Watergate Trial Conversations Page #3

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wait till next year, so that -- I know that

there's been some advice given to you, to

wait till next year. Uh, that's -- I will

differ with that, simply because they're

going to make their association and -their

alliances this year and they're going to

spend a lot of money this year in various

Congressional and Senatorial races all over

this United States. And, you don't want to

be in a position -- as you well know better

than I -- you got no questions when people

think they forced you into doing something

for them. And they're not now in that

position. If, if you do something for them

this year, they think you've done it because

they got a good case and because you're

their friend. If you wait till next year, I

don't care what you do for them. They're

going to say, "Well, we put enough pressure

on them this election year, they had to do

it." And you, you get no credit for it. So

it's still going to cost you an enormous

amount of money next year, and you get no

political advantage out of it. And, I just

think that, uh, that unless you just, uh --

the economics of it are just beyond reach,

or beyond question that, uh, if you ought to

really seriously think about doing it this

year.

PRESIDENT:
That's the problem. I have two problems --

is that you have it in the House and the

Senate.

CONNALLY:
What you are going -to do on that?

UNIDENTIFIED:
[Unintelligible]

PRESIDENT:
What I mean is, that if you don't do it,

they're going to do it anyway.

CONNALLY:
I think if you don't do it

PRESIDENT:
If they do,

CONNALLY:
they're going to pass it.

PRESIDENT:
I think they do.

HARDIN:
I think it's

PRESIDENT:
We have a damn near insoluble problem.

HARDIN:
I think it's, as it stands today, it's

almost certain to pass.

CONNALLY:
Uh, I think -that's right.

EHRLICHMAN:
Is that what Belcher told you?

HARDIN:
Yes, yes, I think they got a hundred and

fifty names on the bill.

UNIDENTIFIED:
You sure?

HARDIN:
And, uh,

UNIDENTIFIED:
What is it?

HARDIN:
and, uh, the Speaker's all out for it.

CONNALLY:
Absolutely. Wilbur's all out for it.

UNIDENTIFIED:
Yeah.

CONNALLY:
Well, they're going to pass it through the

House. Beyond any question in the world.

HARDIN:
And, uh, and, uh, they'll pull the liberals

on this one, uh, because they're, they'll

say they're going to embarrass the

President,

PRESIDENT:
That's right.

HARDIN:
Uh, the liberals might attract the consumers

in any other situation. But they won't do

it now.

PRESIDENT:
That'll raise the price, you see. I mean,

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