Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 6, 1973
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 6, 1973
[00.19.02] [***SEE RESTRICTIONS FIELD IN RIGHTS SECTION CONCERNING COMMENTARY FOOTAGE***] LEHRER states that the uneven operation of the new campaign finance laws with respect to reporting and disclosure have led some critics to call for an end to private financing and the start of Government bankrolling of campaigns to end corruption and ensure fairness. Introduces an interview of Senator BAKER by reporter Peter KAYE. [cut BAKER with KAYE] KAYE asks if there is more of a case now for Federal election financing after the revelations of the days hearings BAKER says he is still opposed, very strongly, feeling that introducing the Federal bureaucracy would be exchanging one evil for another, but he would be against having the Ervin Committee recommend such a move. [MacNEILL in studio] MacNEILL states that before the committee can grapple with making a recommendation on Campaign reform, it must cover the factual ground of the coverup, leading to the point when the Committee will have to decide if the evidence implicates President Nixon in illegal activities. There is a growing argument about the Ervin Committee hearings, with one side claiming that airing so much hearsay evidence will prejudice the trials of other indicted conspirators in the Watergate affair, and Senator ERVIN on the other claiming that it is more important to get the facts to the public even at risk of jeopardizing the criminal courts' ability to indict and convict conspirators. Notes that Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox renewed his failed effort of the day before to get the Ervin hearings postponed, with a request to have the testimony of men like DEAN and MAGRUDER heard in executive session by the committee. MacNEILL states that there is another debate, about the effect of NIXON to govern, and that the committee should proceed to the witnesses closes to the President so that a fast conclusion about NIXON'S involvement in illegal activities can be reached. States that the committee rejects this argument, saying that it is necessary to have a careful and deliberate examination of lower-level witnesses to allow for proper examination of the larger figures in the Watergate affair. States that a number of politicians are getting impatient, among them Congressman McCLOSKEY, stating that an impeachment should be initiated, Senator FULBRIGHT, calling for both NIXON and VP AGNEW to resign (Agnew would be forced to split soon enough, as it turned out), Senator GRIFFIN of Michigan, a Republican, demanding disclosure of the facts by NIXON. MacNEILL states that NIXON seems determined to organize his new staff at the White House to "ride out the storm". States that it is reminiscent of the final act of a Shakespearean tragedy in which "forces are rising against the king on all sides" etc., etc.. However, reminds that the final scene is some time away, and it's not clear that it will become a tragedy. [00.22.36--MacNEILL signs off--title screen 'SENATE HEARINGS ON CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES"--PBS ID] [00.23.14--TAPE OUT]