(19:30:37) Now, when you say 'about it,' what did you tell him about? I told him it looked like the criminal referrals were going to become public because one of our investigators had sent an E-mail saying Sue Schmidt was in Little Rock asking a lot of questions about the criminal referral. Question: Did Ms. Hanson add anything to the conversation? Answer: Not that I recall. Then you jump down a little bit. Question: At the conclusion of the conversation, was it discussed as to what should be done? Answer: By Mr. Roelle, yes, Question: About the information you had given to Mr, Altman? Answer: Yes. He told her to call a whole bunch of people. 1-7 Question: Do you recall who he, Mr. Altman, "told-her," Ms. Hanson, "to call"? Answer: Yeah. He said call Jack, Bernie, the Secretary. He named about 10 names, first names, most of whom I don't know and, obviously, the secretary, I assume was the Secretary of Treasury, but he rattled off a bunch of names for her to call and that was the end of the conversation. He then says he understood Let me read later on page 67. Question: How much later did it occur to you that's who Bernie may be-and the name Bernie, did you understand that to be Bernie Nussbaum? Answer: Not at the time. Later it occurred to me. 457 Question: How much later did it occur to you? Answer: I don't know; probably 3 or 4 days later. I was at home and I saw Bernie Nussbaum on television about some different subject all together and I looked over at ray wife and I said jeez, I hope Mr.-I hope when Altman said Bernie, it wasn't this Bernie. And that was the end of it. That was Mr. Roelle's testimony under oath, that you directed Ms. Hanson to call the White House on October 6. Do you remember that? Mr. ALTMAN. No, Senator I don't remember that. Senator KERRY. No memory of that? Mr. ALTMAN. I think it is clear that that is an awfully brief conversation; it occurred 5 or 6 months before I testified here on February 24. 1 don't recall it. Senator KERRY. Do you recall it now? Does this refresh your recollection? Mr. ALTMAN. No, sir, it doesn't. Senator KERRY. It doesn't refresh our recollection Mr. ALTMAN. No, sir. I don't recall having that conversation. Senator KERRY. You have no memory of him telling you that the criminal referrals were about to bit? Mr. ALTMAN. Senator, as I think I testified earlier, that sometime in the fall, Mr. Roelle or Ms. Hanson advised me of an impending press leak so at some point Mr. Roelle did advise me of that, I believe. It might have been Ms. Hanson but I think Senator KERRY. I want to get to this. You just have no memory of it. I really want to try to establish it because the Committee is obviously going to have to sit down and we're ping to balance between that. I want to be sure you're given an adequate opportunity to refresh your recollection or simply find that you don't have one. I don't know. Mr. ALTMAN. First of all, Mr. Roelle did advise me, at some point in the fall, that the criminal referrals were in the works. We had the conversation, which I related, in terns of how to handle the case at arm's length, impartial, at the regional office, and so on. I don't happen to recall this conversation. I'm doing my best to plumb my memory. Senator KERRY. Can I ask you this: Is it really believable for this Committee? We've all been around this place a little bit. So have you. It's very bard to believe that the Counsel to the Treasury is going to wind up at the White House at a meeting to discuss anything at all without you, or the Secretary, or somebody directing her to go. Mr. ALTMAN. Senator Kerry, this conversation occurred in October, I believe; is that right? Ms. Hanson had two meetings at the White House, I think, September and October. I was asked a lot of questions about the September meeting, and as I said, I don't recall asking her to do that, and I think I would have remembered if I had. Nobody has suggested that the October meeting occurred at my direction. No one has suggested that. Senator KERRY. I'm not suggesting it I'm merely asking you- In that is not my implication here but, the key, there's a really central Issue here about a young attorney working as counsel who says she was sent over there. Mr. Roelle, who says you directed her to call. Another person who says they remember-Maggie Williams, and YOU have no memory of any of these 3 contacts. 458 Mr. ALTMAN. No, that's not true, Senator The only difference I have with Senator Gramm is not whether the conversation oc- curred. The conversation lie asked me about did occur. It absolutely did occur. l. I just happen to think I had it with Mr. Ickes and I called Mr. Ickes, and Ms. Williams thinks I had it with her. But there's no dispute about the essence of it, I agree. Here I already said I had a conversation with Mr. Roelle about the criminal referral I don't happen to recall this brief conversation. Senator KERRY. I want to come back to this later in the time,, sort of feeds us problems here, but I will come back to it.
The sun shined bright on the classic horse race of them all. the Kentucky Derby. This year, the 91st running, was given an added (?) attraction when fire breaks out in the grandstand. The fire is quickly extinguished and the eleven starters get away in the Run for the Roses. "Lucky Debonair" gets away among the leaders, goes to the front in the last turn and just about hangs on to beat the oncoming "Dapper Dan". Nest, The Preakness, for this Kentucky-bred horse. Inside Churchill Downs Race Track. CU - Racing fans. A fire in the grand stands. High-Angle Shot - Outside the race track fire engines careening down a side street. Smoke pouring out of the grand stand. Throngs crowded into the center of the horse racing track. Racing fans, lady looking through binoculars. Horses lined up at the racing gate, the horses break fast out of the gate. Willy Shoemaker riding NO 8 horse, 'Lucky Debonair' and he is in the lead. Lady wearing a large brim hat looking through binoculars. Horses spinning around the bend into the final stretch and Lucky Debonair is still in the lead. She Bang and Lucky Debonair are running neck and neck, Willie Shoemaker rides Lucky Debonair over the finish line and wins by a neck. Willie Shoemaker in the Winners Circle with Lucky Debonair.
When jalopy jockeys gather at Hendnesford Hills Raceway in Britain, anything can happen & it usually does. These are stock cars. The only resemblance to the family auto is a dented fender or two as they race a Figure Eight course with a crash, bang, boom! Panning TLS start of race, judge waving starting flag, junky stock cars passing cam. Panning TLS banged-up cars taking turns, crossing paths, causing some minor accidents-- note that drivers are on the right side of the cars. This is more or less the English version of demolition derby, only with more competition.
Top event in Harness Racing, The Hambletonian, has 11 horses trotting after the rich prize in DuQuoin, Illinois. For the 4th time in the 40-year history of the race it takes four heats to decide the winner. Egyptian Candor wins his 3rd race of the year, worth $60,000. TLS sign: "Welcome to Du Quoin, Home of the Hambletonian." TLS crowd standing, watching from covered spectator stands. Panning TLS harness race. MS white girl jumping excitedly in crowd. Panning TLS/LSs - Egyptian Candor, Armbreau Flight & Short Stop (horses) competing in final heat. MSs - Egyptian Candor & jockey passing cam after race. TLS winners in Victory Circle.
(19:35:36) Mr. ALTMAN. Senator Kerry, if I could suggest and you may not agree with me, but I think the salient points here are nothing unethical occurred. We've had an independent report from the Mee of Government Ethics, nothing to do with the Clinton Administration, happens to be headed by a gentleman who was, appointed by President Bush, who's looked into every aspect of this. Nothing unethical occurred. Senator KERRY. Well, let me say, I've always had great respect for you and I'm not here to do anything except try to find out what happened. I want to know. I haven't made a judgment. You haven't been tried and found guilty as far as I'm concerned and, I think, most of my colleagues. But I don't agree that it is simply a question of whether or not those findings by the ethics officers are all there is to it. I do agree, in your defense, that they have legitimately determined no laws or ethics standards were violated. I think, unfortunately, theirs is almost exclusively a legal standard. And we're really talking about a standard that goes beyond just the letter of the law, if you will. We're trying to question judgment here. I mean, Mr. Cutler, in his wisdom and eloquence, has suggested bad judgment was, indeed, exercised to a certain degree. I'm trying to understand whether or not-I see my time is up. I never even got to the second area I want to get to, which is critical to this question of judgment, but it seems to me that there is a legitimate question here as to whether the judgment was right. You said in your opening, last question, you've made mistakes and perhaps there was some bad judgment. Could you tell the Committee what you deem to be either the mistakes that you were referring to or the bad judgment that you would say was exercised? Mr. ALTMAN. Let me step back, if I can, a moment. I'm not an ethics expert, but I don't quite agree with our characterization. Recently for obvious reasons, I have look through the ethical codes. Again, I haven't read every word of them or anything like that, but I think they set a very high standard. I think a conclusion from the Office of Government Ethics that there's been no ethical violation, is actually a very high bar that was crossed, not a low bar. This isn't the issue of legalities, this is the issue of ethics. As I read through the ethical codes they struck me as quite strict. I think it's quite something that the Office of Government Ethics concluded there was no ethical violation. After all, we have a situation here where nothing illegal was done, nothing unethical was done. Now, as to judgments, in retrospect, I think the February 2 meeting shouldn't have happened, and it should have been-that 459 information should have been communicated in writing. So that wasn't a great judgment. When I look back on my February 24 testimony, I wish I bad interpreted the questions a little bit differently than I did and then I would have given better answers. There was no intent to conceal the information. But I wish I had testified and put forth some additional information here because then people wouldn't think that perhaps I did intend to withhold it, but I didn't. So sure, there was some mistakes of that type and I could go on. There were other mistakes, but there was nothing unethical and nothing illegal. The CHAIRMAN. Let me say-excuse me. I'm sorry, Mr. Altman. Mr. ALTMAN. Well, I think we're all human, we all make mistakes. These sure aren't the first ones I've made, and I'm afraid they won't be the last ones. Senator KERRY. We absolutely do. I want to follow up with this a little later and I think it's very important to try to draw the record out on this. The CHAIRMAN. We will do so, Senator Kerry. I think you are raising a very important line of inquiry and the second issue you wanted to raise, we will make sure is raised. Senator Bennett. Senator BENNETT. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Altman, you testified that you called Mr. Ickes on what date? Mr. ALTMAN. I believe it was February 3 or it might have been February 4, a day or two after the meeting. Senator BENNETT. A day or two after the February 2 meeting. Senator Gramm's indication was that you talked to Maggie Williams, you said and you called Mr. Ickes and the testimony was you were trying to set up a meeting in the White House; is that correct? Mr. ALTMAN. I called Mr. Ickes to say that I'd like to have a brief conversation with him. He and I were on our way, or were going to be later that day, to the same meeting, which I think was a Health Care meeting, but I'm not certain and I wanted to talk to him a moment or two before the meeting, and we did. Senator BENNETT. And you have no way of knowing how Maggie Williams got it in your bead that you were talking to her?
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip head 100,000 fans at Wembley for the Cup Final, the biggest day on the English sporting scene. The game proves to be a cliff-hanger right from the opening whistle. No one scores during the regular time, but in overtime Liverpool manages two goals to defeat Leeds who can score but a single goal. Liverpool v Leeds Wembley Sports Stadium. Aerial - Throngs. CU - Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. High Angle Shot - Soccer players in the mist of a soccer play. High Angle Shot - One of the players, No. #7 kicks the soccer ball and it is picked up by Roger Hunt and kicks it in the goal, tying up the game. LS - Fans from Liverpool jumping up and down with excitement. High Wide Angle Long - Players on the field and the stadium packed with fans. MS - Billy Reiner kicks a field goal and that ties up the game. High Angle Shot - People jumping up and down, pretty much in unison. MS - Another goal is scored and it is all over, Liverpool wins. MS - Queen Elizabeth presents the trophy to the Liverpool team's Captain.
El Salvador, Central American nation with a long history of disastrous earthquakes is hard hit again. This tremor centers around San Marcos and Santo Tomas, near the capital of San Salvador. Over 100 dead - more than 700 injured. A small crowd of people walking in total disbelief looking at the aftermath of a disastrous earthquake. Camera panning - People who gathered up their belongings after digging through the rubble left behind after the earthquake. Some lumber and ladders propped up against a wall of a building, by the looks of the building its going to fall at any time. MS - United States cargo plane taking off from a runway. Plane is getting unloaded with supplies to meet the needs of the people who survived the earthquake. Crates are unloaded by the military by man power and fork lifts. Two little children a little boy and his baby sister, the little boy is sitting on a pillow and his little sister is laying on his lap sucking her thumb. More children sitting on a blanket that laid out on the ground, the children are sharing food. MS - People who managed to save larger pieces of their furniture, beds and dressers.
The first commercial application of the hovercraft is soon to get underway in San Francisco. The radical craft is to operate across the Bay to Oakland, under government subsidy. Backers of the project are hopeful the low-flying hovercraft have a high-flying future. A good size crowd has gathered at the Bay to view the new Hydrofoil / Hovercraft. The Hovercraft sitting deflated on the ground by the Bay. A man points and then snaps a picture of the Hovercraft. The Hovercraft quickly inflates and starts to move backwards, kicking up a lot of dust. Inside the Hovercraft a business man is looking out the window. The Hovercraft in movement just hovering over the water in the bay. The Hovercraft displays how it can turn sharply in a small area. As the Hovercraft sits and idles the nose dips down into the water, it poses no danger. Operating panel inside the Hovercraft and a man's hand reaching for a switch. The Hovercraft lifts up and its off to the races once again, the pilot of the Hovercraft drives it on to the dry beach area and as it comes to a rest the air depletes and it lowers itself to the ground.
The Afghan hound and his cousin, the greyhound, are top dogs in Germany as the racing season get underway. Radical camera angles reveal the beauty of both breeds as they tear down the track like it was a call-to-dinner. A close up shot of the head of an Afghan Hound then a close up shot of a Greyhound. MS - Four Afghan Hounds are let out of the racing gate and they are running down the track, their ears flapping in the wind. MS - Four Greyhounds are let out of the racing gate and the slick four dogs are running down the track. MS - Side view of the Greyhound running. MS - Trainers holding the dogs on leashes posing for a picture.
Another season underway in Germany the sport of kayak racing as 115 clubs from five nations compete in the curtain-raiser for the European championships. Low water and strong currents make this year's race one of the toughest in its ten-year history. People are on the bridge and along the sides of the river. A two man kayak battling the white water. The two man kayak taking on a turbulent drop on the river. Two men paddling through some gates in the turbulent waters. A single man kayak shoots down a small drop heading for the gates, as he approaches the gate the kayak flips over, being skilled at kayaking he manages to right himself. Kayakers battling the currents and the turbulence of the low water in the river. One of the entries flips over and out of his kayak, he standing in the water only to get knocked down by the rushing water.
President Johnson reaffirms United States policy in South Vietnam in a talk to the Association of American Cartoonists. These social satirists hear the President describe Red China as a hungry tiger ready to devour all of Asia, using North Vietnam as a cat's paw to its own aggressive ends. Washington DC The White House, either late spring or early summer. President Johnson walks into a room filled with cartoonists and steps up to the podium. Newsmen taking down notes. President Johnson, "Their target is not merely South Vietnam, it is Asia. Their objective is not the fulfillment of Viennese nationalist. It is to erode and to discredit America's ability to help prevent Chinese domination over all of Asia. In this domination they shall never succeed and I am continuing and I am increasing the search for every possible path for peace." Vietnam A farm worker walking with two pots or buckets hanging from her shoulders, in one pot she has a basket. Cattle grazing. Wide Angle - Rural village. High Angle - Oxen pulling a wagon driven by a man who lives in the village. River with fishermen in boats. High Angle - Busy street in North Vietnam, busses, cars, people on bikes etc. A church in the middle of this Vietnam town. Washington DC President Johnson speech, "It will be there when peace comes to us and so will we. Not with soldiers and planes, not with bombs and bullets, but with all the wondrous weapons of peace in the twentieth century. And then perhaps together, all of the people in the world, can share that gracious task with all the people of Vietnam. North and South a like."
(19:40:26) Mr. ALTMAN. No, sir, but let me illustrate, Senator Bennett, one of the things that interests me just simply illustrates differing .recollections. You've taken testimony under oath from several participants in the February 2 meeting. Senator BENNETT. No, I don't want to get off on this. Mr. ALTMAN. If I could just say this one point. Some of them say the meeting occurred in Mr. McLarty's office and some of them say the meeting occurred in Mr. Nussbaum's office. Senator BENNETT, But that's different. Mr. ALTMAN. But that's a fairly significant thing, 5 people testifying Senator under oath and they have differing recollections. BENNETT. It's different when somebody says I talked to him and you say no, I didn't talk to her, I talked to somebody else, and somehow she's mistaken. Let me get to the point, however, by taking you to the testimony before this Committee subsequent to that, whichever day it was, 460 and whether you called Maggie Williams or Mr. Ickes to request a meeting. Senator DAMAT0. Did anyone request this meeting? Mr. ALTMAN. I requested the meeting. senator D'AMATO. Was there any other meeting that may have been requested? Mr. ALTMAN. No. Senator D'AMATO. There was no other meeting that you were aware of that the White House Counsel requested? Mr. ALTMAN. No. Senator D'AMATO. Or anyone else from the White House? Mr. ALTMAN. No. Senator D'AMATO. Mr. Ickes? Mr. ALTMAN. I had no subsequent-pause-I received no subsequent request for meetings. You did, indeed, have a subsequent meeting with Mr. Ickes which you requested which you did not disclose to Senator DAmato when he asked you and specifically named Mr. Ickes. Mr. ALTMAN. Senator, I did not receive any subsequent requests for meetings. That's an accurate statement. Senator BENNETT. That's not his question. Mr. ALTMAN. Let me go on then and respond. I thought Senator D'Amato's question related to the question of whether I had been asked by the White House for any additional meetings, and he clarified his observe question. He said, in effect, you mean there weren't any other meetings requested by the White House? That's simply how I took his question and I answered it truthfully. Senator BENNETT. Well, I will leave that as the record stands. Senator Kerry tried to summarize this into two issues. Last night as we were winding down, Senator Dodd summarized it into three, and I found myself agreeing with him in his summary. He says there are really three basic issues here. The first one has to do with the independence of the RTC and whether this was subverted in this Administration. He said, I find that issue troubling, if I'm remembering correctly. Senator correct me if I have my memory wrong. I also find that issue troubling. I find your testimony troubling on this issue because it contra dicts testimony we received from both Mr. Roelle and Mr. Katsanos. Senator Dodd said the next issue is the question of being complete in your testimony before Congress, and the word Senator Dodd used, talking to Ms. Hanson, referring to the total performance of your Department was inexcusable. He said I find this inexcusable. Then be said the third issue has to do with the number of contacts and meetings with the White House, and I find that sloppy. I find my self gravitating toward these three adjectives, troubling on the First issue, inexcusable on the second, and sloppy on the third. As we bear your explanation in all of these three areas, in every case, in order to believe you, we must disbelieve other people who have sworn under oath. Specifically Mr. ALTMAN. Senator Bennett, I don't think that's true. Senator BENNETT. I'm sorry, Mr. Altman. Your version of what happened at the White House is in direct conflict with the version we have from Mr. Steiner and Ms. Hanson. Now,' we learn from Senator Gramm that your testimony is in direct conflict with 461 Maggie Williams. I cannot reconcile your description of what happened with theirs. I can reconcile theirs. Ms. Hanson's version is very easily reconciled with what Mr. Steiner told us you told him about it. Mr. ALTMAN. Senator Bennett, I respectfully Senator DODD. Just for purposes of clarification, since! my definitions are being used, the inexcusable part, if I may-and it's not much of a distinction here--was I found Ms. Hanson's waiting so long to get back, we now know, apparently, with the availability of the full tape to look at, exactly what occurred. The fact that we didn't get a more responsive answer back from her, prior to that time,, was what I found inexcusable, but basically Senator BENNETT. I'll adopt the inexcusable for the whole performance. Mr. ALTMAN. Senator, if I could respond. Senator BENNETT. Yes.
Tinsel, laughter, toys and dreams and fond wishes. It can never happen at any other time of the year. though we know it should be a continuing thing. Christmas around the world would be a tour where the milestones are smiling faces, where the welcome would be spoken in the international tongue of Brotherhood. A Santa Claus in a department store window that rocks back and fourth. Window display of a snowy mountain where boys, girls and little animals are skiing. Window display of a boy and girl dancing, and another boy clapping his hands to the music. Children looking through the window at the holiday displays. Little toddlers looking at Santa come around on a turn table followed by toys. A train from the department store has parents with their children taking a ride through the toy section. Children's faces, children hugging stuffed toys, a animated bull dog toy. A toy city with micro trains buzzing through it, close up of the eyes of a child watching the micro train. Children s faces and the joy of looking and touching the toys. A family picks up a Christmas tree for the holidays. Snow tractor pulling a father and son down a snowy city street. A variety of Christmas decorations. The last minute shopping rush in a down town part of the city, throngs walking around doing their last minute gift buying. Downtown department stores. Christmas window displays. A hand pushing the button to light up the Christmas Tree in downtown New York, Rockefeller Center. Santa Claus skating on the ice rink in Rockefeller Center and he's waving to the people.
It is a day for mourning. A day for tears and a day of remembrance and fond farewell. Final tribute to the man who led the Free World from the threatening doom of slavery to a glorious victory. From Westminster Hall, Sir Winston Churchill is carried to St. Paul's Cathedral with medieval pageantry. 110 nations are represented at the services, including six sovereigns, five heads of state and 16 prime ministers. Queen Elizabeth is the first British monarch to attend the funeral of a commoner. She foregoes many of her queenly privileges to honor Sir Winston. Everyone in the Cathedral joins in singing The American Battle Hymn Of The Republic" as requested by Sir Winston in honor of his American Mother. From St. Paul's the coffin is taken to the river Thames for its last journey to Waterloo Station and burial at Bladen, next to his mother and father. The mists of history will never dim the shining image that was Winston Spencer Churchill - A Most Uncommon Man. London Aerial shot of London, England. Throngs lining the streets standing shoulder to shoulder. British navy marching down the street and on each side of them - the Grenadier Guards. In the center of the military is the casket that now houses Sir Winston Churchill. Exterior shot of St. Paul's Cathedral. President Charles DeGaulle. Queen Juliana of the Netherlands. Queen Mother Elizabeth I (with dark hair). Princess Margaret walking with Lord Snowden. Lord Mayor of London. Queen Elizabeth, Prince Phillip and a Prince Charles (young adult). Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles and Prince Phillip walking up the stairs of St. Paul's Cathedral. Military marching down the street with the casket of Sir Winston Churchill. Eight Grenadier Guards carrying the casket up the stairs and into the Cathedral. Winston Churchill's immediate family members. The coffin is carried into the Cathedral down the aisle to a catapult under the great dome. Camera pans as all the people sing the Battle Hymn of the Republic. The Grenadier Guards are carrying the coffin down the aisle and out of the Cathedral. Queen Elizabeth II and her family standing on the steps of the Cathedral with other important Political Personalities. As the launch moves up the river, Sir Winston Churchill gets his final salute from the Tower of London. Military men firing a cannon. As Sir Winston Churchill's funeral cort ge travels down the Themes giant cranes stiff in salute. RAF jets fly over the funeral cortege giving their final farewell. Aerial shot - London, England
(19:45:18) Mr. ALTMAN. I promise you I'll do my best. I believe that the testimony that you have of those who attended the February 2 meeting is fairly consistent, if not very consistent. I believe that it is. Certainly Mr. Cutler's chronology was consistent with my understanding of what happened. And the Office of Government Ethics' chronology is consistent with Senator BENNETT. Mr. Altman Mr. ALTMAN. Senator, you said you had conflicting testimony about the February 2 meeting. Senator BENNETT. Absolutely conflicting stories as to what happened. Mr. ALTMAN. You have conflicting testimony from the participants in the meeting, sir. Senator BENNETT. Yes, and we can take you through Ms. Hanson's testimony if you'd like. I thought this had been gone through a number of times. Mr. ALTMAN. I don't think that my Senator BENNETT. I'd be happy to go through that. Mr. ALTMAN. I don't think my testimony is all that different from hers. Maybe I'm wrong. I didn't watch every moment of her testi- mony. Senator BENNETT. In my opinion, your testimony is significantly different than hers. Perhaps more importantly, it is significantly different from Mr. Steiner's diaries, and you say but Mr. Steiner Wasn't even at the meeting. Correct point. But Mr. Steiner testified here in direct answer to my questions that he got his understanding of what happened at the meetings from you. So Mr. Steiner has )recorded in his diary what he understood went on, and he has testified under oath that he got it from a conversation with you. Let me read you a specific from his diary that he said he could not explain, and I will ask Mr. Altman about this because it came from Mr. Altman, and he said yes, that would be appropriate. Here's what he says. This is dealing with the recusal issue and the on the recusal issue. Of course the fateful White House you've heard about that. The White House told Altman it ,Was unacceptable and so on. Now, he goes on down and he says, "the next day, The New York Times ran a front-page story on the meeting. The heat was on. We 462 spent a tortured day trying to decide if he should recuse himself. I spoke with Podesta to let him know of our deliberations. Very frustrating that he was the chosen point of contact since he clearly was not in the complete confidence of George and Harold. After Howell Raines from The New York Times called to say they were going to write a brutal editorial, Roger Altman decided to recuse himself "Harold and George then called to say that Bill Clinton was furious." And I asked him, assuming from this writing, that Harold and George had called him, he said no, they didn't call me. They talked to Mr. Altman. Would you tell us about that call and why Bill Clinton was furious to discover that you had decided, finally, to recuse yourself because that kind of reaction is not in any way, shape, or form compatible with the tone of the meeting as you've described it here, which was so amiable and so pleasant and nobody got excited. Everybody just said yeah, fine, go ahead, recuse yourself if you want but we won't tell you what to do. That simply doesn't coincide what Mr. Steiner tells us in his diary. Can you tell us if, in fact, you got the call that said Bill Clinton was furious and if so, why he was furious? Mr. ALTMAN. Senator, I may not be right, but I believe the testimony under oath from the participants in the February 2 meeting is quite consistent. I believe it is. The accounts that I've read---! Senator BENNETT. Well, you're entitled to believe it is, and I'm entitled to believe it's not. Will you now come to the point of Mr. Steiner's diary entry when he says, "Harold and George then called to say that Bill Clinton was furious"? Did that call occur, and if so, what did they tell you about the President's state of mind? Mr. ALTMAN. I watched Mr. Steiner's testimony this morning, and Mr. Steiner said in response to the question furious with the manner of his recusal. I think that's a direct quote from Mr. Steiner. Furious with the manner of his recusal. And what they told me was they were upset that they hadn't been given prior notice, That's what Mr. Ickes and Mr. Stephanopoulos told me. The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Altman, I believe we need a direct answer to the question that he asked. And that is-and maybe you said it and I didn't hear it-but did you receive a call and can you tell us what the contents of the call were?
There is not a crop in most of the United States that has not been affected by one of the worst droughts in a century. From New England to the Plains States, everything has been killed, stunted or decimated by the prolonged dry spell. Livestock suffers and well-diggers work around the clock to find new supplies deeper in the water shelf. The New England States, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania have had a shortage of rain for three years. This summer however, is the worst in 34 years. In the Midwest it is the severest drought in a century. Apple orchards of New England, trees are half dead and have no fruit on them. A farmer's hand taking a hand full of soil and squeezing it his hand to determine the dryness of the dirt. Livestock by a pond that is virtually dried up with very little water in it. A farmer in his pick up truck hauling 5 gallon milk cans filled with water. A well digger running great lengths of pipe into the ground seeking out new water supplies. A New England state river that is well below water level. A stream that hardly has any water in it. Farmers home and other farm buildings. The village water pump, people are forced to go there for lack of water. Old style water pump that you have to do manually in order to bring up water. A woman and her two children. Another small stream of water that used to be a rambling brook of water, a great deal of the brook is dried up with rocks exposed. "Wood and Trails Closed due to Fire Hazard. Highways, roads and trails closed to fire hazards. Smoldering fire in a forest preserve. Men walking into a forest area carrying gardening tools and shovels. Cars driving on a highway that has a light layer of smoke on it. Oak Ridge Reservoir in New Jersey. Dried up reservoir. Aerial shot - Reservoir with just a few drops of water in it. Two little boys looking over a reservoir where the water level has dropped significantly and what water is in there is very shallow. Father or grandfather walking in a dried river bed with his two sons and he points out the hot, dried and cracked earth that was once covered with water. Aerial shot - Cars and trucks are parked in a dried out river bed where once maybe 20 to 30 feet of water once stood.
A story-book country has a new leader. Grand Duchess Charlotte has stepped down from the throne of the Duchy of Luxembourg to be succeeded by her son who, at 43, becomes the Grand Duke Jean. He will be the titular head of 325,000 subjects in this nation that covers less than 1,000 square miles. Exterior of the Royal Palace. Grand Duchess Charlotte, Grand Duke Jean (son) and maybe his children, a girl around 10 to 13 and a boy who is maybe around 9 to 11 years old. One of the state officials giving Duke Jean the oath of office. MCUS - Royal Family, Duke Jean is making some kind of proclamation. MS - The Royal Court applauding. Exterior shot - Luxembourg Flags all lined up. MCUS - Crowd outside the palace, woman with a turban type hat on her head holding a small little girl. MS - The Grand Duke and Duchess Charlotte walk out on to the balcony. MCUS - Crowd of people standing in the square looking up and waving at the Grand Duke.
Undefeated Notre Dame, with 7 straight victories, takes on Michigan State at South Bend. The Irish are heading for their best season in 15 years and Quarterback John Huarte is one reason. He handles his team with precision, faking, running and passing. When footballs have stopped flying the Irish get a firmer grip as the Number One Team in the nation as they win 34 to 7. At Notre Dame football field the marching band forms a N D, fans sitting in their seats in the background. Fans in the stands. Notre Dame and Michigan State football players facing off. A football handoff to Nick Eddy and he running down the field and it turns out to be a touchdown run of 62 yards. Fans jumping with joy. QB from Notre Dame has the ball, passes and it is caught for a 22 yard gain. Notre Dame QB passes for 15 yards and it is brought in for another touchdown for Notre Dame. Another hand off and it is taken for 28-yards. Notre Dame QB fakes a handoff to Farrell and he gives the ball to Eddy and he is over scott free scoring another touchdown. Michigan has the ball, passes and it is intercepted by Notre Dame and he runs it back to the 30 yard line. Notre Dame has the ball and the QB takes it in for another touchdown. 'How sweet it is for the Irish'. The crowd is going crazy with joy as Notre Dame wins 34 to 7.
Rising out of the forest wilderness of Quebec is one of the forest wilderness of Quebec is one of the biggest power projects ever undertaken by man. Part of a multi-dam engineering feat that will harness 7,000,000 horsepower, Manicouagan Dam will be almost a mile long and back of it will be a man-made lake covering 800 square miles. Aerial shot of wilderness of Quebec you see the construction of a huge power project. A construction worker ready to put the plunger down on dynamiting a hill side, off it goes and down comes some of the hill. A huge scoop attached to a crane taking the loose dirt and rock and putting it aside. A lot of construction workers hosing the dirt down with water, scooping it up with cranes and working on the dam itself. Aerial shot - Dam is taking usual horseshoe form, camera widens it picture and you can see the over all view of the power plant taking form.
Arriving in New York ready for her maiden voyage to Europe is a freighter that foreshadows the future on the high seas. "The American Racer" is the nation's newest ship and the most automated ever built. One man on deck can handle the engines, boilers and auxiliary equipment with push-buttons. It cuts the crew by 25% New York Harbor a freighter on her maiden voyage in the fog set's out for Europe. Name of the freighter 'American Racer'. POV Looking up at the radar. Inside the control cabin is ships personal. Electronic device. Master counsel in the engine room. Some of the electronic panels. One of the ships engineers turning a knob. Ship engineer profile working the electronic panels that controls the ship. An electronic panel with blinking lights. Engineer getting a print out of the ships analysis. POV - A tug boat and a view of New York's Harbor. In the control cabin, an ship's officer runing the controls and speaking on the ship's phone. The 'American Racer' state of the arts freighter.
At West Point's Michie Stadium, the Pitt Panther roars as they claw the Cadets. The Army eleven, plagued by injuries this season, avoids a shutout late in the game as Carl Stichweh gets away a two-handed pass to Greg Steele that wipes out the goose egg. There's a sell out crowd at West Point's Michie Stadium, New York. Crowd sitting in their seats. West Point get off to a sad start with a fumble. Pittsburgh Panthers recover the ball. Panther QB passes to Crabtree and he runs it to Army's 6-yard line. Pittsburgh QB hand the football off to Barry McKnight and he runs it in for a touchdown. Scoreboard - Pittsburgh 9. Army (West Point) 0. Pass to Crabtree (Pittsburgh) and he runs it in for a 30-yard touchdown play. Crabtree takes the ball on a double reverse and takes the ball 28-yards to Army's 5-yard line. Two plays later Crabtree takes the football over and scores a touchdown! Army avoids a shut out late in the game they score 6 and gets a 2-point conversion. MCUS - Pitt U - 24, Army - 8, Quarter 4.
The Baltimore fans, 60,000 strong, see the league-leading Baltimore Colts take on the Vikings. The Minnesota team is the only one that had handed Baltimore a loss this year, but the Colts go on to win this game in the last few minutes with a pass from Johnny Unites that Alex Hawkins grabs as he tumbles into the end zone. Overview of a very packed football stadium and the football fans. Big banner 'Love our Colts'. Johnny Unitas passes the football 74-yards and it is caught by Lenny Moore and he takes it in for a touchdown, giving Baltimore 10 to 0 - lead. People in the stadium applauding and cheering. Fran Tarkenton passes to Hal Bedsole and the score is 10 to 7 Colts. Minnesota is hammering away. Bill Brown goes through the middle and makes a 69 yard drive, the Colts now trail 14 - 10. Unitas throws the football and the ball is caught by a leaping dive, Alex Hawkins and the Colts win - 17 Vikings 14.
(19:50:12) Mr. ALTMAN. Sure. I did receive a call, Senator, on February 25 in the afternoon, I'm not sure what time. Let me give you the background. That morning, yes, I decided to recuse myself I had several conversations with the public affairs people, including With Mr. DeVore down in Texas as to the right way to release it. Should we have a press release? Should we call in a reporter? Should we call in a few reporters? How should we do that? When I received the call from Mr. Raines, I had decided to recuse myself but I hadn't released it and I said to Mr. Raines, I'm recusing myself, that's true. It was not during the phone conversation I made that decision. I made it earlier, but in any event, I then received a phone call, perhaps sometime later and after my recusal decision had been released and was in the bands of the press, after that, and Mr. Stephanopoulos and Mr. Ickes were on the phone. The CHAIRMAN. They called you directly? 463 Mr. ALTMAN. Yes, sir. senator GRAMM. You called-both of them on the phone? Mr. ALTMAN. They were on the phone together, yes, Senator. And they said-well, they were angry, the two of them were angry, that they hadn't had any prior notification of my decision to recuse myself. The CHAIRMAN. What did they say to you? Mr. ALTMAN. I'm not sure of the exact words but something to the effect-and it was said with anger-why didn't you tell us you were going to do this? And I simply said I made this decision, and I released it. In retrospect, they probably had a good 0' point. I probably should have let them know out of courtesy be re I let the press know. I probably should have. The CHAIRMAN, How long did the conversation last? Mr. ALTMAN. Just a few minutes. The CHAIRMAN. A few minutes would be 2 minutes, 5 minutes, 7 minutes. Mr. ALTMAN. I would say 5 or 6 or 7 minutes. And I think they said that the President was upset also with the manner of the recusal. Then they asked me about Jay Stephens The CHAIRMAN. When you say you think they said it that's the kind of thing you probably wouldn' t forget. I mean, did they say that? Mr. ALTMAN. I believe they said that. Then they asked me about Jay Stephens, and I had never heard of Jay Stephens. And I literally said something to the effect of who's he and they told me be was a former U.S. Attorney, I think, an avowed political enemy of the President. I never heard of Mr. Stephens, and they said the RTC had retained him as Outside Counsel, and I said well, selection of Outside Counsel decisions are never brought to me. Never once in my whole RTC tenure did I ever get asked to approve an Outside Counsel's selection and I sure wasn't asked on that one. So those aren't brought to me. And then I said if he's been hired, he's been hired. That's it. At that point, Mr. Stephanopoulos suggested that I write a letter to the President explaining why I had released this recusal decision the way I did, and I said I would and a few days later I did, and you have a copy of that letter. The CHAIRMAN, Senator Bennett, I thought we should get a clarification on that. Senator BENNETT. Yes, I appreciate that. The CHAIRMAN. I didn't mean to take your time. Senator BENNETT. My time is gone. I have some other questions. I Will stick around for a second round. The CHAIRMAN. Senator D'Amato has asked to just raise one Point here. Senator D'AMATO. Mr. Chairman, the reason is because I think now I'm going to ask Mr. Altman. Mr. Altman, is it safe to assume now that you concede that there was a meeting following the February 2 meeting that took place at the White House that you called, whether you called-your memory is Mr. Ickes, that you went over there and that you met with Mr. Ickes to tell him about our decision not to recuse yourself Have we established that now? 464 Mr. ALTMAN. I called Mr. Ickes. We were going to a meeting together. I said I'd like to talk to you for a moment or two before the meeting, I did. And I said I'm not going to recuse myself for the time being. Senator D'AMATO. Did you call Ms, Hanson and beep her at lunch and she then followed you, you say get to the Treasury and she said she came to the Treasury, she missed you there, and they said go on over to the White House and she went over to the White House? That took place? Mr. ALTMAN. I asked that Ms. Hanson attend. Senator DAMATO. OK So that substantiates there was this, this getting together. Now, you wanted to tell. somebody of your decision. Is that a fair and accurate statement? I mean, that's what Maggie Williams says. Senator BOXER. Could I make a point of information? Where are we on time? I'm very confused. The CHAIRMAN. Where we are Senator BOXER. It's now 8 p.m. and some of us have never had a first round. I appreciate your concern, but we have 5 votes here Senator D'AMATO. I'm going to wrap it up in a minute if I can Senator BOXER. Whose time are you speaking on? Senator DAMATO. My own time.
A new beauty makes her debut in New York and she's the Toast of the Town. The new Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is the first link between Staten Island and the New York mainland. The $350,000,000 span brings to fulfillment a dream of many decades. Boasting the longest center span of any such structure, the mile-long bridge is crossed by 100,000 vehicles in the first day after dedication. Camera range is a long wide shot of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, its a little hazy out. Throngs turn out to take part in the celebration and dedication of the bridge. Robert Moses and Mayor Robert Wagner join in a traditional ribbon cutting. The bridge is officially opened to traffic and the lead car is a police vehicle and it leads the parade of cars going very slow. POV - Looking up and seeing the cables of the bridge, makes one dizzy. MS - Three helicopters fly in formation and the view from the bridge is simply breathtaking. All the official cars crossing the mile long bridge and afterwards it is opened to the public. A 1962 Cadillac convertible with a huge banner hanging from its side "First Over Verrazano Bridge" all the guys in their 20's are wearing tuxedos and shaking peoples hands as they drive by and they follow a police escort on motorcycles. The toll booth, and a nice 4-door 1957 Chevy drives into the toll booth. Low aerial shot - Thousands of cars bumper to bumper waiting in line and driving down on the ramps to be one of the first million people to cross the bridge in style. The toll at the time was .50 per vehicle. Statue of Liberty looks at the new suspension bridge. Evening shot Evening shot - Very pretty, the bridge is covered in lights and the cars have their lights on crossing the mile long bridge