"Of late, he had expressed fear for the future of the Executive Branch, which he was in a unique position to observe." (134-35)
"I can't and won't give you any new names, but everything points in the direction of what was called 'Offensive Security.'" (134-35)
"Remember, you don't do those 1500 [FBI] interviews [which had been publicly announced] and not have something on your hands other than a single break-in." (134-35)
"Much of the intelligence-gathering was on their own campaign contributors, and some to check on the Democratic contributors -- to check people out and sort of semi-blackmail them if something was found … a very heavy-handed operation." (134-35)
"Mitchell was involved [in the break-in.]" (134-35)
The extent of Mitchell's involvement was known only to "Mitchell and the President." (134-35)
"Mitchell conducted his own -- he called it an investigation -- for about ten days after June 17. And he was going crazy. He found all sorts of new things which astounded even him." (134-35)
"At some point, Howard Hunt, of all the ironies, was assigned to help Mitchell get some information. Like lightning, he was pulled off and fired and told to pack up his desk and leave town forever. By no less than John Ehrlichman." (134-35)
"Check every lead. It goes all over the map, and that is important. You could write stories from now until Christmas or well beyond that… Not one of the games [his term for undercover operations] was free-lance. This is important. Everyone was tied in." (134-35)
Mitchell "definitely learned some things in those ten days after Watergate, He was just sick, and everyone was saying that he was ruined because of what his people did, especially Mardian and LaRue, and what happened at the White House. And Mitchell said, 'If this all comes out, it could ruin the administration. I mean, ruin it.' Mitchell realized he was personally ruined and would have to get out." (134-35)
In response to Woodward asking about the White House, Throat said, "There were four basic personnel groupings for undercover operations." The November Group, which handled the CRP's advertising; a convention group, which handled intelligence-gathering and sabotage-planning for both the Republican and Democratic conventions; a primary group, which did the same for the primaries of both parties; and the Howard Hunt group, which was the "really heavy operations team." (134-35)
"The Howard Hunt group reported to Chuck Colson, who maybe didn't know specifically about the bugging. There is no proof, but Colson was getting daily updates on the activities and the information." (134-35)
"I know of intelligence-gathering and games in Illinois, New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, California, Texas, Florida and the District of Columbia." (134-35)
The President's forces had been out to wreck the campaigns both of Democrats and of Nixon's challengers within his own party -- Representative Paul McCloskey of California and Representative John Ashbrook of Ohio. (134-35)
Regarding Howard Hunt and leak-plugging at the White House, Throat said, "That operation was not only to check leaks to the papers but often to manufacture items for the press. It was a Colson-Hunt operation. Recipients include all of you guys -- Jack Anderson, Evans and Novak, the Post and the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune." (134-35)
"The business of Eagleton's drunk-driving record or his health records, I understand, involves the White House and Hunt somehow." (134-35)
"Total manipulation -- that was their goal, with everyone eating at one time or another out of their hands. Even the press." (134-35)
Throat confirmed that the grand jury's investigations had been "limited to the Watergate operation -- and had ignored other espionage and sabotage. If it wasn't limited to Watergate proper, they would never have finished, believe me." (134-35)
"There is also non-corroborative testimony before the grand jury, driving everyone wild, certain perjury." [by Sally Harmony and others.] (134-35)
"They want to single out the Post. They want to go to court to get at your sources." (134-35)
There was more general discussion about the White House, its mood, the war atmosphere. (134-35)
In response to a question about the Canuck Letter, Throat said, "It was a White House operation -- done inside the gates surround the White House and the Executive Office Building." (134-35)
"You can safely say that fifty people worked for the White House and CRP to play games and spy and sabotage and gather intelligence. Some of it is beyond belief, kicking at the opposition in every imaginable way. You already know some of it." (134-35)
Throat told Woodward that there was information in the files of "Justice and the Bureau" about bugging, following people, false press leaks, fake letters, canceling campaign rallies, investigations ofcampaign workers' private lives, planting spies, stealing documents, planting provocateurs in political demonstrations. (134-35) |