A section of the Sao Francisco Sunday Examiner and Chronicle Watergate burglar Sturgis dies at 68

REUTER MIAMI — Frank Sturgis, a key player in the Watergate scandal that brought down the Nixon ad- ministration, died of cancer Satur- day at a hospital here, his lawyer said. He was 68. Ellis Rubin said Sturgis died of cancer of the lungs and kidneys at Veterans Hospital in Miami. Rubin said Mr. Sturgis did not know he was ill with cancer until he entered the hospital a week ago complaining of shortness of breath. Mr. Sturgis was one of five men who broke into the Democratic ASSOCIATED PRESS/ 1592 campaign offices in Washington's Frank Sturgis: Dies suddenly from Watergate complex on June 17, cancer of the lungs and kidneys. 1972. The break-in detonated the Watergate scandal and ultimately the president — whether it was forced Republican President Rich- Nixon or anybody else — the free ard Nixon to resign in 1974. rein to do what a dictator would For his role in the Watergate do." break-in, he served 13 months in Mr. Sturgis had been heading a prison on charges that included Cuban exile organization for the conspiracy, burglary, wiretapping last five years that was dedicated to and unlawful possession of inter- ending communist rule in Cuba, cepting devices. Rubin said. Mr. Sturgis, who was born in Mr. Sturgis' legal troubles did Philadelphia and was a police offi- not end with Watergate. He was cer before the scandal, was 47 at convicted about 15 years ago on the time of the break-in. charges of exporting stolen cars to In a 1984 Miami television in- Mexico to raise money for an inva- terview, he said he participated in sion of Cuba, and was given proba- the break-in because he believed tion. Democratic presidential candidate He was later acquitted by a jury George McGovern was a commu- on charges of selling stolen nist sympathizer with ties to Cu- watches. ban leader Fidel Castro. Last year he filed a $5 million "I would do it again because he Mel lawsuit against a New Jersey (McGovern) is a traitor to this woman, Marita Lorenz, after she country, to the American flag," Mr. was quoted as saying that Mr. Sturgis said in the interview. Sturgis was involved in the 1963 He said he did not receive any assassination of President John F. money for the break-in. Kennedy. Mr. Sturgis called the Last year, on the 20th anniver- charge "sheer fabrication." sary of the break-in, he told the Mr. Sturgis, who is survived by Seattle Times, "We were responsi- a wife and daughter, was the sec- ble for one big hell of a thing, and it ond Watergate figure to die in less really screwed up the country. But than a month. Former Nixon chief it made our government a little bit of staff and Watergate conspirator stronger. I feel the laws that came 1.1.R. Haldeman died Nov. 12 in about after Watergate didn't give Santa Barbara.