Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 5, 1973
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 5, 1973
[00.18.20] Mr. LENZNER. Mr. Reisner could you describe what Mr. Magruder instructions, were? Mr. REISNER. Mr. Magruder's instructions then became very specific concerning a blue file folder. I knew what at be was talking about at that point, I think it was at that point that two knew specifically "' what he was talking about, He indicated that that was one of the things that had to be removed. Mr. LENZNER. Did he say on the phone the word "Gemstone" on that occasion? Mr. Reisner It is not, my specific recollection that he did. If He could have. He definitely identified specifically a file folder. It, seems two he said it in the first phone conversation. He may or may not have in the second phone conversation, Mr. LENZNER. Did you later take the blue folder? Mr. Reisner Yes. At that point, I didn't know where the folder", was and I think I indicated that to him. But I said that I knew where it was, that two could find it. At, that point, Mr. Odle was volunteering to be of assistance and Mr. Magruder changed his instruction and indicated to me that Mr. Odle should take, home that and he then generalized it and said, and, other, you know, contender materials, or other strategy materials, something to that effect. Mr. Odle then--the conversation terminated shortly after that. Mr Odle left and I was left the task of finding it, which I did. Mr. LENZNER. You found it, and what did you do with it? Mr. Reisner I believe what I did with It was I combined it with some other materials, the other materials concerning contenders, put those materials in Mr. Odle's office, in his briefcase, and I locked his briefcase, Mr. Odle had at that point gone down to the third floor and I went down there to indicate to him that these things were in his briefcase Mr. LENZNER. One last question. You were subpenaed by this committee on or about March 30 of this year, is that correct? Mr. Reisner That, is correct. Mr. LENZNER. Prior to that time had you been interviewed either the U.S. attorney or the FBI? Mr. Reisner No, and I had not been interviewed by anyone--the National Committee in their civil suit, the, FBI, or U.S. attorney. Mr. LENZNER. For the record, can we, have this envelope marked for identification? In capital letters are indicated "Sensitive Material." In smaller letters "Handle as codeword material." In the lower left-- corner, the words "Ex Dis", and after that, "No Disem", d-i-s-e-m. Senator ERVIN. The, reporter will mark the envelope as an exhibit. Mr. LENZNER. The. Gemstone stationery, which has a blue border around it with letterhead "Gemstone" in capital letters and "date" and 'source", has already been entered as exhibit No. 16 at this morning's hearing. The other piece of stationery with the same print, except in the lower left-hand corner, it, says "Ex Dis", "No Disem", At the bottom, it says "Warning, this information is for intelligence, purposes only. Exploitation may compromise source and terminate flow of information." This piece of stationery was entered as exhibit No. 2, in the hearing of May 17, Mr. LENZNER. That is all the questions I have, Mr. Chairman, Senator ERVIN. Mr. Thompson. Mr. THOMPSON. 'Mr. Reisner, when did you first, become aware of the fact that, Mr. Liddy was engaged in intelligence-gathering activity? Mr. REISNER. I think probably there was a, general awareness on my part, that he was obtaining 'Information about the time that he came to the committee. At, the time of the 'introduction I described, when it was made known to me that Mr. Liddy had not wished to be described that way, I think I assumed an awareness at that point. Mr. THOMPSON. That was in December of 1971? Mr. REISNER. That I correct, yes, sir. Mr. THOMPSON. When he, was described as a, "supersleuth" or "superspy" or something like that? Mr. REISNER. it was a joking reference. Mr. THOMPSON. it turned out to be incorrect, too didn't, it? Mr. Reisner It turned out, to be incorrect. Mr. THOMPSON. Was there any discussion back and forth an-long the other people who were in that particular Meeting as, to exactly what Mr. Liddy was or exactly what- Mr. REISNER. I don't remember any I two discussion. It, came as a surprise to me that Mr. Liddy was concerned about, having been referred to in that, manner. Mr. THOMPSON. What did you think about 'Mr. Liddy personally? What was your evaluation Of him as to his ability or the' kind of man that he was considering the important position that he had? Mr. REISNER. I have discussed this with our staff. I think that my impression of Mr. Liddy was that he may have been a very capable, legal general counsel, but' that he also occasionally did some fairly bizarre things. He gave-- Mr. THOMPSON. We know, of one. For example? Mr. REISNER. He, gave a secretary in our, office, a large poster of him---[Laughter.] Mr. THOMPSON. I don't know if you should pursue that any further. Mr. REISNER.[continuing.] Probably 6 feet by 4 feet in size. Mr. THOMPSON. Larger than life size, wasn't it' Mr. REISNER. Larger than 'life size. Mr. THOMPSON. What kind of picture was it? Mr. REISNER. I believe it was a picture of himself with a bull horn and it may have had--he may have had a gun in his hand, conducting a raid of some kind. He Was in front of a police car. There was another poster, as a matter of fact, I think of him--I have the impression of him next to an airplane or something like that. He was occasionally bizarre. The other thing is that his relationship with my superior at that time, Mr. Magruder, was less than friendly on all occasions and I think that from that, I had an impression of him that he was certainly not an easy employee to have around. I think I indicated that to Mr. Magruder on one occasion and he agreed. [00.24.47]