August 2, 1994 - Part 2
August 2, 1994 - Part 2
(11:00:28) Mr. DEVORE. Well, I was there, of course, and I deal in press matters. Mark Geron was there. He was the Communications Director for the White House. I was somewhat surprised to see Bruce Lindsay, but I learned that, in fact, Mr. Lindsay handled press inquiries that involved matters that had occurred in Arkansas. It's not unusual, if you're going to have a press meeting, to have others sit in for several reasons. Nonpress people can sometimes offer good advice to press people. Senator MACK. Were you surprised that the RTC press person was not there? Mr. DEVORE. No. Senator MACK. Why not? 346 Mr. DEVORE. My recollection, from my perspective, is that the primary information the reporter who had talked to me was interested in, involved endorsements on the checks that had been contributed to this fundraiser back in the mid-1980's. I didn't know the RTC would know anything about that, whereas the White House might. Senator MACK. Why did you not think that the RTC would have knowledge about those checks? (11:01:50)(Tape #10065 ends) Mr. DEVORE. Well, since the funds had been contributed to Governor Clinton and most candidates are careful to keep records of who made the contributions, I just assumed they would be more likely to have it. Senator MACK. Who were the checks from that were in question? Mr. DEVoRE. I don't know. Senator MACK. Was McDougal one of them? Mr. DEVORE. I don't know. Senator MACK. You formerly testified that the earliest you ever remember even receiving a press inquiry was October 11, 1993. Is that correct? Mr. DEVORE. That's correct, with one qualification. The earliest I recall receiving a press inquiry which let me know that the RTC was actively continuing to investigate the Madison Guaranty situation, that came as a surprise to me. Senator MACK. When was that, did you say? Mr. DEVORE. October 11th. Senator MACK. Ms. Hanson testified yesterday that Mr. Altman called you both down to his own office for a meeting on October 11 or 12, 1993. Do you recall that meeting? Mr. DEVORE. I do not. Senator MACK. She testified that during that meeting, that Mr. Altman was engaged in a discussion about how to respond to the press inquiry from Mr. Gurth. Does that refresh your recollection? Mr. DEVORE . No, sir, it does not. I don't recall that meeting Senator MACK. You don't recall that meeting at all? Mr. DEVORE. Not at all. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Mack. Senator Kerry. OPENING COMMENTS OF SENATOR JOHN F. ]KERRY Senator KERRY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Welcome. Mr. Steiner, I know this is the last place in the world that you ever imagined yourself being under the circumstances. I know it's hi ghly uncomfortable. I know of you, as others do, as a person of enormous ability extremely talented, moral, idealistic, and I think that all of that lea out of your diary. As a matter of fact, I think your character, which I don't question, I think you show the evidence of your ch aracter in your own diary in a number of different places. Your judgment is good, you see things coming. You perceive the dangers, you showed the acumen that, think, was present in your being appointed to the position that you're in. And, indeed, you had the good common sense' when George Stephanopoulos was angry and firing off steam, as anybody would have been angry, inciden- 347 tally, I think being honest about the circumstances, and your reaction was you persuaded George that doing anything would have been stupid and improper in terms of Stephens, and be cooled down. But that was good judgment. In addition, you drew lessons. You said the lesson of all of this is do what you think is the right thing early; recuse. You said remember everything might eventually be asked about under oath. Don't let the White House get involved in any way. These are good instincts.