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July 18, 1995 - Part 2
(11:20:40) We must get to the bottom of the Whitewater affair, and we must begin today. That's why these hearings are so important and why we can delay them no further To do otherwise would result in a failure by the United States Senate to carry out its responsibility in representing the American people It would mean more public distrust of government and create a nation of cynics and that, Mr. Chairman, would be the final tragedy to the chapter in story of Vince Foster. Thank You. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator. Senator Moseley-Braun- 29 OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR CAROL MOSELEY-BRAUN Senator MOSELEY-BRAUN. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Chairman, Whitewater seems sometimes like a very large and complicated subject to most Americans, It's been referred to even this morning as a web of interconnected scandals, but, quite frankly, the focus of this phase of the Committee's work is -much more limited and much more simple. Was there improper conduct in the handling of the papers in Vincent Foster's office after his death? At the outset, I think it's worth noting that there is substantial evidence that the applicable law was complied with in this situation. No one has even alleged that there was any interference with the Park Police investigation that constituted a violation of law. It is worth noting that the Park Police, if they thought they needed any documents from the Foster office, which was not where he committed suicide, could have asked for a search warrant or sought a subpoena duces tecum. They never made any such requests. Of course, it is very unlikely that a judge would have ever issued a search warrant for Vince Foster's office because probable cause for a search would have been very difficult, if not impossible, to establish. The best evidence for that conclusion is found in the Park Police's own guidelines issued after this case. Those guidelines do not provide for sealing of any workplace where the death did not occur at that workplace. Even prior to the Foster case, the Park Police did not routinely request that the office of any person that committed suicide at another location be sealed. It is also worth keeping in mind that the Park Police never re- quested an opportunity to go through the Foster home. But, Mr. Chairman, if the law was not violated, or likely not violated, what about ethical standards? Vincent Foster was a lawyer, and as such the canons of ethics governing lawyers imposes a duty of confiden- tiality, a duty that did not die with Vince Foster. The attorney-cli- ent privilege is one of the foundations of our system of justice and justifiably so. Could any American consult an attorney if they thought that their communications with their lawyer were not pro- tected? This duty is a formidable one and there are special consider- ations that apply to a Presidential lawyer like Mr. Foster that make that duty even more formidable, I think the reference has been made that there was information regarding Supreme Court nominees in that office, Bernard Nussbaum and other Members of the White House Counsel's Office) therefore, had a duty to protect confidentiality in Mr. Foster's office. Seeking to protect the confidentiality of the files in his office was, therefore, at a minimum, not an obvious violation of applicable ethical standards. Those standards, in fact, called action to protect the confidentiality of the files in that office. Mr, Chairman I would point out that even the requests for information by this Committee, which the Chairman and the Ranking Member signed, has in it language that recognizes the existence of that confidentiality, the attorney-client privilege. It says: In connection with the above request, particularly with regards to documents in Vincent Foster's office at the time of his death we recognize that these materials are likely to include documents subject to claims Of privilege, and if any documents 30 are withheld based on the assertion of any privilege, please provide a log identifying the date, et cetera, and the basis for the privilege asserted. That has been done and complied with in this case. The White House has cooperated fully in that regard. That leaves, however, a third area of inquiry. Even if the handling of the documents in Vince Foster's office comported with all applicable legal and ethical standards, was there, nonetheless, an appearances issue, a question involving the penumbra of ethics rules that is worth considering? That, it seems to me, is where this Committee's inquiry will really be focused, once it is firmly established that there were no violations of law involved and no violation of applicable ethics rules. Mr. Chairman, in your statement, you said, and I quote, "the Senate Whitewater hearings will be fair, impartial and thorough."
American Bison Calf and Adult
Master 2112 Part 1 MS adult American Bison ( aka Buffalo ) ( Bison bison ) Adult with 2 calves. CU calf running
Modified Martial Law Decreed For Steel Strike Area
Rolling, shaky, dull in contrast and imagery With the huge steel plant shut on orders from the governor, state police govern the strike-torn town until negotiations between 15,000 workers and officials of the company can take place. Meanwhile, peace reigns with no indication of unrest. A picket sign reads..(What Woman Would Live With A Strike Breaker As A Husband?) The other sign reads...........(Mill Men Remember The Days of Mill Slavery/ Organize Or You Will Be Driven Back To Slavery.)
July 18, 1995 - Part 2
(11:25:21) I want to commend you for that statement and for that commitment. This is not a time for trying to score partisan political points, and these hearings should not be a forum for rumor and innuendo that are not supported by fact, nor should these hearings be allowed to become another battleground for the kind of culture wars that characterized the handling of Dr. Foster's nomination. Frankly, that seems to have an unfortunately growing role in our politics. Rather, this is a time to try to ascertain the facts and to try to understand what happened. That can only happen if we go where the evidence takes us and avoid any attempts to demonize people because we disagree with their views on policy issues, We must avoid any temptation to suggest that wrongdoing has occurred here because we don't like what someone stands for or because we think that person is too influential or we want to cut him or her down to size. Allegations made merely to seek advantage in upcoming elections that are unsupported by the evidence have no place here. The hearings we are conducting must be fair and impartial) and that involves keeping closely in mind what precipitated the events we are examining in this phase of the Committee's work. Again, that is the tragic death of Vincent Foster. We are not here today to review the cause of his death. We looked at that issue last year. Moreover, every official agency of government that has examined the cause of death has reached the same conclusions that Vince Foster's death resulted from suicide. Despite the cottage industry that has arisen to offer bizarre alternative theories as to what happened to Mr. Foster, there, frankly, is no reasonable doubt on that score. Fairness demands that we keep constantly in mind that Vince Foster's death had a devastating effect on those with whom he worked. He was very popular. He was both respected and liked What is more, as a Member of the White House staff, he shared the long hours, the frantic pace and the huge amount of work that characterizes those jobs. This kind of working environment and the closeness that it engenders -made his death hit other White House staffers very hard. Most Of them, frankly, were not just co-workers; many of them were friends, even good friends. Vince Foster's death affected them all very deeply. We sometimes act as if people who enter public service give up at least part of their humanity when they do so, but that is not the case. Vince Foster's co-workers and friends were not just members of the White House staff; they were human beings, they were peo- 31 ple who grieve and cry and act just like any other American facing a similar situation. That, I believe, is an important thing for us to keep in mind. The American people, justifiably, do not want the White House or Congress or any other part of Government treated any better than they are, We want the same rules to apply to ev- eryone. We all expect a suicide involving a member of the White House staff to be fully investigated. In fact, given that the White House is involved, most Americans would expect that a higher in- vestigative standard would be used than in other cases. However, the American people are also a compassionate people. Most Americans know how they would react if a good friend died tragically and unexpectedly and they can empathize with the situation that the friends of Vince Foster faced. Most Americans view a death of this kind not just as a matter for the police, but a moment for friends and family to come together to support one another. While there is dispute as to whether the Park Police officer was momentarily kept from Mrs. Foster the night that Vince Foster died, I would think it would not be at all strange if it happened because, quite frankly, no American wants to share the moment of greatest grief with strangers, and that includes the police. I want to conclude, Mr, Chairman, by making one final point, This Committee has a responsibility to be thorough, but it also has a responsibility to finish, Most, if not all, of the witnesses we will hear from in this phase of the Committee's work have been deposed as many as half a dozen times before, if not more. We are asking many of them who knew Vince Foster well, people who were close to him both professionally and personally, to relive a Very painful part of their lives. We are inevitable dredging up painful memories for Mrs. Foster and the Foster family. I hope that this Committee, therefore, will not lose s sighy of the need to be expeditious, as well as thorough and of the need to allow all of these people to come to closure with the death of Vince Foster. In short I hope that we will meet both our professional obligation and our human obligation. If we work together we can forgo the opportunity for partisan gamesmanship, and I'm sure that we could meet both Of those critically important obligations and put this issue to rest once and for all. Thank you. The CHAIRMAN. Thank YOU, Senator.
Military jets in formation (Blue Angels)
Military jets (Blue Angels) in flight formation
Airforce planes in air
Old time planes
Air show
W W I planes moving in
Old planes / air show
Helicopter, plane, jet
The Laugh Parade Of 1936 - Sweeps Loser
Shaky, jumpy, light in contrast and imagery John Q. Dohp represents the majority of sweepstakes ticket-holders in his sad but untearful explanation of how it feels to lose. This was a three-week hold-over on broadway.
New Sky-Lounge A Luxury Plane Put Into Service
Shaky, a little roll, dull in contrast and imagery United Airlines puts the latest type of 'lounge' plane in service between New York and Chicago. The big machine offers a new high in comfort and safety for passengers flying to and from the Windy City. Interior shot of passengers aboard plane during flight. Aerial view of plane. Air hostess, stewardess.
Imagine Southern California With A Snow Queen
Rolling dull in contrast and imagery A 'snow-making' machine provides atmosphere and ammunition for a snowball battle among bathing girls who then elect a queen of 'winter' sports. Skiers march through the manufactured snow to the foot of the throne.
Handles For Dogs The Newest Idea In Pet Protection
Rolling dull in contrast and imagery Fair feminine visitors find a new way to protect their pets in a strap arrangement that permits them to pick up and carry the dogs like baggage. It's handy for crossing streets and when a big bad dog comes along.
Crash Hero Describes Wreck
Little rolling, shaky, light and dull in contrast and imagery Arthur A. Robinson who walked five miles through a mountain wilderness to get aid for victims of an airliner crash at Placerita Canyon tells history of the accident in his room at good samaritan hospital.
July 18, 1995 - Part 2
(11:30:15) Senator Shelby. ENT OF SENATOR RICHARD C. SHELBY OPENING STATEMENT Senator SIIELBY. Thank YOU Mr. Chairman- I want to thank YOU for holding today's hearing and for also Mr. Chairman, laying Out so succinctly the focus of these hearings, what the Committee has done and where the Committee is going in pursuing its mandate to examine the facts surrounding the the handling of documents in Vince Foster's office after his death. While Some of these issues have already been exposed in the press, s a Member of this Committee I hope, Mr. Chairman, to further examine with witnesses any interference or improper con- 32 trol by the White House in the investigation of Vince Foster's death. The testimony we will hear before the Committee, I believe, will show several important facts about the handling of documents in Foster's office and the investigation of Vince Foster's death as a whole, Facts, Mr. Chairman, that will clearly demonstrate, in my view, that the level of White House involvement substantially prevented law enforcement officials, the Department of Justice, the Park Police, and the FBI from conducting their investigation according to standard operating procedures. I'll identify just some of these facts the Committee will hear about in the coming days about the White House's involvement in the investigation of Vince Foster's death. First, this Committee will hear testimony that will show that even though the White House was publicly proclaiming that the investigation was being conducted according to standard operating procedure, "just like any other investigation," and that the Park Police was the lead agency in the investigation, the White House refused to allow Park Police officers to enter Foster's office to search the day after his death. Second, Committee testimony will further show that later that day, July 21, 1993, it was agreed between law enforcement authorities and the White House Counsel's Office that the Department of Justice would supervise the search of Mr. Foster's office and that it would be the Department of Justice that would review documents for relevance and privilege there. The next day, however, when law enforcement officers arrived to conduct the review of Mr. Foster's office, the White House broke the agreement on how the off-ice would be searched. Instead of the Department of Justice conducting the search according to the agreement that they had previously entered into, the White House told law enforcement officials that it would review the documents, categorize them and let law enforcement officials know what they could and couldn't look at. Third, testimony by the Department of Justice, Park Police and the FBI will show that the search was viewed as a sham, that law enforcement officers were there for decoration only and that many of them did not feel that they could say that they had conducted an investigation based on the way the White House controlled the search and access to documents in Mr. Foster's office. Fourth, Mr. Chairman, the testimony before the Committee, I believe, will make evident the significant disagreements that arose early on between top law enforcement officials and the White House over the White House's role in the investigation. Finally, Mr. Chairman, we will hear about the very serious concerns that were raised from the beginning of the investigation by career law enforcement professionals that believe that the White House was improperly affecting the proper conduct of the investigation. Mr. Chairman, I look forward to hearing from today's witnesses and to participating in these important hearings for the American people. Thank you. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Shelby. Senator SARBANES. Senator Murray. 33 OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR PATTY MURRAY Senator MURRAY. Mr. Chairman, at some point before July 20, 1993, Vincent Foster wrote about this city, "here ruining people is considered sport." Then, by his own hand, he took his life. Vincent Foster, a successful lawyer, a devoted father and husband, a loyal friend, was a victim of the partisan bickering in the city and his own depression. Now, 2 years later, the Banking Committee of the United States Senate will take 3 or possibly 4 weeks to investigate how, in the emotional chaos of discovering their co-worker and friend had died, White House staff handled the contents of his office. Once again, Mr. Chairman, I fear that Vincent Foster and his family will be victimized. I urge all of us to keep perspective. It seems to me, Mr. Chairman, that whenever a high-profile tragedy occurs in this country, a whole lot of far-flung conspiracy theories emerge. I do not subscribe to unfounded allegations and radical beliefs. I prefer to rely on the time-honored virtues of fairness and common sense.
Night Club - Can Can dancer
Can Can
Middle-aged couples (dancing)
Dancing near pool and swimming
On preview cassette #97795 Twist dancing at out-doors party, Disco dancing, '66 UCLA students (very dark)
PREVIEW TAPE # 210197 Flamenco