THE CONFRONTATION
McGee and Savage walked up the dark alley following Hart. McGee turned the corner at the end of the alley and flinched in surprise. Gary Hart stood directly around the corner, leaning against a brick fence. Both men were startled.
?Good evening, Senator, ? McGee said. ?I'm a reporter from The Miami Herald. We'd like to talk to you. ? Savage introduced himself.
Hart said nothing. He held his arms around his midsection and leaned forward slightly with his back against the brick wall. He was wearing a white sweater jacket and slacks.
We?d like to ask you about the young woman staying in your house, McGee said.
?No one is staying in my house, ? Hart said.
We saw a woman go in your house at 8:40 p.m. You passed me on the street here, McGee said.
?I may or may not have, ? Hart said.
What is your relationship with the woman in your townhouse? McGee asked.
?I'm not involved in any relationship, ? Hart said.
So why did we just see her and you go back into the townhouse?
?The obvious reason is I'm being set up, ? Hart said. His voice quivered.
Is she in your house, Senator?
?She may or may not be,? Hart said.
Savage asked whether they could go to his house to meet the young woman and continue the interview. Hart refused.
If she is not in your house, how did she leave? Is she staying with you?
?She's been here in Washington over the weekend, ? Hart said.
Senator, let me explain, McGee said. We've had your house under surveillance since early last evening. I was standing near the front of your house last night at 9:30 p.m. I saw you come out of your house with a blond woman. You got into your car, you drove up the street, you got stopped at the red light. I walked alongside your car.
Hart listened, occasionally nodding his head.
Senator, where were you going?
?I was on my way to take her to a place where she was staying, ? Hart said.
Savage cut in: How long have you known her?
?Several months, ? Hart said.
What is her name?
?I would suppose you would find that out. ?
McGee: Senator, at 11:17 p.m. I was again directly across from the front of your house and I saw you come walking up the street with the blond woman. You had parked your car at the corner and you walked up the street and entered your house.
?She came back to pick up some things that she had left, ? Hart said.
How long did she stay?
?Ten or 15 minutes,? Hart said.
How did she leave? Savage asked.
?I don't remember. ?
Senator, this is important. Can you remember how she left? Is it possible you called a cab for her? Savage asked.
?I don't remember, ? Hart said.
Who is this woman? McGee asked.
?She is a friend of a friend of mine, ? Hart said. ? . . . A guest of a friend of mine.?
McGee said he didn't understand. He went over the last observation again. Tell us again why they returned together.
(Donna Rice)
?She left some things in the house, ? Hart said.
Savage broke in: What is the nature of your relationship? ?I have no relationship with the woman, ? Hart said. ?She is not staying with me.? It was, he said, ?nothing personal. ?
Hart seemed to gain composure as he spoke. Fiedler joined the interview.
?Hi, Tom,? Hart said.
We know you made telephone calls to this woman from around the country, McGee said, from various campaign stops.
What did you talk about?
?Nothing, ? Hart said.
Were they political? McGee asked.
?It was casual, political, ? Hart said. "General conversation. ?
Savage asked when he first met her.
?To my recollection I don't remember where I met her, ? Hart said.
Did he know her occupation?
?I don't know that, either. ?
Fiedler said the reporters knew that he was with her on a yacht, a trip he took after a campaign stop in Gainesville.
?I don't remember, ? Hart said.
You have never been on that yacht then? McGee asked.
?I didn't say that, ? Hart said.
During the next few minutes, first Fiedler and then McGee reminded Hart of his challenge to the press to follow him around. They pointed out that after the Newsweek article he had said he could only respond to specifics, not rumors. The reporters were now asking about a specific incident. Fiedler, who had covered the opening of his campaign in Colorado, reminded him that he had promised to conduct his campaign on the highest moral plane.
He implored Hart to offer evidence that would clarify the situation. He said, ?You, of all people, know the sensitivity of this. ? And he told Hart that The Herald intended to publish an account of what the reporters had witnessed and what Hart had confirmed. Please be forthcoming, Fiedler said.
?I've been very forthcoming, ? Hart said.
What is your relationship with the blond woman?
?I have no personal relationship with the individual you are following, ? Hart said.
Are you denying that you met her on the yacht? McGee asked.
?I?m not denying anything, ? Hart said heatedly.
Savage asked Hart whether he would allow reporters to talk with the woman in his house. That
would clear up the questions. Hart said he did not want to violate her privacy. How about the friend she is visiting? Savage asked. Same problem, Hart said.
McGee explained that if there was an innocent explanation, produce the woman. Let us talk to her.
?I don't have to produce anyone, ? Hart said.
McGee had long ago learned to save the least pleasant question for last. Hart acted as if he were close to ending the interview.
Have you had sex with the woman I saw with you on the street? McGee asked.
?The answer is no,? Hart said. ?I'm not going to get into all that.?
Hart abruptly terminated the interview by turning and walking back toward the entrance to his house.
?We don't need any of that, ? Hart said, starting up the alley to his house, as photographer Smith snapped several shots.
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wonder what ever happened to Gary H
