Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 13, 1973 (1/2)
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 13, 1973 (1/2)
[00.52.25] Senator MONTOYA. Do you mean to tell me that Mr. Sloan did not express to you his concern about Mr. Magruder's attempts to get him to perjure himself? Mr. STANS. Well, I said Mr. Sloan had said that to me on one occasion I do not know whether it was on that trip or whether it was before we made the trip. Senator MONTOYA. Would you say that it, was either on that trip or before, one of the two? Mr. STANS. I would be inclined to think so, yes, but I am not even sure of that. I do not see how I can fix the dates of any one conversation. Senator MONTOYA. If you knew that and if he did that either on that trip or before, why do you say that, you had no knowledge of anything disparaging about Mr. Magruder until March 23 of this year Of 1973? Mr. STANS. Well, I do not really think I said I had no knowledge of anything disparaging about Mr. Magruder. Senator MONTOYA. I believe that was your indication. Mr. STANS. I said I had no knowledge about, anything disparaging about Mr. LaRue, Mr. Kalmbach and others but, I" did have in mind What Mr. Sloan had told me. But Mr. Sloan told it to the grand jury and as time went on it was evident that the grand Jury did not think that it, was anything that they were going to act on, and that was as far as I was concerned, the extent of my interest, and concern. Senator MONTOYA. Now, did Mr. Sloan divulge to you that he had had a meeting with the attorneys, Mr. Parkinson and Mr. O'Brien and informed them of the attempts on the part, of 'Mr. LaRue that he go before the grand jury and claim the fifth amendment? Mr. STANS. I do not recall that Mr. Sloan ever told me that. Senator MONTOYA. You were aware that he had met with Mr. LaRue on the day he returned from the California trip, were you not,? Mr. STANS. Well, I really have no direct recollection of it. I have' heard his testimony later on to that effect. Senator MONTOYA. He did call you on the telephone that night, did he not? Mr. STANS. He called me in Des Moines or Dayton, Ohio, before I returned to Washington, yes. Senator MONTOYA. And did you not tell him in that telephone conversation that you said "Let us not discuss this on the phone. I will be in the office." Mr. STANS. He was talking about his resignation, and I said let us not discuss this on the telephone, Mr. Sloan is a, very valuable man. I did not want to lose him. One of the reasons why I welcomed him going on the trip, I wanted him to participate. in the meetings, to bear the discussions, to develop some of the enthusiasm of the campaign, and I did not want to lose Mr. Sloan when it was evident that he had concluded that he wanted to leave. Senator MONTOYA. actually, you were aware there were more than 2 months between the time that Sloan talked to you and the grand jury acted, were you not? Mr. STANS. I would say something like that, yes. Senator MONTOYA. Well, were you not aware of this? Mr. STANS. I think that is about what all it was, Senator MONTOYA. Thank you. Then, if Mr. Sloan resigned to you and discussed his resignation with you do I understand that Mr. Sloan worked under you and was responsible to you for his acts as treasurer? Mr. STANS. Mr. Sloan was responsible under the law for his acts a treasurer directly in reporting to the Comptroller General but I was the chairman of the committee, I coordinated its activity. Mr. Sloan consulted with me, I consulted with him, and the relationship was exactly that as I described it. Senator MONTOYA. But in theory and practice, he did work under you, Mr. STANS. On the organization chart Mr. Sloan worked under me, right. Senator MONTOYA. Thank you. [00.56.48 Senator INOUYE. Mr. Secretary, in past, scandals, political scandals, such as the Teapot, Dome scandal, the crime involved was the use of money for personal gain or personal purposes. Many have suggested that in the activity now under consideration by this select committee, none of the funds were ever used for personal gain or personal purposes. Are, you aware of any of the funds that were under your control were ever used for personal purposes or personal gain? Mr. STANS. I am not aware of anyone connected with either committee who profited financially as a result of any of these results other than as a salary and normal reimbursement of expenses. [00.57.46]