August 4, 1994 - Part 4
August 4, 1994 - Part 4
(12:00:00)(tape #10089 begins) Is that still in effect? Is there still a response team? Ms. WILLIAMS. No, there is not. Senator CAMPBELL. There is not. It was put together primarily to deal with press concerns? Mr. McLARTY. That is correct. Right after the first of the year, there was quite a bit of interest, press inquiry allegations, many without any kind of factual basis whatsoever about the Whitewater/Madison Guaranty matter, and we simply wanted these coordinated in the White House and that is why I asked Mr. Ickes to take on that responsibility, to assume that responsibility. (12:00:37) Ms. WILLIAMS. Senator Campbell, may I add to that Mr. McLarty generally, as a way of dealing with situations where there is a lot of press interest, will put together White House response teams. This was not an unusual method of working, getting people together. Senator CAMPBELL. That is a normal process and you have done it before? MS. WILLIAMS. On different issues, yes. Senator CAMPBELL. On different things, OK. Mr. McLarty, you apparently ordered your staff, i.e., Mr. Podesta to work with the Treasury people to prepare Roger Altman for the February 24th Senate hearing. The newspapers, at least one account I read, indicated that you did not want them to concentrate solely on Whitewater. Was there anything to that? Mr. MCLARTY. We wanted the hearings to cover the scope that this Committee felt was proper, There was a lot going on and we did not think it was proper for the hearings to be based on a very narrow issue and that to dominate the hearings. The RTC was performing quite well in their activities. This was" to be a regularly scheduled hearing and we wanted it, to be a broad, 321 and full hearing, and not a forum for (12:01:53)(tape #10088 ends) allegations and questions about Whitewater. We did not think that that was the right focus of this meeting. Senator CAMPBELL. Did you have any role in the correction of the record after his testimony? Mr. MCLARTY. I have already testified, Senator, that when the matter was brought to my attention that Mr. Altman's testimony might not be complete, it was recommended to me, when it was brought to my attention, that we work with Treasury to get the record complete if it needed supplementing, and Mr. Podesta followed on that. Senator CAMPBELL. Did you talk to him personally about it? Mr. McLARTY. No, I did not. Senator CAMPBELL. To his staff? Mr. McLARTY. No, I did not, Senator CAMPBELL, Is it normal that your staff would work with any Secretary's staff in developing testimony? Normally they develop their own, do they not? Mr. MCLARTY. I have testified to that earlier, Senator. Normally, a Cabinet Secretary or Deputy Secretary offering testimony will be the primary or accept the primary responsibility for it, but it is not unusual for our Congressional Affairs personnel to be aware of that testimony before various Committees before the House or the Senate. Senator CAMPBELL. Thank you. Now, Maggie, one of the previous witnesses testified that when Mr. Altman stopped by, I believe it was February 3rd, to say that he would not recuse himself, that there were not any questions asked. Nobody seemed particularly surprised. He only stayed there a few seconds and left. Is that your recollection? Ms. WILLIAMS. That is my recollection, sir. Senator CAMPBELL. That is all I need, Mr. Chairman. Thanks. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Campbell. Senator DAmato, your side is next. We have got two Members left to go in the first round here. Do you want to go next, or Senator DAMATO. I would like to, Mr. Chairman, because I want to pursue something that Senator Hatch Senator DODD. Mr. Chairman, would you, just out of curiosity, I mean, when Senators have not had a chance at all, should we not try to accommodate those people who have not had even a first round before any of us go to a second round? Senator DAMATO. Well, let me say that in the division of time, I had suggested earlier that we would have equal time, that we enter into an agreement to do that. The Chairman did not think we could do that. However, he agreed to 7 minutes for each side. And it is now time for our side. Senator DODD. No, I understand that. I just thought of the people that have not had a chance. That is all. Senator DAMATO. Again, we are limited in time scope. It is not out of a lack of deference or consideration for my colleagues, but what will take place is, at the end, we will wind up with us having to ask more and more and more of these questions, I would like to try to get time to raise questions. 322 And I would be happy to yield to my colleague at this time, but then I would like us to start. Senator DODD. Go ahead. Senator DAMATO. I will yield to my colleague. Senator MOSELEY-BRAUN. Thank you, Senator D'Amato, but I think I am prepared to follow the Chairman's judgment in this regard, because of scheduling or whatever it is, that is fine with me. Senator D'AMATO. No, that is quite all right. We do need harmony here and I want to extend it. I am happy to extend the time. The CHAIRMAN. Well, Senator Moseley-Braun appreciates that. She is prepared to wait. Senator D'AMATO. I would, to my colleagues- Senator DODD. Why don't we adjourn the hearing? Senator D'AMATO. Senator Murray? Senator Murray? The CHAIRMAN. Senator Murray, do you want to go now? Senator MURRAY. No, go ahead. The CHAIRMAN. All right. Senator DODD. I am sorry I brought it up. Senator MOSELEY-BRAUN. No, we appreciate it, Senator Dodd, and your point is very well taken and it was very thoughtful and sensitive of you to mention that, but at the same time, I think in the interests of making certain that these hearings go along with the Chairman's direction, I would just as soon wait. The CHAIRMAN. We are looking down at that end of the table. Senator Sasser has not had an opportunity either yet, Senator D'Amato. Senator SASSER. Well, Mr. Chairman, I will be pleased to take advantage of Senator D'Amato's generosity if he wishes to yield to me.