Blind Ambition

1. Dean's Rise to Power: From White House Counsel to Central Figure in Watergate

I had arrived so fast I was apprehensive, a bit frightened. I thought about what I would tell my friends when they asked how I had pulled off this job at the age of thirty-one, after practicing law for a total of six months.

Rapid ascent. John Dean's meteoric rise in the Nixon administration was both exhilarating and unsettling. As a young lawyer with limited experience, he found himself thrust into the role of White House Counsel, a position of significant influence and responsibility. This rapid ascent was due in part to his ability to navigate the complex political landscape of the White House and his willingness to take on sensitive tasks.

Key relationships. Dean's success was largely built on his relationships with key figures in the administration, particularly H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman, Nixon's top aides. He became a trusted confidant and problem-solver, often called upon to handle delicate matters. This position of trust would ultimately place him at the center of the Watergate scandal and its subsequent cover-up.

2. The Watergate Break-in: Origins and Immediate Aftermath

"Frankly, I'm overwhelmed. I want to think about it. I'll tell you when we meet next if I can represent you, and we'll talk further. I already think you should minimize your dealings with others as much as possible. Don't talk facts with them. From what you tell me, it looks like this fella Ehrlichman is maneuvering to protect himself at your expense."

Origins of the break-in. The Watergate break-in was conceived as part of a larger campaign intelligence operation, approved by senior officials including John Mitchell. The plan, presented by G. Gordon Liddy, involved illegal activities such as wiretapping and burglary. Despite some reservations, the plan was ultimately given the green light.

Immediate response. When news of the break-in broke, the White House went into crisis mode. Dean, as White House Counsel, found himself at the center of efforts to contain the damage. The initial response focused on distancing the administration from the burglars and portraying the incident as a minor, isolated event. However, it quickly became apparent that the connections to the White House would be difficult to conceal, setting the stage for an extensive cover-up operation.

3. The Cover-up Begins: Hush Money and Obstruction of Justice

"John, you're in big trouble. Serious trouble." My heart pounded. I had expected my lawyer to be more encouraging. "But your problem depends on a lot of things, lots of things. For example, who is going to handle this case. Do you know?"

Hush money scheme. A critical aspect of the cover-up was the payment of hush money to the Watergate burglars. Dean became deeply involved in coordinating these payments, acting as a conduit between senior White House officials and those responsible for distributing the funds. This activity formed a key part of the obstruction of justice charges that would later emerge.

Obstruction tactics. Beyond the hush money, the cover-up involved a range of obstructive tactics:

• Destroying evidence
• Influencing witness testimony
• Misleading investigators
• Using executive privilege to block inquiries
• Attempting to manipulate the FBI and CIA to limit the scope of the investigation

These actions, while initially successful in containing the scandal, ultimately created a complex web of criminal liability that extended to the highest levels of the administration.

4. The President's Involvement: Nixon's Knowledge and Participation

"Well, I wonder if that part of it can't be, I wonder if that doesn't, let me put it frankly: I wonder if that doesn't have to be continued?" The question was declarative.

Nixon's awareness. Dean's account reveals that President Nixon was not only aware of the cover-up efforts but actively participated in them. Through numerous meetings and conversations, Nixon demonstrated his knowledge of the hush money payments, efforts to influence the investigation, and strategies to protect key White House figures.

The President's role. Nixon's involvement included:

• Approving the use of hush money
• Discussing strategies to obstruct justice
• Attempting to use federal agencies to limit the investigation
• Personally pressuring Dean and others to maintain the cover-up

This direct involvement by the President in criminal activities would ultimately lead to his resignation and forever tarnish his legacy.

5. Pressure Mounts: Internal Conflicts and External Investigations

"John, this list is a goddam disaster," I said when I had finished. "It's depressing."

Internal tensions. As the cover-up continued, tensions within the White House grew. Different factions began maneuvering to protect themselves, often at the expense of others. Dean found himself increasingly caught between loyalty to the President and self-preservation, as it became clear that someone would have to take the fall for the scandal.

External pressure. Meanwhile, external pressures were mounting:

• Senate investigations were ramping up
• The press was becoming more aggressive in its reporting
• The FBI and prosecutors were closing in on the truth

These forces combined to create an atmosphere of paranoia and desperation within the administration, pushing some to consider even more extreme measures to maintain the cover-up.

6. Dean's Moral Dilemma: Loyalty vs. Truth

"I don't want to be the scapegoat on all this."

Ethical struggle. Dean found himself grappling with a profound moral dilemma. On one hand, he felt a deep sense of loyalty to the President and the administration. On the other, he was increasingly aware of the criminal nature of the cover-up and his own legal jeopardy.

Decision point. Several factors pushed Dean towards cooperation with prosecutors:

• Fear of becoming the scapegoat for the entire affair
• Growing disillusionment with the administration's tactics
• Recognition that the cover-up was unsustainable
• Desire to protect himself legally

This internal struggle culminated in Dean's decision to seek legal counsel and eventually cooperate with investigators, a pivotal moment in the unraveling of the Watergate scandal.

7. The Cover-up Unravels: Dean's Cooperation with Prosecutors

"Listen, John, we don't have any choice," Charlie said firmly. "The cat's out of the bag. We've got to pump them full of the cover-up now. I've got to up the ante with them to have a shot at immunity. That's your only chance not to be the fall guy."

Dean's cooperation. With the guidance of his lawyer, Charles Shaffer, Dean began cooperating with prosecutors. This cooperation involved:

• Detailed accounts of the cover-up operations
• Implication of high-ranking officials, including Haldeman and Ehrlichman
• Revelation of previously unknown aspects of the scandal, such as the Ellsberg break-in

Impact of cooperation. Dean's decision to cooperate was a turning point in the Watergate investigation. His testimony provided investigators with a roadmap of the cover-up and implicated the highest levels of the Nixon administration. This cooperation not only helped break the case wide open but also set Dean on a path towards potential immunity or leniency in his own legal proceedings.

8. Aftermath and Reflections: The Fall of the Nixon Administration

"You guys," Charlie said, walking in front of them, "remind me of a bunch of horses going to the starting gate. You want to run before the bell is sounded. We plan to take this thing one step at a time. And I'm not even sure if my client wants to cooperate with you anymore."

Collapse of the administration. Dean's cooperation, along with mounting evidence from other sources, led to the rapid unraveling of the Nixon administration. Key figures were forced to resign, and the President himself became increasingly isolated. The revelations that emerged painted a damning picture of corruption and abuse of power at the highest levels of government.

Long-term impact. The Watergate scandal had far-reaching consequences:

• It led to Nixon's resignation, the first and only presidential resignation in U.S. history
• It resulted in numerous criminal convictions of high-ranking officials
• It fundamentally altered the American public's trust in government
• It led to significant reforms in campaign finance and government ethics laws

Dean's role in both the cover-up and its exposure made him a central figure in one of the most significant political scandals in American history, forever changing the course of his life and career.

Last updated: January 25, 2025