Watergate Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 5, 1973. Testimony of Robert Reiser, aide to Jeb Magruder
Watergate Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 5, 1973. 13.05 [LEHRER in studio] [**SEE RESTRICTIONS FIELD IN RIGHTS AREA**] LEHRER remarks that the day's testimony featured two witnesses who had access to the sensitive files but did not read them because they were not supposed to. States that the Republicans obviously have no reason to fear for security within their own campaign. Notes the mention of political spies, in the GEMSTONE files. States that the next days witness, Hugh SLOAN, who quit the campaign after Watergate, will offer a different perspective. rumored that he left because he was asked to take part in the COVERUP. This is part of a plan to skip over more details of the BREAK-IN and concentrate on the aftermath. [cut Correspondent Peter KAYE in committee room with Sam DASH] KAYE asks when the tesimony will be given by John DEAN and MAGRUDER, the "Big Boys" of the scandal. DASH discusses his plans to wrap up the hearings within the requirements of the Senate Resolution. DASH says the next phase will be investigating the COVERUP. [cut MacNEILL in studio] MacNEILL remarks that DASH has done most to set the course of the investigation, laying a foundation for the investigation, before proceeding to the big fish [cut LEHRER] LEHRER introduces guest commentary from Alan BARTH, a journalist, and Adrian FISHER of Georgetown University Law School. Commentarty about the Committee's refusal to delay the proceedings as per the request of Archibald COX, Special prosecutor. FISHER says it was a good move, because after the trials and appeals start, it will be impossible to conduct such an investigation. BARTH says he was impressed by the Committee's action of backing off of forcing LIDDY to testify. Says there's an ugly legacy of Congressional Committees of forcing Witnesses to plead the Fifth Amendment publicly and embarassing them. FISHER states that the activities of the Senate Committee have given a kick in the ass to the criminal investigation of Watergate [paraphrase] BARTH states that the simultaneous action of the Special Prosecutor has served to check the excesses of Congressional Committees generally. LEHRER introduces the next day's testimony of SLOAN as more "background", with careful, methodical proceedings. Notes that the hearings have brought "real people" like REISNER and HARMONY to the public view, reflects on the human aspect of the unfolding scandal, and "new famous people" created by it. Solicits viewer response. Signs off {title screen "SENATE HEARINGS ON CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES"] [PBS Network ID] [00.25.22--TAPE OUT]
[00.02.00--NPACT logo/black screen--image of page with text of Senate Resolution 60, Robert MacNEILL v.o. reads resolution text--MacNEILL in studio] **SEE RESTRICTION FIELD IN RIGHTS SECTION*** MacNEILL introduces testimony of Hugh SLOAN, former treasurer of Finance Committee to Re-Elect the President, which focuses on the financial practices of the campaign, payment of cash funds to Gordon LIDDY to conduct operations, and efforts by his superiors, including Jeb MAGRUDER, John MITCHELL, and Fred LaRUE to get SLOAN to keep silent about the payments, leading to SLOAN'S resignation from FCRP Jim LEHRER states that a new group of top White House staff has been hired to replace those who were fired or resigned due to the scandal. Further states that the course of the hearings and with many witnesses still to come, it will be necessary for the Senate Committee to hold more hearings. [Senator BAKER with reporter Peter KAYE.] BAKER states that the committee will go to a 3-day per week schedule for the forseeable future [LEHRER in studio] LEHRER states that the bulk of SLOAN'S testimony (recorded earlier) focused on the financial practices of the committee, and his futile attempts to get his superiors (MAGRUDER, MITCHELL, etc.) to investigate the Watergate matter fully, On one trip, to MITCHELL's office, SLOAN was asked what happened in the meeting: [00.05.45--shows SLOAN testifying, states that MITCHELL'S response to his concerns was "When the going gets tough, the tough get going". ] LEHRER states that watching the hearings in full will give all viewers a chance to judge for themselves the truth of SLOAN's testimony, Gives SLOAN's background--educational, governmental, political history. States that SLOAN'S testimony made a big impact on the committee, particularly Senator ERVIN [00.07.38--cut to Senator ERVIN ] Senator ERVIN tells SLOAN that his testimony has restored ERVIN'S faith in the saying that "An honest man is the noblest work of God." [MacNEILL in studio--seen to chuckle at ERVIN'S remarks] [00.07.58]
[00.07.58] ***SEE RESTRICTIONS FIELD IN RIGHTS SECTION*** MacNEILL states that SLOAN will return to testify the next day, followed by CRP press secretary Powell MOORE and CRP scheduling director Herbert PORTER, neither of which man has been prominent in the testimony thus far. LEHRER states that a big part of SLOAN's testimony relates to the change in campaign law that took effect April 7, 1972, and introduced much stricter requirements for disclosure for contributions and expenditures. Calls on guest commentator Phillip HUGHES, director of the General Accounting Office. HUGHES describes the increased stringency of the laws over the previous Corrupt Practices Act, which HUGHES says was characterized by LBJ as "More Loophole than Law"--states that much confusion was evident in the transition period between old and new requirements, and that the transition period was when many of the financial dealings pertaining to the Watergate breakin were effected during this transition period. HUGHES states that the GAO was available to help political committees to comply with the law, and that part of the problem was that committees had to get used to the idea of a strict law that would be enforced MacNEILLgives an account of the testimony of the day, hour-by-hour. [00.11.23--cut committee room, Sen. ERVIN conferring with Sam DASH. MacNEILL continues, v.o., to give hourly breakdown of the testimony] [00.12.46--ERVIN gavels meeting open]
African velde / village / families
Family having dinner
Greyhound Races at Derby Lane
Dominican Republic
Neon Signs of Las Vegas - Night MS lights of the Eldorado Club. CU Golden Nugget lights. MCU marquee "Enjoy the Old West". MS Eldorado Club. CU Eldorado Club neon showing miner using pickaxe. CU Golden Nugget lights. MCU marquee "Enjoy the Old West". MCU Eldorado and Boulder Club lights.
Desert Landscapes Scenic WS of desert dunes w/ two shrubby plants in the landscape. WS dunes and shrubby plants as sun sets, nice shading w/light. MS rippled layers of windblown sand creating an abstract pattern, twisted skeleton of a plant creates interesting shadows. LS desert landscape showing sand, shrub and mountains.
Desert Landscapes Scenic establishing shots of desert landscape showing shrubby plants and mountains in BG. MCU tall cactus, willowy tree behind it blows around in the winds. GV tall cactus growing in middle of shrubby tree. Static view of desert landscape with shrubby plants and mountains in far distance. MCU leafless desert tree.
Car in the Desert GV 1940s era car pulled on the side of desert road w/ hood up, parked in front of communal barrel reading "Water - Radiators Only", man looks under hood as second man and woman stand roadside, man under hood walks over to water barrel. MS man filling tin can from radiator water barrel. MCU man back under the hood, pouring water into radiator.
Rocky Bay High angle GV ocean w/ rock formations off shore.
City Several high angle LSs of densely populated city, just a few high rise buildings seen.
Trucks MS gravel truck passing camera. MCUs wheels of several different trucks as they pass camera, late 1940s-early 1950s service truck, delivery truck, semi-truck models.
Havana Nightclub Neon MCUs neon for popular Havana clubs: Tropicana, Montmartre and Sloppy Joe's Bar.
Oceanfront Property High angle LSs secluded beachfront property, either a mansion or resort, location unknown.
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Sailing
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Old Havana: Buildings, Architecture
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Cuba
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