Day 025 - 16 Sep 94 - Page 68


     
     1        Raber and Dentice, and some people with initials only.
     2        Again, it is the same signature at the bottom of that list
     3        of people.  It is the same date but this time 4.20 p.m..
     4
     5        You agree with me that this is a press release from the
     6        office of the Attorney General of Texas?
     7        A.  Well, it certainly appears to be.  I do not recall
     8        having seen the press release at the time or since.
     9
    10   Q.   I am not asking whether you had any involvement; you would
    11        agree that is what it appears to be?
    12        A.  I am drawing that distinction.  I do not know what was
    13        in the press release.  I would want to see the original
    14        but it appears to be a transcription of it.
    15
    16   Q.   Please be patient with me.  It appears to be a press
    17        release from the Attorney General of Texas' office, does
    18        it not?
    19        A.  It appears to be.
    20
    21   Q.   This says: "This the letter from Jim Mattox, Attorney
    22        General for the State of Texas, and it was released today,
    23        April 24th 1987", does it not?
    24        A.  It does say that.  I do not believe that to be part of
    25        the press release.
    26
    27   Q.   But make the assumption that is true, then I would like
    28        you to read the text of the press release, if I may call
    29        it that, to yourself.
    30        A.  I have read it.
    31
    32   Q.   Yes.  There are one or two questions about this document.
    33        I accept your evidence for the present, at least, that you
    34        had no hand in the preparation of this document because
    35        that is what you are telling us, or you do not recollect
    36        having done so?
    37        A.  In the ordinary turn of events, I would not have and
    38        would not have even seen a draft of it prior to its
    39        release.  I normally would be mailed a copy, but if
    40        I received a copy afterwards, it is probable I would just
    41        have stuck it away.
    42
    43   Q.   Forget all that.  As I have said to you, I make no
    44        complaint about the formal letters which were sent to
    45        McDonald's and the text being read over the telephone by
    46        you; that is a perfectly acceptable way of proceeding as
    47        far as I am concerned.  What I want to ask you is this.
    48        On reading this and seeing that, in fact, it will have
    49        reached the media before McDonald's got the actual letter
    50        in their hand, that they had the text from you on the 
    51        telephone, the very same day, first of all this, is this a 
    52        normal way for an Attorney General to proceed, to 
    53        communicate privately and at the same time to go public in
    54        this way?
    55        A.  I do not know what you mean by "normal".  It certainly
    56        happens.  This is by no means an isolated instance.
    57
    58   Q.   Does the text of this press release cause you any
    59        embarrassment?
    60        A.  No, sir.

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