Watergate Hearings - Testimony of James McCord (Jim McCord) May 22, 1973
Watergate Hearings - Testimony of James McCord (Jim McCord) May 22, 1973
Watergate Hearings - Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 22, 1973 - Testimony of James McCord (Jim McCord) Caucus Room, Russell Senate Office Building, Washington DC
Watergate Hearings - Testimony of James McCord (Jim McCord) May 22, 1973
Samuel Dash, attorney. Mr. McCord, I just have a few questions. There were many questions put to you for the period of your testimony and I just have a few, and I do understand Minority Counsel Thompson has some questions. I think that one of the areas that has not been covered is the role of the person who was on the other side of the wiretap which you installed the end of May 1972. Now, did you employ Mr. Alfred Baldwin for that purpose? James McCord. Yes, I did. Samuel Dash, attorney. And what was his particular assignment with regard to monitoring the wiretap? James McCord. His assignment was to listen on a radio receiver that received the transmissions from the Democratic National Committee telephones, in which the electronic devices had been installed in connection with the two dates of Memorial Day weekend and June 17, 1972. Samuel Dash, attorney. Where was he located when he was doing this monitoring? James McCord. On the seventh floor of the Howard Johnson Motel across the street from the Democratic National Committee headquarters.
Watergate Hearings - Testimony of James McCord (Jim McCord) May 22, 1973
Samuel Dash, attorney. Now Mr. McCord, can you see the chart on the easel there? [Exhibit No. 12, P. 101.1] James McCord. Yes. Samuel Dash, attorney. The picture (drawing) purports to show the Howard Johnson on your right and the Watergate Office Building on your left. [cut to close-up of chart showing blueprint-styled diagrams of the two buildings] Now, does it represent the room 723 which was used by Mr. Baldwin for monitoring of those telephones? James McCord. Yes, it does. Samuel Dash, attorney. And he was just right across the street in doing that? James McCord. Yes, sir. Samuel Dash, attorney. In his monitoring how was he recording what he was hearing? James McCord. He would listen with headphones to the conversations that were being transmitted and would take down the substance of the conversations, the time, the date on a yellow legal sized scratch pad, and then ultimately would type them up a summary of them by time, chronological summary, and turn that typed log in to me and I would deliver them to Mr. Liddy. Samuel Dash, attorney. Did you deliver them to Mr. Liddy directly? James McCord. Yes.
Watergate Hearings - Testimony of James McCord (Jim McCord) May 22, 1973
Samuel Dash, attorney. Now, did there come a time when you were delivering those logs that they were retyped? James McCord. I know of at least one instance in which that occurred because I saw them being retyped. Samuel Dash, attorney. Was it your understanding that that occurred on more than one occasion, even though you yourself may not know? James McCord. Yes. Samuel Dash, attorney. What was the purpose of retyping the log, did Mr. Liddy explain that to you? James McCord. I believe some general explanation, in substance that he wanted them in a more final complete form for discussion with Mr. Mitchell and whoever else received them. Samuel Dash, attorney. Now, who did this retyping? James McCord. Sally Harmony, H-a-r-m-o-n-y, who was the secretary to Mr. Liddy at the Committee for the Re-Election of the President. Samuel Dash, attorney. Did you have occasion to observe her typing the logs? James McCord. Yes, I did. Samuel Dash, attorney. Did you have occasion to talk to her while she was doing it? James McCord. Yes, I did. Samuel Dash, attorney. In that conversation you had with Sally Harmony, did she give you any indication that she understood what she was doing when she was retyping that log? James McCord. Yes, she did. Samuel Dash, attorney. As a matter of fact, could you briefly describe, without going into any of the contents what a log would be, what actually would be entered on the log which Mr. Baldwin would first type and then be retyped by Miss Harmony? James McCord. It would be similar to any other telephone conversation that one person might make to another beginning with a statement on his log of the time of the call, who was calling whom; a summary of what was said during the conversation itself, including names of persons who were mentioned that Mr. Baldwin apparently believed were of sufficient significance to set forth in the log. Samuel Dash, attorney. Then it would be true that anybody reading that would have no difficulty knowing it came from a telephone conversation? James McCord. That is correct.
Watergate Hearings - Testimony of James McCord (Jim McCord) May 22, 1973
Samuel Dash, attorney. I think you testified earlier and I just wanted to get it clear for the record, that your discussions with Mr. Liddy concerning meetings he had with the Attorney General, indicated that Mr. Liddy was actually meeting with the Attorney General with regard to this operation? James McCord. That is correct. Samuel Dash, attorney. All the way up to what time, what was the last date that Mr. Liddy indicated that he had a meeting with the Attorney General regarding this particular bugging operation? James McCord. My best recollection is immediately before June 17 during, I would estimate, during that week, immediately preceding June 17. Samuel Dash, attorney. Did Mr. Liddy indicate what the nature of that meeting was? James McCord. All I can recall at this point is some conversation, as a general conversation to the effect that we discussed getting ready for the operation that is coming up and I think just the overall planning for the operation.
Watergate Hearings - Testimony of James McCord (Jim McCord) May 22, 1973
Samuel Dash, attorney. Going back very briefly to the information that you were getting from the Internal Security Division, was your trip to Miami related in any way to the Department of Justice's investigation of the Veterans Against the War in Vietnam? James McCord. No. Samuel Dash, attorney. Was any of the investigation that you engaged in with regard to that group related to the Department of Justice investigation? James McCord. In Miami, you mean? Samuel Dash, attorney. Or any other place. (McCord confers with his lawyer a moment) James McCord. I'm sorry, would you mind restating that question? I am not sure I quite followed it. Samuel Dash, attorney. I think in your testimony you indicated that information you were receiving from the Internal Security Division and other information related in some respects to activities of the Veterans Against the War in Vietnam? James McCord. Yes. Samuel Dash, attorney. Was your activity in getting that information for any investigation you were conducting on behalf of the Committee related in any way to any investigation the Department of Justice was making of the same group? James McCord. If by that it is meant that whatever information I was acquiring separate and apart from the Internal Security Division was being transmitted back to them the answer would be no. It was a one-way street, it was at that time.
Watergate Hearings - Testimony of James McCord (Jim McCord) May 22, 1973
Samuel Dash, attorney. Now, you have named in the second break in in the Watergate four persons in addition to the involvement of Mr. Liddy and Hunt and you named Mr. Barker, Mr. Martinez, Mr. Sturgis, and Mr. Gonzales. I think you also mentioned that in the first break-in there were three additional persons. Could you name them for the record, please? James McCord. I don't know that I know the names for certain. I have been shown some photographs by the FBI, if you want me to relate that. Samuel Dash, attorney. You do not know the names of your own Have you identified photographs of persons who did accompany you in the first time? James McCord. I have seen two photographs of men that I believed were in that first operation. Samuel Dash, attorney. As a result of that identification did you then learn what their names were? James McCord. I heard the names, the names that I originally What I am trying to say, the names, I originally heard were apparently not the true names so I can't associate the two together that way. But the photographs, one individual was, I believe, that I made a probable identification was a Mr. Felipe Diego, and the other name associated with the photograph that I identified was a Mr. Reinaldo Pico.
Watergate Hearings - Testimony of James McCord (Jim McCord) May 22, 1973
Samuel Dash, attorney. Now, Mr. McCord, I have placed at your table a telephone which is not connected to anything. (McCord handles telephone nervously and looks at counsel) What I would like you to do, because you testified to the particular bugging operation of the Democratic National Committee headquarters, if you would demonstrate to the committee the manner in which you placed the so-called bug in the telephone. I would like to ask the party who has the custody of the receiver to please take the receiver over to the table. James McCord. My counsel asked for assurance with that I won't be prosecuted on this installation. (McCord chuckles, general laughter in room) Samuel Dash, attorney. As I said, the telephone is not connected and no conversation is involved.
Watergate Hearings - Testimony of James McCord (Jim McCord) May 22, 1973
Samuel Dash, attorney. Now, I also will show you an item which was entered as an exhibit, Government exhibit 16(b) at the trial, and I understand was taken from either your possession or in the vicinity of where you were when you were arrested. I think it is a miniature transmitter in a telephone and I ask you to identify that. James McCord. Yes, I believe this is the one entered into evidence. Samuel Dash, attorney. Now, will you identify exactly what that is? James McCord. This is a radio, essentially a radio transmitter which is powered by the power within the telephone system, the telephone line itself, and this transmitter is, was connected or was for the purpose of being connected into the telephone itself for the purpose of transmitting those conversations over the phone. Samuel Dash, attorney. When that transmitter is connected in the telephone, is it capable of picking up both sides of the conversation? James McCord. Yes. Samuel Dash, attorney. And broadcasting it to another place? James McCord. Yes, it is.