Dole ‘received illegal funds’

Press, 7 September 1976, Page 8

Dole ‘received illegal funds’

By NICHOLAS HORROCK iof the “New’ York Times” through NZPA Washington

A lobbyist for the Gulf Oil .Corporation, has told a Fed- ■ eral grand jury in Washington that in 1973 he made an illegal corporate contribution to Senator Robert Dole, now the Republican VicePresidential nominee, according to sources familiar with the investigation. The sources said that Mr Claude Wild, Gulfs former chief lobbyist, testified under a grant of immunity from prosecution last Januarv that he ■ passed between SUSSOOO and SUS6OOO in illegal corporate funds to Senator Dole through Mr William Kats, then Senator Dole’s administrative assistant The illegal contribution was allegediv made as Senator Dole was preparing to iron for re-election as a [United States Senator in Kansas, the sources said. The “New’ York Timec" surveyed Senator Dole’® financial re:port for the 1973-1974 campaign and found no report o f a contribution from Mr Wild or any other employee of Gulf Oil. Mr Larrv Speakes. a spokesman for Senator Dole, said the senator had reviewed his own "ecords and found no indications that he had received money from Mr Wild or Gulf Oil

Mr Speakes added that Senator Dole declined to comment on whether the grand jurv members had asked about Mr Kats and the transfer of the SUSSOOO to SUS6OOO. The senator said: “I did discuss other individuals . butof course I will not name them publicly.” Mr Speakes reported. President Gerald Ford "was aware of the allegations concerning possible illegal contributions from Gulf to Senator Dole” before Senator Dole was chosen as his running mate, a White I House spokesman has said. “White House aides reviewed his campaign reports and discussed the matter

personally with the senator,” the spokesman continued.

“He told the White House he had talked with prosecutors in the investigation and, after reveiwing all this, the White House aides were satisfied that Senator Dole had no knowledge of any such contribution, if indeed they did exist.” The spokesman said Mr Edward Schmults, deputy counsel to the President, had questioned Senator Dole on the matter. Mr Kats, who was reached at his home in suburban Marvland. said he was called before a Federal grand jurv in February or earlv March and was asked about Mr Wild’s allegation. He said he testified that he “could not remember ever having received anything from Claude Wild.” Mr Kats added that, “like anyone,” he could have been a “victim of human frailty” and that his memory might have failed him. He said he knew Mr Wild and had met him several times over the years.

Mr Kats, served as Senator Dole’s administrative assistant from 1968 until 1974. Mr Wild was in charge of a Gulf Oil political fund from 1960 until 1974.

Last January, the Watergate special prosecutor's office gave Mr Wild a grant of immunity and compelled him to testify about SUS 170.000 in Gulf funds that he dispensed in 1973. Mr Wild, according to authoritative sources, named four senators and four representatives as recipients of the money. Among those 'named was Senator Dole, the j sources said. At an impromptu news 'conference on Sunday in Rhode Island, Senator Dole said that he had volunteered to go before a Federal grand jury and had told them he got no Gulf Oil money, either directly or indirectly.