Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 6, 1973 Testimony of Hugh Sloan
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 6, 1973 Testimony of Hugh Sloan
[00.02.00--in LEHRER in studio--PBS station ID--title screen "SENATE HEARINGS ON CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES"] [00.04.20--LEHRER in studio] LERHER introduces questioning of Hugh SLOAN by Senator BAKER. [00.04.33--to committee room, wide shot of table at front] AFTERNOON SESSION, WEDNESDAY, June 6, 1973 Senator ERVIN. The committee will come to order. Senator Baker. Senator BAKER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Sloan, I join in the statement that Senator Talmadge made before the adjournment for lunch, that you have presented the appearance of a man who is fair and who is open and forthcoming in your testimony and we are grateful to you. I have the impression that, from your description and the description of others, your cooperation has been of a similar quality with those who have undertaken the investigation of these affairs. I believe that is my point of departure, if I might. Would you tell me how many inquiries into the Watergate situation have produced an interview or inquiry of you? To recall the situation, the U.S. Attorney's office interviewed you, I believe Mr. LaRue and others for the Committee To Re-Elect the President interviewed you. Mr. SLOAN. Yes, Senator BAKER. The FBI interviewed you. The staff of this committee has interviewed you, I believe, on more than one occasion. Mr. SLOAN. Yes, sir; that is correct. Senator BAKER. Is there anyone else who has interviewed you in this case? Mr. SLOAN. There have been probably three or four occasions with the General Accounting Office over a period Of time; the two grand jury appearances referred to earlier; numerous depositions in the various civil cases relating to this matter. I have really lost count, Senator, of the time and the number of occasions to this point. Senator BAKER. But you have been a well-interviewed man in the course of the last several months I do not mean to burden the record with unnecessary repetition, but could you briefly describe to me the subject matter of the several inquiries made of you? I am particularly interested in the scope of the interrogation. Begin, if you will, with the first investigation, When was the first time you were interviewed? Was that by the FBI? Mr. SLOAN-. You are talking of an external investigation? Senator BAKER. I am speaking really of any time subsequent to the early morning hours of June 17, 1972, Mr. SLOAN. I considered initially this investigation began as an internal investigation. My understanding, was that 'Mr, LaRue had that function within the campaign committee, Senator Baker. How did you receive that information? Mr. SLOAN. Whether he imparted that to me, I am not sure. It is situation of general knowledge within the committee that he Was looking into the matter. Senator BAKER. And this was as early as during the day of June 17, 1972? Mr. SLOAN. I do not believe it quite moved that fast, Senator. I believe it was in that early part, or mid-week of the week following the break-in. Senator BAKER. Was that the first, interview you had relative. to the Watergate affair? Mr. SLOAN. I believe so; yes, sir. [00.07.34]