“How did he get chosen?”
“The board and I were thinking of going to a New York consultancy and we also considered using somebody from the Department of Labour. Then on the same day two people suggested Powell. The first was Siwecki and the second was Jim Oakes, who was the company’s legal adviser. He’s the new Senator.”
“And that’s how Powell was chosen?”
“Yes. Pure coincidence.”
“Which of your customers tipped you off ?”
“General Motors.”
“That’s where the inspector came from who was called in by Powell?”
“Yep.”
“As I understand it your people went on strike because they lost substantial bonuses because of sub-assemblies manufactured here that were rejected by your Detroit customers.”
“That’s it.”
“And in fact, the sub-assemblies had been deliberately damaged before they left these premises.”
“Correct.”
“And Powell was made aware of this during his investigation and arbitration because one of your customers showed him a sabotaged sub-assembly.”
“Yes.”
“So Powell knew, and so did Siwecki.”
“I don’t know that Siwecki knew.”
“I’m telling you, Mr. Haig. He told me he knew. The sabotage was deliberate. The strike was contrived so that Powell could be made into the local hero by settling it.”
“Why should Siwecki, a union man, help a Republican?”
“Money, orders, who knows, Haig.”
Haig looked uneasy.
“Are you suggesting that I gave such orders?”
“I’m suggesting that at some stage you knew what was going on or had gone on. The very least you did was to cover up a criminal conspiracy.”
“Why should I go along with something that damaged my company?”
“You sold a substantial holding of your shares the week before the strike, Mr. Haig. And more after the strike was over. Why was that?”
“I needed the money for other purposes.”
Haig’s eyes looked down at his desk to avoid Nolan’s stare.
“Your bank account shows a pretty healthy balance over that period, Mr. Haig.”
The older man’s head came up quickly and for the first time since they had talked Haig looked scared.
“You must have had a Federal warrant to get that information, Mr. Nolan.”
“I have.”
Haig shifted in his chair to face Nolan.
“What the hell are you after? What is it you want to know?”
“Everything.”
“Are you charging me with some offence?”
“Not yet.”
“Right. So get the hell out of my plant.”
Nolan stood up. Haig was frightened now and one more small pressure would be enough to make him crack. But there was no point in giving any clue as to what they were investigating. The first arrests would have to be the top people.
Back at the house Nolan read through the radio reports from New York. Kleppe had only left his apartment for local shopping but they had noted two public phone boxes that he seemed to use regularly. Arrangements had been made to bug them during the night.
There were reports of three men who also could be watching the apartment. Photographs had been taken and sent to Central Records for possible identification. If they were watching it was considered that they might be professionals, as they were doing it so well.
Attempts were being made to use a window bug on Kleppe’s apartment but so far they had been unsuccessful. Was Nolan prepared to authorize an application for a full-scale tapping at the telephone exchange? He initialled the sheet with a negative.
MacKay came in as he signed the last sheet. Nolan spoke while he manoeuvred a refill into his ball-point.
“Get out a pad, James, and let’s have a look at what we’ve got.”
They took a break for a meal but it was three hours later when the list was complete.
Operation 66
Established material at 1 December. Items asterisked considered strong enough for court.
Kleppe
*
1.
Entered US on false documents.
*
2.
Speaks Russian.
*
3.
Has influence with Russians in Paris.
*
4.
Illegal diamond transactions.
*
5.
Has latest KGB transceiver.
6.
Almost certainly Soviet citizen and KGB operator.
*
7.
Has lent or given large sums of money to wide group of influential people at all levels.
*
8.
Known associate of Dempsey.
*
9.
Known associate of girl at 38th Street apartment.
*
10.
Has visited Moscow in last two years.
11.
Has connections with Oakes.
*
12.
Used Soviet influence to release Dempsey and girl from Paris jail.
Dempsey
*
1.
Was member of CP in 1968.
*
2.
Had Soviet girlfriend, also Party member.
*
3.
Known associate of girl at 38th St.
4.
Paid Siwecki for strike.
5.
Gave orders to Siwecki who was CP member.
*
6.
Known associate of Kleppe.
*
7.
Has received large sums of money over long period from Kleppe. Possibly for onward distribution.
*
8.
Obligated to Kleppe for release from jail.
Powell
*
1.
Known associate of Dempsey.
*
2.
Knew strike was “fixed.”
*
3.
Was least likely nominee as Republican candidate for governorship of Connecticut.
4.
Has indicated policies, since election, favourable to Soviets.
Nolan looked unhappy as he read down the final list.
“You know what’s wrong with this, James?”
“Tell me.”
“We could arrest Kleppe right now. And have him deported. We could prove that Dempsey fixed the strike at the Haig plant and that that helped Powell. And we could prove that he is an associate of Kleppe. But that’s all. And throwing out Kleppe wouldn’t do a damn thing. They would have been warned and Kleppe’s replacement would have to be more careful. That’s all we could do.”
“All we need is to link Dempsey with Kleppe. His link with Powell is public.”
“That wouldn’t prove that Powell knew what they were doing.”
“But it could invalidate the election if it was proved that the result was achieved by criminal conspiracy.”
“Maybe. I’m not sure what the ground rules are. But that would be a last resort.”
“Let’s try and establish what the ideal solution would be.”
“You mean assuming that Powell is part of some conspiracy?”
“Yes. Let us assume that we can prove Dempsey and Kleppe were working under Soviet orders to get Powell in the White House. What would we want to happen?”
“It depends on whether Powell was part of the conspiracy. Did he know, or was he in total ignorance of what was going on?”
“Let us assume that it is neither extreme. He wasn’t in total ignorance
