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OCR Page 1 of 42THE president HAS SEEN
NEWS SUMMARY
September 26, 1973
(Tuesday nets, wires)
The major story of the day:
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"Dizzying, bewildering and historic" was Chancellor's description
of VP developments which led all nets. Following meeting w/RN,
Richardson announced he'll let Beall take evidence against VP
before grand jury. Minutes later VP, who'd also met earlier w/RN,
asked Hill to undertake full inquiry into charges against him, a move
immediately interpreted as preliminary move toward impeachment
proceedings but also as a move by VP to seek vindication by House
rather than asking for the initiation of impeachment proceedings.
VP's letter to House said public leaks about evidence to be presented
have "so fouled the atmosphere" that no Grand Jury could consider
matter on its merits. VP said he was requesting House inquiry in
the dual interests of his personal vindication and of preserving the
constitutional status of his office. He said his lawyers advised him
that there's a constitutional bar to indicting sitting Pres or VP w/out
1st impeaching them and that he couldn't therefore acquiesce to any
criminal proceeding
AG gave no indication VP's move would call
off grand jury because he referred to it as investigative body and
didn't say he'd press for indictment. Thus, as CBS' Graham noted,
grand jury has 3 options -- to dismiss case on basis of insufficient
evidence, to indict VP, or to send its findings to House to be used
either in impeachment proceeding or inquiry such as VP's asked for.
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Even as VP was on Hill, all nets noted WH released RN statement
that VP in meeting personally denied any wrongdoing several
times. RN urged US accord VP a presumption of innocence that's
his right and his due. Nets noted Warren said VP's resignation wasn't
offered and wasn't sought. Rather noted RN's praise of VP's service
covered only last 4 1/2 years. And NBC's Brokaw noted RN didn't
say he believed VP's claims of innocence or express confidence.
Thus RN's not aligning himself w/VP who's clearly very much
alone
Chancellor observed that RN-VP relationship "seems to be
in grave disrepair" w/both in bad trouble because their troubles
are intertwined legally and politically. Thus w/tapes controversy
and VP probe, John finds US "in for what can only be called a nasty
chapter in US.history."
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