November 21, 1973

Pres Nixon assures Repub Govs on Nov 20 that he will clear up public doubts about him with release of detailed information about Watergate, his personal finances and other charges of scandal in White House; Govs individually say they heard few fresh facts in their 1 3/4 hr meeting with Nixon and most concede they were eager to believe him; all Govs say they are cheered by Pres's confident bearing and extended 'candid' answers; Pres reptdly said, in reply to question, that he never meant to accuse former Atty Gen E L Richardson of lying about events leading up to dismissal of special Watergate prosecutor A Cox last Oct 20; Gov T McCall says Nixon was 'not at all vindictive' toward Richardson and that he attributed their disagreement to 'difference of recollection'; several Govs note that Nixon still maintains that Richardson's recollection was wrong--specifically on origin of instructions to Cox to drop search for White House evidence on non-Watergate matters; White House maintains those instructions were Richardson's idea in 1st place; Gov W Dunn says Nixon said he was sorry if he has added to Govs' burdens; Nixon reptdly reiterated his intention not to resign and to have said that H S Truman did some of his best work after after his poularity dropped to around 25% in opinion polls; Govs Reagan and D Evans urge Nixon to do extended TV broadcast with respected network and newspaper correspondents; Nixon reptdly responded that that might be good idea

Gov Rockefeller on Nov 20 defends statement of 16 Repub Govs on Watergate, statement he drafted, by declaring that there was 'very little the Govs can do about Watergate,' int; says he doubts Pres Nixon will listen; says he does not expect Watergate to be major factor in next yrs's governorship election unless local corruption was also issue that could be linked with Watergate

Gov Rockefeller to meet to discuss transportation problems of NYC, suburbs and several upstate areas with legis leaders in Albany on Nov 21 and with major County Execs on Nov 27 and with Cong delegation and exec branch on Nov 30

NYC Mayor-elect Beame, announcing major reorgn of Mayor's office, asserts he can save city $900,000 in fiscal '74 by eliminating 50 jobs and not filling others now vacant in Mayor's office, Nov 20 news conf

office of NYS special prosecutor Deputy Atty Gen M H Nadjari on Nov 20 accuses NYC Finance Adm official F S Rice of having recd 'substantial sum of money' that was part of proceeds of bribe from unnamed public official; affidavit, which is filed by Asst Dist Atty B L Gershman, is in support of motion that Rice be found guilty of criminal contempt unless he supplies certain unnamed documents and testifies more definitely before special grand jury investigating alleged $50,000 bribe reptdly paid to NYS Sup Ct Justice A C Orlando; office says alleged payoff 'was handled through intermediaries' Manhattan Repub Chmn V F Albano Jr and L Marchini, former key adviser to US Repr M Biaggi; in previous document filed by Nadjari's office, Albano and Marchini, both of whom are officers in Century Natl Bank & Trust Co, were said to have 'information and evidence' relating to alleged bribery of Orlando; law enforcement officials repeat previous statements that unnamed 'public official' who is subject of investigation is Biaggi; NYS Sup Ct Justice J M Murtagh adjourns matter until Nov 26 when Rice is ordered to comply with requests for documents and further information; affidavit quoted; calls Rice's description of his financial transaction with public official 'ludicrous'; Nadjari's office refuses to comment on affidavit or move to hold Rice in contempt