-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 .