VM-201

WS B&W the United States Capitol building, Washington, D.C

Int. the United States Senate Caucus Room (written above doorway) building, interior shots of the room with high ceilings and long banquet tables.

Continuing commentary from McDowell - he talks about how the people of the United States watched this drama on television day after day, and became part of the process - not unlike today! He explains that even though the media began to lose interest in the Watergate break-in, investigative reporters and Judge John Sirica were persistent, wouldn't let it go, thus the drama unfolded...

Live footage of Watergate Committee Chairman, Senator Ervin as Senator Howard Baker (from Tennessee) introduces him to the folk at the hearing to audience applause.

Senator Ervin's home in Morganton, North Carolina.

Cutaway to a collage of B&W photo stills, headshots, of the other Senate members of the Watergate Committee . Z'in to CU's on each photo: Herman Talmadge (GA), Joseph Montoya (NM), Daniel Inouye (HI). (Unseen narrator introduces each Senator on the Committee and explains their positions and where they were from)

Cutaway back to the CU's of photos of the Senate Committee members: Republicans - Howard Baker (TN); Edward Gurney (FL); Lowell Weicker (CT).

Cutaway, B&W photo stills, Samuel Dash, Chief Counsel to the Watergate Committee

B&W photo stills, Fred Thompson, Minority Counsel to the Committee, with Senator Howard H. Baker of Tennessee.

CU the door to the room "1418" of the Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities and hand written note - "Please Knock"

A b&w hand drawn satirical cartoon of dozens of "footprints" leading to the White House and men holding a magnifying glass and notepad. Caption reads: "Strange -- They all seem to have some connection with this place"

Live footage from the Hearings in the unbelievingly, extremely crowded U.S. Senate Caucus room on May 17, 1973 - the first day of the hearings. People, including a multitude of media and photographers, looks like complete chaos, crowd the room. Senators on the Committee are seen seated at long table. With narration (unseen) by Committee investigator, Scott Armstrong, who reflects back on the shock he experienced when he walked into the hearing room and his concern about the public scrutiny that would be given the Committee.

Republican Senator from Tennessee Howard H. Baker, states that the Committee will follow every lead..."unrestrained by any fear of where that lead might take us".

The Committee led by Ervin call their first witness.
Mr. Robert Odell, former Office Manager of the Committee to Re-elct the President - the first witness on the first day, stands with his right arm raised as he is sworn in.

Audience shot, first day of Watergate Hearings, May 17, 1973.

Newspaper clipping: Majority Poll Favor Hearings

Article in the Washington Post written by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein

Former Chief Counsel Samuel Dash speaking with unseen interviewer about how important it was for the public to hear and see the witnesses themselves and then make their own judgments, and to bring the American people into the Democratic process. Hence the importance of Television. He states he felt it worked.

Satirical b&W hand drawn cartoon of folk sitting close to their large TV watching the "Watergate Hearings".

Principal Assistant to Samuel Dash, Terry Lenzner, talks with unseen interviewer about being flooded by mail and telephone calls all day and at night at home. He explains that many people thought they could offer questions and participate in the questioning.

Var footage from the Hearings, including Chairman Ervin banging his gavel and the audience.

Senator Lowell Weicker on the Committee questioning Washington DC Police Officer, Carl M. Shoffler whose beat was the Watergate.

CU McCord's hands holding the inner guts of a telephone. He demonstrates to the Committee how a phone is 'bugged'.

Footage from the Hearing of Majority Counsel Samuel Dash questioning James McCord.

Samuel Dash speaking to unseen interviewer about McCord's testimony and how the exposed letter was the first 'crack in the wall'.

Anthony Ulasewicz, former New York City Policeman, testifies at the Hearing. Narrator unseen tells how Ulasewicz was the 'hustling messenger' and delivered hush money between the burglars and the White House.

WS Chairman Ervin, Lenzner and Dash at the Committee table, mics, and papers scattered in front of them.

Weicker speaking from his office to unseen interviewer (10 years later) about Ulasewicz testimony

CU at the hearing, Samuel Dash, Chief Counsel for the Committee, speaking into mic questioning Magruder.

WS pan the Senate Caucus Hearing Room - the long table with the Committee seated, other tables where people were seated and papers spread out, a flip chart in the right back of room.

CU Senator Baker - he asks Magruder why the Committee to Re-Elect the President had authorized a burglary.

CU Chairman of the Senate Watergate Committee, Sam Ervin, at the Hearing.

CU the conference table covered in green felt table cover in the Senate Caucus Room. Z'in on Host and Journalist John MacDowell seated in back of room. Pan over to Mr. Mitchell's empty seat at the table with a mic his name on a plaque.

B&W photo still, President Richard Nixon and John Mitchell standing in front of a golf cart on a golf course. And photo still of John Mitchell being sworn in as Nixon's Attorney General.

New York Sunday News, Headlines - "Martha Wins" Mitchell Quits Nixon Campaign"

B&W Photo Stills- John Mitchell standing in the midst of police officers - on his way to jail for his part in the Watergate coverup. And Mitchell after serving 19 months in jail walking up the ext. steps to his office building - (he was disbarred and became a business consultant).

CU John Mitchell talking into mics - narrated by one of the Senators, he states Mitchell in his eyes and in the eyes of many of his colleagues, that "here was a valiant solder standing up for his general". Meaning that Mitchell never implicated Nixon.

WS the long table with all of the Committee members, and other folk in the room.

Another WS of the Senate Committee table and others in the room.

Tilt down on the Committee member's long conference table at the hearings, a couple of members at the table are seen and lots of papers scattered.

CU footage Senator Baker. He intensely questions Mitchell's decision and what motivated him - he asks MItchell if the President must have some aura or extreme responsibility that he would be spared the detail and difficulty of criminal activity and be protected.

WS Senator Baker, Senator Ervin and Samuel Dash at the Committee table. Baker is seen speaking into the mic talking to Mitchell (unseen).

CU's Sam Dash and John Mitchell. Footage reveals Dash's intense, but indignant observation about Mitchell and how he purposely lies. He then gives Mitchell a distinct example.

B&W var photo stills, John Dean, Former Counsel to President Nixon, John Mitchell, a group including Henry Kissinger in the White House with President Nixon.

Newspaper article with photo of President Nixon entitled: Dean 'Probably' Lied to FBI in Quiz, Gray Says.

Pan down on a CU cover of Time Magazine with a CU rendering of John Dean's face - article entitled: Dean Talks.

Footage of the Hearing. John Dean's name is called. Dean is seen getting up and raising his right arm to take the oath.

CU Samuel Dash as he speaks with unseen interviewer about John Dean's testimony and Dean's concern that the Republican members of the Committee would report his cooperation back to the White House.. Dash states he suggested meetings at John Dean's house.

WS the Committee conference table, Senator Ervin, Samuel Dash and Terry Senator Howard Baker are seen with papers spread out on the table .

Footage of John W. Dean, III, Former White House Counsel testifying at the witness table at the Watergate Hearings about his own profound role and of his colleagues in the cover up. - And shots of Samuel Dash.

Continued testimony from John Dean - he talks about how the convicted Watergate burglars were demanding money.

CU John Dean's wife sitting stoically in the audience.

Senator Inouye speaking with unseen interviewer about how he doubted at the beginning if anyone of the Committee members believed John Dean.

Senator Howard Baker at the hearing asks the question heard many many times - "what did the President know and when did he know it."

Footage of Committee member, Senator Edward J. Gurney (R-FL), posing questions to John Dean.

CU - Hand holding a legal pad and pen, taking notes.

Fred D. Thompson, Former Minority Counsel, in his office speaking with unseen interviewer about John Dean's testimony

CU footage Dean continued testimony.

Split screen Senator Inouye and John Dean

Tilt down from one end of the conference table, the Committee members are seen at the long table with mics and papers spread out n front of them

John Dean at the witness table and his attorneys and wife.

Dean testifying and pan out from a photo of his face overlay Richard Nixon's on the cover of Newsweek Magazine. Narrator unseen state Dean's testimony changed the course of the hearings and history.