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THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN NEWS SUMMARY January 30, 1974 (Tues. nets, wires) The major stories of the day: - Reports from Los Angeles where Superior Court Judge Ringer agreed to subpoena RN for personal testimony in JDE trial led all nets. Cronkite said this could be 1st of "many such subpoenas" as ex-WH aides are brought to trial. RN will "respectfully decline, 11 said ABC's Jarriel if he follows attys advice. Kiker on NBC said WH position will likely be that stated by Wright last Aug. to Sirica, that courts lack power to compel RN to produce evidence so long as he remains Pres; other words, 11 Kiker said, RN must be impeached before he can be compelled to testify. Pierpoint on CBS said while Warren "ducked" issue of what WH would do, relationship between RN-JDE "seems to be deteriorating" and that could become problem to RN if JDE has any knowledge of RN involvement in gate. Jarriel reported reliable sources say there's absolutely no split between RN and JDE JDE atty Dalton on ABC/CBS said RN's testimony will establish that defendants were fed'l investigators acting w/out criminal intent and, on NBC, indicated defense was relying on RN's May 22 speech describing formation of Plumbers, its charter and nat'l security nature. Other JDE atty, Ball, said on CBS that RN has right to resist subpoena and indicated they'd probably settle for "written interrogatories. 11 Warren said subpoena would be considered and appropriate response forthcoming. ABC noted. ABC/NBC w/film reports on Judiciary's 1st full session w/NBC's Scherer in #2 (ABC #3) report saying members all agree RN should not resist producing relevant documents, but disagree on whether he can be impeached on what subordinates do and how long inquiry should take Rodino on both nets said while comm. may accept Apr. 30 cut-off as objective, he believes absolute cutoff "unwise" and "totally irresponsible" if inquiry is incomplete Ranking GOP's Hutchison on both said he believes claim to Exec Privilege "must fall" in impeachment inquiry Hutchison added he's not familiar w/any evidence which'd justify impeachment. ABC's Donaldson noted w/some WH aides hinting RN may not cooperate, Hutchison's stand is being closely studied. It may reflect mood expressed more bluntly by a House GOP leader who said for RN to claim Exec Privilege "would be suicide. "