CABLE TO HENRY A. KISSINGER FROM BRENT SCOWCROFT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-506-7-58-9
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: September 20, 2010
• Sequence Number: 58
• Publication Date: December 15, 1973
• Content Type: CABLE

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/09/20: LOC-HAK-506-7-58-9
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OP IMMED
DE WTE 04380 3490810
O 1508002 DEC 73
FM THE SITUATION ROOM TOHAK 86
TO LARRY EAGLEBURGER FOR SECRETARY KISSINGER
T 0 P S E C R E T SENSITIVE EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
TOHAK 86 VIA AIRCRAFT
DELIVER IN A SEALED ENVELOPE TO LARRY EAGLEFIURGER:
RETAIN NO COPIES: DESTROY ALL TAPES.
DECEMBER 14, 1973
TO: HENRY A. KISSINGER
FROM: BRENT SCOWCROFT
THE STAFF MEETING THIS MORNING WAS ALMOST ENTIRELYDEVOTED.TO
WATERGATE ASSOCIATED DISCUSSION. BRYCE HARLOW LED OFF BY POINTING
OUT THAT THERE IS A POWERFUL COALITIONs COMPOSED OF GROUPS BIKE
UMW, AFLICIOP ACLU., ETC-.- CAMPAIGNING IN A MAJOR LOBBYING EFFORT.
TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT, THESE ARE THE SAME GRUOPS WHO WERE AGAINST
HIM IN THE 1972 ELECTION AND THEIR GOAL IS A POLITICAL COUp.D'ETAT.
THE DISCUSSION THEN TURNED TO WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD BE FOR PROMPT,
HOUSE ACTON ON IMPEACHMENT, THERE WERE ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES BUT
THE CONSENSUS FINALLY SEEMED TO BE THAT WE SHOULD NOT DISCUSS TIMING
BUT MAINTAIN THE THESIS THAT THERE WERE NO GROUNDS FOR IMPEACHMENT.
ESPECIALLY AFTER ALL THE DISCLOSURES HAD BEEN PUBLISHED'. WE SHOULD
PUSH FOR A VOTE TO KILL IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS RATHER THAN FOR
AN UP AND DOWN VOTE ON IMPEACHMENT ITSELF.
HERB STEIN THEN ASKED WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE FIRST RATE TEAM OF
LAWYERS WE WERE GOING TO GET, IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT THE VARIOUS
PROSECUTION GROUP'S HAD LEGAL STAFFS TOTALLING WELL OVER ONE HUNDRED.
HAIG RESPONDED THAT THERE WERE TWO PRINCIPAL PROBLEMS: ONE WAS A
SOURCE OF MONEY TO HIRE THE LAWYERS, THE OTHER WAS FINDING A TOP-
NOTCH MAN TO HEAD THE TEAM, 'MANY OF THE PRESIDENT'S CLOSEST LAWYER
FRIENDS HAD BACKED AWAY FROM THE JOB. HAIG DID SAY HE HAD A LEGAL,
TEAM NOW ASSEMBLED AND WORKING ON THE DISCLOSURE PAPERS AND WOULD
HAVE ANOTHER TO CONCENTRATE ON THE IMPEACHMENT ISSUES. HE SAID HE
WAS. ALSO READY TO ORDER SOMEONE TO RUN THE LEGAL SHOW. (WHILE HE
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *WHSR COMMENT * * * * * .* * * * *. * * *',*: *.
SCOWCROFT
PSNi009511 PAGE 01 TOR:349/04:52Z DTG:156800Z DEC 73
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No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/09/20: LOC-HAK-506-7-58-9
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/09/20: LOC-HAK-506-7-58-9
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DID NOT MENTION THIS IN THE MEETING, THAT INDIVIDUAL 15 APPARENTLY
KEN RUSH).
WARM REGARDS.
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PSNs009511 PAGE'02 OF 02 TOR:349/04:52Z DTG:'150800Z DEC 73
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No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/09/20: LOC-HAK-506-7-58-9