born Sept. 5, 1913, Detroit, Mich., U.S.
died Nov. 9, 1988, Washington, D.C.
U.S. public official.
A prominent attorney in New York City, he practiced with Richard Nixon after their firms merged in 1967. In 1968 he managed Nixon's successful presidential campaign. As U.S. attorney general (196972), he was criticized for prosecuting war protesters, approving wiretaps without court authorization, and attempting to block publication of the Pentagon Papers . He resigned to direct Nixon's reelection campaign but was soon caught up in the Watergate scandal . Convicted of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and perjury, he served 19 months in prison.