Len Colodny - Silent Coup: The Removal of a President

SILENT COUP

The Removal of a President

Len Colodny

TrineDay

Oregon

{Reprint}

Silent Coup: The Removal of a President

Copyright 1991, 2015 Len Colodny. All Rights Reserved.

Published by:

Trine Day LLC

PO Box 577

Walterville, OR 97489

1-800-556-2012

www.TrineDay.com

publisher@TrineDay.net

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015941101

Colodny, Len

Silent Coup1st ed.

p. cm.

Includes index and references.

Epub (ISBN-13) 978-1-63424-054-3

Mobi (ISBN-13) 978-1-63424-055-0

Print (ISBN-13) 978-1-63424-053-6

1. Watergate Affair, 1972-1974. 2. Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. I. Len Colodny. II. Title

{Reprint}

Originally published by St. Martins Press, 1991 (ISBN: 0-312-05156-5)

First Edition

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Printed in the USA

Distribution to the Trade by:

Independent Publishers Group (IPG)

814 North Franklin Street

Chicago, Illinois 60610

312.337.0747

www.ipgbook.com

DEDICATION-LEN COLODNY

For Sandy Colodny Sherry and Jerry Hollis
John and Robin Colodny
and in memory of Sam and Ethel Colodny,
Fannie and Seymour Price
for their loving support, faith, and values [Bandit]

DEDICATIONROBERT GETTLIN

For Arlene, Adam , Alex
Sunny, Leo, and Esther
and in everlasting memory of
Shirly Gettlin, Alex and Sylvia Gettlin,
Rae Frantz, Joe Goodstein, and Doris Perlstein

Table of Contents

Links for more information

Len Colodnys Silent Coup website: http://watergate.com/silentcoup/silentcoup.aspx

The Woodward Haig Connection: http://www.watergate.com/Woodward-Haig-Connection/Woodward-Haig-Connection.aspx

Bob Woodward: http://watergate.com/Disclosure/Disclosure.aspx

CSPAN Book notes: http://www.c-span.org/video/?20346-1/book-discussion-silent-coup-removal-president

Colodny Collection" at Texas A & M: http://watergate.com/Colodny-Collection/Texas-AandM-University.aspx

Accuracy In Media Report on Silent Coup: http://www.aim.org/publications/aim_report/1991/10a.html

Accuracy In Media: Victory For Liddy and Silent Coup: http://www.aim.org/media-monitor/victory-for-liddy-and-silent-coup/

Len Colodnys Watergate.com website: http://www.watergate.com

T he investigation from which Silent Coup was born began a decade ago. At that time we had no interest in Watergate. We were immersed in a story about journalistic ethics involving one of Americas most influential reporters, Bob Woodward of the Washington Post, and it was about that topic that we hoped to write a book. But when one looks closely at Woodward, we eventually discovered, the trail inevitably leads back to Watergate and the events that brought down Richard Nixon.

What turned our attention was the publication in November 1984 of Jim Hougans ground-breaking book, Secret Agenda: Watergate, Deep Throat, and the CIA . Hougan accomplished what no other investigator had attempted to dohe investigated the events and circumstances of the June 17, 1972, break-in at Democratic headquarters, reporting in scrupulous detail that the accepted version of the crime was riddled with contradictions, flaws, and inaccuracies. Hougans work was revelatory, showing that the Watergate story rested upon myths that had obscured the publics understanding of a great national calamity. Hougan also raised the first questions about Woodwards background, and it was this clue that launched us on the path that led to the writing of Silent Coup .

A first-rate journalist, Hougan generously shared with us the product of his own investigative efforts and provided sound advice and unflagging support. He is among those to whom we have accumulated a serious debt during our half-dozen years of work on this book.

Roger Morris is a scholar and journalist of great intellectual depth whose contribution to our work was immeasurable. As he does in his own critically acclaimed writings, Morris constantly inspired us to see the larger picture. Not only had we uncovered startling new facts about an old political story, but also a compelling tale about the way in which power is wielded inside the U.S. government. Morris firsthand knowledge of the National Security Council under Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger was invaluable, giving usand thus our readersa deeper understanding of the key players in this book. A man of sensitivity and wit, Morris insights and boundless enthusiasm for our work helped sustain us through years of arduous research and writing.

Len Colodnys childhood friend Benton Becker was initially asked to advise and assist us, even though he had worked with individuals in the Department of Justice and in the Nixon and Ford administrations whose actions we examined. Beckers knowledge of the pathways of government, his tenacity for tracking down a story, and his desire to expose the truth were always at our disposal. He helped direct the search for information, interpreted evidence, and opened doors to other sources before, in the final months of the project, putting aside his private law practice to become a full-fledged collaborator. We also thank Beckers colleague, attorney Peter Collins, and administrative aide Melissa Hodes for their assistance, and acknowledge the help of Beckers longtime friend Eric Jimenez.

At a critical time in the preparation of the manuscript, we consulted Tom Shachtman, a writer of exceptional talent. The author of a wide-ranging examination of the entire era, Decade of Shocks, 1963-1974 , published in 1983, as well as several other books on twentieth-century American history, Shachtman was called upon to help Colodny write eight chapters in the Golden Boy section of this book, and, later, to work with Gettlin on revision and completion of the entire manuscript. Shachtman is a masterful storyteller, and without his enormous contribution we might still be typing away.

Phil Stanford, who followed up on Hougans findings, provided crucial assistance that helped us discover the reason for the Watergate break-ins. It was Stanford who first found the critical link between Mo Biner and attorney Phillip Bailley. And it was his basic research that led to our writing of what the reader will come to know as the Bailley connection to Watergate. Now a columnist for the Oregonian in Portland, Oregon, Stanford graciously provided advice and help over the past two years.

Nat Sobel served as much more than our literary agent. He assisted in the careful preparation of our proposal, guided us through the tricky waters of the publishing world, and contributed greatly to the strengthening of our manuscript. He has been an adviser and friend, providing at the appropriate times both sound criticism and nourishing praise. We also thank others at Sobel Weber Associates, especially Craig Holden and Wanda Cuevas.

We can not imagine a publisher demonstrating a more unswerving commitment to a book than St. Martins Press has shown with Silent Coup . We are deeply indebted to our skillful and diligent editor, George Witte, and to the always-encouraging St. Martins President, Roy Gainsburg, for their dedication to quality, their remarkable patience, and for allowing us to build the book even as we were writing. General Counsel David Kaye and Associate General Counsel Lotte Meister made tremendous contributions, spending many painstaking hours meticulously reviewing our research and helping to sharpen the story that appears in the following pages. We thank Pat Modigliani for her careful transcription of a particularly important section of the book. We owe special thanks to St. Martins Chairman Tom McCormack, who believed in this project from day one, who shepherded it through trying periods, and who pushed for the highest quality in our work.