Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 14, 1973
Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, June 14, 1973
[00.07.17] Senator INOUYE. So you are. not personally aware of the conversation? Mr. MAGRUDER. I was in California at the time, sir, and he was, Mr. Liddy was, instructed to go out there. Senator INOUYE. Did you have any conversations with Mr. Kleindienst? Mr. MAGRUDER. No, sir. Senator INOUYE. When you appeared before, the grand jury did the prosecutor ask you anything about Mr. Sloan's testimony that you had requested that he perjure himself? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes, sir, we had a, lengthy discussion with Mr. Silbert and, I think, with Mr. Campbell, I think ink, at that time over that question, and I think they agreed with me, and still do, that there was a difference of opinion. He, was in a certain--he had certain fixed opinions on that situation that I think related more to personal matters, than they did to the, facts in the case. Senator INOUYE. At that time you were lying, were you not? Mr. MAGRUDER. No, sir; not about my discussions, with Mr. Sloan. Senator INOUYE. Why did they not ask you that in the trial? Mr. MAGRUDER. I am sorry. Why did they not ask me? Senator INOUYE. The prosecutors. Mr. MAGRUDER. Which question? Senator INOUYE. About your suggesting to Mr. Sloan that he perjure himself? Mr. MAGRUDER. I do not think that, was relevant to the case was on the. docket, at that time. The case, had nothing to do with Mr. Sloan. Senator INOUYE. It had something to do with the, Watergate, did it not? Mr. MAGRUDER. You would have to ask the prosecutors why they did not ask that, question. I can see no relevance to a disagreement as to exactly was said between Mr. Sloan and I. I think. Senator, just to follow up, the prosecution, I think last week indicated there was still a difference and that they had agreed with my interpretation of that. discussion. Senator INOUYE. I would like to discuss your discussions with Mr. Haldeman. You had one on the telephone at Key Biscayne. Any others after that.? Mr. MAGRUDER. On the Watergate, Senator? Senator INOUYE. Yes. Mr. MAGRUDER. No, until the January discussion. Then, we met with Mr. Mitchell in April and then I had a couple of phone conversations with his assistant when I--just to let him know that I had decided, because I now had retained independent counsel, that I would cooperate and in cooperating that certain people would be Implicated. [00.09.45] Senator INOUYE. Now, when you discussed this matter in January, I presume that you told Mr. Haldeman everything you knew about the coverup? Mr. MAGRUDER. I think my main Purpose was to just indicate that there were a lot of people involved and that in case people's memory was growing short I hoped he realized it was not myself or any other single individual who was Involved in this Senator INOUYE. This was In January? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes, sir. Senator INOUYE. Were you surprised when the President announced that He, had decided to begin an investigation on March 21? Mr. MAGRUDER. Was I surprised Senator INOUYE. Yes. [00.10.33] Mr. MAGRUDER Well, knowing full -well of Mr. Dean's role I could well imagine that the President possibly had been informed incorrectly, since he was investigating his own problem, I could See where he could very easily have misled individuals at the White House, to protect himself Senator INOUYE. But you had notified Mr. Haldeman in January Of the correct activities. Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes, sir. Senator INOUYE. You expected Mr. Haldeman to communicate with the President did you not? Mr. MAGRUDER. On that matter, sir? Senator INOUYE. Yes. Mr. MAGRUDER. I did not expect--I was talking mainly to be sure that Mr. Porter was taken care of directly after the inaugural and to discuss my own employment situation. I did not expect him to discuss my discussion necessarily With the President unless he felt it was appropriate I did not go to him to go to the President only went to him as the senior man at the White House. Senator INOUYE. But you did discuss the and the coverup, did you not? Mr. MAGRUDER. Yes;' but I did it for the purpose Of explaining the total context of the coverup and the Watergate plan. Senator INOUYE. Mr. Magruder, in your testimony this morning you have Indicated that there were several who knew about the coverup such as Mr. LaRue, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Dean, and I believe you used two words, "and others." Could you tell us about the others? Mr. MAGRUDER. I think Mr., Mardian was to some extent involved.