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Ehrlichman testified that both Walters and Helms were wrong about the intent of the meetings. The concern was security, not politics, and, on orders from the President, Walters and Gray were merely asked to get together to see if there really was a CIA problem. When Walters finally decided that there was no CIA problem, Nixon called Gray and told him "to go full speed ahead."
ORDERED EVIDENCE DESTROYED.
Dean has testified that Ehrlichman suggested to him that some "politically sensitive" documents taken from Wiretapper Hunt's safe in the Executive Office Building be "deep-sixed." Ehrlichman is said to have asked: "You drive across the river on your way home at night, don't you? Well, when you cross over the bridge on your way home, just toss the briefcase into the river." Later, according to Dean, these papers were instead given to Patrick Gray by Dean and Ehrlichman in the latter's office. Gray has said that he was given the admonition: "These should never see the light of day." Gray has admitted destroying the documents.
Ehrlichman simply had "no recollection" of any conversation about deep-sixing the documents. After ticking off all the people present when Hunt's safe was opened, Ehrlichman argued that he had wanted "the 20 bishops" present so "the chain of evidence" would be protected. The papers were given to Gray solely to protect their confidentiality. Ehrlichman said that staff people around Gray were leaking information to newsmen. When Gray told him he had destroyed the documents, Ehrlichman testified, "that totally nonplussed me."
APPROVED PAYMENT OF HUSH MONEY.
Dean has testified that before asking Herbert Kalmbach, Nixon's personal attorney, to raise funds for the Watergate defendants, he got approval from Ehrlichman. Kalmbach has stated that after raising such money for a time, he became concerned and asked Ehrlichman about the propriety of this. Kalmbach: "I am looking right into your eyes ... and it is absolutely necessary, John, that you tell me that John Dean has the authority, that it is a proper assignment and that I'm to go forward on it." Ehrlichman's reply, according to Kalmbach: "Herb, John Dean does have the authority, it is a proper assignment, and you are to go forward."
Ehrlichman denied this conversation too. "I made no such solemn assurance," Ehrlichman said, that the payments were "proper or legal." But he did not specifically deny telling Kalmbach to go ahead. "Well, obviously, Mr. Chairman, he is not my employee, he is not my vassal. I hold no sway over him." Ehrlichman said that Kalmbach had been acting under Dean's instructions, not his.
Predictably, Ehrlichman aroused Ervin's ire by arguing that money raised for the defendants was not aimed at keeping them quiet about the involvement of higher officials but was similar to the defense funds collected for Daniel Ellsberg and Angela Davis. Ervin pointed out that appeals for those funds were advertised publicly, and asked: "Do you not think most of the people contributed their funds because they believed in the causes they stood for?"
Ehrlichman: I assume that.