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G. Gordon Liddy
Former FBI Agent, CRP Counsel, and Watergate Mastermind
Watergate Planner, White House Plumber, Intelligence Operative
Overview
George Gordon Battle Liddy was a former FBI special agent, prosecutor, and political operative who served as counsel to the Committee to Re-elect the President (CRP) and co-mastermind of the Watergate break-in. A formidable and flamboyant figure known for his extreme self-discipline and fascination with will power, Liddy conceived the "Gemstone" plan, an elaborate intelligence-gathering scheme that included proposals for bugging, burglary, kidnapping, mugging squads, and the use of prostitutes to compromise Democratic politicians. After Attorney General John Mitchell approved a scaled-down version, Liddy and E. Howard Hunt organized the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate complex. Liddy also co-directed the White House "Plumbers" unit, organizing the September 1971 burglary of Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office. Following the Watergate arrests, Liddy refused to cooperate with prosecutors, maintaining absolute silence and becoming the only major Watergate figure who never testified against others. Judge John Sirica sentenced him to 6 years and 8 months to 20 years, the harshest sentence of any Watergate defendant, which was later commuted by President Jimmy Carter to 8 years total. Liddy served 52 months in federal prison, longer than any other Watergate figure. After his release, he reinvented himself as a radio talk show host, actor, author, and conservative celebrity, publishing his memoir "Will" in 1980 and openly boasting about his Watergate exploits. He famously told audiences he had been prepared to be assassinated by the White House if he showed signs of cracking. Liddy never expressed remorse, maintained that his actions were justified by national security, and became one of the most unapologetic convicted conspirators in American political history.
Key Affiliations
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Special Agent (1957-1962)
agency
Committee to Re-elect the President
Counsel and Intelligence Director (1971-1972)
organization
White House Special Investigations Unit
Co-Director, "Plumbers" (1971)
agency
Dutchess County District Attorney
Assistant DA, New York (1966-1968)
agency
U.S. Department of the Treasury
Special Assistant (1969-1971)
agency
Controversies & Concerns
GEMSTONE PLAN: Conceived the elaborate $1 million intelligence scheme including bugging, burglary, kidnapping, mugging squads, sabotage, and use of prostitutes to compromise Democratic politicians at their convention
WATERGATE BREAK-IN: Co-planned and supervised the June 17, 1972 break-in at DNC headquarters from the Watergate Hotel; one of seven original defendants
FIELDING BREAK-IN: Co-directed the September 1971 burglary of Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist Dr. Lewis Fielding's office as White House Plumber
ABSOLUTE SILENCE: Refused to cooperate with any investigators, prosecutors, or congressional committees; never testified against co-conspirators despite enormous pressure and the harshest sentence
HARSHEST SENTENCE: Received 6 years 8 months to 20 years from Judge Sirica, the most severe sentence of any Watergate defendant, as punishment for his refusal to cooperate
FIRST BREAK-IN: Oversaw the initial May 26-28, 1972 operation at the Watergate that successfully placed wiretaps but failed to photograph documents adequately, necessitating the June return that led to arrest
NO REMORSE: Never expressed remorse for Watergate; publicly boasted about his role and told audiences he would have killed journalist Jack Anderson if ordered
ASSASSINATION WILLINGNESS: Claimed he told Hunt he was willing to be assassinated on a street corner if the White House determined he was a security risk
MONEY BURNING: Allegedly held his hand over a candle flame to demonstrate willpower, burning himself without flinching, establishing his reputation for fanatical self-discipline
Related Investigations (2)
Criminal Charges & Violations
5 documented violations
18 U.S.C. 371Conspiracy to Commit Burglary and Wiretapping; Co-planned Watergate break-in operation(Federal)
22 D.C. Code 1801(b)Burglary; Participated in planning unlawful entry into DNC headquarters(Federal)
18 U.S.C. 2511Interception of Wire Communications; Directed placement of wiretaps on DNC telephones(Federal)
18 U.S.C. 371Conspiracy (Fielding Break-in); Co-directed burglary of Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office(Federal)
18 U.S.C. 241Conspiracy Against Rights; Violated civil rights through Fielding burglary(Federal)
Known Associates & Connections
E. Howard Hunt
Co-planner of Watergate break-in and White House Plumber partner
John Mitchell
Attorney General and CRP director who approved Gemstone plan
Jeb Stuart Magruder
CRP deputy director who approved Watergate operation
John Dean
White House counsel who attended Gemstone presentations
Richard Nixon
President whose re-election campaign authorized the operation
James McCord
Fellow Watergate burglar and ex-CIA officer
Egil Krogh
Fellow White House Plumber who co-directed illegal operations
Sources & Documentation
6 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
Watergate Trial Records - United States v. Liddy et al.(1973)
Senate Watergate Committee Final Report(1974)
National Archives: Watergate Investigation Records(1972-1974)
G. Gordon Liddy, "Will" (Autobiography)(1980)
New York Times Obituary: G. Gordon Liddy(2021)
House Judiciary Committee Impeachment Evidence(1974)
Personal Information
- Born
- November 30, 1930
- Birthplace
- Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Also Known As
- The G-Man, The Prince of Darkness
Education
- •B.S., Fordham University (1952)
- •LL.B., Fordham University School of Law (1957)
Key Timeline
November 30, 1930
Born in Brooklyn, New York
1952
Graduates from Fordham University
1957
Earns law degree from Fordham; joins FBI as special agent
1957-1962
Serves as FBI special agent in Indianapolis and Denver field offices
1962
Leaves FBI; enters private law practice
1966
Becomes assistant district attorney in Dutchess County, New York; known for aggressive drug raids
1968
Runs unsuccessfully for Congress in New York
1969
Joins Nixon Treasury Department as special assistant for organized crime
1971
Transferred to White House Domestic Council, then recruited for "Plumbers" unit
September 3, 1971
Co-directs break-in of Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist Dr. Lewis Fielding's office
November 1971
Moves to CRP as counsel and intelligence director
January 27, 1972
Presents $1 million "Gemstone" intelligence plan to Mitchell, Dean, and Magruder in AG's office
February 4, 1972
Presents revised $500,000 Gemstone plan; Mitchell tells him to scale down further
March 30, 1972
Scaled-down $250,000 plan reportedly approved at meeting with Mitchell in Key Biscayne
May 26-28, 1972
First Watergate break-in: team plants bugs on two phones and attempts to photograph documents
June 17, 1972
Second break-in: five burglars arrested inside DNC; Liddy supervises from Watergate Hotel
June 19, 1972
Shreds Gemstone files and $100 bills at CRP offices
September 15, 1972
Indicted by federal grand jury as one of seven Watergate defendants
January 30, 1973
Convicted at trial along with McCord; maintains silence throughout
March 23, 1973
Sentenced to 6 years 8 months to 20 years by Judge Sirica, plus $40,000 fine
1973-1977
Serves 52 months in federal prison, longest of any Watergate defendant
April 12, 1977
President Carter commutes sentence to 8 years total; released from prison
1980
Publishes autobiography "Will," which becomes a bestseller
1992-2012
Hosts nationally syndicated conservative radio talk show
March 30, 2021
Dies in Mount Vernon, Virginia at age 90