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 told a jammed news conference at Colson disputed Nixon's tele- 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- "He was groping for words." yers — he "would have gotten But he lauded the interview be- convicted." cause it "continued the healing The former White House coun- process which I think has already sellor again denied a recent Wash- begun." ington Post story saying that Colson and Nixon discussed "hush money" He said he hopes Americans payments to the Watergate bur- CHARLES COLSON who have not forgiven Nixon "may glars on Jan. 8, 1973. He said he wasn't bitter find it in their hearts to do so now; not for Mr. Nixon, but for the He waved a transcript of White country." House tape-recordings and offered "the best dinner money can buy" to Since his release from prison, Colson said he felt "a great deal anyone who find any mention of Colson has written a best-selling of compassion and pity" for the "hush money" in the conversation book on his religious experience as former chief executive after watch- between Colson and Nixon. a "born-again Christian," and now ing the interview. lectures extensively before reli- "Mr. Woodward (Washington gious groups. "Although I went to prison Post reporter Bob Woodward, au- because I followed Mr. Nixon's thor of the article) has been 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.