Watergate Seven

The Watergate Seven were advisors and aides to United States President Richard M. Nixon who were indicted by a grand jury on March 1, 1974. The grand jury also named Nixon an unindicted co-conspirator. The indictments marked the first time in U.S. history that a president and his closest advisors were charged for criminal actions.

Related Topics:
United States President - Richard M. Nixon - March 1 - 1974 - U.S. history

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The seven indicted were:

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• John N. Mitchell - former United States Attorney General and director of Nixon's 1966 and 1972 election campaigns; faced a maximum of 30 years in prison and $42,000 in fines; on February 21, 1975, Mitchell was found guilty of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and perjury and sentenced to two and a half to eight years in prison.
• H. R. Haldeman - White House chief of staff, considered the second most powerful man in the government during Nixon's first term; faced a maximum of 25 years in prison and $16,000 in fines; in 1975, he was convicted of conspiracy and obstruction of justice, and sentenced to an 18-month prison sentence.
• John Ehrlichman, former assistant to Nixon in charge of domestic affairs; faced a maximum of 25 years in prison and $40,000 in fines.
• Charles Colson - former White House counsel specializing in political affairs; pleaded guilty on June 3 to one charge of obstruction of justice; he was sentenced to 1 to 3 years of prison and fined $5,000; Colson voluntarily agreed later that year to a plea of nolo contendere (no contest) to obstruction of justice
• Gordon C. Strachan - White House aide to Haldeman; faced a maximum of 15 years in prison and $20,000 in fines.
• Robert Mardian - aide to Mitchell and counsel to the Committee to Re-elect the President in 1972; faced 5 years in prison and $5,000 in fines.
• Kenneth Parkinson - counsel for the Committee to Re-elect the President; faced 10 years in prison and $10,000 in fines.