This reel is part of one of our Specialty Collections. Online viewing or downloads of low-res versions for offline viewing will be available for only more day, though. Online viewing or downloads of low-res versions for offline viewing has now expired, though, and cannot be viewed online. "Pro" account holders can download a low-res version without audio for offline viewing.
Sign up for a "Pro" account to download this footage.
This reel is currently not available for online viewing.
Sorry, this video is temporarily unavailable for online viewing or download. Please try again later.
Restricted Material
Access to this reel with audio is restricted. It will be available for only more day.
Access to this reel with audio has expired.
00:01:41 0 |
Reel opens. Summer of Judgment 1973
|
00:01:41 0 |
WS B&W the United States Capitol building, Washington, D.C
|
00:01:41 0.23 |
Capitol Building three overlays from the Watergate Hearings - Senator Sam Ervin, Chairman of the Senate Watergate Committee; John Dean, White House Counsel to President Nixon, and Senator Howard Baker, Jr. (the ranking minority member of the Committee).
|
00:01:56 15.41 |
Int. the United States Senate Caucus Room (written above doorway) building, interior shots of the room with high ceilings and long banquet tables.
|
00:02:07 26.21 |
Journalist and Host, Charles McDowell standing in the U.S. Senate Caucus room talking into the camera, introduces the topic of this film - The Watergate Hearings in 1973. He summarizes what led up to the hearings (10 years ago) - the burglary of the Democrat campaign headquarters by people in the White House, the cover-up and conspiracy by the White House to obstruct justice and place the President above the law, and President Nixon's ultimate resignation when the truth was told.
|
00:03:24 102.48 |
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...
|
00:04:45 184.39 |
CU color photo still Senator from North Carolina, Sam Ervin, Chairman of the Senate Watergate Committee. Pan out slowly from photo revealing Ervin on the cover of Time Magazine. McDowell, unseen, explains how Ervin was a conservative Democrat and former judge. His fellow Senators felt he was a non partisan authority on the Constitution and the Bible and best suited for the job.
|
00:05:02 201.02 |
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.
|
00:05:26 224.67 |
Pan audience at the Watergate Hearings 1973. B&W
|
00:05:49 247.68 |
Senator Ervin's home in Morganton, North Carolina.
|
00:05:55 254.13 |
Journalist Charles McDowell sitting casually on the porch with Senator Ervin. They discuss how he (Ervin) became to be chosen to become the Chairman of the Watergate Committee Hearings. They talked about what was expected to be discovered at the hearings, how Ervin didn't expect Nixon to be involved, but that he became suspicious after Nixon publicly stated that he would not permit (by Executive Privilege) any of his Aides to testify before the Committee
|
00:07:59 378.07 |
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)
|
00:08:20 398.42 |
Cutaway to interview with Senator Daniel Inouye from Hawaii. He explains to unseen interviewer that their jobs were not to determine guilt or innocence, that they were not prosecutors.
|
00:08:35 413.68 |
Cutaway back to the CU's of photos of the Senate Committee members: Republicans - Howard Baker (TN); Edward Gurney (FL); Lowell Weicker (CT).
|
00:08:58 436.53 |
Interview with Senator Weicker. Sitting at his desk he explains to unseen interviewer about the tough questions he imposed at the hearings and that he was not a Nixon "hater" and that it took a lot of learning over several months to find out there were problems as far as the Presidency was concerned.
|
00:09:20 458.58 |
Cutaway, B&W photo stills, Samuel Dash, Chief Counsel to the Watergate Committee
|
00:09:26 464.64 |
Dash speaking with unseen interviewer, reflects on what the Committee knew as it began its investigation in March and April 1973.
|
00:09:49 488.03 |
B&W photo stills, Fred Thompson, Minority Counsel to the Committee, with Senator Howard H. Baker of Tennessee.
|
00:09:57 495.48 |
Fred Thompson, sitting at his desk, reflecting back that at the beginning he felt the hearings would reveal who and what was involved and that at that time there was no reason to believe Nixon or his senior staff were involved.
|
00:10:25 523.67 |
CU the door to the room "1418" of the Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities and hand written note - "Please Knock"
|
00:10:29 527.71 |
Collage of b&w photo stills of some of the witnesses at the hearings. Photos are superimposed on rolled brown paper.
|
00:10:32 531.39 |
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"
|
00:10:42 540.88 |
Back with Fred Thompson who talks with unseen interviewer regarding the dispute that developed on the order of the witnesses to be put on the stand.
|
00:11:35 594.3 |
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.
|
00:12:29 647.85 |
May 17, 1973 Day 1 of the Watergate Committee Hearings: Senator Ervin speaking into mics reads the aim of the Committee from his notes. Committee.
WSsof the table with all the Senators as he speaks. |
00:12:41 659.92 |
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".
|
00:12:56 674.49 |
Var shots, the Committee in the extremely crowded Senate Caucus Room.
|
00:13:17 696.3 |
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. |
00:13:25 704 |
Live footage Robert Odell seated, speaks into the mic and makes his first statement.
|
00:13:39 717.96 |
Audience shot, first day of Watergate Hearings, May 17, 1973.
|
00:13:42 720.57 |
Newspaper article entitled, "TV Lights, Invitations, Kisses and Phone Calls"
|
00:13:49 727.45 |
Newspaper clipping: Majority Poll Favor Hearings
|
00:14:00 739.32 |
Clips of the network TV coverage of the Hearings. Narrator (unseen) explains how after the first week of the Hearings, the networks began taking turns with live coverage and then rebroadcast in prime time. Quick clips of the var news reporters on TV.
|
00:14:14 752.63 |
Article in the Washington Post written by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein
|
00:14:19 757.9 |
Footage in the Caucus room - man with TV camera and other photographers are seen amidst the folk in the crowded room, the Senators at their table
|
00:14:37 776.15 |
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.
|
00:15:02 801.13 |
B&W WSs of the Senate Caucus Room POV the back of the room, photographer standing on line outside taking photos
|
00:15:14 812.56 |
Satirical b&W hand drawn cartoon of folk sitting close to their large TV watching the "Watergate Hearings".
|
00:15:23 822.22 |
Quick shots of the var witnesses and participants testifying including John Dean
|
00:15:33 832.41 |
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.
|
00:15:50 848.9 |
WS Lenzner and unknown interviewer (back to camera) sitting at long conference table.
|
00:16:20 879.31 |
Var footage from the Hearings, including Chairman Ervin banging his gavel and the audience.
|
00:16:35 894.17 |
WS of the empty Senate Caucus room except for Host Journalist McDowell. McDowell talks into camera about the various early witnesses and how they gradually constructed the real story and revealed the White House's involvement.
|
00:17:07 926.04 |
Senator Lowell Weicker on the Committee questioning Washington DC Police Officer, Carl M. Shoffler whose beat was the Watergate.
|
00:17:25 943.58 |
Footage of one of the Watergate burglars, James McCord, known as a good "wireman", testifying at the Hearing. He is seen at a table with mics, a telephone and large terminal. Audience seen in bkgd.
|
00:17:28 946.99 |
CU McCord's hands holding the inner guts of a telephone. He demonstrates to the Committee how a phone is 'bugged'.
|
00:18:13 991.61 |
Samuel Dash discusses McCord's testimony with unseen interviewer .
|
00:18:55 1034.1 |
Footage from the Hearing of Majority Counsel Samuel Dash questioning James McCord.
|
00:19:18 1056.51 |
Newspaper headlines read: McCord Tells Judge Some Watergate Witnesses Lied. With narration by unseen McDowell about how McCord wrote to Judge Sirica revealing the political pressure he received from the White House to remain silent. Sirica made the letter public.
|
00:19:29 1068.08 |
Samuel Dash speaking to unseen interviewer about McCord's testimony and how the exposed letter was the first 'crack in the wall'.
|
00:19:46 1084.8 |
Continued footage of James McCord, Jr., Former Security Director Nixon Re-Election Committee speaking into mics at the Hearing, He states how he was instructed through the White House, "to remain silent, take executive clemency by going off to prison quietly, and was told that while there I would receive financial aid and later rehabilitation..."
|
00:21:03 1162.32 |
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.
|
00:21:19 1178.3 |
Terry F. Lenzner questioning Ulasewicz for the details. Ulasewicz brings some levity to the hearing - audience and Committee members laugh at some of his testimony and the manner in which he portrays his actions.
|
00:22:06 1224.93 |
WS Chairman Ervin, Lenzner and Dash at the Committee table, mics, and papers scattered in front of them.
|
00:22:10 1228.6 |
Senator Lowell Weicker, Jr., R-Connecticut, speaking into mics to Ulasewicz about his testimony and reminds him of the seriousness of his actions and that Gordon Liddy, E. Howard Hunt and the others involved are now in prison,
|
00:23:26 1305.39 |
Weicker speaking from his office to unseen interviewer (10 years later) about Ulasewicz testimony
|
00:24:02 1340.91 |
Jeb Stuart Magruder, Former Deputy Director Committee to Re-elect the President testifies at the hearing. Samuel Dash questions him about his meetings with John Mitchell, Former U.S. Attorney General.
Unseen narrator summarizes Magruder's testimony that John Mitchell, Former U.S. Attorney General had personally authorized the break-in and that Gordon Liddy, Counsel for the Re-Election Committee, authored the plan. |
00:24:32 1370.88 |
CU at the hearing, Samuel Dash, Chief Counsel for the Committee, speaking into mic questioning Magruder.
|
00:25:41 1439.54 |
Magruder continues testifying and answers questions posed to him by Dash about the approvals by John Mitchell for "the project" - entry into the Democratic National Committee headquarters in D.C. and later an entry into the Presidential Contender's headquarter as well as entry at the Fountainbleu.
|
00:26:05 1464.16 |
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.
|
00:26:10 1469.3 |
Magruder testifies that the plan included electronic surveilance and photography of documents
|
00:26:16 1474.88 |
CU Senator Baker - he asks Magruder why the Committee to Re-Elect the President had authorized a burglary.
|
00:26:44 1502.8 |
WS the Watergate Committee members seated in the Senate Caucus Room.
|
00:27:19 1537.88 |
CU Chairman of the Senate Watergate Committee, Sam Ervin, at the Hearing.
|
00:27:26 1544.71 |
Continued testimony from Jeb Stuart Magruder, he sums up by accepting responsibility for the decision he made.
|
00:28:25 1604.12 |
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.
|
00:28:50 1628.57 |
B&W photo still John Mitchell, U.S. Attorney General under Richard Nixon, pan across photo reveals President Nixon sitting next to Mitchell at a conference table.
|
00:28:58 1636.5 |
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.
|
00:29:09 1647.61 |
Various other B&W photo stills of Mitchell alone and with Nixon, and a photo of Mrs. Mitchell. With narration unseen, about Mitchell's involvement and in his very own office at the Justice Department where G. Gordon Liddy proposed the break-in and wire taps.
|
00:29:45 1683.51 |
New York Sunday News, Headlines - "Martha Wins" Mitchell Quits Nixon Campaign"
|
00:29:50 1688.84 |
B&W Photo Still - The United States Court House Pearl Street Entrance, Mitchell leaving the building.
|
00:30:04 1703.05 |
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).
|
00:30:15 1713.44 |
Shot from behind, Committee members leaving the Caucus Room.
|
00:30:21 1720.23 |
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.
|
00:30:24 1722.57 |
Shot of Committee members, seated next to each other - Fred Thompson, Minority Counsel and Senator Fred Baker casually smoking a pipe.
|
00:30:32 1730.54 |
WS the long table with all of the Committee members, and other folk in the room.
|
00:30:39 1738.26 |
CU Senator Edward J. Gurney (Republican Florida) asks Mitchell point blank when he thinks President Nixon found out about Watergate and the coverup.
Mitchell, unseen, answers he had no idea at all. |
00:30:52 1751.32 |
Another WS of the Senate Committee table and others in the room.
|
00:31:27 1785.7 |
CU Chairman Senator John Ervin speaking into mics to the former Attorney General, John N. Mitchell about his decision to keep silent. Mitchell responds to Ervin about keeping things break-from Nixon and also the American people as it might have affected the votes of the American people thus the outcome of the election.
|
00:33:17 1895.64 |
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.
|
00:33:23 1902.14 |
Footage of Senator Lowell Weicker persistently pressuring John Mitchell, that as the actual Campaign Director and not an assistant or lower level employee, how could he have accepted the extremely elaborate illegal plan from Gordon Liddy. Mitchell is seen listening to Weicker, bows his head a few times and ultimately admits he made a grievous error.
|
00:35:40 2039.04 |
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.
|
00:36:29 2087.6 |
CU John Mitchell answers Baker's questions. He states he believed the President should not have been involved in these matters that affected his election and he should have been protected from the knowledge of them.
|
00:38:27 2206.36 |
WS Senator Baker, Senator Ervin and Samuel Dash at the Committee table. Baker is seen speaking into the mic talking to Mitchell (unseen).
|
00:38:49 2227.59 |
Fred D. Thompson, Former Minority Counsel, speaking from his office to unseen interviewer about John Mitchell and Senator Baker's relationship as friends and colleagues.
|
00:39:07 2245.45 |
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.
|
00:40:04 2303.06 |
Back with Journalist MacDowell in the empty Senate Caucus room. He describes the next witness, John Dean and the impact his testimony made.
|
00:40:28 2326.43 |
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.
|
00:40:55 2353.94 |
B&W photo stills, five head shots or mug shots of var characters relative to the Watergate break-in.
|
00:41:03 2362.15 |
Newspaper article with photo of President Nixon entitled: Dean 'Probably' Lied to FBI in Quiz, Gray Says.
|
00:41:13 2371.43 |
Daily News front page entitled: 4 Top Nixon Aides Out - Kleindienst, Haldeman, Dean and Ehrlishman 'Resign' and head shots of all four.
|
00:41:19 2378.1 |
Pan down on a CU cover of Time Magazine with a CU rendering of John Dean's face - article entitled: Dean Talks.
|
00:41:22 2381.27 |
More B&W photo stills of John Dean - with narration (unseen) stating Dean got a light prison term of 4 months in jail for obstruction of justice, he was disbarred and lives in California with his wife and is a freelance writer and radio producer.
|
00:41:40 2399.24 |
Footage of the Hearing. John Dean's name is called. Dean is seen getting up and raising his right arm to take the oath.
|
00:41:56 2414.62 |
Tilt down from head of long Committee conference table - members are seated with mics and papers in front of them.
|
00:42:09 2427.7 |
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.
|
00:42:48 2466.83 |
Footage of Samuel Dash at the Hearing at Committee Conference table with Lenzner and Ervin.
|
00:42:52 2470.59 |
WS the Committee conference table, Senator Ervin, Samuel Dash and Terry Senator Howard Baker are seen with papers spread out on the table .
|
00:42:59 2477.93 |
CU John Dean's serious face - at the hearing
|
00:43:19 2498.13 |
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.
|
00:44:40 2579.32 |
WS the crowded Caucus room, folk seated at tables, committee members, and audience.
|
00:45:36 2634.79 |
Continued testimony from John Dean - he talks about how the convicted Watergate burglars were demanding money.
|
00:46:02 2660.62 |
WS Dean at witness table speaking into mics, his wife is seen seated behind him.
|
00:48:14 2792.76 |
CU John Dean's wife sitting stoically in the audience.
|
00:49:16 2855.27 |
Fred Thompson, Former Minority Counsel in his office with large window overlooking another office building, speaking to unseen interviewer about how he felt about John Dean's testimony.
|
00:49:50 2888.84 |
Senator Inouye speaking with unseen interviewer about how he doubted at the beginning if anyone of the Committee members believed John Dean.
|
00:49:57 2895.7 |
WS the Committee at the conference table and other folk at tables in the fgd. including the Witness table.
|
00:50:04 2902.8 |
Senator Howard Baker at the hearing asks the question heard many many times - "what did the President know and when did he know it."
|
00:50:26 2924.61 |
Dean at the witness table speaking into mics, his wife seated behind him.
|
00:50:39 2937.49 |
Footage of Committee member, Senator Edward J. Gurney (R-FL), posing questions to John Dean.
|
00:50:56 2954.49 |
John Dean's attorneys at the hearing - Robert McCandless smoking a cigarette and Charles Shaffer seated next to him.
|
00:51:08 2967.13 |
CU - Hand holding a legal pad and pen, taking notes.
|
00:51:12 2971.32 |
Shot of John Dean at witness table with the audience behind him - including his lawyers, McCandless and Shaffer, and Mrs Dean.
|
00:51:30 2988.7 |
Fred D. Thompson, Former Minority Counsel, in his office speaking with unseen interviewer about John Dean's testimony
|
00:51:42 3001.09 |
CU Samuel Dash speaking with unseen interviewer about his feelings that Dean's testimony only proved he was an opportunist young man who engaged in some shady questionable dealings.
|
00:52:02 3021.32 |
CU footage Dean continued testimony.
|
00:52:04 3023.3 |
Committee member, Senator Inouye (D-Hawaii), speaking into mics questions Dean and refers to a 1971 memo with the subject: Dealing With Our Political Enemies and prepared confidentially for Haldeman, Ehrlichman, and others at the White House.
|
00:52:54 3072.5 |
Split screen Senator Inouye and John Dean
|
00:53:39 3117.42 |
Senator Lowell P. Weicker (R-CT), CU and pan out, makes a speech directed at John Dean from his seat at the table and calls for a higher standard of morality in the Executive Branch of government..
|
00:53:46 3124.61 |
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
|
00:55:06 3204.56 |
Pan out from Senator Weicker to the conference table and others in the bkgd. as he finishes his speech to a round of applause.
|
00:55:32 3230.71 |
John Dean at the witness table and his attorneys and wife.
|
00:55:46 3244.69 |
Samuel Dash comments on John Dean's testimony
|
00:56:14 3273.16 |
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.
|
00:57:08 3326.45 |
Journalist McDowell alone in the Senate Caucus Room sums up the hearings and the impact of John Dean's statements.
|
211 Third St, Greenport NY, 11944
[email protected]
631-477-9700
1-800-249-1940
Do you need help finding something that you need? Our team of professional librarians are on hand to assist in your search:
Be the first to finds out about new collections, buried treasures and place our footage is being used.
SubscribeShare this by emailing a copy of it to someone else. (They won’t need an account on the site to view it.)
Note! If you are looking to share this with an Historic Films researcher, click here instead.
Oops! Please note the following issues:
You need to sign in or create an account before you can contact a researcher.
Invoice # | Date | Status |
---|---|---|
|