August 3, 1994 - Part 3
August 3, 1994 - Part 3
(12:42:05) In voice over, hearings host NINA TOTENBERG segues to Senate Banking Committee Hearings: coming up with some procedures and changes in the law, perhaps, if necessary, to go through and discuss this issue regarding, again, the interface between these agencies so that we don't run into these problems down the road. Secretary BENTSEN. Senator, thank you, and I understand the confusions of titles. I was getting out of an elevator the other day in Washington, a young man took a look at me and stopped the elevator door and held me and he said, I know you. He said wait a minute, let me think. He said, yes, I know, you are Senator Bentsen. He said, I went to a political rally of yours in Texas. He said, whatever happened to you? Senator MOSELEY-BRAUN. Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary. The CHAIRMAN. We won't ask you right now to give the answer to that question, but I'd like to hear that later. Senator Hatch. 52 OPENING COMMENTS OF SENATOR HATCH Senator HATCH. Thank you, Chairman. And welcome, Lloyd, we're happy to have you here. I just want to say for the record, in my 18 years here, you've always been a great person of candor and integrity and wisdom and honesty. And, frankly, your word has always been your bond, so that's important, And I think all of us feel that way. Secretary BENTSEN. Thank you very much. Senator HATCH. Let me just try to clarify or clear up a few discrepancies that bother me, Do you recall the first conversation you had with Mr. Altman on the subject of his recusal from Madison Guaranty, and if so, could you summarize that conversation for us? Secretary BENTSEN. I could be corrected on trying to remember a date, but I would-I think that was on February the 1st. And he told me he was trying to make up his mind on recusal and that he'd been challenged in that regard and challenged by Members of the Congress as to a possible conflict of interest, and he was asking for my advice. I told him that that had to be his decision, that he knew the facts in that case, I did not. And I must say, I sympathized with him very much about the tough spot he'd been put in. I understand he thinks that I counseled him to recuse himself. He may have come to that interpretation because I was sure sympathizing, but I don't recall so telling him. Senator HATCH. OK. Let me ask a few questions about reports, including Ms. Hanson's testimony that prior to the February 2nd meeting at the White House, Mr. Altman informed you that he had decided to recuse himself from the RTC civil investigation in the Madison Guaranty case. Do you recall Mr. Altman telling you at that time that he had decided to recuse himself?