Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 7, 1973
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 7, 1973
[00.32.30] [Robert MacNEILL in studio] MacNEILL states that Clarence KELLY was also nominated to be the permanent director of the FBI, after the previous nominee, Patrick GRAY, was "another casualty of the Watergate". Introduces an interview of Sen. INOUYE by reporter Peter KAYE [00.33.00--KAYE and INOUYE seated at committee table] KAYE asks about progress and the state of the committee at that point. INOUYE replies that it's been exhausting, personally, that the committee has attempted nonpartisan objectivity, and attempted to get the facts out. Nonetheless aware of the dangerous possibility of harming innocent people's reputations, and also of allowing a forum for dishonest witnesses to make self-serving statements. KAYE states that INOUYE has been among the most incisive and thorough questioners of witnesses, attempting to make connections between low-level figures and the "higher-ups". Asks if this is a priority INOUYE says it's not necessarily tying the lower-downs to higher-ups, but that many witnesses have made statements that have done so, and it is his concern to investigate the witnesses fully to avoid making dangerous inferences. The committee wants to abide by "innocent until proven guilty", and that it is his duty to thoroughly examine the witnesses, as the "governmental process is on trial". Cites the statement by PORTER that deception and chicanery were part of the game of politics as usual as the evidence of the need to show government working fairly. [00.36.00--LEHRER in studio] LEHRER states that the investigation will continue next week with the return of PORTER to conclude his testimony, before moving on "to bigger, but not necessarily better, things." States that, pending the outcome of Federal immunity proceedings, Jeb MAGRUDER and John DEAN may be called to testify in the next week, followed most likely by MITCHELL, STANS, HALDEMAN, and EHRLICHMAN. LEHRER states that there is momentum building toward a desire to go after the big shots, but offers the opinion that it's easier to identify with the "little shots" like Robert ODLE, PORTER, and SLOAN, who have caused identification in the average person and aroused sympathy or disgust. While the smaller figures do deserve the same "come-uppance" that the larger ones do, "come-uppance" is a matter of degree, like power. Signs off [00.37.47--title screen--grant credits--NPACT ID--PBS network ID] [00.38.24--TAPE OUT, END OF 06/07/1973]