The cover up was done to protect President Nixon’s involvement.
A total of 69 government officials were charged for their participation in the Watergate scandal. As for his part, John Mitchell knew about the wire taps and other activities; he was there from the start and later he and John Dean helped Nixon mastermind the plan to break into the DNC headquarters. The overarching interest in the Democratic Headquarters was not to steal money, but to spy on opponents. Dean, Mitchell, and others were after information. They agreed to the bugging of offices, photographing of documents.
After his conviction of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and perjury, Mitchell was sentenced to a prison term of two to eight years by Judge John Sirica.
Mitchell spent the years after his release from prison in the city of his downfall asa consultant for Global Research Inc., a public policy institute.
In 1973, he and former Commerce Secretary Maurice Stans were indicted by a federal grand jury in New York on charges of perjury and conspiracy to obstruct justice.
A Washington television station reported Wednesday night that a breakdown in radio communications prevented the medics treating Mitchell from letting the hospital know they were on the way.
Mitchell's famous watchword to reporters in the early days of Nixon's first term was, 'Watch what we do, not what we say.'.
During the next two years, the scandal exploded with repeated revelations from congressional and legal investigations. In the end, 25 people including Mitchell were jailed for Watergate crimes; Nixon resigned in disgrace Aug. 9, 1974, and was pardoned a month later by President Gerald Ford. Mitchell spent the years after his release ...
WASHINGTON -- Former Attorney General John Mitchell, jailed for his role in President Nixon's Watergate scandal, died late Wednesday of a heart attack. He was 75.
From “In Prison With John Mitchell,” a 1979 Washingtonian story by Ronald James (the pen name of a television news producer serving time for cocaine trafficking), who was in prison with former Attorney General John Mitchell. Shortly before noon on June 22, 1977, a chauffeured Cadillac edged up a shrub-lined road toward the inevitable….John Newton ...
At the beginning, most tended to maintain an attitude of casual aloofness toward Mitchell.
For his first meal in prison, Mitchell was taken to lunch by an inmate from the Receiving and Discharge office. His first confrontation with one of his fellow inmates took place in the chow hall.
When the judge denied the writ, Mitchell told Lawson, “Now isn’t that a damn shame. I appointed that son of a bitch.
After having his clothing measurements recorded, Mitchell was issued a temporary prison uniform —a faded khaki shirt and trousers….Mitchell’s watch and ring were taken from him. (“You can’t have a watch worth over twenty bucks and we don’t allow jewelry here.”) The cash he carried in with him was credited to his commissary account (“Inmates aren’t allowed to have any money at all”)….
His first confrontation with one of his fellow inmates took place in the chow hall. Making his way through the cafeteria-style food line, Mitchell waited his turn like all the other convicts. He was conscious that all eyes were on him.
Mitchell later began receiving his own newspapers via the mail, taking the Washington Post and New York Times. Both arrived two or three days after publication. “I never know whether to call him John or Mr. Mitchell,” the con said, “and he doesn’t seem to want to let you know which he prefers.”.
Appointed attorney general, Mitchell took office in January 1969 and remained there until March 1972, when he resigned to head Nixon’s reelection committee.
John Mitchell, in full John Newton Mitchell, (born Sept. 15, 1913, Detroit, Mich., U.S.—died Nov. 9, 1988, Washington, D.C.), U.S. attorney general during the Nixon administration who served 19 months in prison (1977–79) for his participation in the Watergate Scandal.
It was for his expertise in state and municipal bonds that Mitchell achieved fame while an attorney with a prominent New York law firm. He became acquainted with Richard M. Nixon early in 1967, when their respective law firms merged.