John Wesley Dean III is a former White House Counsel to the 37th President of the United States, Richard Nixon. He played a key role in the Watergate scandal, which ultimately led to Nixon’s resignation. Since then, Dean has become a vocal critic of the Republican Party, and an advocate for civil liberties and criminal justice reform. This article will look at Dean’s early life, his political career, and his involvement in the Watergate scandal.
Early Life
John Wesley Dean III was born in 1938 in Akron, Ohio. He was raised in a middle-class family and attended public schools. After graduating from high school, Dean attended Colgate University, where he studied political science and economics. He then went on to receive a law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center.
Dean began his legal career in 1965, working as a clerk for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. From there, he went on to serve as a trial attorney for the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. He then worked as an attorney for the White House in the Nixon administration.
Political Career
In 1970, Dean was appointed White House Counsel by President Nixon. As White House Counsel, Dean was responsible for providing legal advice to the President and his staff on issues related to the office. He served in this role until 1973, when he resigned due to his involvement in the Watergate scandal.
Prior to his resignation, Dean had a successful political career. He was a key figure in the Nixon administration, and was responsible for various initiatives such as the Endangered Species Act. He also served as a liaison between the White House and Congress, helping to pass several pieces of legislation.
Watergate Scandal
In 1972, Dean was implicated in the Watergate scandal, which involved a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate Hotel. Dean was accused of obstructing justice and attempting to cover up the break-in. He eventually pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and was sentenced to one to four years in prison. He served four months in prison before being released on parole.
Dean has since become a vocal critic of the Republican Party, and an advocate for civil liberties and criminal justice reform. He has written several books on the Watergate scandal and its aftermath, and continues to speak out against government corruption and abuses of power.
John Dean’s involvement in the Watergate scandal has had a lasting impact on American politics. He has since become a vocal critic of the Republican Party, and an advocate for civil liberties and criminal justice reform. His story serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the rule of law, and the dangers of government corruption and abuse of power.
