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I said, “Mr. Rockefeller, you are one of the ten most powerful people in the world. You don't think that a discussion that you have with the President should be the subject of public discussion?” I said, “I'm a member of Congress. I don't have half the power you have and everything I say that bears upon the country is surely the subject of public discussion if people want to discuss it.” And then I say, “Mr. Rockefeller, really what I want to know is: did you say what the reporter said you said?”
And then he said, “First, Mr. Congressman, I want to make another point, which is: what also troubles me is that there is someone at the subways handing out your letter to me.”
And I said, “Mr. Rockefeller, not ‘someone’ -- me. I am handing out that letter.”
He looks rather shocked. I said, “Now, did you make this statement?” He says, “It's true except in one respect.” I said, “Well, what is that?” He said, “The impression is that I made the statement because of venality and not in the public interest.”
I said, “Now I understand. What you're saying is that when you advised the President to change the policy, it wasn't because of Chase Manhattan's and your oil interests, it was because you thought it was in the interests of the United States. Is that what you're saying to me? But in all other respects it was correct.” “Yes.”
I lean forward and I say to him: “Change your position.” He was rather startled. I said, “I have to go, Mr. Rockefeller. I'll be making a statement about this on television over the week- end.” He looked a little more startled. And then I say as I'm
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