This program is 26 minutes long
#26892
(Studio) Former White House aide John Ehrlichman appears before Senate Watergate committee
REPORTER: Howard K. Smith
(Capitol Hill) Ehrlichman denies John Dean's testimony. Questions turn to Ellsberg break-in. [EHRLICHMAN - states Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy authorized to break-in Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office for national security. Says President has const. power to prevent leakage of national security. Break-in should be viewed in that perspective.] [Majority cnsl. Sam DASH - asks if President would react to Ellsberg episode with horror as Mitchell suggested he would or with agreement.] [EHRLICHMAN - says he talked with President in March, and President agreed with Ehrlichman. National security at stake. President felt actions were justified and within President' power and function with regard to break-in of Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office.] Later, Ervin disputes Ehrlichman and his lawyer John Wilson re: interpretation of statute which gives power to President on national security matters. [ERVIN - asks if Ehrlichman thinks Ellsberg's psychiatrist's files on patients could contain information on attack by foreign powers.] [Ehrlichman's attorney WILSON - reads disputed statue.] [ERVIN - states for. intelligence activities described in statute wouldn't be found in Ellsberg's psychiatrist's files on Ellsberg's emotional, intellectual or psychological state.] [EHRLICHMAN - questions how Ervin knows previous statement is true.] [ERVIN - lashes back that he understands English language.] Ehrlichman insists he didn't order Ellsberg break-in, but admits authorizing operation to get Ellsberg's medical records. Senator Dash hints that another witness could pinpoint Ellsberg break-in orders to Ehrlichman. Questions move toward fund set up for Watergate defendants. [EHRLICHMAN - states fund was for defense, not hush money. Considers fund like Daniel Ellsberg, Angela Davis and Berrigan defense fund.] Ehrlichman asked if Herbert Kalmbach questioned Ehrlichman on legality of activity with regard to Watergate defendant fund. [EHRLICHMAN - states he doesn't remember occasion. Says he wouldn't ask Kalmbach to do anything shady or illegal.] [ERVIN - restates same question allegedly asked by Kalmbach to Ehrlichman with regard to legality of collecting and distributing funds.] [EHRLICHMAN - testifies he wouldn't have encouraged Kalmbach to undertake any questionable action.] Other testimony incls, story that Ehrlichman stopped burglary and firebombing of Brookings Institution in DC. Ehrlichman states he called someone to stop it, but couldn't remember who.
REPORTER: Sam Donaldson
#26893
(Studio) Attorney General Elliot Richardson states President on firm ground constitutionally after refusing White House tapes to Senate Watergate committee and special prosecutor Archibald Cox. Richardson also believes Cox acting properly in demanding tapes. Hopes compromise can be worked out.
REPORTER: Howard K. Smith
#26894
(Studio) 3 subpoenas served on President last night by Watergate committee and Archibald Cox. Reaction from President awaited by reporter
REPORTER: Howard K. Smith
(White House) No doubt that request for tapes to be refused according to assistant Press Secretary Gerald Warren. Warren states President would relinquish tapes if court order forced him, but action not considered likely. Tapes in President' sole custody.
REPORTER: Tom Jarriel
#26896
(Studio) Republican national chairperson George Bush charges that Democrats organized spying on Republicans during 1960 Kennedy campaign, incling. Richard Nixon.
REPORTER: Howard K. Smith
(DC) [BUSH - circulates affidavits supporting charges. States Carmine Bellino allegedly recruited people for Republican spying. Bellino now chief investigator for Senate Watergate committee Matter should be probed to determine truth of allegations.] [BELLINO - denies all charges.] Affidavits put together by Jerris Leonard, private attorney, who originally started in Washington, DC with John Mitchell's help. Bush says affidavits not politically motivated. Another investigator says Democrats used private investigators to carry out Republican spying.
REPORTER: David Schoumacher
#26897
(Studio) Federal judge rules anonymous contributors to Nixon campaign fund must be made public. How money spent to be disclosed also.
REPORTER: Howard K. Smith
#26899
(Studio) Shah of Iran begins 4-day visit to DC.
REPORTER: Howard K. Smith
(White House) Shah recs. full state ceremonies. Iran is 2nd largest Middle E. oil supplier for US. Shah vital to foreign policy. [PRES. - states Iran has always been on side of peace. Iran to help bring world peace.] [Mohammed Reza PAHLAVI - believes Iran is striving for peace at all costs.] Shah refers to Iraq , Russia's Middle E. oil agent in his statement. Shah wants more jet fighters. Some demonstrators carry signs against Shah.
REPORTER: Jerry Landay
#26900
(Studio) ABC's Peter Jennings visits Iran to report on Shah's importance to US.
REPORTER: Howard K. Smith
(Iran) Iran borders Persian Gulf and largest oil reserve supply in world. Iran wants to be a world power, and with enough muscle to back up oil supply, Shah could reach dream. United States supplies Iran with military equipment it wants for defense. Shah says Iran to be responsible for Persian Gulf security to guarantee oil flow to West nations. Mil. academy enrollment jumps. Iran uses United States military as model for building own military complex. Iranian specialists are trained by Americans in many instances, with American equipment and planes. Shah's commitment to West alliance vital to US. To keep oil lines flowing and sea open is critical. Powerful military needed for that.
REPORTER: Peter Jennings
#26902
(Studio) Japanese jet hijack ends in Benghazi, Libya, today. Hijackers and passengers leave plane. Hijackers blow up plane and are arrested by Libyan police.
REPORTER: Howard K. Smith
5;22:10 "SECRET CAMBODIAN BOMBING / CASUALTIES"
(Studio) Pentagon discloses more false information with regard to Cambodia and Laos.
REPORTER: Howard K. Smith
(Pentagon) Congress and families with men killed during spying missions into Laos and Cambodia were told they were killed in South Vietnam. Relatives now being told truth. [Defense secretary James SCHLESINGER - says Cambodian bombing info. was given to top officials. High chain of cmd. got orders from the top. Watergate affair can't be compared with secret bombings.] Air Force Secretary Robert Seamans didn't know about secret raids. Pentagon picked those who knew with care.
REPORTER: Frank Tomlinson
#26905
(Studio) Watergate hearings simplified with White House tapes existence. This reporter believes President should allow Chief Justice to go through tapes and choose relevant portions concerned with crime and legalities of Watergate. This should be given to Watergate committee , Cox, and the public. President must release tapes or Americans to believe Nixon guilty. Dean, Mitchell and Ehrlichman versions along with President' could be unraveled.
REPORTER: Howard K. Smith
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