US fever over political 'bugging'
Adam Raphael, Washington
Monday June 19, 1972
The Guardian
Snip
Washington's political temperature soared today after the bugging scandal in which the security consultant to the Republican National Committee was caught with four other men in the offices of the chairman of the Democratic Party.
Senator McGovern described the bugging attempt today as "one of the most shocking actions of all political time." While not directly accusing of complicity, the former Attorney, General John Mitchell, head of the committee to re-elect the President, the South Dakota Senator noted that he favoured the wider use of wire-tapping.
"Every time you get Mitchell and Dole (chairman of the Republican Party) together, you have to raise an eyebrow when something like this happens," said McGovern in what seemed almost a calculated attempt to annoy.
The Chairman of the Democratic Party, Mr Larry O'Brien, demanded a thorough FBI investigation. The episode, he said, raised the ugliest questions about the integrity of the political process. "No mere statement of innocence by Mr Nixon's campaign manager," he said "will dispel these questions arising from this incredible act of political espionage."
More:
today's guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/fromthearchive/story/0,12269,1241218,00.html