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
[00.07.34] Senator BAYER. Would you tell us the scope of 'Mr. LaRue's inquiry? Mr. SLOAN. At this point in time, it, was very general. It. was--I would say he restricted his inquiry essentially into the Liddy matter. Within the committee at a very early period, it, was quite. obvious, I think, to everyone that the focus was on Mr. Liddy and as far as any knowledge 1 had that pertained to that, it would be. the area of the money that, I turned over to Mr. Liddy. Senator BAKER. Do you know whether Mr. La Rue had any previous information of his own about 'Mr, Liddy's participation in any of these affairs at the time he made these inquiries of you? Mr. SLOAN. I have no such knowledge. Senator BAKER. What was the nature, of the inquiry that Mr. LaRue made of the Liddy situation? Mr. SLOAN. Essentially, it was seeking the information of me, sort, of the dollar figures. I think once he had the dimensions of it, as I believe I mentioned this morning he came back to me saying this was a very politically sensitive issue, we need to come in with a, lower figure. At that point, it sort, of broke, and I understood Mr. Mardian as being relatively external, In the sense that he had joined the committee shortly before my interview, that he had picked up sort of the range of the investigation. Knowing Mr. 'Mardian, that would be Mr. Parkinson and Mr. O'Brien. Senator BAKER. The inquiry of you about, 'Mr. Liddy's functions and responsibilities in the committee was limited just to the payments to Mr. Liddy by you? Mr. SLOAN. I think there was a total awareness of Mr. Liddy's function, at, least as it was supposed to be; there were no inquiries in that regard. It was as purely in regard to financial payments to him. Senator BAKER, But no purely inquiries were put to you about, Mr, Liddy's functions as it involved responsibility for' the Watergate episode? Mr. SLOAN. No, sir. Senator BAKER. What was the next interview you had? Mr. SLOAN. Following the Mardian interview, which was the--that was on the 24th of June Just prior to my departing for Bermuda. Senator BAKER. By whom? Mr. SLOAN. This was Mr. Mardian's interview on the 3rd. He again was asking and concentrating On the Liddy payments, also Mr. Porter's payments, I think a far more comprehensive approach to the general financial dealings than had been the case with Mr. LaRue. Senator BAKER, What was the next episode? Mr. SLOAN. It was when I sought out Mr. Parkinson and Mr. O'Brien on the evening of July 6. Senator BAKER. An, what was the essence of that conversation? Mr. SLOAN. That conversation was an approach by me to advise them of the facts I knew because they had not sought me out at that point. It was in the face of-the personnel of the finance area had already been subpenaed before, the grand jury. As I said this morning, I felt it was a very severe problem that needed to be addressed and I sought them out, to impart that information to them. Senator BAKER. What was the next time you were interviewed or had a conversation about the Watergate affair? Mr. SLOAN. I think I skipped over the FBI. Senator BAKER. I believe so. Would you go back and identify that by date and tell us of the scope of the FBI inquiry? Mr. SLOAN. I believe that was in mid-week, probably the 21st or 22d of June. It was an interview purely on the question of whether I knew Mr. Alfred Baldwin, was he an employee of the committee. They asked to have our records made available to them to check out those facts. It was very brief and purely on that subject. Senator BAKER. Solely on the. subject of Mr. Baldwin? Mr. SLOAN. Yes, sir. Senator BAKER. Were any questions asked you regarding Magruder, Mr. Dean, Mr. Hunt, Mr. Liddy, Mr. McCord, Mr. Barker, or anyone else except Mr. Baldwin? Mr. SLOAN, No, sir. The sole subject of that interview was whatever- whether we could identify Mr. Baldwin as having been an employee of the committee. Senator BAKER. Could you? Mr. SLOAN. No, sir, 1 never heard of him. Senator BAKER. Do you have any idea why the FBI limited its inquiry to Mr. Baldwin? Mr. SLOAN. No, sir; I did not, Senator BAKER. Did it seem to be limited to a particular purpose. Did they express a reason for wanting to know particularly about Mr. Baldwin? Mr. SLOAN. They indicated, the agents who were there at that time, that they had information that Mr. Baldwin had been involved in a demonstration--- am not sure. They did identify where it was, but I have forgotten where that was. Senator BAKER. No one asked you about the Watergate break-in in the course of that FBI interview? Mr. SLOAN. No, sir, it was never mentioned. Senator BAKER, Nobody ever asked you about Mr. Liddy? Mr. SLOAN. No, sir. Senator BAKER. Mr. Hunt? Mr. SLOAN. No, sir. Senator BAKER. Mr. McCord? Mr. SLOAN. No, sir, Senator BAKER. Money? ? Mr. SLOAN. No, sir. Senator BAKER. Accounting? Mr. SLOAN. Money--only in the sense of-was Mr, Baldwin on the payroll or had we paid him any money. Senator BAKER. And no one asked you about the $100 bills that were found with or on the defendants that, were involved in the break-in or illegal entry into Democratic national headquarters? Mr. SLOAN. No, sir. Senator BAKER. Did any member of the FBI or the Justice Department ever discuss any of this with you? Mr. SLOAN. The next occasion I had to meet with the FBI was following my resignation, which I believe was on the Friday, July 14, I think I am correct in this, that they were present at, my home the following Monday morning and every morning thereafter. Senator BAKER. When did you resign? Mr. SLOAN. On a Friday, July 14. [00.13.19]