On this day, April 27, in 1978, President Richard Nixon’s counsel and head of domestic affairs John Ehrlichman was released from prison after serving 18 months for his leading role in organizing the Watergate break-in. Ehrlichman directed the White House’s “plumber” unit, a group of Nixon henchmen who quieted leaks and isolated the president from scandal. The group became the focus of the Watergate scandal. When he first came into the White House, Ehrlichman was Nixon’s chief counsel, but became Nixon’s domestic affairs chief when he was replaced as White House Counsel by John Dean. Over time, Dean would become alienated from the White House and, fearing he would become the Watergate scapegoat, eventually cooperated with prosecutors. When Dean testified before the Senate Watergate Committee, he fingered Ehrlichman for his role in the scheme. Nixon then demanded Ehrlichman’s resignation. In 1975, Ehrlichman was convicted of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and perjury.
