'Pity' for Nixon

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

'Pity' for Nixon SFChroniCle Colson feels 'Pity' for Nixon By Robert Bartlett Charles W. Colson, former Nix- guilty to obstruction of justice for on aide turned evangelist, said complicity in the burglary of the yesterday he pitied Richard Nixon office of Daniel Ellsberg's psychia- for his "pathetically defensive" trist, and subsequently served sev- demeanor during his interview on en months of a three-year federal national television Wednesday. prison term.) "But for the first time," Colson Colson disputed Nixon's tele- told a jammed news conference at vised assertion that the former the Fairmont Hotel, "(Nixon) took President had committed no crimi- his full share of responsibility" for nal or impeachable offense be- the Watergate scandals that led to cause, he said, his deeds 'sprang his resignation in 1974. from purely political and humani- Nixon's performance in the tarian motives. interview by David Frost did not reveal "the razor-sharp mind I Had Nixon not resigned, con- knew" while a White House special tended Colson — at one time one of counsellor, Colson said. Washington's most prominent law- yers — he "would have gotten "He was groping for words." convicted." But he lauded the interview be- The former White House coun- cause it "continued the healing sellor again denied a recent Wash- process which I think has already ington Post story saying that Colson begun." and Nixon discussed "hush money" CHARLES COLSON payments to the Watergate bur- He said he hopes Americans He said he wasn't bitter who have not forgiven Nixon "may glars on Jan. 8, 1973. find it in their hearts to do so now; He waved a transcript of White not for Mr. Nixon, but for the House tape-recordings and offered country." "the best dinner money can buy" to Since his release from prison, anyone who find any mention of Colson has written a best-selling Colson said he felt "a great deal book on his religious experience as of compassion and pity" for the "hush money" in the conversation between Colson and Nixon. a "born-again Christian," and now former chief executive after watch- lectures extensively before reli- ing the interview. "Mr. Woodward (Washington gious groups. Post reporter Bob Woodward, au- "Although I went to prison thor of the article) has been because I followed Mr. Nixon's strangely silent on this," Colson Yesterday, he spoke at a Santa orders," Colson continued, "I don't said, then got a laugh when he Cruz prayer breakfast and is sched- have a shred of bitterness in my continued: uled to speak again today at a heart." public interdenominational reli- "I have added Mr. Woodward gious rally at the Cow Palace at 8 (The White House aide pleaded to the list of those I pray for daily." p.m. .
Recommended publications
  • Charles W. Colson Oral History Finding Aid Page 2 of 3
    Part of the Richard Nixon Oral History Project Oral History Interviews with CHARLES W. COLSON Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum National Archives and Records Administration Interviews by Timothy J. Naftali Contact Information: The Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum ATTN: Archives 18001 Yorba Linda Boulevard Yorba Linda, California 92886 (714) 983-9120 FAX: (714) 983-9111 [email protected] http://www.nixonlibrary.gov Charles W. Colson Oral History Finding Aid Page 2 of 3 Descriptive Summary First Interview Interviewee: Charles W. Colson Interviewer(s): Timothy J. Naftali Date of Interview: 17 August 2007 Location of Interview: Naples, FL Length: 150 min. Second Interview Interviewee: Charles W. Colson Interviewer(s): Timothy J. Naftali Date of Interview: 24 September 2008 Location of Interview: Naples, FL Length: 108 min. Administrative Notes About the Richard Nixon Oral History Project The Richard Nixon Oral History Project was created in November 2006 at the initiative of Timothy Naftali, weeks after he had begun his tenure as director of what was then the Nixon Presidential Materials Staff at the National Archives and Records Administration. (The Nixon Presidential Materials Staff became the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum on July 11, 2007, with the incorporation of certain facilities in Yorba Linda, California, that formerly had been operated by the private Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace.) The project was intended to preserve the memories and reflections of former Nixon officials and others who had been prominent in the Nixon era by conducting videotaped interviews. Starting in February 2007, Paul Musgrave, Special Assistant to the Director, coordinated the project, which was housed in the Office of the Director.
    [Show full text]
  • Serving a New Masterâ•Flan Examination of Chuck Colsonâ•Žs
    Intermountain West Journal of Religious Studies Volume 6 Number 1 Spring 2015 Article 6 2015 Serving a New Master—An Examination of Chuck Colson’s Legacy with Regards to Prison Reform Preston Lim Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/imwjournal Recommended Citation Lim, Preston "Serving a New Master—An Examination of Chuck Colson’s Legacy with Regards to Prison Reform." Intermountain West Journal of Religious Studies 6, no. 1 (2015). https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/imwjournal/vol6/iss1/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Intermountain West Journal of Religious Studies by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 97 IMW Journal of Religious Studies Vol. 6:1 Preston Lim is currently a sophomore at Princeton University, pursuing a Major in History and a Certificate in Near Eastern Studies. His major research interests are Turkish and Ottoman History and Politics. On campus, Preston is involved with Model United Nations and on-campus Christian groups, and as a cellist with the Princeton University Orchestra. Preston Lim: Serving A New Master—An Examination of Chuck Colson’s Legacy 98 ‡ Serving a New Master—An Examination of Chuck Colson’s Legacy with Regards to Prison Reform1 ‡ “I have committed my life to Jesus Christ and I can work for Him in prison as well as out.”2 These were the last words spoken by Chuck Colson as he left the District Court on the 21st of July 1974— words indicative of the profound transformation that he had only recently undergone.
    [Show full text]
  • Character/Person Role/Job the PRESIDENT and ALL of HIS MEN
    Actor Character/Person Role/Job THE PRESIDENT AND ALL OF HIS MEN Richard Nixon 37th US President 39th VP under Nixon until 1973; resigned amid charges of extortion, tax fraud, bribery & Spiro Agnew conspiracy (replaced by Gerald Ford, who was the House Minority Leader) VP replacing Agnew, later became 38th US Gerald Ford President Special counsel to Nixon; set up the Charles Colson "plumbers" unit to investigate info leaks from White House Nixon's domestic policy adviser; directed the John Ehrlichman "plumbers" unit H.R. “Bob” Haldeman Nixon’s chief of staff Haldeman's right-hand man; was the deputy Jeb Stuart Magruder director of Nixon's re-election campaign when the break-in occurred at his urging Nixon’s 1972 midwest campaign manager; Kenneth Dahlberg his check for $25k to Maurice Stans wound up in bank acct of a Watergate burglar Attorney General; then quit AG to be John Randolph John Mitchell chairman of CREEP; linked to a slush fund that funded the burglary Replaced Mitchell as chairman of CREEP Clark MacGregor (July to Nov 1972) Became Attorney General in 1972 (5 days before Watergate break-in) when Mitchell Richard Kleindienst resigned as AG to go work for CREEP; resigned in 1973 Former CIA agent and mastermind of the break-in; Member of the White House E. Howard Hunt "plumbers"; his phone # was found on a WG burglar, linking break-in to WH Former FBI agent who helped plan the break- G. Gordon Liddy in at DNC offices; spent over 4 years in prison; now an actor, author & talk-show host Commerce secretary & later the finance chairman for CREEP; raised nearly $60 Maurice Stans million for Nixon's re-election; insisted that he had no knowledge how some of the money he raised wound up in the cover-up.
    [Show full text]
  • FBI's Lead Watergate Investigators Speak Together Publicly
    FBI’s Lead Watergate Investigators Speak Together Publicly — For The First Time ! This panel will bring together publicly for the first time the FBI's lead The panel includes: investigators of the Watergate Scandal. • Angelo Lano—Agent assigned the Through memories and anecdotes, these Watergate case, considered the Bureau’s panelists will create a narrative of the most thorough source of Watergate information. To a person, every person Bureau's work that weaves the initial committed to this panel says Watergate burglary to the halls of the Nixon White would not have been successful without House and ultimately the Oval Office. Lano’s leadership. Popular culture and the media have • John Mindermann—Agent who long focused on the role of the Washington developed sources in CREEP, including Post's Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein in Judy Hoback, a key informant who breaking Watergate leads to the public. If helped shift the Bureau’s investigation the media looks at the FBI's involvement from the burglars to Nixon’s into Watergate, they often center upon administration. In 1973, he occupied former FBI Assistant Director Mark Felt, the Nixon White House to secure popularly known as "Deep Throat." This Watergate evidence under orders of the Attorney General. panel will illuminate the Bureau's role in the • Paul Magallanes—Agent who Watergate investigation and attribute the interviewed Watergate burglars in success of the Watergate investigation to a Spanish in the DC jail mere hours after handful of special agents who worked, the Watergate break-in. He developed against incredible odds and amidst sources in CREEP, including Hoback.
    [Show full text]
  • Contents (Click on Index Item to Locate)
    Contents (Click on index item to locate) Subject Page Foreword iii Introductory Note xi Statement of Information 1 Statement of Information and Supporting Evidence 69 As-- ~~ on y 35 780 0 STATEMENT O19 INFORMATION H E A R I N G S BEFORE THE COMMITTEE OWN THE JUDICIARY HOI:TSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-THIRD CONGRESS SECOND SESSION PIJR61JANT TO H. Res. 803 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER SUFFICIENT GROUNDS EXIST FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO EXERCISE ITS CONSTITUTIONAL POWER TO IMPEACH RICHARD M. NIXON PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BOOK II EVENTS FOLLOWING THE WATERGATE BREAK-IN June 17,1972-February 9,1973 MAY—JUNE 1974 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1974 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Price $6.10. COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY PETER W. RODINO, JO., New Jersey, Chairman HAROLD D. DONOHUE, Massachusetts EDWARD HUTCHINSON, Michigan JACK BROOKS, Texas ROBERT MCeLORY, Illinois ROBERT W. KASTENMEIER, Wisconsin HENRY P. SMITH III, New York DON EDWARDS, California CHARLES W. SANDMAN, Jo., New Jersey WILLIAM L. HUNGATE, Missouri ~~A. JOHN CONFERS, JR., Michigan JOSHUA EILBERG, Pennsylvania JEROME R. WALDIE, California WALTER FLOWERS, Alabama JAMES R. MANN, South Carolina PAUL S. SARBANES, Maryland JOHN F. SEIBERLING, Ohio GEORGE E. DANIELSON, California ROBERT F. DRINAN, Massaehusetts CHARLES B. RANGEL, New York BARBARA JORDAN, Texas RAY THORNTON, Arkansas ELIZABETH HOLTZMAN, New York WAYNE OWENS, Utah EDWARD MEZVINSRY, Iowa TOM RAILS BACK, Illinois CHARLES E. WIGGINS, California DAVID W. DENNIS, Indiana HAMILTON FISH, JH., New York WILEY MAYNE, Iowa LAWRENCE J.
    [Show full text]
  • Col Lson Confesion on Chappaquiddick Jack Andersen HE WHITE HOUSE Financed a Trip Ous, Ill-Fitting Red Wig on This Secret Mis- T to New England by Waterbugger E
    JUN 1 8 1973 Sfehronicle ■■ ••• tOK 711•1•••• Col lson Confesion On Chappaquiddick Jack Andersen HE WHITE HOUSE financed a trip ous, ill-fitting red wig on this secret mis- T to New England by waterbugger E. sion. Howard Hunt to investigate Senator Ed- Colson conceded that he had worked, ward Kennedy's role in the Chappaquid- too, on an advertisement supporting Pres- dick tragedy, 4ccording to Charles Colson, ident Nixon's decision to bomb and mine who ordered thp mission. Haiphong harbor. The ad was signed by The former White House aide con- private citizens but paid out of campaign . fessed h's pail in the snooping operation funds. during a secret deposition taken May 28 In his deposition, • Colson also spoke by lawyers for the Democratic National fully for the first time of his mysterious Committee. "attack group," which worked out of the Colson told I under oath how Hunt came White House in 1972. Its job, he said, was to him in Ju1y1, 1971, with a tip that a po- to coordinate policy for surrogate candi- liceman, identilfied only as "Demott," had dates who were carrying the political at- confidential information on the case. tack to the Democrats. Because Kennedy was a potential pres- * * * idential contender, the White House was OLSON vigorously denied he had ad- . eager to learn! more about the 1969 drown- C vance knowledge of the Watergate ing of Mary Jo Kopechne during a drive break-in. The most he did, he said, was with Kennedy. phone campaign deputy Jeb Magruder to * 1 * * arrange for the Wate'rgate ringleaders, Howard Hunt and Gordon Liddy, to ex- OLSON insltructed Hunt to interview plain their intelligence plans.
    [Show full text]
  • Special Prosecutor (5)” of the Philip Buchen Files at the Gerald R
    The original documents are located in Box 61, folder “Special Prosecutor (5)” of the Philip Buchen Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Copyright Notice The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. r Digitized from Box 61 of the Philip Buchen Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library .,,- .. OFFICE OE THE DEPUTY ATIORNEY GENERAL Returned without review by Deputy Attorney General. - THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON Sept. 19, 1974 To: Mr. Silberman From: Phil Areeda We have the original. This is the only copy. And perhaps it should not be copied further. We have not sent any copy to Miller and probably should not until we all have a chance to talk. LAW OFFICES tLLJi;H, CASSIDY, LARROCA 8c LEwn "'--" 1,20 19TH STREET. N.W. • SIJITE ?100 WASHINGTON. D. C. 2.0035 - AREA CODE 202 Till.IEPHONI!; 2a3.e400 UUIERT .J. Ml\.1.ER, .JR. .JOSEPH &. MCCARTHY :lli"I JOSEPH CASSIDY COURTNEY A. £v1'.N5 "YMONO G. LARROCA 01' COUNSEi.
    [Show full text]
  • Nixon's Wars: Secrecy, Watergate, and the CIA
    Eastern Kentucky University Encompass Online Theses and Dissertations Student Scholarship January 2016 Nixon's Wars: Secrecy, Watergate, and the CIA Chris Collins Eastern Kentucky University Follow this and additional works at: https://encompass.eku.edu/etd Part of the Defense and Security Studies Commons, and the United States History Commons Recommended Citation Collins, Chris, "Nixon's Wars: Secrecy, Watergate, and the CIA" (2016). Online Theses and Dissertations. 352. https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/352 This Open Access Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Scholarship at Encompass. It has been accepted for inclusion in Online Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Encompass. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Nixon’s Wars: Secrecy, Watergate, and the CIA By Christopher M. Collins Bachelor of Arts Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, Kentucky 2011 Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Eastern Kentucky University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS December, 2016 Copyright © Christopher M. Collins, 2016 All rights reserved ii Acknowledgments I could not have completed this thesis without the support and generosity of many remarkable people. First, I am grateful to the entire EKU history department for creating such a wonderful environment in which to work. It has truly been a great experience. I am thankful to the members of my advisory committee, Dr. Robert Weise, Dr. Carolyn Dupont, and especially Dr. Thomas Appleton, who has been a true friend and mentor to me, and whose kind words and confidence in my work has been a tremendous source of encouragement, without which I would not have made it this far.
    [Show full text]
  • Special Prosecutor (1)” of the Philip Buchen Files at the Gerald R
    The original documents are located in Box 61, folder “Special Prosecutor (1)” of the Philip Buchen Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Copyright Notice The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Digitized from Box 61 of the Philip Buchen Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library Chapter I-Department of Justice § 0.38 § 0.31 Designating officials to perform torney General. The duties and respon­ the functions of the Director. sibilities of the Special Prosecutor are set <a> In case of a vacancy in the Office forth in the attached appendix below of the Director of the Community Re­ which is incorporated and made a part lations Service, the Deputy Director of hereof. the Service shall perform the functions [Order 551-73, 38 FR 30738, Nov. 7, 1973] and duties of the Director. § 0.38 Specific functions. (b) The Director is authorized, in case of absence from his office or in case of The Special Prosecutor is assigned and his inability or disqualification to act, delegated the following specific func­ to designate the Deputy Director to act tions with respect to matters specified in in his stead.
    [Show full text]
  • White House Tapes Abuse of Governmental Power Segments Conversation Number 38-1
    White House Tapes Abuse of Governmental Power Segments Conversation Number 38-1 Portion of a telephone conversation between the President, John D. Ehrlichman and Lawrence M. Higby. This portion was recorded on April 13, 1973 at an unknown time between 9:16 and 10:47 a.m. [This conversation is cross-referenced with conversations 895-8A and 895-8B.] The National Archives and Records Administration prepared the following log of this conversation. John D. Ehrlichman talked with the White House operator. [See Conversation No. 895-8A] Call to Lawrence M. Higby Ehrlichman conferred with the President at an unknown time. [See Conversation No. 895-8] [End of conferral] Ehrlichman talked with the White House operator at an unknown time. Ehrlichman talked with Higby at an unknown time. [See Conversation No. 895-8B] Gordon C. Strachan -Conversation with Earl J. Silbert -Topics -Report by Stephen B. Bull White House Tapes Abuse of Governmental Power Segments Conversation Number 38-9 Portion of a telephone conversation between the President and H.R. Haldeman. This portion was recorded on April 13, 1973 between 5:48 and 5:58 p.m.. The National Archives and Records Administration prepared the following log of this conversation. Watergate -John D. Ehrlichman's meeting with Charles W. Colson Watergate coverup -John W. Dean, III's knowledge of break-in -President's reaction -John N. Mitchell -Involvement -Jeb S. Magruder -Involvement -Magruder tape -Contents -Forthcoming testimony -Preparation -Haldeman -President -Mitchell -Colson's activities -Possible defense -Magruder -Statement -Mitchell -Possible statement -Reaction -Richard A. Moore -Possible meeting with President -President's involvement -Dean -Need for truth -Comparison with Sherman Adams case White House Tapes Abuse of Governmental Power Segments Conversation Number 38-12 Portion of a telephone conversation between the President and John D.
    [Show full text]
  • Baker Center Journal of Applied Public Policy - Vol
    University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Baker Center: Publications and Other Works Baker Center for Public Policy Fall 2012 Baker Center Journal of Applied Public Policy - Vol. IV, No.II Theodore Brown Jr. J Lee Annis Jr. Steven V. Roberts Wendy J. Schiller Jeffrey Rosen See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_bakecentpubs Part of the American Politics Commons, Policy History, Theory, and Methods Commons, and the Public Administration Commons Recommended Citation Career of Sen. Howard H. Baker, Jr. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Baker Center for Public Policy at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Baker Center: Publications and Other Works by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Authors Theodore Brown Jr., J Lee Annis Jr., Steven V. Roberts, Wendy J. Schiller, Jeffrey Rosen, James Hamilton, Rick Perlstein, David B. Cohen, Charles E. Walcott, and Keith Whittington This article is available at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange: https://trace.tennessee.edu/ utk_bakecentpubs/7 vol. 1v no. 2 BAKER CENTER JOURNAL OF BAKER CENTER JOURNAL OF APPLIED PUBLIC POLICY—SPECIAL ISSUE POLICY—SPECIAL PUBLIC APPLIED OF JOURNAL CENTER BAKER APPLIED PUBLIC POLICY Published by the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville Howard H. Baker, Jr.: A Life in Public Service A Special Issue PREFACE AND OVERVIEW Howard H. Baker, Jr. and the Public Values of Cooperation and Civility: A Preface to the Special Issue Theodore Brown, Jr.
    [Show full text]
  • Watergate: Forty Years Later
    Stories from the Historical Committee OUR HISTORY Watergate: Forty Years Later by Angelo Lano (1960-1989) The nature of an FBI agent’s work is anonymous. Usually us. Work quickly it involves collecting facts, often with a team of agents whose summed up the names will disappear in a myriad of files over the ensuing facts of the case years and decades leaving only the larger story for future for us as they then generations to study. When I became an FBI agent, I fully stood. Earlier in expected and hoped to remain one of those “anonymous” the evening, the team members who would fade from the scene into obscurity cops had arrested with only the case record remaining. As fate would have it – five males inside that was not to be. the offices of For me, the Watergate story began routinely enough the Democratic on the night of June 17, 1972 when the telephone rang at National my home. The caller was Ernie Belter, an FBI agent and Headquarters. Washington Field Office Technical Supervisor. Belter told me Four of them gave rather matter-of-factly that five men had just been arrested, Hispanic names trying to burglarize an office at the Watergate Complex. with the fifth Nixon leaving White House Bob Kunkle, the SAC, wanted me to get the facts along with simply calling the identity of the burglars, and report back to him. Kunkle himself “Ed Martin.” They clearly didn’t look like ordinary assured me that it all could be wrapped-up “in a couple of knuckleheads either.
    [Show full text]