Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee Hearings on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 24, 1973 - Testimony of Gerald Alch
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee Hearings on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 24, 1973 - Testimony of Gerald Alch
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee Hearings on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 24, 1973 - Testimony of Gerald Alch United States Senate Caucus Room, Washington DC
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee Hearings on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 24, 1973 - Testimony of Gerald Alch
Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. Alch, let me ask you a few questions. Going back to your original testimony concerning the sequence of events as you described them, what evidently was going on in Mr. McCord's mind as he relayed these things to you - his thoughts about his own defense and those matters? First of all, as I understand your testimony concerning matter, which Mr. McCord considered to be important to his own defense, he raised the matters of the tapping of his line and the bugging of the lines of the Chilean or the Israeli Embassies. Now, how did he explain this to you? How did you indicate that that could or would be a defense for him? Mr. ALCH. He analogized that to a situation which he said arose in the Ellsberg case. That if I made a motion for disclosure of such intercepted telephone calls which he thought were intercepted, that the Government, because of embarrassment or national security reasons would refuse to divulge it and would, therefore, in lieu of divulging it dismiss the charge against him.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee Hearings on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 24, 1973 - Testimony of Gerald Alch
Mr. THOMPSON. According to what he told you did he consider this a complete defense for him, that this would extricate him from the situation and cause his case to be dismissed? Mr. ALCH. Yes, sir, he didn't say it was a complete defense. He described it as a means of effectuating the dismissal of the charge against him. Mr. THOMPSON. Did he indicate whether or not he placed the call to those two embassies specifically for that purpose? Mr. ALCH. He did. Mr. THOMPSON. I believe you stated he also furnished you materials concerning the Mafia and the DNC, Israel and the Mafia, Jack Anderson and Government contracts, these matters. Did he indicate in any way that these could possibly be used as a defense for him or could help his defense in any way? Mr. ALCH. When he gave me that material, he said, let us get on the offensive, let us make the Democrats - put the Democrats on the defense. He said, let us stir up something. When he told me that and when he sent me the memorandum. I simply took no action on it.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee Hearings on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 24, 1973 - Testimony of Gerald Alch
Mr. THOMPSON. Concerning his book, Counter Espionage Agent for the Republicans, I believe you said was his proposed title, what w a his reason, according to him, for wanting that book to be published before the election? Was it because he wanted the dissemination of information? Mr. ALCH. No, sir. Mr. THOMPSON. What was his reason, according to what he said? Mr. ALCH. I had been advised by my associate, Mr. Johnson, who attended the arraignment of Mr. McCord in Washington, that Mr. McCord said to him, would it not be better monetarily for me if this book were published before the Presidential election?
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee Hearings on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 24, 1973 - Testimony of Gerald Alch
Mr. THOMPSON. As time went on, you indicated that he had suspicion of the codefendants, he thought that he was going to be a fall guy, that he wanted to shift the focus of publicity? Mr. ALCH. Yes, sir. Mr. THOMPSON. I believe in December, you had your conversation when the business of the CIA was first broached, and in January, I believe you said you heard of a dismissal letter that he had filed. Mr. ALCH. That is correct. Mr. THOMPSON. And you were his attorney at that time; is that correct? Mr. ALCH. I was and technically still am. Mr. THOMPSON. You were attorney of record at that time? Mr. ALCH. Yes, sir. Mr. THOMPSON. Did he give you any notice of the fact that he was filing a letter of dismissal against you? Mr. ALCH. None whatsoever. Mr. THOMPSON. During the trial, you said things worked out between you, you said during the trial he praised you. Mr. ALCH. Constantly. Mr. THOMPSON. You said you never urged him to plead guilty? Mr. ALCH. I never did.