The Day Insp. Columbo Ferreted Par 0,473 By Art Buchwald aide, John Dean III, my former assistant, Charles Colson, the former Secretary of Commerce, Maurice Peter Falk, playing his famous role of Columbo, Stans and the former Attorney General, John walked into the East Room of the White House in his Mitchell and his wife Martha." dirty raincoat and flashed his police card. "Inspector "This is really a great honor," Columbo said. "I Columbo," he said, showing it to President Nixon. "Say, never thought I would get to meet so many important this sure is a nice house you got here. How much does people. Wait till I tell my wife. She's really going a place like this cost?" to be bowled over." "I'm having a private party for my staff," the Presi- "What exactly is it you want to know?" the President dent said indignantly. "What do yo want?" asked. "Oh, I really apologize," Columbo said. "I didn't "Oh, yes," Columbo said taking out his pad and mean to come busting in on a party. Say, is that a pencil. "Now let me see." real oil painting of George Washington? It's a fan- Martha Mitchell said, "Inspector, I'd like to tell you ': tastic work of art—dont get me wrong, I don't know a few things about the Watergate . . ." anything about painting." "Martha, will you shut up?" John Mitchell inter- "'Will you state your business, inspector?" rupted. "Pm juste making some routine inquiries about "They're not going to hang this on my John," the Watergate bugging case. You see I'm on loan Martha said. to the Senate Investigating Committee from the Los Angeles Police Department. It will only take a few "Martha!" minutes." "Can I offer you a drink, inspector?" the President "We have nothing to hide here," the President asked. said. "This is my assistant, H. R. Haldeman, my legal "Just some• orange juice if you've got it, Mr. Presi-

Out the Waterbugger Capitol Punishment dent. I have a bad stomach. You know in this job Just then the butler came in with Columbo's glass you never eat properly. Last night I had a tuna fish of orange juice. sandwich on a roll and . . " "Thank you very much," Columbo said tothe "Will you get on with it, inspector?" H. R. Haldeman butler, "I didn't get your name." said. "Alfonse, sir." "I'm sorry . . . where was I? Oh yes, now about "Where were you on the night of the break-in, Al- the Watergate. This is just routine, you understand, fonse?" but where were each of you the night of the break-in?" "I was polishing the silver." "I was watching 'Patton,' " the President said. "You're lying, Aifonse. You were at the Watergate." "See here, Columbo," the President said, "you're re- "I was in Mexico City at a bank," Maurice Stans said. lying on heresay evidence." "I was reading FBI files," John Dean III said. "No, I'm not, Mr. President. This coaster that the "I was cutting the budget," H. R. Haldeman replied. orange juice was served on says 'Property of the "I'll tell you where John was," Martha Mitchell said. Watergate Bar and Grill." "Martha, clam up," John Mitchell said. "My God," said H. R. Haldeman, "the butler did it" "Well if I don't tell him, I'll tell the United Press," "Why didn't we think of that?" John Dean III said. Martha said "Thank heavens, Columbo, you discovered the cul- "You see," Columbo said shutting his notebook, prit," John Mitchell said. "Now we can all sleep tonight" "I knew this would all be a waste of time. I told Martha Mitchell piped, "wait a minute, Mr. Columbo, them no one in the White House knows anything there's a lot more to this than you think." about the Watergate. Say, that is some rug. Do you "Dammit Martha!" yelled John Mitchell, "Will you mind if I take a picture of it to show the folks keep your big trap shut?" in Los Angeles?" © 1973. Los Angeles Times