http://tinyurl.com/8d8m9

[begin quoted material]

Because the members were presidential appointees, they had to meet the
same rigorous background checks any other appointee faces. Rusthoven --
familiar with those procedures, the White House and legal issues that
might arise -- was asked to be general counsel as the commission began
its work.

In the month he worked with the commission, Rusthoven was among the few
who saw video before it was released to the public, and heard initial
reports and testimony from NASA employees who had not wanted to proceed
with that day's launch because of cold weather.

"I vividly remember seeing some of that dramatic video footage, a puff
of smoke coming out of the side" of the shuttle, the first indication
that something was wrong, he said.

[end quoted material]

Peter Rusthoven, "after serving from 1981 to 1985 as an associate
counsel to President Ronald Reagan," apparently did not work for Rogers
long enough (only a critical "one month") to qualify as a member of the
Commission's staff:

http://history.nasa.gov/rogersrep/v1comm.htm#staff

The Rogers Commission held its first hearing on February 6, 1986. News
of "puffs" at lift-off did not reach the media until a week later.
Photos from film cameras appeared at that time.

I don't recall *ever* seeing "dramatic video footage" of a puff,
although after the Rogers Report was released, I did see barely
discernible smoke at the location claimed for a "puff," on FOIA video
footage from camera TV-3. Since I'm not a lawyer, if anyone here saw
"dramatic" video (such as Rusthoven described) in an earlier release, I
would very much appreciate knowing where and when.

Challenger's Ghost