THE Summer EDaily Vol. LXXXIl1, No. 51 -S Ann Arbor, Michigan-Tuesday, July 31, 1973 Ten Cents Twelve Pages Haldeman admits he's heard Natergate tapes Asserts Nixon will be exonerated WASHINGTON OP) -- H. R. Halde- man, once President Nixon's closest aide, said yesterday he had listened to tape recordings of two crucial meetings in the White House and that they do not support assertions by John Dean that the President knew of the Watergate cover-up. "Certainly Mr. Dean did not advise him of it at the Sept. 15 meeting, said Haldeman, formerly Nixon's chief of staff, in a lengthy opening statement read to the Senate Water- gate committee. Dean has said re- marks the President made at a meet- ing in September 1972 indicated to him that Nixon was aware of the cover-up. HALDEMAN said he also listened to the tape of a meeting last March 21, which Dean said was the occasion when he told Nixon the entire Watergate story. Haldeman said Dean gave Nixon a run- down on the break-in and said no one from the White House was involved, then told Nixon about funds paid out to de- fendants for their lawyers and families. Dean also reported on a blackmail threat from defendant E. Howard Hunt and said it could cost $1 million. HALDEMAN said the President respond- ed that "there is no problem in raising a million, but it would be wrong." Dean had testified simply that Nixon said there would be no problem raising the million. Haldeman said Nixon asked leading questions to try to get Dean's viewpoint and said "this was often the President's way of doing things. LIKE JOHN Ehrlichman, who preceded him as a witness before the committee, Haldeman insisted that Nixon will be cleared when the facts are out. "I have full confidence when the entire truth is known it will be clear to the Amer- ican people that President Nixon had no knowledge of either the Watergate affair itsself or a subsequent cover-up," Halde- man said. "It will be equally clear I had no such knowledge or involvement." Haldeman's disclosure that he had heard the tapes of the two meetings was the first indication that anyone but the President has heard a replay. The recordings, made automatic- ally in the President's office, .have been the subject of a constitutional argument See HALDEMAN, Page 10 Stauden meier returning to Ann Arbor? -See Story Pag-e 3 A bit of medieval nostalgia Two rogues, far left and far right, try to sponge a free meal off the doctor and his wife in a scene from the "Secret Society" which was presented at three locations last weekend as part of the Medieval Festival. Senate approves to liit spending WASHINGTON (P) - Spurred on by Watergate, the Senate yesterday passed, 82 to 8, a bill that would sharply limit campaign contributions and expenditures in federal elections. However, the legislation faces slow go- ing at best in the House. Some senators said it had been so weighted down by re- strictions on campaign financing that it may sink in the House, THE BILL, which would amend a 1971 campaign financing disclosure law, would establish severe penalties for anyone mis- using campaign funds and would create an independent bipartisan commission to enforce the law. The seven-member commission would have authority to initiate criminal prosecu- tions or to levy civil penalties of up to $10,000 against violators, OTHER MAJOR provisions of the bill iin federal elections would: 1 Make it a federal crime to embezzle campaign funds, or convert them to one's personal use or to use them to defray the legal expenses of persons accused of a crime such as the Watergate bugging de- fendants. Penalities under this and other parts of the bill would range up to 10 years in prison and fines of $25,000. B Bar individuals from contributing more than $3,000 to the campaign of a can- didate for president or Congress. Place a ceiling of $25,000 on the amount an individual could contribute to the cam- paigns of all candidates for federal office in a year. * Limit campaign spending by congres- sional- and presidential candidates to 10 cents times the voting age population in primaries and 15 cents in general elec- tions. On the basis of the latest population' figures, this would restrict presidential candidates to expenditures of $13.9 in pri- maries and $20.8 million in general elec- tions.r PRESIDENT NIXON spent an estimated $50 million to $55 million on his successful re-election campaign last year, while Sen. George McGovern, (D-S.D.) spent more than $25 million. A number of people including former Republican campaign financier Hugh Sloan have blamed the excessive amount of GOP campaign money for creating an atmosphere that made Watergate crimes possible. One provision of the bill came under at- tack as a step away from reform. It would repeal a section of present law banning government contractors from setting up voluntary political. funds to which em- ployes may contribute.