H. R. Haldeman

Harry Robbins ("HR" ) Haldeman ( born October 27, 1926 in Los Angeles, † November 12, 1993 in Santa Barbara ) was Chief of Staff of the White House under President Richard Nixon. His two first names were used mostly abbreviated in public. As friends also "Bob" called him because of the middle name, the common misconception that " R. " stood for " Robert " was born. His surname refers to his Swiss ancestors.

Life

1948 Haldeman graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles. There he met his friend John Ehrlichman know (later Nixon's advisor for internal affairs ). Both were then known in the White House because of their German -sounding names and their shielding measures for the president as "The Berlin Wall " together. Haldeman met Nixon in 1959 know and headed its unsuccessful election campaigns in 1960 and 1962. Having However, in 1968 managed Nixon's successful election as U.S. president, which led to his appointment as Chief of Staff of the White House.

Both Haldeman and Ehrlichman belonged to the inner circle of Nixon, in the essential personal and confidential matters were discussed. These conversations were recorded by a tape system of the White House, which had been given by Nixon himself in order. Among them were conversations where Nixon had Haldeman added at the cover-up of the backgrounds of the Watergate break in order. The recordings unmasked Haldeman and Ehrlichman as key figures in the Watergate scandal. However, an indication to that suspicion was already prior to their publication, in particular on the basis of the statements of the main prosecution witness John Dean, come up. Therefore, Nixon persuaded on April 29, 1973 his two advisors Haldeman and Ehrlichman in a very personal one meetings at Camp David to resign, the fact was officially a day.

Up to the resignation of Nixon, Haldeman tried to conceal the conspiracy of Watergate and provided other persons, such as John N. Mitchell, the judiciary from. On 1 January 1975 Haldeman was sentenced to a prison term of eight years for conspiracy, obstruction of justice and perjury, when he had to leave earlier than two and a half years can be dismissed. Later this sentence was reduced but the effect that Haldeman, came back on December 20, 1978, after a total of 18 months in prison released.

Even in prison, he published in 1978 in conjunction with Joseph Di Mona his portrayal of the Watergate scandal ( " The Ends of Power" ). The book was the basis for Oliver Stone's film " Nixon " (1995 ), in which Haldeman was portrayed by actor James Woods.

Haldeman died on November 12, 1993 in Santa Barbara, California. 1994 "The Haldeman Diaries ", published the diaries from his time in the White House posthumously.