H. R. Haldeman

White House Chief of Staff, Watergate Conspirator, Federal Inmate

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Harry Robbins "Bob" Haldeman (better known as H. R. Haldeman; Oct. 27, 1926 – Nov. 12, 1993) was an American political aide and businessman, best known for his service as White House Chief of Staff to President Richard Nixon and, consequently, his involvement in the Watergate scandal.

Haldeman was born in Los Angeles, attained his Eagle Scout rank and served in the Navy Reserve during World War II. He attended UCLAin the 1940s and later joined the advertising firm ofJ. Walter Thompson, becoming a successful executive in the company. His work for Nixon began as an advance man on Nixon's 1956 and 1960 campaigns, and Haldeman managed Nixon's 1962 run for Governor of California. When Nixon was elected President in 1968, he chose Haldeman to be his Chief of Staff.

Haldeman gained a stern reputation for expecting top-of-the-line work. He and the President were very close – Haldeman was even dubbed "the President's son-of-a-bitch" – and Nixon relied on him to filter information that came into his office and to see to it that information was properly dispensed. To more easily accomplish this, Haldeman reorganized the White House staff to a "funnel" model still followed in the White House today. Recognized by his distinctiveflattop haircut, Haldeman would serve throughout Nixon's first term and into his second, though his service was cut short due to the unfolding Watergate scandal, and his role in it. Resigning in April 1973, Haldeman was later tried on counts of perjury,conspiracy and obstruction of justice, and was imprisoned for 18 months.

Role in Watergate

"The Berlin Wall" of Ehrlichman and Haldeman on April 27, 1973, three days before they would be asked to resign.

Haldeman was one of many key figures in the Watergate scandal. The unexplained 18½-minute gap in Nixon's Oval Office recordings occurred during a discussion that included the President and Haldeman. After damaging testimony from White House Counsel John Dean, Nixon requested the resignations of Haldeman and Ehrlichman in what has been described as a long and emotional meeting at Camp David. Dean was fired and the resignations were announced on April 30, 1973. In a phone conversation shortly after the resignations, Nixon told Haldeman that he loved him like his brother. On the eve of Nixon's resignation, Haldeman asked for a full pardon along with a full pardon of Vietnam War draft dodgers. He argued that pardoning the dodgers would take some of the heat off him. Nixon refused.

On January 1, 1975, Haldeman was convicted of conspiracy and obstruction of justice. He was sentenced to serve 2½ to 8 years, reduced to 1 to 4 years after appeal. In Lompoc Federal Prison, he worked as a chemist in the sewage treatment facility. After serving 18 months, Haldeman was released on parole, on December 20,

After his release, he rejoined the business world.