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August 2, 1994 - Part 4
(11:25:49) The CHAIRMAN. Are the notes available so we can do this in the context of not having to call you back? Mr. STEINER. I don't know, Senator. The CHAIRMAN. Where are the notes? Mr. WEINGARTEN. In my office, Senator, Mr. STEINER. They're in my attorney's office. Senator SHELBY. They're here. They're in the lawyer's office. The CHAIRMAN. Where's the office? Mr. WEINGARTEN. In Washington. Mr. STEINER, It's here in town , sir, up by Dupont Circle. Senator SHELBY. Mr. Chairman, he could probably get those notes while we're going through another round of questioning. The CHAIRMAN. I think it would be useful to try to get the notes up here on this one sentence and let me tell you why, and then I'm going to yield back the time and I thank Senator D'Amato. What Senator Shelby has pointed out here, if the literal transcription is correct, certainly could lend itself to the interpretation that he raised and that is, turning the RTC people they didn't know. I've heard that phraseology used before, and that suggests, in a sense, finding a way to deflect them from the decision path they might be on. Mr. STEINER. Senator, I can understand why, based on the text'. that is before you, why you might interpret it that way. I cannot, possibly be any clearer, however, that that was not my intention", when I wrote this. I had a very clear issue in mind, which was the. one I described earlier, concerning Mr. Altman's term under Vacancy Act and that was my intention in writing this passage. The CHAIRMAN. I'll finish with this. This becomes very Important since it was earlier in the day that either Senator Shelby or Sen- ator Kerry reviewed your own background. You've had an excellent.., academic background. You've earned a master's degree' You've worked in a library. You're obviously very good at words, This is 389 a skill you have, It is a developed, polished skill and so the issue of what you've said in its initial accuracy, especially because there have been these stories circulating that there s now an effort to try and take and in a sense, reinterpret or redefine the meaning, makes every word on this piece of paper highly relevant, Mr. STEINER. I appreciate that, Senator. I might point out, that you'll notice, in fact, I describe the same set of events twice in this diary, and the reason is that I did not go back and review it. I did not go back over former passages and look at them again and check them for accuracy, check to see whether my language was precise, check to see whether my sentences were complete. As you'll see here, my syntax is not the same I might use in writing a memo or formal letter. The CHAIRMAN. Of course, sometimes we get better information that way, I mean, you weren't concerned about nuances when you wrote this. You were, I assume, giving the most honest, direct-you were talking to yourself. There is absolutely no reason for you to not be absolutely candid with yourself. I assume you were. Mr. STEINER. Nor was there a reason, however, Senator to be precise or be entirely accurate because my purpose was not to write a precise or accurate narrative. My purpose today under oath, as it has been under 4 previous sworn testimonies, was to be as precise and as accurate as I possibly can. The CHAIRMAN. Senator DAmato. Senator D'AMAT0. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Sir, I just want to make note of something you just said and something the witness said as it relates to-you'll notice that I keep going back because I didn't check. You went back and as a diary would you continued to update it and this issue of recusal was big. Bernie Nussbaum got down, beating up your boss. Every body told your boss "recuse yourself." You said it. You expected him to TO it and be came back and be was pounded and changed his mind. You look at your diary, you'll see that you even agonized, and I tell you something it is distressful to see a young, bright, intelligent man who wrote this diary and comes around and concocts some feeble, lamebrained excuses to try to explain it away like it didn't count and it didn't matter. You don't do yourself justice. You have a memo I've given you that you prepared at the end of February, sometime in February-middle of February you've testified. It's dated March 4 because that's when it's printed out. And in it you are going through and you've describe an analysis of the advantages of a recusal and the disadvantages. And your last five advantages, and then there is one disadvantage, you have three. Would you read that first disadvantage.
Hotel Auction
LS Flatiron Building in downtown Fort Worth; MS window lettering above main doors: Flatiron Bldg. 1000 (Houston); low angle TLSs fa ade of Flatiron Building; l/a CU gargoyle head on fa ade of building; MS handmade sign in window-- For Information, Call Mr. Deitchman-- zoom out to MS young white couple looking at sign. MS neon sign: Air Conditioned Westbrook Fireproof Hotel; TLS Westbrook Hotel, vertical sign on fa ade; MS auction sign in window of Hotel Westbrook announcing date of public auction; LSs Westbrook Hotel. MS people standing in line at auction; MS people milling in lobby; MS posted terms & conditions of auction sign; MSs items for sale (rollaway bed, furniture, fans, etc); MSs people waiitng in line to purchase items.
Nighttime Skyline
LS Dallas skyline, night; zoom in. TLS/MSs signs & buildings all aglow, lit up, looking strange & anonymous & almost abstract in their light patterns. LS/TLSs bank building with red, white & blue light pattern in shape of United States flag (patriotic, patriotism, nationalism, pride).
Outdoor Antique Car Show
TLS procession of new & vintage cars & campers entering fairgrounds. MS Ford Model T, old man & grandson sitting in cab. Sideview MS rust-colored 1930s four door sedan. MCU silver grille of black sedan with whitewall tires. MS Model A on dirt road at fairgrounds, driving away from cam, several decommissioned USAF prop bombers in BG. MS junk parts displayed on grass. Head-on MS Ford Model A, zoom out; 3/4 MS Model A. MS old white man wiping windshield of orange 1958 Edsel Ranger.
Interview with Ginger Rogers
MS actress GINGER ROGERS sitting on white plastic couch, talking to off-screen interviewer. MS white male reporter sitting in white plastic chair opposite Ms. Rogers. CU Ginger Rogers talking. MS Ginger Rogers smiling, talking, saying that Dallas is where her career all began, having won a Charleston dance contest at the Baker Hotel.
K Of C Holds Tenth Annual Track Meet
K Of C Holds Tenth Annual Track Meet A new meet record is set by Mal Whitfield for the 600-yard run. Other marks also are crowded in a star-studded meet. David Shines in KC track meet.
Western Defense: French-British Stage Impressive Maneuvers
Western Defense: French-British Stage Impressive Maneuvers In The Mediterranean the Mediterranean Joint maneuvers of combined British French naval units take place under Admiral Mountbatten and French fleet officers. Taking off from carrier 'Arromanches,' British-built Seafires engage in thrilling formation fights.
World-Wide News Events: Defense Of Formosa.
World-Wide News Events: Defense Of Formosa Chinese nationalist troops engage in realistic training operations, preparing to stave off expected red onslaught. The Nationalist Troops standing at attention. Beach invasion, tanks, shells exploding a Formosa soldier running through fields and rice paddies.
Holland: War Trials Archives
War Trials Archives Memories of the famed war trials at Nuremberg are revived as U.S. Planes bring 37 packing cases containing millions of words of testimony against the nazi war criminals brought to justice. On the iron gate it says: "Arbeit Macht Frei". MCU of men sitting in a jury box. A war criminal sitting in a pew with his arms crossed. An overhead shot of the courtroom. A truck with an official looking escort bringing something to the courthouse.
August 2, 1994 - Part 4
(11:30:42) Mr. STEINER. "The White House may feel defenseless prior to the appointment of a new CEO." Senator D'AMATO. "The White House may feel defenseless." I'd SU gest to you that that dovetails exactly with what Senator Shelby has been talking about. You stated that the first reason for Altman to stay on the case was so that the White House wouldn't feel defenseless. Was it your view that the White House wanted Altman to stay on as a defender Of the President? 390 Mr. STEINER. No, it was not. Senator DAMATO. Isn't that what that indicates, that the White House would feel "defenseless?" Mr. STEINER. Senator, I believe that refers to a comment made by Mr. Nussbaum to the effect Senator DAMATO. That's a comment-that the White House would feel "defenseless." Think about that. Mr. STEINER. Senator, if I might- Senator D'AMATO. No, I don't want anymore. You're going into a filibuster. Mr. STEINER. You've asked me a question, Senator, and I'd like to answer it. Senator DAMATO. I'll take your answer. I took it. In your,, discussion Mr. STEINER. Thank you. Senator, I wasn't complete-I'd like to complete it, if I might. Senator DAMATO. I only have 7 minutes and I'm going to control. my 7 minutes. Mr. STEINER. It makes it difficult to answer questions if I can't complete them. Senator DAMATO. Your instructions with Secretary Altman The CHAIRMAN. Let me-are you appealing to be able to respond to that particular point? If you're directing an appeal to me Senator D'AMATO. Mr. Chairman, I make that as an observation and not as a question, OK I'm going to state that given the manner in which you have continued to come up with answers that obfuscate the truth, then I don't even want you to respond to that. Senator DODD. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate that. There's plenty of time here and I appreciate passions can run high, but this witness, as all witnesses in my view, deserve an opportunity to respond when a statement is made that they disagree with. Senator D'AMATO. If you could attempt to respond in an expeditious manner, I'd appreciate it. Mr. STEINER. Thank you, Senator. Mr. Altman, when he returned from the February 2 meeting, relayed to me the fact that, I have said to you before, that Mr. Nussbaum was concerned that in Mr. Altman's absence, the RTC, which had a reputation for being a partisan institution might carry out this investigation in a partisan fashion. This reference was to that conversation. At no time did Mr. Nussbaum say to me or, to the best of my knowledge, did he'., say to Mr. Altman that he wanted Mr. Altman to defend anyone. Senator D'AMATO. OK I note your words and they're your words, "the White House may feel defenseless prior to the appointment or a new CEO." That's in the record and I note that for the record. Let me ask you one other question: In your discussions with Secretary Altman and Treasury officials, wasn't concern expressed about the awkwardness of filing suits against the Clintons? Mr. STEINER. I believe it was, yes. Senator DAMATO. Now, let me go to this question of the diary, second page. You wrote this 2 days after the event took place: Harold and George then called to say that BC was furious. They also asked Jay Stephens, the former U.S. Attorney, had been hired to be Outside Counsel On the case. Simply outrageous that the RTC had hired him. But even more amazing, when George then suggested to me that we needed to find a way to get rid of him 391 That's a very clear, precise message. It's not a message that he simply complained. "We needed to find a way to get rid of him." "Even more amazing," you say. Words have meaning, Mr. Steiner, don't come here now and say that was just an impression. And let me suggest this, that that's backed up by the testimony that was given by Jean Hanson. Let me tell you what she says. She says about recalling a conversation with you, you said do you believe that the they want to see if they can get rid of Jay Stephens, everyone agreed and understood that that was ridiculous. Let me suggest that your diary comports exact] with the testimony of independent witnesses, over and over and over. again and yet, you would have us believe now that your diary is inaccurate. That article that appeared in today's Washington Post, someone had some real insight into your restructuring of your testimony, unfortunately, The CHAIRMAN. Senator Dodd. Senator DODD. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. We can go back to the diary, back and forth in different people's interpretations of what it means. That's the purpose in having this hearing. I view our role up here not as prosecutors and defense attorneys but as a Committee, required, under a resolution passed by the U.S. Senate, to try and determine whether or not there were any acts of impropriety or illegality in the relationship dealing with contacts and the unfortunate suicide of Mr. Foster.
Billiards
Adult Caucasian male shooting pool, taking trick shots; one shot drops ball into side pocket and another into the corner pocket. Break shot, scattering pool balls. Man chalking up pool cue, lining up his shot, sinking multiple pool balls into different table holes, last one going into the far side corner pocket; POV from corner pocket as pool ball rolls towards the camera, drops in. Two different hand positions aiming the cue. Corner pocket POV as the man hits white pool ball over another pool cue resting on the table and hits the (10) ball into the corner pocket. Pool table dimly lit by single lamp hanging over it. Rack lying on top of pool balls, one part resting on white ball, the man performs a trick shot with (1) ball that knocks the white ball away and drops the rack neatly around the rest of the pool balls. Man standing next to dimly lit pool table. Man performs a trick shot that sinks every pool ball on the table into each table hole, leaving only the white ball on the table. Man performing a trick shot at the corner pocket, hitting one (12) ball into the corner pocket; (13) ball doesn't drop in.
Playing in Snow
LS wintry, snowy scene in park by glittering river on sunny afternoon; man & dog enter frame, zoom in to leashless German Shepherd trotting through snow, then running back to owner. MSs several Caucasian children (mostly girls) playing in snow, throwing snowballs. MSs mother, father, young daughter packing snow onto snowman in front yard. TLS Southern Methodist University campus, sign on brick half-wall in FG. MS main entrance of Delta Delta Delta sorority house. MS Tri-Del (Tri-Delt) sorority girls making snowman, having snowball fight on front lawn of sorority house. TLS/MSs young white couple cleaning snow off street-parked car, the man playfully throwing snowball at cam. TLS cluster of schoolkids standing & waving by very tall, thin snowman in park.
Dick Gregory
MS comedian and activist DICK GREGORY speaking at press conference. MS reporters, cameramen, photographers trained on Mr. Gregory. Shaky CU Dick Gregory talking. Sideview MS cameraman shooting with CP-16 camera. MCU Dick Gregory talking about the involvement of Lee Harvey Oswald in the JFK assassination, saying that Oswald could not have acted alone, suggesting a greater conspiracy. ..if Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. And if the day that the President announced that he was coming to Dallas, within a 48 hour period Lee Oswald got a job in the book depository. And if the route was not changed until a few hours before the parade, then evidently Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone. I mean it s different if you are lying out there in the bushes at the airport going to ambush someone. But to know the exact route, before the route is changed and not have the authority to change the route. That alone, from a stand point of logic We can see time and time again that there was not a thorough investigation or either the type of investigation you would use to cover up something. I don t believe the Dallas police department is that stupid myself.
Notre Dame Football 1950
Notre Dame Football 1950 Irish Gridders Open Training. Notre Dane students holding up a banner reading; Notre Dame Football 1950? The unbeaten Notre Dame squad wastes no time going through its spring paces. This year 110 hopefuls show up for practice under coach Leahy's eagle eye and the watchful eye of the teams mascot and Airedale. Some of the team players are throwing a football through a hanging tire.
CCNY Wins A Cage Thriller
CCNY Wins A Cage Thriller Before a yelling crowd City College squeezes out a 78 to 73 victory over North Carolina State to become eligible for a shot at the National Collegiate title.
Envoy Killed Steinhardt And Four Die In Plane Crash
Envoy Killed Steinhardt And Four Die In Plane Crash Some is holding the daily paper, "The Evening Citizen". The headlines read - Steinhardt Crash Victim". Four Others From U.S Embassy Meet Death. When Plane Explodes, After Ontario Take-Off. Lawrence Steinhardt, Ambassador to Canada dies with four others in the flaming wreckage of a plane that was returning them to Washington. MS of plane wreckage still smoldering. Looks like one fireman and military plus a government agent puts a fatal casualty in a box. Someone who survived the crash laying in a bed in the hospital. More ground level footage of the plane wreck. The plane crash happened near Ramsayville, Ontario. Laurence Adolph Steinhard was from New York and was 58 years old.
Hats And Hounds
Hats And Hounds Hats made of carpet, go completely to the dogs as the pooches turn models at a benefit affair for cerebral palsy. Various breeds of dogs: Great Dane, St Bernard, Airedale, Dachshund, Poodles, Afghan Hound,and Blood Hound.
Water Ski Flips And Flops
Water Ski Flips And Flops The boys and gals pull out all the stops in cutting their newest aquatic capers as they are taken over the jumps to new spills. Girls sitting on top of the guy's shoulders as he's water skiing. All kinds of acrobatic tricks as they go skiing along. The crowd is applauding, smiling and waving to the skiers. Skiers taking jumps off of ramps some make and some take a dive. One skier is skiing in the water and skis on to dry land.
Mayhem Unlimited Wrestling
Mayhem Unlimited A bare-foot mauler from South America tangles with Nature Boy Rogers and the results are spectacular. At times when they are in the ring it resembles wrestling. Camera pans to the spectators and their all having fun, laughing and cheering. Young teenagers, boys get pulled into the emotion of the wrestlers.
August 2, 1994 - Part 4
(11:35:59) So as I said last evening, there are a series of issues. A new one has been introduced, in a sense, that was not part of the Senate resolution that deals with the testimony of Mr. Altman before this Committee on February 24. That's an issue as it relates to the others, but has become more of a central question here as to the veracity. That's an issue we've addressed already and will address again with Mr. Altman this afternoon. I have grave concerns, I would say, Mr. Chairman, about that, as others in this Committee have expressed last evening and again today. The second set of issues, in my view deals with the whole issue of how Mr. Altman got this job, the statutory authority that creates the kind of environment that brought us to this hearing. We have a vacancy and then ask someone to carry on two full-time jobs and to separate their functions in the middle of a case that comes to it, that affects the very institution for which they work. So you're inviting this kind of difficulty. That's the second set of issues. The third set of issues has to do with the context. They go into whether or not anyone involved at the Treasury or the White House tried to influence these criminal referrals and disrupt a process that would otherwise lead to a successful prosecution of those who were identified. That to me is the most serious of all the questions we have raised. That's the heart and meat, it seems to me, of the issues we have before us. Again, I'm listening to the debate about words and diaries and impressions and so forth, and they have some meaning, but I want us to get back to the central question here of whether or not anything was done that violated the Office of Government Ethics, anything improper done here. I would argue, to some extent, that the fact that there was a debate about recusal indicates a certain sensitivity to the issue that is not always evident in this town. Mr. 392 Altman or someone else may have just decided on their own that they were going to stay with the case no matter what anybody said. The fact that he was raising the issue and discussing it, and whether he should, ought not to be seen necessarily as an indictment of somebody. it can be construed as showing some degree of sensitivity. I would point out, Mr. Foreman, that you mentioned at the opening of your testimony that your first function that you were required to perform in the Department of the Treasury was a direction from Secretary Bentsen to instruct all the employees in that office as to what their obligations were under the Code of Ethics; is that not correct? Mr. FOREMAN. Yes, Senator. Senator DODD. That was on January 21, 1993? Mr. FOREMAN. Absolutely, sir. Senator DODD. That was the first day this Administration took office. Mr. FOREMAN. The first hour of the morning, sir. Senator DODD. I think that says something. It ought not to be just swept by. You're talking about an overall demeanor and attitude here about these issues. Now, again, in my view there were far too many meetings and there were far too many people involved and the language gets too cute for my taste quite frankly. But on the basic issue of whether or not there is a pattern here of unethical behavior or, in fact, illegal behavior, I'm waiting to see more evidence. Mr. Foreman, let me raise a particular issue with you, because the allegation has been made that any contact having to do with a press inquiry, the threshold question to some Members of this Committee is wrong. Now, I'm referring here to page 8 of the Office of Government Ethics Report and specifically to paragraph 3. It says, "the question of whether Ms. Hanson,", talking about Ms. Hanson in this case, -disclosure served an official interest raises a unique issue about the nature of the Office of the President, matters that would be of only personal significance for other Executive Branch offices may take on official significance when the President of the United States is involved." I wonder if you might expand on that notion. Someone earlier raised the question of whether or not if this had happened in the Department of Commerce, whether or not the same standards would apply. As I read this provision, it says that historically, we have treated the Presidency different than just any other agency of Government. Because, historically, we've appropriated moneys to support a press operation to answer questions about the personal lives of the President and the First Family, when the Presidency, is involved, there is a different standard than it would be for other agencies. Am I basically on track with that and would you expound on that a bit?
Stuntmen in Action
Movie stuntmen in action. TLSs two rowdy Caucasian men shooting handguns on roof of shack in woods, both apparently missing so they resort to fisticuffs, punching each other silly, one rolling off roof to cold hard ground. Wide MS moustachioed man running to wood fence for rifle, picking it up and shooting at something off-screen. TLS man leaping from roof of shack, making swan dive into cushioned table on ground. MS Roy Cooper interviewing the stuntmen; the men talk about their craft and the low-grade of most stunts in television and movies nowadays, stating that the producers rely on young, inexperienced stuntmen who don't know how to do it right; says that a good stuntman has to be athletic & have the desire; discusses a dangerous aerial stunt he performed for the "McCloud" television series.
Lionel Model trains
MSs bearded Caucasian man operating a Lionel model train set. MS/CUs Lionel train set, model train going in circles around set. MS wall shelving filled with Lionel model trains.
Outdoor Concert
Outdoor Concert
WAR MOVES GRIP WORLD
World War! Danzig, maelstrom of Nazi demands and Polish determination to resist aggression, awaits the storm! Polish troops and German forces march to their common borders, while Poland counts on its pledge from Britain and France to ward off conflict. VS landmarks along the Motlawa River, including St. Mary's Church. VS Polish troops marching through town past cheering crowds and military officers. Pre-invasion of Germany.