Memorable World History/Authors

Watergate Scandal (Part VII)

Aftermath

Final legal actions and effect on the law profession

Charles Colson pled guilty to charges concerning the Daniel Ellsberg case; in exchange, the indictment against him for covering up the activities of the Committee to Re-elect the President was dropped, as it was against Strachan. The remaining five members of the Watergate Seven indicted in March went on trial in October 1974. On January 1, 1975, all but Parkinson were found guilty. In 1976, the U.S. Court of Appeals ordered a new trial for Mardian; subsequently, all charges against him were dropped.

Haldeman, Ehrlichman, and Mitchell exhausted their appeals in 1977. Ehrlichman entered prison in 1976, followed by the other two in 1977. Since Nixon and many senior officials involved in Watergate were lawyers, the scandal severely tarnished the public image of the legal profession.

The Watergate scandal resulted in 69 government officials being charged and 48 being found guilty, including:

John N. Mitchell, Attorney General of the United States who resigned to become Director of Committee to Re-elect the President, convicted of perjury about his involvement in the Watergate break-in. Served 19 months of a one- to four-year sentence.

Richard Kleindienst, Attorney General, convicted of "refusing to answer questions" (contempt of court); given one month in jail.

Jeb Stuart Magruder, Deputy Director of Committee to Re-elect the President,[23] pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to the burglary, and was sentenced to 10 months to four years in prison, of which he served seven months before being paroled.

Frederick C. LaRue, Advisor to John Mitchell, convicted of obstruction of justice. He served four and a half months.

H. R. Haldeman, Chief of Staff for Nixon, convicted of conspiracy to the burglary, obstruction of justice, and perjury. Served 18 months in prison.

John Ehrlichman, Counsel to Nixon, convicted of conspiracy to the burglary, obstruction of justice, and perjury. Served 18 months in prison.

Egil Krogh, aide to John Ehrlichman, sentenced to six months for his part in the Daniel Ellsberg case.

John W. Dean III, counsel to Nixon, convicted of obstruction of justice, later reduced to felony offenses and sentenced to time already served, which totaled four months.

Dwight L. Chapin, deputy assistant to Nixon, convicted of perjury.

Maurice Stans, United States Secretary of Commerce who resigned to become Finance Chairman of Committee to Re-elect the President, convicted of multiple counts of illegal campaigning, fined $5,000 (in 1975 – $23,300 today).

Herbert W. Kalmbach, personal attorney to Nixon, convicted of illegal campaigning. Served 191 days in prison and fined $10,000 (in 1974 – $50,800 today).

Charles W. Colson, special counsel to Nixon, convicted of obstruction of justice. Served seven months in Federal Maxwell Prison.

Herbert L. Porter, aide to the Committee to Re-elect the President. Convicted of perjury.

G. Gordon Liddy, Special Investigations Group, convicted of masterminding the burglary, original sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Served 4 1⁄2 years in federal prison.

E. Howard Hunt, security consultant, convicted of masterminding and overseeing the burglary, original sentence of up to 35 years in prison. Served 33 months in prison.

James W. McCord Jr., convicted of six charges of burglary, conspiracy and wiretapping. Served two months in prison.

Virgilio Gonzalez - convicted of burglary, original sentence of up to 40 years in prison. Served 13 months in prison.