"It was frightening because it was the first time I had gotten a sense of how serious the problem was. It became clear from his notes that he felt the president himself was involved"

This quote by Fred F. Fielding is referring to a circumstance in which he existed with notes from someone that recommended the president was involved in a severe problem. This was a frightening awareness for Fielding as it was the very first time he had actually gotten a sense of how serious the problem was. The notes made it clear that the person who wrote them believed the president was associated with the concern. This was a stunning discovery for Fielding and it made him recognize the gravity of the situation. It was a frightening experience for him as he had never experienced such a major issue before. The notes made it clear that the president was involved and this was a frightening realization for Fielding.