This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/18/jeb-magruder

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Jeb Magruder obituary Jeb Magruder obituary
(2 days later)
After a rather mediocre career in corporate business and on the fringes of Republican politics, Jeb Magruder, who has died aged 79, found himself in high office in Richard Nixon's White House and a major figure in the Watergate scandal. As with many Nixon associates, his cleverness was not in doubt: but an ethical upbringing in mid-century corporate America had not taught him what to do when the temptation to cheat was on offer.After a rather mediocre career in corporate business and on the fringes of Republican politics, Jeb Magruder, who has died aged 79, found himself in high office in Richard Nixon's White House and a major figure in the Watergate scandal. As with many Nixon associates, his cleverness was not in doubt: but an ethical upbringing in mid-century corporate America had not taught him what to do when the temptation to cheat was on offer.
Magruder made a number of contradictory statements about his own, and in particular, the president's knowledge of the "dirty tricks" campaign plans. Several decades after the scandal that led to the president's resignation in August 1974, he claimed that Nixon had not merely covered up his involvement in the burglary at the Democratic party headquarters in the Watergate complex in Washington, but had personally authorised the break-in.Magruder made a number of contradictory statements about his own, and in particular, the president's knowledge of the "dirty tricks" campaign plans. Several decades after the scandal that led to the president's resignation in August 1974, he claimed that Nixon had not merely covered up his involvement in the burglary at the Democratic party headquarters in the Watergate complex in Washington, but had personally authorised the break-in.
Although Magruder had fallen out with colleagues in the Nixon campaign in California in 1968 and was turned down when he first applied for a job in the White House after Nixon's election, once in he was promoted rapidly. He made himself useful to the "Berlin Wall" of HR Haldeman and John Ehrlichman, Nixon's two top political aides, and was given increasingly sensitive jobs.Although Magruder had fallen out with colleagues in the Nixon campaign in California in 1968 and was turned down when he first applied for a job in the White House after Nixon's election, once in he was promoted rapidly. He made himself useful to the "Berlin Wall" of HR Haldeman and John Ehrlichman, Nixon's two top political aides, and was given increasingly sensitive jobs.
He was deputy director of communications in the White House, then briefly, and bizarrely, put in charge of policy planning at the State Department. In 1971 he became director of Creep, the committee to re-elect the president, the operation in which many of the illegal or dubious activities later collectively known as Watergate were hatched.He was deputy director of communications in the White House, then briefly, and bizarrely, put in charge of policy planning at the State Department. In 1971 he became director of Creep, the committee to re-elect the president, the operation in which many of the illegal or dubious activities later collectively known as Watergate were hatched.
On 7 January and again on 4 February 1972, Magruder sat in on meetings with John Dean, the president's White House counsel, and John Mitchell, the attorney general and manager of the re-election campaign, to discuss the wild ideas which the aide Gordon Liddy was putting forward for ensuring Nixon's re-election. These included luring Democratic officials to be photographed cavorting with prostitutes and kidnapping opponents and abducting them to Mexico. The more extreme ideas were rejected, but plans for the burglary at the Democratic offices did go ahead. Magruder was also present at a meeting in Key Biscayne, Florida, with Mitchell and another Republican official, Fred LaRue, at which plans for illegal activities were also said to have been discussed.On 7 January and again on 4 February 1972, Magruder sat in on meetings with John Dean, the president's White House counsel, and John Mitchell, the attorney general and manager of the re-election campaign, to discuss the wild ideas which the aide Gordon Liddy was putting forward for ensuring Nixon's re-election. These included luring Democratic officials to be photographed cavorting with prostitutes and kidnapping opponents and abducting them to Mexico. The more extreme ideas were rejected, but plans for the burglary at the Democratic offices did go ahead. Magruder was also present at a meeting in Key Biscayne, Florida, with Mitchell and another Republican official, Fred LaRue, at which plans for illegal activities were also said to have been discussed.
Later there was considerable controversy about how much Nixon knew of the dirty tricks plans and Magruder contradicted himself several times. In 2003 he went back on his early statements that Nixon knew nothing by stating that Nixon had telephoned during one of these meetings, was briefed about the plans by Mitchell and had approved them, though others denied this.Later there was considerable controversy about how much Nixon knew of the dirty tricks plans and Magruder contradicted himself several times. In 2003 he went back on his early statements that Nixon knew nothing by stating that Nixon had telephoned during one of these meetings, was briefed about the plans by Mitchell and had approved them, though others denied this.
When Creep's activities were investigated, Magruder was the first of the Nixon trusties to break ranks by doing a deal with the Federal prosecutors. As a result he was convicted on relatively minor charges and sentenced to 10 months to four years by Judge John Sirica. In the end he served only seven months' time in jail and went on to a career as a Presbyterian minister and consultant on church fundraising. He was even put in charge of a commission of the state of Kentucky on ethics and values. He reacted to the derision this appointment caused by saying stuffily that "it is a characteristic of American life that there is redemption".When Creep's activities were investigated, Magruder was the first of the Nixon trusties to break ranks by doing a deal with the Federal prosecutors. As a result he was convicted on relatively minor charges and sentenced to 10 months to four years by Judge John Sirica. In the end he served only seven months' time in jail and went on to a career as a Presbyterian minister and consultant on church fundraising. He was even put in charge of a commission of the state of Kentucky on ethics and values. He reacted to the derision this appointment caused by saying stuffily that "it is a characteristic of American life that there is redemption".
There was redemption, but there was also recidivism of a kind. Magruder was twice arrested for drunken behaviour in 2003 and 2004. In 2007 he ran into a motorcycle and then crashed into a car after apparently suffering a stroke while at the wheel.There was redemption, but there was also recidivism of a kind. Magruder was twice arrested for drunken behaviour in 2003 and 2004. In 2007 he ran into a motorcycle and then crashed into a car after apparently suffering a stroke while at the wheel.
Jeb Stuart Magruder, named by a father who was a Civil War enthusiast after a dashing Confederate cavalry officer, grew up, not in the Deep South, but in Staten Island, the smallest of New York City's five boroughs. He went to Curtis high school, where he was a good competitive swimmer. He went on to Williams College in Massachusetts, but interrupted his time there to serve in the US army in South Korea. He worked for a time at IBM, which he did not enjoy, and then at another corporate, Crown Zellerbach in San Francisco. Later he joined the management consultancy Booz Allen. From 1962 he worked for the grocery chain Jewell and in 1966 he moved back to California for a well-paid job at Broadway Stores. Jeb Stuart Magruder, named by a father who was a Civil War enthusiast after a dashing Confederate cavalry officer, grew up, not in the Deep South, but in Staten Island, the least populous of New York City's five boroughs. He went to Curtis high school, where he was a good competitive swimmer. He went on to Williams College in Massachusetts, but interrupted his time there to serve in the US army in South Korea. He worked for a time at IBM, which he did not enjoy, and then at another corporate, Crown Zellerbach in San Francisco. Later he joined the management consultancy Booz Allen. From 1962 he worked for the grocery chain Jewell and in 1966 he moved back to California for a well-paid job at Broadway Stores.
He had already had a first taste of Republican politics when he worked briefly for the Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater in 1964. In 1966 he helped Donald Rumsfeld run successfully for Congress.He had already had a first taste of Republican politics when he worked briefly for the Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater in 1964. In 1966 he helped Donald Rumsfeld run successfully for Congress.
After he came out of prison, Magruder worked for a charity that helped young people. Then he went to Princeton Theological Seminary, where he was awarded a master's degree in divinity and was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1981. He subsequently served in an affluent suburb of Columbus, Ohio, and in Lexington, Kentucky, before moving finally to Dallas, where he joined a consultancy that advised churches on fundraising.After he came out of prison, Magruder worked for a charity that helped young people. Then he went to Princeton Theological Seminary, where he was awarded a master's degree in divinity and was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1981. He subsequently served in an affluent suburb of Columbus, Ohio, and in Lexington, Kentucky, before moving finally to Dallas, where he joined a consultancy that advised churches on fundraising.
Magruder wrote An American Life: One Man's Road to Watergate (1974), his version of the Watergate story. He became quite popular as an expert on the ethical issues raised. His second book, From Power to Peace (1978), was an account of his experience of being born again as a Christian. His own most pithy account of his career can hardly be improved on: "Somewhere between my ambition and my ideals I lost my ethical compass."Magruder wrote An American Life: One Man's Road to Watergate (1974), his version of the Watergate story. He became quite popular as an expert on the ethical issues raised. His second book, From Power to Peace (1978), was an account of his experience of being born again as a Christian. His own most pithy account of his career can hardly be improved on: "Somewhere between my ambition and my ideals I lost my ethical compass."
He was married twice, first to Gail Nicholas and then to Patricia Newton; both marriages ended in divorce. He is survived by three sons and one daughter from his first marriage.He was married twice, first to Gail Nicholas and then to Patricia Newton; both marriages ended in divorce. He is survived by three sons and one daughter from his first marriage.
• Jeb Stuart Magruder, political aide, born 5 November 1934; died 11 May 2014• Jeb Stuart Magruder, political aide, born 5 November 1934; died 11 May 2014
• This article was amended on 20 May 2014. The original stated that Staten Island is the smallest of New York City's five boroughs – in fact it has the smallest population. This has been corrected.