John Dean

John Wesley Dean III ( born October 14, 1938 in Akron, Ohio) is an American lawyer. He was legal advisor to Richard Nixon, and thus belonged to the inner circle of the U.S. president. Dean was a key figure in the Watergate scandal. At first he was still loyal to the president and one of the people who led the cover-up. As it should be, however, made ​​a scapegoat, he switched sides and became the main witness of the scandal. Today, Dean worked as a book author, television columnist and journalist.

Life

Life to the Watergate scandal

John Dean received his first degree in 1961 at Wooster College. In 1965, he finished his law studies at Georgetown University. Then Dean worked at a law firm in Washington. After an internal dispute has been laid off there. After that, he was chief legal counsel to the Republicans in the House of Representatives of the United States. In 1969 he moved to the Ministry of Justice in positions of management. After that, he was legal adviser to the White House.

Watergate scandal

As a legal advisor to the president Dean was inducted into the illegal activities of the "Plumbers ". For plumbers, it was a small and secret police and intelligence force, called for special investigations unit ( Special Investigations Unit). Dean was next to Jeb Magruder one of the leaders of the cover-up. As the scandal continues to spread, he warned Nixon in a personal conversation " of a cancer that threaten his presidency" would.

After the journalists Dean besieged before his Porsche, Dean Nixon invited, relax a few days in the presidential leisure facility Camp David. This invitation had only one catch: Dean should write about his previous activities, a report for the president to Watergate. This report - because he would have been written - would also have been the shield and sword of the president. Firstly, Nixon would then be able to say "look, that's all I know about Watergate, and that only by this report. " Secondly, Dean would thus become the sole culprit. So Dean then moved up the page. He instructed his lawyer, vorzufühlen to the prosecutor. The offer was: statement of a high-ranking employees of the White House against Deans impunity. The prosecutor agreed.

Dean made ​​the prosecutor's office, which determined not only because of a break-in, note that the Watergate break-in only the continuation of a series of burglaries of " plumbers " were. His statements revealed the true extent of the Watergate affair. Later it was announced that all conversations in the White House were taken by a tape recording system (see also Alexander Butterfield ) and Dean was confronted, Dean just smiled. It was now clear that the tape recordings Dean's comments confirmed (otherwise would have only the statement Deans against the word of the President stood ).

His appearance before the investigating committee was prepared to the smallest detail. For example, wearing Dean ( once bore only contact lenses) horn-rimmed glasses that gave him more the appearance of an accountant. Moreover, in the background his wife Maureen "Mo" to see the look of a flagship wife. Dean said without reservation from before the committee. Despite his testimony, the hardliner sat within the prosecutor's office but against Dean by and accused him. His willingness to testify in mitigation of punishment worked, so he was convicted of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and fraud the government only to four months in prison.

After Watergate

In 1976 he published Blind Ambition, a Book of Memoirs. The book was later filmed as a television series. This was followed by libel suits against the book by Gordon Liddy Silent Coup of 1991. Nowadays Dean lives as an investment banker in Beverly Hills, California. In addition, he works also as an author and lecturer.

Writings

  • The Rehnquist Choice. The Untold Story of the Nixon Appointment That Redefined the Supreme Court (2001)
  • Unmasking Deep Throat (2002)
  • Together with Arthur M. Schlesinger: Warren G. Harding (The American Presidents ). (2004)
  • Worse Than Watergate. The Secret Presidency of George W. Bush ( 2004)
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