Word: ervin
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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Beyond those grounds for disclosure, Chairman Ervin argues that
...does obtain the tapes, the Ervin committee could be stymied in its desire to see them speedily, since Cox apparently, if he would use them publicly at all, would do so only in the trials of indicted former Nixon aides. Such trials could be months away. If the President will not voluntarily give the tapes to Ervin, the committee will undoubtedly try to subpoena them. If that is resisted by the White House, it could take months for the committee to fight the issue through all the courts...
...practical question of whether Nixon can withstand the political pressure to release the tapes seems far more crucial than the legal issue. Says Ervin: "I think the American people are not so much concerned with the constitutional arguments as they are in the willingness of the President to assist the committee in its search for truth...
...three staff members present instantly realized the significance of Butterfield's revelation. They told Dash and the chief Republican counsel, Fred Thompson. Next morning when Chairman Ervin was informed, he called the news "quite astounding." Determined that this story must not leak to newsmen, as so many staff interviews had, Ervin ordered that not even the other Senators on the committee be immediately informed. Vice Chairman Baker learned of it Sunday morning only when Butterfield, seeking advice, asked to meet with him. Baker told Butterfield that he would have to testify publicly, but should inform White House Counsels Leonard Garment...
Butterfield, 47, an efficient and bright administrator who had been a U.C.L.A. acquaintance of Haldeman's, advised the White House counsels of his intentions on Sunday. He was not told to invoke Executive privilege, probably because the Ervin staff already had his testimony. Ervin moved swiftly to get Butterfield's information out. On Monday morning the full committee was told about Butterfield's story. A staff attorney was ordered to call Butterfield and tell him that he would be put on television that afternoon. Butterfield, reached in a barbershop, objected, still concerned about national security and worried about missing...