Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 7, 1973
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 7, 1973
[00.02.00--in to Sen. MONTOYA questioning former CRP Treasurer HUGH SLOAN about campaign expenditures given to Gordon LIDDY] Senator MONTOYA. Could your figures with Mr. Porter differ in an amount close to $50,000? Would that be possible? Mr. SLOAN. Senator, again, after a year, it is possible. This is my best recollection of what the figure was. The Liddy matter, I think, for instance, I am far surer on that figure than Mr. Porter's because Mr. Liddy was the issue at the time. Senator MONTOYA. To the best of your recollection and after reconciliation with Mr. Porter, do you still state that you disbursed to him the sum of $100,000? Mr. SLOAN. Senator, that is my best recollection. If he has a different recollection, I would not--you know, I would not stand on the hard figure of $100,000. That is the best approximation of what I recall I gave. Senator MONTOYA. Were you familiar with the activities of Mr. Porter? Mr. SLOAN. In terms of what he did with his money? Senator MONTOYA. Yes. Mr. SLOAN. No, sir. Senator MONTOYA. Are you now? Mr. SLOAN. I have read some stories in the press, yes, sir. Senator MONTOYA. What. information call you give this committee from those reports and from what, you have gathered since you left the committee? Mr. SLOAN. I believe it came out at the criminal trial, that of the funds I had given to Mr. Porter, he evidently, in turn, had turned over $35,000 of those funds to Mr. Liddy, which produced the aggregate figure that was used in the trial, the funds that were made available to Mr. Liddy. Senator MONTOYA. Did you also ascertain that some of this money was used for the "dirty tricks" part, of the campaign? Mr. SLOAN. There was a story about a student named Mr. Brill. There is a, convoluted chain of custody here I believe, from Mr. Porter to Mr. Rees to 'Mr. Gordon to Mr. Brill for--I am not sure "spying" is the right word, but whatever those activities were. Senator MONTOYA. Are you aware, of any other extended activities besides those two instances in this particular category? Mr. SLOAN. I think those are, the only two that I am aware of, Senator. Senator MONTOYA. You stated that a report on finances was given to Mr. Stans on one or two occasions, did you not? Mr. SLOAN. In terms of these cash funds, yes, sir; there were two or three reports in that, period from February 15, when he came on board, until my final report which I gave on June 23. Senator MONTOYA. And did you not, state the purpose of those disbursement disbursements as told by those individuals, if they told you? Mr. SLOAN. I have never been told directly by any of these individuals, Senator. Senator MONTOYA. I believe You questioned some disbursements to Mr. Porter and Mr. Liddy at one time and took this matter up with Mr. Stans; did you not? Mr. SLOAN. Yes, sir; I did. Senator -MONTOYA. And you also took this matter up with Mr. Magruder, is that correct? Mr. SLOAN. Yes, sir. Senator MONTOYA. And Mr. Magruder told you in turn that you were not, to question the request at, all, but to make the disbursements as they were requested of you, is that correct? Mr. SLOAN. Yes, sir. Senator MONTOYA, And did you file or prepare any internal reports as to what you were doing with this money? Mr. SLOAN. Just these reports I gave Secretary Stans. They were the only reports and he was, the only recipient of those reports. Senator MONTOYA. Did you provide any copy of any reports to the White House? No, sir--oh, excuse me, not of these cash funds, no Mr. SLOAN. NO, sir; not to my knowledge, Senator MONTOYA. Well any other reports? Mr. SLOAN. As I understand it, and I think this happened after I left in terms of the aggregate report of all contributors, we put, together a reconciliation of the pre-April 7 period by category; for instance all contributors who gave above $200 000 might be category 1, above $100,000 category 2, and so forth'. Senator MONTOYA. Would you further categorize category 1 and category 2? What particular information did you really specify by way of more definition? Mr. SLOAN. Well, these reports merely list the name of the person, the address, and the total amount, I mean the aggregate figure of what they had given in multiple--it would include all cash, currency, and securities. Senator MONTOYA. Do I understand you to say these reports reflected the disbursement prior to April 7 to Mr. Liddy, Mr. Porter, and to the others? Mr. SLOAN. NO, sir; excuse me, Senator, these are contributors, reports, not disbursements reports. I misunderstood you. I apologize. The report I am referring to is a listing of all contributors without the dollar amount by category, I believe was made available to the White House. Disbursements, I do not believe any reports were given to the White House. Senator MONTOYA. Who received a report on the disbursements besides Mr. Stans? [00.06.49--shot of SLOAN'S WIFE listening to testimony, appearing concerned] Mr. SLOAN. As far as in terms of the cash funds he is the only individual I ever gave that report to. Senator MONTOYA. You never gave any of these reports to Mr. Mitchell or Mr. Magruder Mr. SLOAN. No, sir. Senator MONTOYA. Do you know whether or not Mr. Stans gave them? Mr. SLOAN. I do not of my personal knowledge. Senator MONTOYA. Did you ever talk to Mr. Magruder, Mr. Mitchell or to anyone else, other than Mr. Stans, and verbally tell them how you were disbursing this cash? Mr. SLOAN. Well, there were, as the authority for this distribution of funds evolved, there were obviously conversations with these individuals. Certainly Mr. Magruder had a working knowledge of who was receiving a number of these distributions. For instance, he was responsible for the one he received, the Liddy one, the Porter one, probably did not know about the one to Mr. Strachan, Mr. Kalmbach separate. I would say those are the ones he was familiar with. [00.07.44]