside the Committee To Re-Elect. Do you have any knowledge or belief, was there any opinion as to that at of fact? Mr. REISNER. No, I did not. I know that there was a great deal of effort expended on finding such plants and we never found any. [00.42.44]
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 5, 1973
[00.42.44] Mr. THOMPSON, Why Was there a belief that there were such plants? Mr. REISNER. There were a number of occasions on which articles appeared in the newspaper in a way I think would have lent to great suspicion that there was material being fed out of our committee into the newspapers or possibly to other candidates. There was such a wire story the week prior to June 17, according -to my best recollection, and there were such occasions. Mr. Anderson, Jack Anderson, on several occasions had information that seemed that could only have, come from inside of our committee. Mr. THOMPSON. Prinitng Of internal committee documents? Mr. Reisner I do not believe there were any documents themselves but I do-- Mr. THOMPSON. References to what? Memorandums, letters? Mr. REISNER. To information and to activity and that sort of thing which was going on in our committee which I think could only have gotten into the newspaper if someone had fed it out of our committee. It was just a feeling. Mr. THOMPSON. Thank you. That is all, Mr. Chairman, Senator ERVIN. You stated that you kept some sort of a log. Mr. Reisner Exactly what was the log? Senator ERVIN. Yes. Mr. REISNER. My log was a sort of a daily report, of activity that was going on. I would be interrupted frequently and I might make a notation someone had come to me. Senator ERVIN. As I understand, you reported that your log shows prior to February 4, that there was a meeting at the White House attended by Magruder, Liddy, and Dean. Mr. Reisner Yes, sir. Senator ERVIN. Is that correct? Mr. Reisner Yes, sir. Senator ERVIN. And then, your log shows that on February 4, there Was a meeting Of Liddy, John Mitchell, Jeb Stuart Magruder, and John W. Dean III? Mr. REISNER. Yes; in the other notebook that was kept by Vicki Chern, Mr. Dean's name appears. It does not appear in mine. Senator ERVIN. Where did this meeting of February 4 take place? Mr. REISNER. Where was their disagreement? Senator ERVIN. Where did it take place? Mr. REISNER. That, meeting would have taken place in Mr. Mitchell's office at the Justice Departement. Senator ERVIN. At, the Justice Department,? Mr. REISNER. Yes, Sir. Senator ERVIN. Then--- Mr. REISNER. I believe. Senator ERVIN. YOU stated that In March that Mr. Magruder went to Key Biscayne in Florida for the purpose of meeting with Mr. Mitchell? Mr. REISNER. Yes, sir. Senator ERVIN-. And it was after he came back from Key Biscayne that Mr. Magruder told You to call Liddy and tell Liddy that it, was arranged? Mr. REISNER. Mr. Chairman to be precise, my recollection is that on one occasion I was asked to Call Mr. Liddy and to make such a statement. My recollection is that it was', could have occurred shortly after that trip because the time seems correct. I cannot be absolutely certain. Senator ERVIN. To whom did Magruder report at the Committee To Re-Elect the President? Mr. REISNER. Mr. Magruder worked for Mr. Mitchell. Senator ERVIN. Did Mr. Magruder send many memorandums to Mr. Mitchell? I Mr. REISNER. Yes. sir; he did. And also memorandums that would have been Prepared by senior staff members, at the committee would have been sent, through Mr. Magruder to Mr. Mitchell, Senator ERVIN. Now, how frequently did Mr. Magruder send Memorandums to Mr. Mitchell? Mr. REISNER. Mr. Magruder would have been unlikely to have met with Mr. Mitchell if he did not have some matters worthy of Mr. Mitchell's attention. He met with Mr. Mitchell virtually every day when Mr. Mitchell was campaign director and every day therefore, would probably have had memorandums. Senator ERVIN. And I understand from your testimony that Mr. Magruder had a file called the Mitchell file in which he placed documents which related to matters he wished to discuss with -Mr. Mitchell? Mr. REISNER. Yes, sir. Senator ERVIN. According to your best recollection, the file contained some Gemstone reports and was in those file papers on one occasion? Mr. Reisner Yes, Sir. Senator ERVIN. Now, you spoke about the time -Mr. Odle took out the blue file. Mr. REISNER. Yes, Senator Ervin. Which I understand contained Gemstone information and other information. Mr. REISNER. Yes, sir, Senator ERVIN. to as this the kind of a file the Gemstone file was In. Mr. REISNER. It Was, I believe, if that has my initials on it, it is the file that I gave to your staff in order to-- Senator ERVIN. It has your initials on it and dated 5/21/73, Mr. REISNER. Yes, sir; I gave it to your staff to indicate the kind of file it was. Senator ERVIN. Let that be marked appropriately as all exhibit and received in evidence as such. Senator ERVIN. Did anyone else receive copies of memos that Mr. Magruder sent to Mr. Mitchell? Mr. REISNER. Yes, sir; each document to Mr. Mitchell went through me, would have been a formal document to Mr. Mitchell, a duplicate copy was sent to Mr. Haldeman's office. [00.48.16]
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 5, 1973
[00.48.16] Senator ERVIN. Mr. Haldeman was Chief of Staff in the White House? Mr. REISNER. That is correct. In fairness to the nature of what we, were doing there, we were working for the President who was the candidate and, therefore, we were providing him the, opportunity I , if he wished, or if Mr. Haldeman wished to see any documents that were taking place in his campaign. Senator ERVIN. Do you know whether anyone on the Committee To Re-Elect the President ever received any communications from Mr. Haldeman? Mr. Reisner Yes, sir; I would imagine that a number of people--to be precise--Mr. Haldeman had working for him a man named Mr. Gordon Strachan. It was my impression that Mr. Strachan communicated frequently with many members in the committee. Mr. Haldeman himself may have communicated directly with other senior staff members. 1 do not imagine that it was frequent. Senator ERVIN. Would it be proper to describe Mr. Strachan. 's activities as something in the nature of liaison between the Committee To Re-Elect the President and Mr. Haldeman? Mr. REISNER. Yes,sir. Senator ERVIN. Have you had any conversation with Mr. Magruder since June 17? Mr. REISNER. Yes, sir; I have on a number of occasions. You mean Conversations related to the concerns of your committee? Senator ERVIN. Yes. Mr. Reisner I have subsequent to June 17, there took place a' conversation in which I asked Mr, Magruder about some of the things which I have described previously. I think I asked him by my Of raising some suspicion, just what was going on, and I think I asked him on that occasion what Gemstone was, because I did not know what Gemstone was, and he indicated to me that he did not know what Gemstone was either. Now, at that time I was asking him are we involved in thi's thing, are we connected to this thing, because it looks a little suspicious, and he indicated to me that we were not. There was another conversation in which Mr. Magruder, I had volunteered to be helpful to another member of the committee and it would have, I think, involved me getting involved in subsequent activities, and he indicated to me that I should not. Senator ERVIN. Now, in Your conversation with Mr. -Magruder in Which You asked Mr. Magruder what the Gemstone file meant or was-- did that occur after he had called from California and asked That it, be removed from the. committee headquarters over the weekend? Mr. REISNER. Yes, sir; the conversation I am describing took place in his office.. I think he may have initiated it; by calling me. into his office and saying you know, how are things going or something like that. Senator ERVIN. After that, he told you he did not know what, the Gemstone file was? Mr. REISNER. That is correct. Senator ERVIN. He told you and Mr. Odle the night when be called from California that, it was very sensitive, did he. not,? Mr. REISNER. Yes, he did. Senator ERVIN. Please remove it, from the office over the weekend? Mr. Reisner Yes, he did. Senator ERVIN. How many times did Mr. Magruder Meet with John Mitchell before John Mitchell became the, campaign director? Mr. REISNER. Prior to 'March 1, 1 can only Speak of the times between November and March when I knew Mr. Magruder. He met with him several times a week, I would say, on the, average. That, is indicated in the notebook that by have described and Vicki Chern kept. Senator ERVIN. And that was while Mr. Mitchell was still Attorney General and had offices in the Justice Department? Mr. REISNER. Yes, Sir; he went down to meet -Mr. Mitchell, that, is right. Senator ERVIN. 'Now, how many times did Mr, 'Magruder meet with Mr. Mitchell after Mr. Mitchell resigned, ceased to be Attorney General and took up offices in the headquarters of the Committee To Re-Elect the President? MI REISNER. I Would say 'Mr. Magruder perhaps early in March, when Mr. Mitchell also was concerned with the hearings concerning ITT, it may not have had this frequency, but certainly with the exception of those days it was my impression that Mr. -Magruder met with Mr. Mitchell every day. Senator ERVIN. When was your first conversation With Mr. Magruder on June 19 1972? Mr. Reisner On June 19, 1972? That was on the Monday morning When Mr. Magruder returned' from California. I believe I just saw him when he came in and did not have an opportunity to talk to him, Senator ERVIN. Did -Mr. -Magruder have meetings from time to time with members of the White House staff? MR. REISNER. Yes, sir. Senator ERVIN. How frequently? Mr. REISNER. I -would say that. I would say that be, met, with different members of the White House staff who were concerned with different aspects of the campaign practically every day, certainly as the campaign he heated up and became more active he did, but that could have, that would have to be verified in the calendar, I cannot Speak precisely. Senator ERVIN. Where did the meetings take place" Mr. REISNER. It depended on the individual. If it Was a Senior member of the White House staff I Would say that it probably took place at the White House or in the Executive Office Building. if it was a member, more junior member of the staff, it probably took place in our office. [00.54.02]
Plane in the air - a park
African scenics
Scenic Africa
Africa scenic
Africa scenics TRANSFERRED TO PREVIEW CASSETTE #98554
ON PREVIEW CASSETTE 95519 Waterfalls - Africa - natives
Victoria Falls
On preview cassette 222220 Victoria Falls, Africa - MS African boy carrying (piggy back) another younger, smaller African child.
Waterfall - Africa
Africa - panning shot of lake
Africa - spring/small bridge
Sun through tropical jungle
Africa plains (by air)
African jungle
Mt. Kilimanjaro
Scenic tree
Aerial over jungle - jungle river
Cows on the field - Africa
Africa zebra or zeba?? (No idea what animals - very breif clip)
River - background tower
Africa - boat - pov boat