Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 6, 1973
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 6, 1973
[00.36.50] Senator GURNEY. First of all, did you talk to him at all when you were with the committee? Mr. SLOAN. In earlier periods with regard to advice on campaign law, particularly the old Corrupt Practices Act, prior to the time we had a full-time counsel with our committee. Senator GURNEY, I see. Now, then, go on about the other occasions. Mr. SLOAN. I do not believe I had any, other regular contact with him other than that context while I was at the finance committee. When I left, I saw him the day after I resigned, and after I retained counsel or thought I had retained counsel, because this had taken a considerable period of time and my car that was parked in the towaway zone of the White House had been towed away. It was sort of a frustrating day. Senator GURNEY. What was that? I missed it. [00.37.45--VERY FUNNY STUFF] Mr. SLOAN. My car, which had been parked in a towaway zone, that day lasted beyond 4:30 and -my car had disappeared following my resignation. Senator GURNEY. Did that have any connection with Watergate?, Mr. SLOAN. I do not believe so, Senator. I was somewhat frustrated at that, point and turned to John Dean, that he might be of some assistance locating where the Metropolitan Police Department might have placed it, and he was very helpful in that regard. Senator GURNEY. He certainly has a lot of contacts. Well, continue, now, on your contacts with Mr. Dean after you left the committee. Mr. SLOAN. Sir, he, Herb Kalmbach, and Maury Stans, throughout this period, would essentially call me every week or so to see how I was doing, take the temperature of the water, so to speak. Senator GURNEY. Could you tell us a little more about these conversations? Mr. SLOAN, I really can't Senator. They were very indefinite. Maury Stans occasionally would ask me advice on some of the civil litigation that had come up-- what do you think we ought to do about this, how is your family? It, was generally that kind of conversation. There a number, but I really can't characterize them in terms of any specific really substantive material. Senator GURNEY. But this was Dean calling you now? Mr. SLOAN. Yes, sir; and at various times, I would call him. At that point, I understood that, he was handling an within thin the White House the investigation of this matter. I sought him out, surely, after I had resigned to give him the same information I had given everybody' else with regard to the money and the 'Magruder approach. Senator GURNEY. As I understand it, these are conversations generally by him to you to find out anything he could find out. Is, that it? Mr. SLOAN. Well, he generally would not--my judgment was that he was not seeking information from me with regard to what had happened after I had resigned and the money and the Magruder approach. I really had to force it on him. I went over and saw him one, day said, this is what I think happened; I understand You are doing an investigation. One day we had a conversation about, Mr. Magruder which continued On. I think this must have been later after --I am not sure Of the exact timing, but I expressed a feeling to him that I had felt, so strongly about what, 'Mr. Magruder had--not so much what he had suggested, but, what he had forced on me in the, way of a personal decision, and the -very nature of the suggestion, that I expressed to Mr. Dean the thought that if 'Mr. Magruder ever were presented before a Senate committee for confirmation for a high public office, I would personally seek out that committee and voluntarily testify against him. Senator GURNEY. What did Mr. Dean say to that? Mr. SLOAN. He, said, it will never happen. Senator GURNEY. How many phone conversations would you say you had with him and during what period of time? Just approximately. Mr. SLOAN. I am not sure, Senator. They might have come up 2 or 3 weeks apart, throughout the period leading up to the trial. Senator GURNEY. This is from July 1972 until January 1973? Mr. SLOAN. Yes sir. Senator GURNEY. And is it, your impression, then, that he made these conversations because he was in charge of the, White House investigation the Watergate investigation? Mr., SLOAN. No; my impression more was that it was a, personal concern. He was just checking to see how I was. He was involved with-- Kalmbach, for instance, had offered to assist me in seeking private employment. We discussed my going to law school, he Suggested I see John Dean on that matter, if John had any suggestions. It was generally this kind of a conversation. Senator GURNEY, Has he ever made any suggestion to you other than the one you discussed with the chairman on the fifth amendment advice. as far as testimony in the grand jury or this committee is concerned? Mr. SLOAN, No, sir, I do not believe he has ever given me any legal advice in that context,. Senator GURNEY. In all of these conversations, did he ever mention the name of President Nixon? Mr. SLOAN. Not that I recall, Senator. Senator GURNEY. You testified that, you went, to California. That 'Was when you were asked to leave town for a while, I do not think you told us what you did in California. Would you describe to the committee what you did? Mr. SLOAN. Well, I forget where Secretary Stans was. I could not, join up with him until that Sunday night. There was a meeting on the California budget--- Senator ERVIN. There is a, vote on the floor of the Senate, so maybe we had better go over and vote and come back. [committee stands to recess, reporters/photogs mill around the front of the chamber] [00.42.58--LEHRER IN STUDIO]