Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 7, 1973
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 7, 1973
[00.30.44] Senator MONTOYA. And you have indicated in your testimony before this committee that Mr. Magruder tried to get you to do certain things and that you, in turn, indicated that if Mr. Magruder would be up for an appointment, you would personally come and testify against any confirmation. Now, why did you single out, Mr. Magruder and not any of the others who had been working on you to perjure yourself? Mr. SLOAN, Senator, he was the only individual that I could clearly identify in my mind -without any doubt whatsoever--I mean, there was just no question in my mind. In the case of Mr. LaRue, in asking me to agree to a figure, he could very well have had misrepresentations from Mr. Magruder and perhaps legitimately think that there was a discrepancy and it was merely a, question of resolving the figure. So that he is the only individual who specifically requested of me that I consider an illegal act, as far as I know. Senator MONTOYA. Now, you also mentioned that on your return from California, you had a drink with Mr. Magruder and that be, in turn, suggested to you that both of you visit Mr. Titus at the U.S. attorney's office, Mr. SLOAN. Yes, sir. I think it was after my return from Bermuda. Senator MONTOYA. Bermuda? Mr. SLOAN. Yes, sir. Senator MONTOYA. Why was he the moving force here when there was nothing pending and no request had been made of you to testify or to perjure yourself at the U.S. attorney's office? Why was he so anxious to take you there? Mr. SLOAN. Senator, I believe the grand jury had been convened at that point in time. Senator MONTOYA. Was be running liaison between the grand jury and the Watergate people or the people associated with the finance committee? Mr. SLOAN. I was quite amazed at the fact he would call me in light of my conversation with Bob Mardian in response to the first suggestion he had made, where I indicated that if this is the way you guys are going, I just do not want to deal with this man again. I was certainly prepared at that point in time, in the way he suggested it, to overlook his initial remark. But by the Second time, there was no question in nay mind. Senator MONTOYA. Did you ask him why -he wanted you to go to the U.S. attorney's office without invitation from the U.S. district attorney? Mr. SLOAN. I believe, Senator, that the climate at that point, in time was that very rapidly, the grand jury essentially was moving up through the echelons of the campaign, starting with secretaries and people who worked for people and it was only a matter of days before, if you will, principals who had knowledge at least as far as this money, would come up. I think my guess would be that there was to be an attempt to head off, you know, have an organized disclosure as opposed to individuals 'going in separately with different stories. Senator MONTOYA. Well, did Mr. Magruder indicate to you that if You went to see Mr. Titus, Mr. Titus would aid in staving off any further inquiry? Mr. SLOAN. no sir, there was no such indication. Senator MONTOYA. What was the specific purpose for which he Wanted you to go? Mr. SLOAN. I am really not sure Senator. Again, it is very hard to reconstruct exactly what was known at that point in time, but the amount of money that Mr. Liddy received was the critical issue at that point. There must have been some knowledge on somebody's part that this was where the focus was next con-Ling and I think there was an attempt to resolve that issue prior to questioning coming up independently and individually. Senator MONTOYA. I believe you stated that he had asked you at this meeting to go to see Mr. Titus and to tell Mr. Titus that you had only disbursed approximately $40,000 to Mr. Liddy. Is that correct? Mr. SLOAN. Yes sir, that, is my best recollection. Senator MONTOYA. And in what context did this conversation arise? with respect to going to. Titus with this information? Mr. SLOAN. He merely suggesting the going down to Mr. Titus and at the tail end of that proposition, the idea of getting together to resolve the issue at one time, the suggestion about the filing came up again. Senator MONTOYA. He did not tell you that -Mr. Titus asked him to invite you to go to the U.S. attorney's office, did he? Mr. SLOAN. I am not aware of that, Senator. I am not positive, but I have no knowledge. Senator MONTOYA. And you assumed that Mr. Magruder was acting on his own? Mr. SLOAN. I am not sure of that, Senator. I mean, there was no indication on his part to the contrary , but I am just, not sure in the light of the fact that I had made other individuals in the campaign known of his initial approach. Senator MONTOYA. That is all, Mr. Chairman' thank you. [00.35.52]