THE WATERGATE CANTATA

THE WATERGATE CANTATA
by Steven Holloway
Libretto (Selections)

The Cast

Narrator

Soprano

John Mitchell

(spoken)

Senator Ervin

Baritone

Sam Dash

Tenor

Senator Baker

Tenor

Alexander Butterfield

Tenor

Maurice Stans

Tenor

John Ehrlichman

Heroic Tenor

Senator Gurney

Bass

John Haldeman

Bass

John Dean

(spoken)

John Colson

Tenor

Chorus of senators, spectators, press and staff.

#1 OVERTURE

#2 SONG -- "The Mandate of Heaven Descendeth"

NARRATOR:

The Mandate of Heaven Descendeth
Richard Retaineth the Throne.
Four Burglars found at the Watergate,
Bugging the Telephone.

Murmurs of wrong-doing many,
Wondering how much involvement.
Newspapers pick up the story,
Watergate weekly Installment.

Still whispered rumors persist,
Conspirators now do abound.
Shake-ups within the White House,
Something's definitely going down.

Congress at last stirred to action,
Votes for a Watergate Committee,
Publicly broadcasting hearings,
Biggest attraction in the City.

Now comes the rancorous story,
White House Horrors abhorrent,
Richard, thou hast now thine Mandate,
But hast thou played foully for it?

#3 "In an atmosphere of Utmost Gravity"

Song - Recitative and duet, Ervin, Baker, Chorus

ERVIN:

We are beginning these Hearings today,
In an atmosphere of the utmost gravity.
The questions raised,
In the June Break-in
Strike at the very undergirding of our democracy.

(Recitative)

If the many allegations made to this date are true, then the burglars who broke into the Watergate were in effect breaking into the home of every citizen of the United States.

And if these allegations prove to be true, what they were seeking to steal was not the jewels, money or other property of American citizens,but something much more valuable, - their most precious heritage, the right to vote.

Since that day, a mood of incredulity has prevailed among our populace, and it is the constitutional duty of this committee to act expeditiously to allay the fears being expressed by the citizenry, and to establish the factual bases upon which thee fears have been founded.

ERVIN & BAKER:

We are beginning these Hearings today, etc.

BAKER :
(Free Aria)

The constitutional institutions of this Republic are so strong and so resilient that I have never doubted for a moment their ability to function without interruption. On the contrary, it seems clear to me the very fact that we are now involved in the public process of cleaning our house, before the eyes of the world, is a mark of greatest strength. I do not believe that any other political system could endure the thoroughness and the ferocity of the various inquiries now under way within the branch of government and in our courageous, tenacious free press.

.ERVIN:

The investigation of this select committee,
Was born of crisis, unabated at this time,
A mounting loss of confidence,
Of citizens in the integrity,
Of our electoral process which is the bedrock of our democracy.

(Recitative)

It has been asserted that the 1972 campaign was influenced by a wide variety of illegal or unethical activities, including the widespread wiretapping of the telephones, political headquarters, and even the residences of candidates and of members of the press; by the publication of forged documents designed to defame certain candidates or enhance others through fraudulent means; the infiltrating and disruption of opponents' political organizations and gatherings; the raising and handling of campaign contributions through means designed to circumvent either in letter or in spirit, the provisions of campaign disclosure ,acts; and even the acceptance of contributions based upon promises of illegal interference in governmental processes on behalf of the contributors.

Finally, and perhaps most disturbingly, it has been alleged that, following the Watergate break-in, there has been a massive attempt to cover up all the improper activities, extending even so far as to pay off potential witnesses and, in particular, the seven defendants in the Watergate trial in exchange for their promise to remain silent -- activities which if true, represent interference in the integrity of the prosecutorial and judicial processes of this nation.

CHORUS:

We are beginning these hearings today,
In an atmosphere of the utmost gravity.
The questions raised,
In the June break-in,
Strike at the very undergirding of our democracy.

#4 STAN'S TESTIMONY

("Very model of a Modern Finance Chairman")
Song, Recitatives, and Duets -- Narrator, Chorus, Stans, Ervin, and Gurney.

NARRATOR:

Hold Senators.
Ere your investigative fulminations proceed against Dick's will to implicate them all, just bear in mind that there be some who'll stand behind their chief, to the end through stonewalling, denials, and perjury.
You'd better pause,
now comes the CREEP vanguard,
first of all Maurice Stans, the Finance Chairman.

WOMEN:

Yes, yes, he is the CREEP Finance Chairman

CHORUS:

Yes, yes, he's the very model of a Modern Finance Chairman

STANS:

It is my understanding that the committee is probing,
Three matters on -which it might assume that I have some knowledge.
I had no knowledge of Watergate or any other espionage,
efforts before I read about them in the press.
I had no knowledge of any sabotage program.
To my knowledge there were no intentional violations,
of the laws relating to financing for which I had responsibility.

(Spoken during hold)

Because of the complexity of the new law that became effective in the course of the campaign, and, the vast amount of work that had to be done,

(back to sung)

There may have been some unintended technical violations

CHORUS:

There may have been some unintended technical violations etc.

STANS:

The controls did not work as they were intended,
And spending overran the budget by more than 8 million.
In short in matters of accountual, illicit but not illegal,
I am the very Model of a Modern Financial Chairman.

CHORUS:

In short in matters of accountual, illicit but not illegal,
He is the very Model of a Modern Financial Chairman.

#4b. MURDER MERITORIOUS OR LARCENY LEGAL

ERVIN:

Mr. Stans, do you not think that men who have been
honored by the American people as you have
ought to have their course guided by ethical principles
superior to the minimum requirements of the criminal laws?

STANS:

I do not quarrel with that,
but there is an ethical question
in whether or not I can take your money
as a contributor with an understanding
on your part that you are entitled to privacy and
then release the figure to the public.

ERVIN:

Well, all the law said as you construe it, was that
you did not have to make a public reporting.
The law did not require you to destroy the records
of those contributions, Did it?

STANS:

Mr. Chairman, the law did not even go that far.
The law did not require any records.

ERVIN:

Will you please tell me why you disbursed $50,000
in cash to Mr. Lanker instead of by check?

STANS:

It is my recollection that he asked for it in
that form to mix it into the receipts
Of the party that was being held in Maryland.

ERVIN:

In other words, they were holding
a fund-raising dinner in the Vice-President's honor
and they wanted to make it appear
that they took in $50,000 more than they actually
took in.

STANS:

They wanted to make it look
more successful than it apparently was.

ERVIN:

Yes. In other words, they wanted to practice
a deception on the general public as to the amount of
honor paid the Vice President.

STANS :

Mr. Chairman, I am not sure this is the first time
that has happened in American politics.

ERVIN :

You know, there has been murder and larceny
in every generation,
but that hasn't made murder meritorious or larceny legal.

#4c HARASSMENT !!

GURNEY :

Mr. Chairman, I would like to say some other things, too.
I for one have not appreciated
the harassment of this witness by the chairman
in the questioning that has just finished.
I think this committee ought to act in fairness.

ERVIN:

Well, I have not questioned the veracity of the witness.
I have asked the witness questions to find out
what the truth is.

GURNEY:

I didn't use the word "veracity."
I used the word "harassment."

ERVIN:

Well, I am sorry that my distinguished friend
from Florida does not approve
of my method of examining the witness.
I am an old country lawyer
and I don't know the finer ways to do it.
I am an old country lawyer
I just have to do it my way.

GURNEY:

I didn't say that I do not approve;
I just want to disassociate myself from --

STANS:

Mr. Chairman, may I have the opportunity under the
committee's rules of a closing statement.

ERVIN:

Yes sir .

... [and so on]

Narrator	Soprano	John Mitchell	(spoken)
Senator Ervin	Baritone	Sam Dash	Tenor
Senator Baker	Tenor	Alexander Butterfield	Tenor
Maurice Stans	Tenor	John Ehrlichman	Heroic Tenor
Senator Gurney	Bass	John Haldeman	Bass
John Dean	(spoken)	John Colson	Tenor

Chorus of senators, spectators, press and staff.

ERVIN:	We are beginning these Hearings today, In an atmosphere of the utmost gravity. The questions raised, In the June Break-in Strike at the very undergirding of our democracy.
(Recitative)	If the many allegations made to this date are true, then the burglars who broke into the Watergate were in effect breaking into the home of every citizen of the United States. And if these allegations prove to be true, what they were seeking to steal was not the jewels, money or other property of American citizens,but something much more valuable, - their most precious heritage, the right to vote. Since that day, a mood of incredulity has prevailed among our populace, and it is the constitutional duty of this committee to act expeditiously to allay the fears being expressed by the citizenry, and to establish the factual bases upon which thee fears have been founded.
ERVIN & BAKER:	We are beginning these Hearings today, etc.
BAKER : (Free Aria)	The constitutional institutions of this Republic are so strong and so resilient that I have never doubted for a moment their ability to function without interruption. On the contrary, it seems clear to me the very fact that we are now involved in the public process of cleaning our house, before the eyes of the world, is a mark of greatest strength. I do not believe that any other political system could endure the thoroughness and the ferocity of the various inquiries now under way within the branch of government and in our courageous, tenacious free press.
.ERVIN:	The investigation of this select committee, Was born of crisis, unabated at this time, A mounting loss of confidence, Of citizens in the integrity, Of our electoral process which is the bedrock of our democracy.
(Recitative)	It has been asserted that the 1972 campaign was influenced by a wide variety of illegal or unethical activities, including the widespread wiretapping of the telephones, political headquarters, and even the residences of candidates and of members of the press; by the publication of forged documents designed to defame certain candidates or enhance others through fraudulent means; the infiltrating and disruption of opponents' political organizations and gatherings; the raising and handling of campaign contributions through means designed to circumvent either in letter or in spirit, the provisions of campaign disclosure ,acts; and even the acceptance of contributions based upon promises of illegal interference in governmental processes on behalf of the contributors. Finally, and perhaps most disturbingly, it has been alleged that, following the Watergate break-in, there has been a massive attempt to cover up all the improper activities, extending even so far as to pay off potential witnesses and, in particular, the seven defendants in the Watergate trial in exchange for their promise to remain silent -- activities which if true, represent interference in the integrity of the prosecutorial and judicial processes of this nation.
CHORUS:	We are beginning these hearings today, In an atmosphere of the utmost gravity. The questions raised, In the June break-in, Strike at the very undergirding of our democracy.

NARRATOR:	Hold Senators. Ere your investigative fulminations proceed against Dick's will to implicate them all, just bear in mind that there be some who'll stand behind their chief, to the end through stonewalling, denials, and perjury. You'd better pause, now comes the CREEP vanguard, first of all Maurice Stans, the Finance Chairman.
WOMEN:	Yes, yes, he is the CREEP Finance Chairman
CHORUS:	Yes, yes, he's the very model of a Modern Finance Chairman
STANS:	It is my understanding that the committee is probing, Three matters on -which it might assume that I have some knowledge. I had no knowledge of Watergate or any other espionage, efforts before I read about them in the press. I had no knowledge of any sabotage program. To my knowledge there were no intentional violations, of the laws relating to financing for which I had responsibility.
(Spoken during hold)	Because of the complexity of the new law that became effective in the course of the campaign, and, the vast amount of work that had to be done,
(back to sung)	There may have been some unintended technical violations
CHORUS:	There may have been some unintended technical violations etc.
STANS:	The controls did not work as they were intended, And spending overran the budget by more than 8 million. In short in matters of accountual, illicit but not illegal, I am the very Model of a Modern Financial Chairman.
CHORUS:	In short in matters of accountual, illicit but not illegal, He is the very Model of a Modern Financial Chairman.

ERVIN:	Mr. Stans, do you not think that men who have been honored by the American people as you have ought to have their course guided by ethical principles superior to the minimum requirements of the criminal laws?
STANS:	I do not quarrel with that, but there is an ethical question in whether or not I can take your money as a contributor with an understanding on your part that you are entitled to privacy and then release the figure to the public.
ERVIN:	Well, all the law said as you construe it, was that you did not have to make a public reporting. The law did not require you to destroy the records of those contributions, Did it?
STANS:	Mr. Chairman, the law did not even go that far. The law did not require any records.
ERVIN:	Will you please tell me why you disbursed $50,000 in cash to Mr. Lanker instead of by check?
STANS:	It is my recollection that he asked for it in that form to mix it into the receipts Of the party that was being held in Maryland.
ERVIN:	In other words, they were holding a fund-raising dinner in the Vice-President's honor and they wanted to make it appear that they took in $50,000 more than they actually took in.
STANS:	They wanted to make it look more successful than it apparently was.
ERVIN:	Yes. In other words, they wanted to practice a deception on the general public as to the amount of honor paid the Vice President.
STANS :	Mr. Chairman, I am not sure this is the first time that has happened in American politics.
ERVIN :	You know, there has been murder and larceny in every generation, but that hasn't made murder meritorious or larceny legal.

GURNEY :	Mr. Chairman, I would like to say some other things, too. I for one have not appreciated the harassment of this witness by the chairman in the questioning that has just finished. I think this committee ought to act in fairness.
ERVIN:	Well, I have not questioned the veracity of the witness. I have asked the witness questions to find out what the truth is.
GURNEY:	I didn't use the word "veracity." I used the word "harassment."
ERVIN:	Well, I am sorry that my distinguished friend from Florida does not approve of my method of examining the witness. I am an old country lawyer and I don't know the finer ways to do it. I am an old country lawyer I just have to do it my way.
GURNEY:	I didn't say that I do not approve; I just want to disassociate myself from --
STANS:	Mr. Chairman, may I have the opportunity under the committee's rules of a closing statement.
ERVIN:	Yes sir .