Institute May Pick Magruder As '73 Fellow

Jeb Stuart Magruder, a former deputy campaign director for President Nixon and a central figure in the Watergate bugging controversy, may come to Harvard next year as a fellow at the Institute of Politics.

Sources inside the Institute of Politics said yesterday that Magruder had been approved for a fellowship at a meeting held last week.

Denial

Ernest R. May, director of the Institute, yesterday denied that the Institute had approved Magruder's fellowship. "He is just one of a pool of people we are condering," May said.

Another source, however, said yesterday that May had informally offered Magruder the fellowship and that Magruder had accepted, contingent upon his clearance of all charges surrounding the Watergate incident.

May also denied that the had extended an invitation to Magruder and said that "no definite commitment has been made by either side."

Watergate Charges

According to a story in The Los Angeles Times, James W. McCord Jr., a convicted Watergate conspirator, last Monday charged that Magruder had lied in court. McCord alleged that Magruder had had prior knowledge of the bugging at the Democratic National Headquarters last June, the story said.

As a fellow at the Institute, Magruder would be available for a term as an educational resource to all areas of the University. "He has clearly had a lot of important experience in politics and government--run a successful political campaign--and is from a central part of the Republican party," May said.

May would not speculate on what effect McCord's allegations would have on a fellowship for Magruder.

Devan L. Shumway, a spokesman for the Committee to Re-elect the President, said yesterday that there is "no reasonable case against Magruder" and that "there is no possibility of his being indicted."

After serving as a deputy campaign director in 1972, Magruder became head of the Inaugural Committee. He is presently working in the Department of Commerce as director of the Office of Policy Development.

Magruder could not be reached for comment