August 2, 1994 - Part 3
August 2, 1994 - Part 3
(00:00:00)(part two of tape #10067 begins) The CHAIRMAN. Senator Hatch, I don't want to interrupt you because I want you to be able to finish your line of questioning, but I do want to stay within the time period. Senator HATCH. One last question. You don't deny saying that, do you? Mr. STEINER. Senator, I have no recollection of either saying it or not saying it. Senator HATCH. You don't deny or affirm on that matter? Mr. STEINER. As I said, Senator, I have no recollection of either saying it or not saying it. The CHAIRMAN. Senator Sarbanes. OPENING COMMENTS OF SENATOR PAUL S. SARBANES Senator SARBANES. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Steiner, on this diary excerpt which Senator Hatch had you read, where you say "Harold and George then called to say that BC was furious! In fact, Harold and George's call was to Altman, not to you; is that correct? Mr. STEINER. That's correct, Senator. Senator SARBANES. You then wrote this comment on the basis of what you beard from Mr. Altman about that phone conversation with Ickes and Stepbanopoulos is that correct? Mr. STEINER. That is, sir. Senator SARBANES. Now, when you say that BC, the President, was furious was the President furious that Altman bad recused himself, or was the President furious because Altman had in effect, announced through the paper that be was recusing himself without ever having, I take it, told anyone first within the Administration , including, I assume, the President or someone who would tell the President that he was going to be doing that. Mr. STEINER. The President, as I understood it, was concerned about the manner in which Mr. Altman recused himself which is to say the fact that the information had been relayed first to a newspaper writer as opposed to people within the Administration. At no point, I might add, did Mr. Altman say that the President was furious. I cannot recall the exact words he used to describe his conversation with Mr. Stephanopoulos and Mr. Ickes. Senator SARBANES. He did not say that? That's your editorialYour editorializing about it; is that correct? Mr. STEINER. I cannot recall, Senator, the exact words Mr. Altman used to describe that conversation. I do not recall him Senator SARBANES. Did Altman tell Raines be was going to recuse himself because Raines told him he was going to write a brutal editorial about him; is that correct? Mr. STEINER. Senator, I believe a member of our press staff had spoken with Mr. Raines prior to Mr. Altman speaking with Mr. ]Raines. Upon learning the information about this up coming editorial, Mr. Altman considered that and, I believe, made a decision about recusal. I believe the first time the information was relayed was to Mr. Raines. Senator SARBANES. Did be call Raines? 374 Mr. STEINER. I do not recall who called whom, Senator. Senator SARBANES. Would you say that Altman was very sen- sitive to putting the spin on the press? Mr, STEINER. I would say that he was interested in making sure that the press bad a full understanding of events that occurred, Senator SARBANES. He actually spent a great deal of time and thought at it, didn't be? Mr. STEINER. I think he was forthcoming to the press. Senator SARBANES. Are you still keeping your diary? Mr, STEINER. No, I am not, sir. [Laughter.] Senator SARBANES. Do you know from any conversations with Mr. Altman or Ms. Hanson, whether she went to see Nussbaum in September as-because she bad been tasked to do so by Mr. Altman? Mr. STEINER. I have no knowledge on that subject. Senator SARBANES. You've never beard Mr, Altman express any view about that? Mr. STEINER. Well, I've read press accounts, Senator. Senator SARBANES. I know there have been a lot of press accounts. I'm not asking whether, back in September, you heard anything. I'm asking now, recently, with all these press accounts. It's a lead item in a lot of stories, whether either Altman or Hanson, for that matter, has indicated to you anything about that difference in their testimony. Mr. STEINER. We have tried to be very careful, Senator, about not discussing the substance of this matter in order to maintain the purity of our testimony. I certainly have read newspaper articles about this subject. I don't believe I've bad any specific conversation with either Mr. Altman or Ms. Hanson. Senator SARBANES. Strike the word "specific." Have you had any Mr. STEINER. I cannot recall any conversations where Mr, Altman said to me or Ms. Hanson said to me I have a directly different recollection. Senator SARBANES. Strike the word "directly." Mr. STEINER. Senator, I have beard conversations WH ere Mr. Altman has commented that his recollection is different from Ms. Hanson's.