Interpreting the Colson Scenario Scenario Colson the Interpreting

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Interpreting the Colson Scenario Scenario Colson the Interpreting -vont Braden ■ ost 974 Interpreting the Colson Scenario A man who experiences a religious advised him to commit the lesser = onversion tells the truth. We all know crime—that of putting out derogatory hat. But what if the man is only fak- information about Daniel Ellsberg. - rig a religious conversion? "Is it possible that Colson—a bright and knowl- Thus he implicates the President, but gently. Mr. Nixon will not be im- Or what if he's crazy? peached for putting out derogatory in- I raise these questions because reli- edgeable and disciplined man—is making one formation. What senator or representa- ious convert Charles Colson has now tive hasn't done the same? ,ome forward with the following of the great sacrifice plays of history?" And finally, the religious.convert, his negations: believability now buttressed by having (1) That the Central Intelligence made a charge against the President, gency carried out an espionage confesses that the really serious "', rogram on the White House "in order If the Howard Hughes organization also looked into the charges. They 'Watergate were committed not by the a get what they wanted from the Pres- was indeed a "cover" for CIA, and CIA didn't think thin worth airing in pub- President but by the CIA. lic session. _ lent of the United States." wanted to know how much O'Brien Moreover, he testifies, the President knew of the relationship, why not ask (2) That the agency helped carry out But the fact that a religious convert wanted to investigate these serious ae .Ellsberg burglary and that of the the Hughes organization? is putting out this stuff will make it crimes and bring the criminals to -jus- credible to some. Others may ask lemocratic National Committee, and The whole thing is so preposterous tice, but his "better nature" prevailed. iat the reason for the latter break-in whether the Colson conversion is real. He insisted on protecting his country's that to argue it is to make nonsense intelligence services. 'as to try to find out how much Demo- seem credible. Is it possible that Colson—a bright 'ate National Committee chairman and knowledgeable and disciplined So what was the President to do, ,airy O'Brien knew about a CIA con- Reporters from the major newspapers man—is making one of the great sacri- poor, innocent, advantaged man? ection with Howard Hughes. have gone ov6r the Colson line since fice plays of history? Consider this This story finished, Colson goes to The first of these allegations is im- he first spouted it to Sen. Howard scenario: Baker (R-Tenn.) last summer. They jail for a year. 13ut his superior goes ossible to believe; the second is He experiences a religious conver- free. terely very difficult to believe. found nothing in it. sion which gives him credibility. Then What would—or could—the CIA A Senate committee has questioned he pleads guilty to a crime with which A preposterous scenario? Not more cant from the President? And what former CIA director Richard Helms he was never charged, avoiding larger so, I think, than the one Colson is try- ould a low-level agent (E. Howard and giver. him a clean bill. The Senate and more susbtantive accusations. ing to sell. 'possibly find out?' Watergati committee investigators H then confesses that the President al 1974, Los Angeles Times .
Recommended publications
  • John Mccone and the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy
    C061B5413 Approved for Release: 2014/09/29 C06185413 •' •' , S&GRIH'!JNOFORN Death of a President (U) DCI John McCone and the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy David Robarge (U) In recognition ofthe .50th anniversary ofthe assassination ofPresident John F. Kennedy on 22 November 1963, Studies in Intelligence reprints the below, which originally appeared as a chajJter in ChiefHistorian Da\tld Robarge:S bookJohn McCone as Director ofCentral Intelligence, 1961-1?65, published by the Center for the Study ofIntelligence in 200.5. (U) Misconceptions abound regarding CIA~ connection to the assas· sination and its role in subsequent investigations, contributing to the foct that, according to a recent polltalrm by the History Chan· (U) Walter Elder dashed nel, 71 percent ofthe American public still believes that Kennedy's in and cried'' out, 'The del:lth reniltedfrom a conspiracy. president's been shot/' ·(U) Robarge tells a very different story about Cl.A!! immediDte response to the assassination, ils interaction wilh the FBI and War­ ren Commission, the surprise appearance ofKGB defector Htri Nosenko with troubling information about Lee Harvey Oswald, and DC/ McCone's involvement with later inquiries about Kennedy's '' murder. Nothing in tlie numerous books and articles about the ass~sination that have appeared since the publication ofMcCone has materially changed any ofRobarge~ conclusions. (S) Jolut McCone and Lyman K.irk7 leaving, over hu1th, wanted to talk patrick, the Agency's Executive about the PFIAB meeting with his Director-Comptroller, met with Presi· senior deputies. They were eating in dent's Foreign Intelligence Advisory the French Room, a smaJI space next Boanl (PFIAB) through the morning .to the director•s office, when of22 November 1963.
    [Show full text]
  • Charles W. Colson Oral History Finding Aid Page 2 of 3
    Part of the Richard Nixon Oral History Project Oral History Interviews with CHARLES W. COLSON Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum National Archives and Records Administration Interviews by Timothy J. Naftali Contact Information: The Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum ATTN: Archives 18001 Yorba Linda Boulevard Yorba Linda, California 92886 (714) 983-9120 FAX: (714) 983-9111 [email protected] http://www.nixonlibrary.gov Charles W. Colson Oral History Finding Aid Page 2 of 3 Descriptive Summary First Interview Interviewee: Charles W. Colson Interviewer(s): Timothy J. Naftali Date of Interview: 17 August 2007 Location of Interview: Naples, FL Length: 150 min. Second Interview Interviewee: Charles W. Colson Interviewer(s): Timothy J. Naftali Date of Interview: 24 September 2008 Location of Interview: Naples, FL Length: 108 min. Administrative Notes About the Richard Nixon Oral History Project The Richard Nixon Oral History Project was created in November 2006 at the initiative of Timothy Naftali, weeks after he had begun his tenure as director of what was then the Nixon Presidential Materials Staff at the National Archives and Records Administration. (The Nixon Presidential Materials Staff became the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum on July 11, 2007, with the incorporation of certain facilities in Yorba Linda, California, that formerly had been operated by the private Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace.) The project was intended to preserve the memories and reflections of former Nixon officials and others who had been prominent in the Nixon era by conducting videotaped interviews. Starting in February 2007, Paul Musgrave, Special Assistant to the Director, coordinated the project, which was housed in the Office of the Director.
    [Show full text]
  • A List of the Records That Petitioners Seek Is Attached to the Petition, Filed Concurrently Herewith
    UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IN RE PETITION OF STANLEY KUTLER, ) AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, ) AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR LEGAL HISTORY, ) Miscellaneous Action No. ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN HISTORIANS, ) and SOCIETY OF AMERICAN ARCHIVISTS. ) ) MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF PETITION FOR ORDER DIRECTING RELEASE OF TRANSCRIPT OF RICHARD M. NIXON’S GRAND JURY TESTIMONY OF JUNE 23-24, 1975, AND ASSOCIATED MATERIALS OF THE WATERGATE SPECIAL PROSECUTION FORCE Professor Stanley Kutler, the American Historical Association, the American Society for Legal History, the Organization of American Historians, and the Society of American Archivists petition this Court for an order directing the release of President Richard M. Nixon’s thirty-five-year- old grand jury testimony and associated materials of the Watergate Special Prosecution Force.1 On June 23-24, 1975, President Nixon testified before two members of a federal grand jury who had traveled from Washington, DC, to San Clemente, California. The testimony was then presented in Washington, DC, to the full grand jury that had been convened to investigate political espionage, illegal campaign contributions, and other wrongdoing falling under the umbrella term Watergate. Watergate was the defining event of Richard Nixon’s presidency. In the early 1970s, as the Vietnam War raged and the civil rights movement in the United States continued its momentum, the Watergate scandal ignited a crisis of confidence in government leadership and a constitutional crisis that tested the limits of executive power and the mettle of the democratic process. “Watergate” was 1A list of the records that petitioners seek is attached to the Petition, filed concurrently herewith.
    [Show full text]
  • Serving a New Masterâ•Flan Examination of Chuck Colsonâ•Žs
    Intermountain West Journal of Religious Studies Volume 6 Number 1 Spring 2015 Article 6 2015 Serving a New Master—An Examination of Chuck Colson’s Legacy with Regards to Prison Reform Preston Lim Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/imwjournal Recommended Citation Lim, Preston "Serving a New Master—An Examination of Chuck Colson’s Legacy with Regards to Prison Reform." Intermountain West Journal of Religious Studies 6, no. 1 (2015). https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/imwjournal/vol6/iss1/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Intermountain West Journal of Religious Studies by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 97 IMW Journal of Religious Studies Vol. 6:1 Preston Lim is currently a sophomore at Princeton University, pursuing a Major in History and a Certificate in Near Eastern Studies. His major research interests are Turkish and Ottoman History and Politics. On campus, Preston is involved with Model United Nations and on-campus Christian groups, and as a cellist with the Princeton University Orchestra. Preston Lim: Serving A New Master—An Examination of Chuck Colson’s Legacy 98 ‡ Serving a New Master—An Examination of Chuck Colson’s Legacy with Regards to Prison Reform1 ‡ “I have committed my life to Jesus Christ and I can work for Him in prison as well as out.”2 These were the last words spoken by Chuck Colson as he left the District Court on the 21st of July 1974— words indicative of the profound transformation that he had only recently undergone.
    [Show full text]
  • Character/Person Role/Job the PRESIDENT and ALL of HIS MEN
    Actor Character/Person Role/Job THE PRESIDENT AND ALL OF HIS MEN Richard Nixon 37th US President 39th VP under Nixon until 1973; resigned amid charges of extortion, tax fraud, bribery & Spiro Agnew conspiracy (replaced by Gerald Ford, who was the House Minority Leader) VP replacing Agnew, later became 38th US Gerald Ford President Special counsel to Nixon; set up the Charles Colson "plumbers" unit to investigate info leaks from White House Nixon's domestic policy adviser; directed the John Ehrlichman "plumbers" unit H.R. “Bob” Haldeman Nixon’s chief of staff Haldeman's right-hand man; was the deputy Jeb Stuart Magruder director of Nixon's re-election campaign when the break-in occurred at his urging Nixon’s 1972 midwest campaign manager; Kenneth Dahlberg his check for $25k to Maurice Stans wound up in bank acct of a Watergate burglar Attorney General; then quit AG to be John Randolph John Mitchell chairman of CREEP; linked to a slush fund that funded the burglary Replaced Mitchell as chairman of CREEP Clark MacGregor (July to Nov 1972) Became Attorney General in 1972 (5 days before Watergate break-in) when Mitchell Richard Kleindienst resigned as AG to go work for CREEP; resigned in 1973 Former CIA agent and mastermind of the break-in; Member of the White House E. Howard Hunt "plumbers"; his phone # was found on a WG burglar, linking break-in to WH Former FBI agent who helped plan the break- G. Gordon Liddy in at DNC offices; spent over 4 years in prison; now an actor, author & talk-show host Commerce secretary & later the finance chairman for CREEP; raised nearly $60 Maurice Stans million for Nixon's re-election; insisted that he had no knowledge how some of the money he raised wound up in the cover-up.
    [Show full text]
  • Was the CIA Involved in the Assassination of President Kennedy Or the Cover up Conspiracy?
    Was the CIA Involved in the Assassination of President Kennedy or the Cover Up Conspiracy? Introduction: For more than ten years there has been much speculation about whether the Central Intelligence Agency played a role in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. With the Watergate revelations, the testimony of such well known CIA types as Richard Helms, E. Howard Hunt, and James McCord, and with many questions about the CIA's role in the Watergate episode still unanswered, it seems pertinent to once again raise the questions in the title. Was the CIA involved in some way in the conspiracy to assassinate John Kennedy, and was the agency involved in the second conspiracy to cover up the first? Various assassination researchers and writers have, through the ten years, shown substantial evidence that CIA front organizations and former CIA agents were involved in the first conspiracy and that the CIA itself was deeply involved in the cover up conspiracy. (1)(2)(3)(4) Recent revelations and.new evidence has appeared that make the questions worth further exploration. 2 E. Howard Hunt and Mexico City: The most recent revelations concern that compulsive spy, Everette Howard Hunt. Tad Szulc (5) has informed us that Hunt was CIA acting station chief in Mexico City during August and September, 1963. Because of a hole in the known whereabouts of Hunt, as documented by Szulc, we can draw the conclusion that he was still acting station chief in October and November 1963. To the uninitiated this may seem disconnected from the JFK assassina- tion. However, to the researchers who have had access to the statements made by CIA agents Harry Dean, Richard Case Nagell and to FBI reports about CIA agents Ronald Augustinovich and Mary Hope, Hunt's position in Mexico City is very significant.
    [Show full text]
  • FBI's Lead Watergate Investigators Speak Together Publicly
    FBI’s Lead Watergate Investigators Speak Together Publicly — For The First Time ! This panel will bring together publicly for the first time the FBI's lead The panel includes: investigators of the Watergate Scandal. • Angelo Lano—Agent assigned the Through memories and anecdotes, these Watergate case, considered the Bureau’s panelists will create a narrative of the most thorough source of Watergate information. To a person, every person Bureau's work that weaves the initial committed to this panel says Watergate burglary to the halls of the Nixon White would not have been successful without House and ultimately the Oval Office. Lano’s leadership. Popular culture and the media have • John Mindermann—Agent who long focused on the role of the Washington developed sources in CREEP, including Post's Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein in Judy Hoback, a key informant who breaking Watergate leads to the public. If helped shift the Bureau’s investigation the media looks at the FBI's involvement from the burglars to Nixon’s into Watergate, they often center upon administration. In 1973, he occupied former FBI Assistant Director Mark Felt, the Nixon White House to secure popularly known as "Deep Throat." This Watergate evidence under orders of the Attorney General. panel will illuminate the Bureau's role in the • Paul Magallanes—Agent who Watergate investigation and attribute the interviewed Watergate burglars in success of the Watergate investigation to a Spanish in the DC jail mere hours after handful of special agents who worked, the Watergate break-in. He developed against incredible odds and amidst sources in CREEP, including Hoback.
    [Show full text]
  • Will Revolvtio N 'Spoil Groucho • Why Was Martha Mitchell Kid Napped?
    August, 1972 No. 93 •WILL REVOLVTIO N WHY WAS 'SPOIL MARTHA MITCHELL GROUCHO KID NAPPED? • by Paul Krassner by Mae Brussell , What follows was originally read on Sunday night, the 4th of My research on political assassinations, election manipula- July, last year while I was anchor man at KSF,Y in San Francisco tions and clandestine governments is not political. Democrats for the broadcasting of the final Fillmore concert; it was heard as well as Republicans contribute to murdering and concealing ,simultaneously on Steve Post's show over WBAI in New York. their crimes. (Continued on Page 2) (Continued on Page 27) Well, fm "an alleged comedian" too. Kill Nixon! Editorial Giggy Trips In fact, rm officially an alleged comedian. At the Chicago Conspiracy Trial, Prosecutor Thomas Foran said in his sum- mation to the jury: "Are we going to be conned into believing that . you are only a good guy if you think Paul Krassner is This Is Another Pre-Anniversary Issue funny?" •A patient subscriber has compiled an embarrassing list of my Presumably, I won't be prosecuted for breaking a law which is broken editorial promises over the past four years: based on the assumption that people can't be trusted to make their •"The -10th Anniversary Issue of The Realist will be out in June own decisions. [1968]." • That's why Richard Nixon had to tell us that Charles Manson "This was supposed to be the 10th Anniversary Issue, but that's was guilty — so we wouldn't notice that they're actually the same been postponed .
    [Show full text]
  • Contents (Click on Index Item to Locate)
    Contents (Click on index item to locate) Subject Page Foreword iii Introductory Note xi Statement of Information 1 Statement of Information and Supporting Evidence 69 As-- ~~ on y 35 780 0 STATEMENT O19 INFORMATION H E A R I N G S BEFORE THE COMMITTEE OWN THE JUDICIARY HOI:TSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-THIRD CONGRESS SECOND SESSION PIJR61JANT TO H. Res. 803 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER SUFFICIENT GROUNDS EXIST FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO EXERCISE ITS CONSTITUTIONAL POWER TO IMPEACH RICHARD M. NIXON PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BOOK II EVENTS FOLLOWING THE WATERGATE BREAK-IN June 17,1972-February 9,1973 MAY—JUNE 1974 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1974 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Price $6.10. COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY PETER W. RODINO, JO., New Jersey, Chairman HAROLD D. DONOHUE, Massachusetts EDWARD HUTCHINSON, Michigan JACK BROOKS, Texas ROBERT MCeLORY, Illinois ROBERT W. KASTENMEIER, Wisconsin HENRY P. SMITH III, New York DON EDWARDS, California CHARLES W. SANDMAN, Jo., New Jersey WILLIAM L. HUNGATE, Missouri ~~A. JOHN CONFERS, JR., Michigan JOSHUA EILBERG, Pennsylvania JEROME R. WALDIE, California WALTER FLOWERS, Alabama JAMES R. MANN, South Carolina PAUL S. SARBANES, Maryland JOHN F. SEIBERLING, Ohio GEORGE E. DANIELSON, California ROBERT F. DRINAN, Massaehusetts CHARLES B. RANGEL, New York BARBARA JORDAN, Texas RAY THORNTON, Arkansas ELIZABETH HOLTZMAN, New York WAYNE OWENS, Utah EDWARD MEZVINSRY, Iowa TOM RAILS BACK, Illinois CHARLES E. WIGGINS, California DAVID W. DENNIS, Indiana HAMILTON FISH, JH., New York WILEY MAYNE, Iowa LAWRENCE J.
    [Show full text]
  • Col Lson Confesion on Chappaquiddick Jack Andersen HE WHITE HOUSE Financed a Trip Ous, Ill-Fitting Red Wig on This Secret Mis- T to New England by Waterbugger E
    JUN 1 8 1973 Sfehronicle ■■ ••• tOK 711•1•••• Col lson Confesion On Chappaquiddick Jack Andersen HE WHITE HOUSE financed a trip ous, ill-fitting red wig on this secret mis- T to New England by waterbugger E. sion. Howard Hunt to investigate Senator Ed- Colson conceded that he had worked, ward Kennedy's role in the Chappaquid- too, on an advertisement supporting Pres- dick tragedy, 4ccording to Charles Colson, ident Nixon's decision to bomb and mine who ordered thp mission. Haiphong harbor. The ad was signed by The former White House aide con- private citizens but paid out of campaign . fessed h's pail in the snooping operation funds. during a secret deposition taken May 28 In his deposition, • Colson also spoke by lawyers for the Democratic National fully for the first time of his mysterious Committee. "attack group," which worked out of the Colson told I under oath how Hunt came White House in 1972. Its job, he said, was to him in Ju1y1, 1971, with a tip that a po- to coordinate policy for surrogate candi- liceman, identilfied only as "Demott," had dates who were carrying the political at- confidential information on the case. tack to the Democrats. Because Kennedy was a potential pres- * * * idential contender, the White House was OLSON vigorously denied he had ad- . eager to learn! more about the 1969 drown- C vance knowledge of the Watergate ing of Mary Jo Kopechne during a drive break-in. The most he did, he said, was with Kennedy. phone campaign deputy Jeb Magruder to * 1 * * arrange for the Wate'rgate ringleaders, Howard Hunt and Gordon Liddy, to ex- OLSON insltructed Hunt to interview plain their intelligence plans.
    [Show full text]
  • January 21-31, 1969
    RICHARD NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY DOCUMENT WITHDRAWAL RECORD DOCUMENT DOCUMENT SUBJECT/TITLE OR CORRESPONDENTS DATE RESTRICTION NUMBER TYPE 1 List Luncheon on January 28, 1969 1/28/1969 D OPEN 6/2013 COLLECTION TITLE BOX NUMBER WHCF: SMOF: Office of Presidential Papers and Archives RC-2 FOLDER TITLE President Richard Nixon’s Daily Diary January 21, 1969 – January 31, 1969 PRMPA RESTRICTION CODES: A. Release would violate a Federal statute or Agency Policy. E. Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or B. National security classified information. financial information. C. Pending or approved claim that release would violate an individual’s F. Release would disclose investigatory information compiled for law rights. enforcement purposes. D. Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy G. Withdrawn and return private and personal material. or a libel of a living person. H. Withdrawn and returned non-historical material. DEED OF GIFT RESTRICTION CODES: D-DOG Personal privacy under deed of gift -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION *U.S. GPO; 1989-235-084/00024 NA 14021 (4-85) THE WHITE HOUSE I PRESIDENT RICHA~D NIXON'S DAILY DIARY -,j (Sec Travel Record for Travel Activity) PLACE DAY BEGAN WASHINGTON, D. C. PHONE TIME P=Placed Tuesday R=Received ACTIVITY In Out Lo LD 12:12 The President left the Inaugural Ball at the Washington Hilton Hotel. 12:16 12:38 The President attended the Inaugural Ball at the Mayflower Hotel. 12:40 1:20 The President attended the Inaugural Ball at the Statler Hilton Hotel. The President arrived at the White House. The President went to the Mansion.
    [Show full text]
  • Special Prosecutor (5)” of the Philip Buchen Files at the Gerald R
    The original documents are located in Box 61, folder “Special Prosecutor (5)” of the Philip Buchen Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Copyright Notice The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. r Digitized from Box 61 of the Philip Buchen Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library .,,- .. OFFICE OE THE DEPUTY ATIORNEY GENERAL Returned without review by Deputy Attorney General. - THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON Sept. 19, 1974 To: Mr. Silberman From: Phil Areeda We have the original. This is the only copy. And perhaps it should not be copied further. We have not sent any copy to Miller and probably should not until we all have a chance to talk. LAW OFFICES tLLJi;H, CASSIDY, LARROCA 8c LEwn "'--" 1,20 19TH STREET. N.W. • SIJITE ?100 WASHINGTON. D. C. 2.0035 - AREA CODE 202 Till.IEPHONI!; 2a3.e400 UUIERT .J. Ml\.1.ER, .JR. .JOSEPH &. MCCARTHY :lli"I JOSEPH CASSIDY COURTNEY A. £v1'.N5 "YMONO G. LARROCA 01' COUNSEi.
    [Show full text]