July 19, 1973

F La Rue and A T Ulasewicz describe on July 18 in testimony before Sen Watergate com how they funneled $450,000 of Pres campaign money to 7 original Watergate defendants and their attys; La Rue, former re-election com official, says he had concluded that break-in at Dem Natl Com hq was sanctioned 'at some high level' and that $230,000 he distributed surreptitiously was to 'satisfy commitments' to conspirators; Ulasewicz says he quit making payments last Sept after becoming concerned that the $220,000 was going for more than mere 'humanitarian' support of criminal defendants; both insist they did not know who was ultimate authority for payments; Ulasewicz says he assumed instructions originated from 'someone like' ex-White House aides Haldeman and Ehrlichman; La Rue disputes ex-Atty Gen Mitchell's testimony when he says he did not hear Mitchell reject out of hand, at Mar 30 '72 meeting, the $250,000 intelligence gathering plan that ultimately led to break-in; does not endorse J S Magruder's acct that Mitchell reluctantly 'signed off-on,' ie, consented to, electronic eavesdropping plan; swears Mitchell, despite his denial, advised Magruder last June to destroy campaign documents relating to eavesdropping scheme; most of July 18 testimony deals with confirmation of previously published repts that nearly $500,000 of funds left over from Nixon's '68 campaign or collected in '72 was distributed to Watergate defendants to maintain their silence; Ulasewicz says most of arrangements were made with Mrs Hunt who dealt with him on behalf of other defendants; La Rue discusses how he gradually assembled $230,000 he disseminated mostly to Hunt's atty W O Bittman; says he was advised that participants in arrangements included 2 re-election com attys P L O'Brien and K Parkinson; Parkinson says he never advised La Rue to make payments to lawyers for Watergate defendants; Sen Weicker elicits from Ulasewicz confirmation of fact that Ulasewicz had explored sex habits, drinking habits, domestic problems and 'personal social activities' of individuals who were regarded as potential pol opponents of Nixon; authoritative sources say that White House will soon face delicate problem concerning tapes of White House conversations as special Watergate prosecutor A Cox is preparing to make his own request for recordings; White House press sec Ziegler insists tapes have never been transcribed; illus of Ulasewicz and La Rue

HR, despite threat of veto, on July 18 passes measure that would limit Pres power to commit US armed forces to hostilities abroad without Cong approval; vote is 244-170, 32 short of 2/3 needed to override veto; during 7 hrs of debate, HR turns back numerous efforts to weaken measure, which was approved last mo by HR Foreign Affairs Com and provides: that within 72 hrs after commitment of US forces to hostilities in foreign nations, Pres would be required to rept to Cong on circumstances that prompted action, his authority and estimated scope of action; that within 120 days after Pres rept, he would have to terminate commitment unless Cong enacted declaration of war or special authorization for use of forces; that within 120-day period Cong could adopt concurrent resolution, not subject to Pres approval or veto, terminating commitment of forces; Repr Ford, as HR begins debate, reads telegram from Pres Nixon, dated June 16, warning that he would veto message because of its 'dangerous and unconst restrictions'; Nixon said that he would welcome 'appropriate legis' giving Cong 'proper role in war powers,' but offered no specific compromise; Ford hails 'flexibility' and 'new policy' at White House, urging HR to accept substitute bill offered by Repr Dennis; HR, 250-166, rejected substitute, which would have required Cong, by bill or resolution, either to approve or disapprove commitment of forces within 90 days of action; measure would also require similar Cong action every 6 mos during continuation of hostilities; Sen also begins debate on war powers measure

Nearly 200 members of NY-NJ Port Auth PBA vote on July 18 to perform only emergency work at NYC met area airports as part of job action

questions and answers about Phase 4 controls and their implications for consumers, workers and businessmen

Pres Nixon, on July 18, ends freeze on prices with certain exceptions, including health care