News stories from Monday June 25, 1973

Dean stated that the President was involved, but he didn't realize how deeply; Dean said that he hopes President Nixon will be pardoned. Dean read from a prepared statement for hours, dropping many bombshells including the wiretapping of newsmen, spying on Senator Kennedy, destroying evidence pertaining to E. Howard Hunt at Haldeman's order, the CIA's involvement in the cover-up plan, a payoff fund run by Ehrlichman and Haldeman, trying to limiting the indictments of the "Watergate 7" and, finally, Dean's meetings with the President.

Dean testified to meeting with Nixon and Haldeman in September, and claimed that the President told Dean that he was pleased with the actions being taken in the cover-up and getting the probe stopped at G. Gordon Liddy. The President mentioned that a list should be kept of press people covering the Watergate scandal, who were to be "hurt" after the election, possibly by using the IRS.

The White House successfully stopped any pre-election Watergate hearings and former assistant Attorney General Henry Peterson covered up the Segretti case. After the election though, pressure mounted and Dean and the President began intensive meetings in March. Dean recalled telling the President that demands for money were being made mainly by convicted Watergate conspirator Hunt. The President said that money was no problem, and he had discussed executive clemency for Hunt with Ehrlichman. Nixon mentioned wanting to get White House spokesman Ron Ziegler off the hook regarding frequent Watergate questions from reporters. At a March 21 meeting, Dean told the President that the Watergate cover-up was becoming "a cancer on the presidency" and must be removed.

On April 15 Nixon and Dean met again. Dean stated that the prosecutor knew the truth; the President began to back down. Dean told Nixon that he didn't want him to be impeached, but Dean felt compelled to tell the truth. On April 17, President Nixon told that Dean no resignations of staff members would be requested until the grand jury acted. On April 30, Dean was fired.

White House spokesman Ron Ziegler said that President Nixon was aware of Dean's testimony before summaries were provided; the White House had no comment. [CBS]

The joint communique signed by Brezhnev and Nixon was released to the press today. While briefing reporters, Henry Kissinger said that Watergate was never mentioned at the summit. Kissinger listed the benefits of the summit: a permanent agreement to limit offensive nuclear weapons within 12-14 months and an early end to fighting in Cambodia; a conference date for mutual European troop reductions set for October 30; trade agreements of $2-3 billion within the next three years. Kissinger told reporters that Watergate was not mentioned because domestic problems are not discussed with foreign leaders. Kissinger may go to Peking later this month to reassure the Chinese about the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union. [CBS]

Catholic schools are hurt the most by this decision. At St. Joseph's Academy in Albany, New York, 80% of the students are black, and 50% are not Catholic; Whites and Catholics have moved to the suburbs. The school has an $80,000 deficit, and without help from taxpayers it will have to merge or close. Many of the inner-city parents would not be able to afford a tuition increase and would have to enroll their children in public schools. The Court allowed a revenue bond plan for construction on the grounds of a religious college, but would not permit public money for the needs of similar grammar or high schools. [CBS]