May 19, 1973

Mrs Mitchell says May 18 that her husband ex‐Atty Gen Mitchell has been protecting Pres Nixon in Watergate scandal, news conf; suggests that Nixon might be impeached if he does not resign; says White House must bear 'all the blame' for Watergate; says they tried to make her husband 'fall guy' but he is 'good guy'; says her husband told her May 18 that 'if anything happens to the Pres, the country will fall apart' says she replied that it would be a 'darn better idea for Mr Nixon to resign than to be impeached'; Mrs Mitchell's comments come after Watergate conspirator McCord told Sen Watergate com that he believed he was acting on orders from Mr Mitchell in Dem Natl Com hq break‐in

White House press sec Ziegler says May 18, in response to questions, that Pres Nixon has no intention of resigning; says Nixon 'was elected to lead this country as Pres in '72, and that he intends to do'; Ziegler repeats denial made by his deputy G L Warren 10 days ago that 'Pres did not participate in any way, or have any knowledge regarding cover‐up and at no time authorized anyone to represent him in offering exec clemency'; says Watergate conspirator J W McCord Jr's allegations at Sen Watergate com hearings are 'based on total hearsay'; says Nixon is not watching any of Sen proceedings on TV but is seeing daily summary of them prepared under direction of Gen A M Haig Jr, acting White House chief of staff; says White House has bought copy of running transcript from Ward & Paul, stenographic reptg co; says Nixon met with Cabinet May 18 and discussed such topics as foreign policy, energy and trade and that there was 'some reference to the situation and setting we are in' but that there was no specific discussion of Sen hearings; says, in reply to question, that Nixon never questioned 'legitimacy' of '72 Pres election or fact that it constituted 'total, absolute expression of the Amer people'; says Nixon has no plans to make statement to Sen com, either in person, by submitting written statement or through counsel; comments, in reply to question, that any statement made by ex‐White House counsel Dean 'must be seen in the light of the fact' that he is seeking immunity from prosecution in scandal and is seen suggesting that Dean is willing to exaggerate or invent in order to convince prosecutors that he has so much information that he must be given immunity if they hope to prosecute 'higher‐ups'

WASHINGTON, May 18—John J. Caulfield, a former White House aide whose name figured prominently in today's Senate Watergate testimony, tried three years ago to obtain Internal Revenue Service intelligence for the White House on one of President Nixon's closest friends, according to sources directly acquainted with the matter.

NYS Legis on May 18 passes revision of off‐track betting law that establishes state racing and wagering bd, eases financial problems of race tracks, permits new off‐track betting operations in various localities and allows racing on Sunday; new 3‐man racing and wagering bd, to be named by Gov, will supervise race tracks, OTB and state lottery; new off‐track betting operations will be created in 6 regional systems connected to statewide betting pool; other provisions of bill would extend racing to end of yr instead of present Dec 15 deadline, have OTB pay more to tracks, about $6.4‐million, but its share in 'exotic' betting would increase, cut state race track admission taxes from 15% to 4% and increase aid to horse breeders; NYRA would be granted tax relief amounting to 1% for rest of yr; state will also cut revenue and expense take‐out from betting pool from 17% to 14%; opposition to bill noted

article discusses J W McCord Jr's appearance before Sen Watergate com; notes McCord's statements regarding exec clemency and his allegation that White House was involved in 'game‐plan' designed to cover up involvement of officials in Nixon Adm and Nixon's re‐election com; notes Sens emphasis on fact that much of what McCord was asserting is hearsay; says Sen Talmadge seems anxious to discredit McCord's testimony while some of com's Dem members appear eager to reinforce McCord's believability