Section B
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
84th Year, No. 1
The University of Kansas—Lawrence, Kansas
Thursday, August 23, 1973
Section B
No End Seen to Watergate Probe
DIRECTIONS:
SPIN AMERICAN EAGLE (WHAT'S LEFT OF IT) AND MOVE NUMBER OF SPACES INDICATED.
By BILL GIBSON
Kansan Staff Writer
Reputations fell, the President was accused of criminal acts, and the balance of power between the executive and legislative chambers had weakened. The historic 37 days of Watergate testimony,
For many Americans, the tales of the burglary and the related stream of covert illegal activities were less believable than the pre-empted 181 hours of soap operas.
Like the soap operas, though, the Watergate scandal promises to endure for many chapters more with no end in sight. Sen. Sam Ervin's select committee ended its first phase—inquiry into the Watergate case and many vital questions left unanswered.
Sen. Howard Baker's query, "What did the President know and when did he know it?" was never satisfactorily answered. The committee and Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox hope to find the answer to this and other questions by acquiring tapes of White House conversations and other documents.
In addition to the continuing Cox probe, Ervin's committee has left a staff of lawyers to pursue its suit for release of the documents and tapes.
President Nixon has refused to release the tapes, arguing that it would threaten the separation of powers and hinder Presidential confidentiality. The case will go to federal court and will probably be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Because the release of Presidential records in criminal cases has never before been disputed in court, the case represents a formidable constitutional challenge.
Nixon's lawyers have released statements arguing that only the President can determine the fate of his own records and that he can't be compelled to release
Presidential spokesman Gerald Warren said, however, "The President, just as in other matters, would abide by a definitive decision of the highest court."
Ervin and Cox argue that the President is not above the law and that the tapes are not protected from disclosure.
analysis
Editor's Note
Watergate and the economy, which shared the spotlight during the summer, promise to continue as major issues during the remainder of the year. This section, therefore, is devoted to stories, analysis and examples that will attempt to define where they now stand.
Steve Carpenter, Kansan staff cartoonist, has created this depiction of the whole affair, and Bill Gibson, staff editorial writer, has presented his analyses here and elsewhere. On page four, he identifies a few of the personalities involved, on whom he and he staff report Bob Katie coretite up the Watergate and related scandals.
Pages two, seven and eight contain stories by other Kansan staffers about the economy and various shortages affecting KU students. How to survive shortages and high meat prices is the subject of a story on page eight.
Los Angeles Times and Washington Post reporters add analytical stories and interviews.
criminal cases, including those of the seven Watergate burglaries. The issue involves criminal acts and partisan politics; say Cox that a recent lawsuit against the protective blanket of national security.
The Supreme Court's decision in the case could break new ground in determining the balance of power between the three branches of government. The decision could indicate the degree of Presidential accountability.
Nixon might still refuse a Supreme Court
order as. President Andrew Jackson once did.
Jackson had retorted, "The Chief Justice has made his decision, now let him enforce
By ignoring the court order, however, Nixon would risk impeachment and would plunge the government into a constitutional noheaval.
Unless such an extreme measure is taken, the chances of impachment or resignation are very slim. One attempt to impeach the President in the House was quickly shelved because of a damaging testimony of former Special Counsel John Dean, 71 per cent of those interviewed in a Gallup poll expressed belief that the President was involved in the up-up. But only 18 per cent said that he should be compelled to leave office.
One result of the Watergate revelations that has already taken effect is a greater assertiveness by Congress. Congress forced a compromise bombing halt, Aug. 15 in Cambodia and a state department appeal to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The House approved a bill 254-164 directing the President to spend money allocated by Congress within 60 days. The bill is designed to end Nixon's impounding practices. The House Appropriations Committee eliminated the White House $1.5 billion in fossil projects' allocations, some of which had been used to fund Watergate capers.
While in recess, the Ervin committee has two teams of detectives hunting clues and interviewing witnesses for the next two phases of the inquiry.
The second phase will begin sometime after September 15. The committee will hear a few witnesses remaining from the Watergate segment before turning to the Committee to examine the financing. The Committee may divide into two groups to expedite the investigation.
Cherief Counsel Sam Dash expressed hope that the hearings would again be televised "as a civics lesson in how things should not be run in government."
PROCEED WITH EXTREME CAUTION!