Nixon on Thompson: 'Dumb' but 'Friendly'

Former Watergate committee investigator Scott Armstrong told ABC News

that Thompson's cooperation with the White House undermined the

investigation.

"It was the equivalent of two prosecutors knowing about something and

one of them going behind the scenes and telling the person being

accused what the witnesses were saying about him," Armstrong said.

From ABC News, 10/9/07:

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/10/nixon-on-thomps.html

Nixon on Thompson: 'Dumb' but 'Friendly'

Brian Ross and Avni Patel Report:

Fred Thompson has made much of his role 30 years ago as a young Senate

lawyer helping to lead the investigation of the Watergate scandal and

President Richard Nixon.

But a much different, less valiant picture of Thompson emerges from

listening to the White House audiotapes made at the time, as President

Nixon plotted strategy with his aides in the Oval Office.

Thompson's job on the Watergate committee was to lead the Republican

side of the investigation.

He was appointed by his mentor, Sen. Howard Baker of Tennessee, who is

now co-chair of Thompson's 2008 presidential bid.

When Nixon's aide H.R.Haldeman told Nixon of Thompson's appointment,

Nixon was less than impressed.

"Baker has appointed Fred Thompson as minority counsel," Haldeman is

heard saying on one tape.

"Oh sh--, that kid," Nixon responds.

"I guess so," Haldeman replies.

Nixon worried that Thompson's Democratic counterpart, Sam Dash, would

outsmart Thompson.

"Well, Dash is too smart for that kid," Nixon says on another tape

from March 16, 1973.

The existence of the tapes were publicly revealed by a question from

Thompson at a Watergate hearing and led to the president's

resignation.

They are preserved at the National Archives in College Park, Md.

"Sure. Runs circles around him," agrees an aide, John Dean.

As the investigation picked up speed, Nixon grew increasingly

concerned about whether Thompson could stand up to the Democrats.

In this May 1973 recording, he shared his concern with then-chief of

staff Alexander Haig.

"He's talking to Fred Thompson. I said you're not --," Haig begins.

"Oh sh--, he's dumb as hell. Fred Thompson," Nixon interjects.

"Who is he? He won't say anything."

In another conversation some weeks later, Nixon and his advisers were

still describing Thompson as not very smart but at least beginning to

play ball.

"Our approach is now, we've got a pretty good rapport with Fred

Thompson. He came through fine for us this morning," White House

counsel Fred Buzhardt says on a tape from June 6.

"He isn't very smart, is he?" Nixon asks.

"Not extremely so, but --," Buzhardt says, interrupted by the

president.

"But he's friendly," Nixon says.

"But he's, he's friendly," Buzhardt echoes.

"Good."

_________________________________________

Harry