Watergate Hearings - Testimony of Herbert Porter, June 7, 1973.
Watergate Hearings - Testimony of Herbert Porter, June 7, 1973.
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 7, 1973. Testimony of Herbert Porter.
Watergate Hearings - Testimony of Herbert Porter, June 7, 1973.
Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). You talked to Magruder before you went before the grand jury in August of 1972? Herbert Porter, CRP aide. Yes, sir. Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). And you agreed to testify that during December 1971 you had told Magruder that it would require about $100,000 for the dirty tricks episode? Herbert Porter, CRP aide. No, sir. Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). For what episode? Herbert Porter, CRP aide. What I testified Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). You had estimated. Herbert Porter, CRP aide. Yes, that is correct, but not for dirty tricks, for information gathering from radical groups. Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). From radical groups? Herbert Porter, CRP aide. Yes, sir. Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). Now Mr. Magruder had attempted to get you to swear some other things which you say were not true. Herbert Porter, CRP aide. Yes, sir. Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). You refused to do that. Herbert Porter, CRP aide. Yes, sir. Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). Then you went before the grand jury and you testified in August 1972 and that is the only time you have been before the grand jury. Herbert Porter, CRP aide. Yes, sir.
Watergate Hearings - Testimony of Herbert Porter, June 7, 1973.
Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). Then about the last of March, Mr. McCord wrote a letter to Judge Sirica which came out in the newspapers. Herbert Porter, CRP aide. Yes, sir. Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). It was about that time that Mr. Magruder called you? Herbert Porter, CRP aide. Shortly after that. Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). And told you things were getting hot. Herbert Porter, CRP aide. No, sir. That was on April 9th. For himself, he said. Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). Yes. You came down to Washington after you received the phone call from Mr. Magruder? Herbert Porter, CRP aide. Well, I was already planning to come down to Washington. Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). When did you come? Herbert Porter, CRP aide. On the evening of April 12. Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). And was that the time that Magruder suggested to you that you go and talk to the counsel for or the committee, that is, Kenneth Parkinson? Herbert Porter, CRP aide. No, sir Mr. Chairman. Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). When was that? Herbert Porter, CRP aide. Yes, sir. I believe Mr. McCord's letter to Judge Sirica Was made public in a story in the Washington Pont on a Saturday morning toward the end of March, the 20 something--24th 25th, I think something like that. Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). Anyway, you talked to Parkinson and O'Brien on the 28th of March. Herbert Porter, CRP aide. Yes, sir; I did. Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). And you did that at the instance of Mr. Magruder. Herbert Porter, CRP aide. I talked to Mr. O'Brien on my own. I talked to Mr. Parkinson because Mr. Magruder had called me saying Mr. Parkinson wants to see you and is going to call you to set up an appointment. Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). You talked with Parkinson and O'Brien together, did you? Herbert Porter, CRP aide. Not together, separately, but on the same afternoon. Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). On the same afternoon? Herbert Porter, CRP aide. Yes, sir. Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). Who told you that the whole course of history was going to be changed? Herbert Porter, CRP aide. That was on Friday afternoon, April 13th. And that was Mr. Sharp; Mr. Magruder's
Watergate Hearings - Testimony of Herbert Porter, June 7, 1973.
Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). I will go back then to Parkinson and O'Brien. You told them in effect that you were troubled because of your having testified before the grand jury that you had estimated for Mr. Magruder in December 1971 that it would require about $100,000 to supervise these radical groups? Herbert Porter, CRP aide. Yes, sir. Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). And what did Mr. Parkinson say when you talked to him about that? Herbert Porter, CRP aide. You mean when Mr. Parkinson learned that that was not a true statement? Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). Yes. Herbert Porter, CRP aide. I don't remember that he said anything other than he was taking some notes, I believe. And I probably initiated the question by saying, Ken what do you think? To which he responded, Bart, I don't think you have a problem at all. All you have done is embellish a little. Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). That was Mr. Parkinson. Herbert Porter, CRP aide. Yes, sir. Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). What did Mr. O'Brien say about it? Herbert Porter, CRP aide. Mr. O'Brien said I don't think you have a problem. He did not use any other words. Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). In other words, both of the attorneys for the committee told you after you told them that you had sworn falsely before the grand jury, they said that was no problem. Herbert Porter, CRP aide. Yes, sir. Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). You just embellished things a little. Herbert Porter, CRP aide. Mr. Parkinson used those words, yes, sir.
Watergate Hearings - Testimony of Herbert Porter, June 7, 1973.
Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). Now a short time after that, you went to see Mr. Sharp, who was then the attorney of Mr. Magruder. Herbert Porter, CRP aide. Yes, sir. Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). Mr. Sharp told you that the whole course of history was going to be changed. Herbert Porter, CRP aide. Yes, sir. Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). Did he explain what he meant by that? Herbert Porter, CRP aide. No, sir, he didn't. Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). But he recommended that you talk to Mr. Magruder? Herbert Porter, CRP aide. No, sir, he did not. He said that it would be wise for me to retain an attorney. That I should tell the attorney, my attorney, the same brief story that I told him, and to have my attorney call him. And that is when I, then he asked me if I knew any. And I asked him since his client, was the one who in effect had asked me to do that. That it would be helpful for me to. Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). Now, did Mr. Sharp tell you that they could arrange for you to see the district attorney before Mr. Magruder? Herbert Porter, CRP aide. Yes, sir. He stated specifically if we decide that Jeb should go down and see Silbert, we would certainly give you the courtesy of going first. Those were his exact words. Sam Ervin (D North Carolina). Then you met, Mr. Magruder and found out from him that he had already been to see Silbert? Herbert Porter, CRP aide. Yes, sir.