Dwight Chapin - Revision history

imported>Yedaman54 at 23:10, 27 December 2025

2025-12-27T23:10:49Z

← Previous revision		Revision as of 23:10, 27 December 2025
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	{{Short description\|Watergate scandal ex-convict}}		{{Short description\|Watergate scandal ex-convict}}
	{{BLP sources\|date=October 2015}}		{{BLP sources\|date=October 2015}}
			{{Use American English\|date=December 2025}}
			{{Use mdy dates\|date=December 2025}}
	{{Infobox officeholder		{{Infobox officeholder
	\|name = Dwight Chapin		\|name = Dwight Chapin
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	==Early life==		==Early life==
	Chapin was born in Wichita, Kansas. He got his first experience in [[Politics of California\|California politics]] in 1958 at the [[American Legion]]'s [[Boys/Girls State\|Boys State]] summer program, where he was elected the head of the Tory Party. His counterpart, the Whig Party leader, was [[Stacy Keach]], who went into acting as a career. Chapin graduated in 1963 from the University of Southern California, where he was a member of [[Sigma Chi]] fraternity. At USC, he was a member of [[List of Trojans for Representative Government members\|Trojans for Representative Government]] with future [[Watergate scandal]] participants [[Tim Elbourne]], [[Donald Segretti]], [[Gordon C. Strachan]], [[Herbert Porter]], and [[Ron Ziegler]].		Chapin was born in Wichita, Kansas. He got his first experience in [[Politics of California\|California politics]] in 1958 at the [[American Legion]]'s [[Boys/Girls State\|Boys State]] summer program, where he was elected the head of the Tory Party. His counterpart, the Whig Party leader, was [[Stacy Keach]], who went into acting as a career. Chapin graduated in 1963 from the University of Southern California, where he was a member of [[Sigma Chi]] fraternity and the [[Trojan Knights]]. At USC, he was a member of [[List of Trojans for Representative Government members\|Trojans for Representative Government]] with future [[Watergate scandal]] participants [[Tim Elbourne]], [[Donald Segretti]], [[Gordon C. Strachan]], [[Herbert Porter]], and [[Ron Ziegler]].

	==Early political career==		==Early political career==
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	[[Category:People from Wichita, Kansas]]		[[Category:People from Wichita, Kansas]]
	[[Category:University of Southern California alumni]]		[[Category:University of Southern California alumni]]
			[[Category:USC Trojan Knights]]

2600:4041:42A4:F500:257E:7351:6C10:ADB7 at 01:37, 21 June 2025

2025-06-21T01:37:57Z

← Previous revision		Revision as of 01:37, 21 June 2025
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	==Early political career==		==Early political career==
	When Nixon ran for California ~~Governor~~ in 1962, Chapin, then still at USC, was a paid Field Man (on-the-ground organizational leader for election campaigns)<ref>[https://www.jstor.org/stable/2744744 "Political Organization (Field Men)"].</ref> and worked with the volunteer organization. After the 1962 campaign, he was hired by [[H. R. Haldeman]] to work at the [[J. Walter Thompson Company]], an advertising firm, in Los Angeles.		When Nixon ran for California governor in 1962, Chapin, then still at USC, was a paid Field Man (on-the-ground organizational leader for election campaigns)<ref>[https://www.jstor.org/stable/2744744 "Political Organization (Field Men)"].</ref> and worked with the volunteer organization. After the 1962 campaign, he was hired by [[H. R. Haldeman]] to work at the [[J. Walter Thompson Company]], an advertising firm, in Los Angeles.

	Chapin was part of [[Richard Nixon 1968 presidential campaign\|Nixon's presidential campaign]] from 1967 to 1968, serving as Nixon's personal aide. ''Time'' described him as "young, athletic, religious, handsome, clean-cut, bright, ambitious, and tough."		Chapin was part of [[Richard Nixon 1968 presidential campaign\|Nixon's presidential campaign]] from 1967 to 1968, serving as Nixon's personal aide. ''Time'' described him as "young, athletic, religious, handsome, clean-cut, bright, ambitious, and tough."
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	==Nixon's White House Staff==		==Nixon's White House Staff==
	[[File:President Nixon meets with chief advisers in the Oval Office - NARA - 194672.tif\|thumb\|President [[Richard Nixon]] meeting with [[H.R. Haldeman]], Dwight Chapin, [[John D. Ehrlichman]] in 1970.]]		[[File:President Nixon meets with chief advisers in the Oval Office - NARA - 194672.tif\|thumb\|President [[Richard Nixon]] meeting with [[H.R. Haldeman]], Dwight Chapin, [[John D. Ehrlichman]] in 1970.]]
	He was Special Assistant to the President (1969–1971), and then Deputy Assistant (1971–1973). He was the [[Secretary to the President of the United States#Appointments Secretary\|appointments secretary]], responsible for scheduling presidential activities, appointments, and travel. In addition, Chapin was in charge of the White House television office. Chapin also oversaw the hiring and the supervising of presidential advance men, and headed that group to prepare for Nixon's second trip to the [[People's Republic of China~~\|People's Republic of China (P.R.C.)~~]] in February 1972 (after ~~the first~~ trip to [[Japan]] in 1969). In 1973, Chapin was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the year by the [[United States Junior Chamber]] (Jaycees) for his work on the historic China trips (after Japan trips). Even Chinese government were both impressed with Chapin's skill at detail work, singling him out publicly in Beijing meetings: "You are an example of how we should utilize young men in government."		He was Special Assistant to the President (1969–1971), and then Deputy Assistant (1971–1973). He was the [[Secretary to the President of the United States#Appointments Secretary\|appointments secretary]], responsible for scheduling presidential activities, appointments, and travel. In addition, Chapin was in charge of the White House television office. Chapin also oversaw the hiring and the supervising of presidential advance men, and headed that group to prepare for Nixon's second overseas trip, to the [[People's Republic of China]] in February 1972, after an earlier trip to [[Japan]] in 1969. In 1973, Chapin was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the year by the [[United States Junior Chamber]] (Jaycees) for his work.

	==Watergate ~~Scandal~~==		==Watergate scandal==
	It was during this time Chapin hired [[Donald Segretti]], his former colleague from USC, to disrupt the campaigns of Democratic presidential hopefuls during the 1972 presidential primary season through acts of political "sabotage" - known as the "dirty tricks" campaign. Chapin was asked to find a "[[Dick Tuck]]" (a legendary Democratic political saboteur) type of prankster to perform the "dirty tricks" to work under [[H. R. Haldeman]], Nixon's Chief of Staff, and the President.		It was during this time Chapin hired [[Donald Segretti]], his former colleague from USC, to disrupt the campaigns of Democratic presidential hopefuls during the 1972 presidential primary season through acts of political "sabotage" - known as the "dirty tricks" campaign. Chapin was asked to find a "[[Dick Tuck]]" (a legendary Democratic political saboteur) type of prankster to perform the "dirty tricks" to work under [[H. R. Haldeman]], Nixon's Chief of Staff, and the President.

	Segretti later testified before a Watergate grand jury about the activities, including Chapin's supervisory role. Chapin denied any detailed knowledge of Segretti or actions that Segretti undertook during grand jury testimony. Segretti testified, "When Dwight hired me he made it clear he was hiring me because I was a lawyer and would know what was legal and what was not." Chapin was never indicted for any of Segretti's activities. Chapin resigned to work as an executive for United Airlines but was drawn back into the ~~swirl of~~ Watergate legal proceedings.		Segretti later testified before a Watergate grand jury about the activities, including Chapin's supervisory role. Chapin denied any detailed knowledge of Segretti or actions that Segretti undertook during grand jury testimony. Segretti testified, "When Dwight hired me he made it clear he was hiring me because I was a lawyer and would know what was legal and what was not." Chapin was never indicted for any of Segretti's activities. Chapin resigned to work as an executive for [[United Airlines]] but was drawn back into the Watergate legal proceedings.

	==Imprisonment==		==Imprisonment==
	In a 1974 jury trial, Chapin was convicted of making false material declarations before a grand jury<ref>{{cite web \| url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/515/1274/293246/ \| title=United States of America v. Dwight L. Chapin, Appellant, 515 F.2d 1274 (D.C. Cir. 1975) }}</ref> and was imprisoned in the federal corrections camp at Lompoc, California (so-called "Camp Cupcake")<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/14/AR2007051401676_pf.html\|title=Bemoaning the Commoners at Club Fed\|first=Peter\|last=Carlson\|date=May 15, 2007\|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> from August 1975 to April 1976. Despite the relatively minor repercussions he remained indignant, initially vowing to appeal "all the way to the Supreme Court" (which he did) in a very hostile political climate. It was later revealed that he was earning $1,000 per week while in prison, on the payroll of [[W. Clement Stone]] Enterprises.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1241&dat=19760415&id=P0MPAAAAIBAJ&pg=2747,5820318\|title=Who Says Crime Don't Pay\|agency=Reuters\|work=Daily News (Kingsport)\|location=Kingsport\|date=April 15, 1976}}</ref>		In a 1974 jury trial, Chapin was convicted of making false material declarations before a grand jury<ref>{{cite web \| url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/515/1274/293246/ \| title=United States of America v. Dwight L. Chapin, Appellant, 515 F.2d 1274 (D.C. Cir. 1975) }}</ref> and was imprisoned in the federal corrections camp at Lompoc, California (so-called "Camp Cupcake")<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/14/AR2007051401676_pf.html\|title=Bemoaning the Commoners at Club Fed\|first=Peter\|last=Carlson\|date=May 15, 2007\|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> from August 1975 to April 1976. Despite the relatively minor repercussions he remained indignant, initially vowing to appeal "all the way to the Supreme Court" (which he did) in a very hostile political climate. It was later revealed that he was earning $1,000 per week while in prison, on the payroll of [[W. Clement Stone]] Enterprises.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1241&dat=19760415&id=P0MPAAAAIBAJ&pg=2747,5820318\|title=Who Says Crime Don't Pay\|agency=Reuters\|work=Daily News (Kingsport)\|location=Kingsport\|date=April 15, 1976}}</ref>

	==After Watergate ~~Scandal~~ and Nixon's resignation==		==After Watergate and Nixon's resignation==
	After his release from prison, Chapin re-entered the private sector and worked at W. Clement Stone Enterprises in Chicago. From 1977 to 1984, he published a magazine called ''Success Unlimited''. Chapin then worked for the international public relations firm [[Hill & Knowlton]] in Chicago. Later, Chapin had assignments in Geneva, Switzerland, Tokyo, Japan and Hong Kong, where he was managing director, Asia, for Hill & Knowlton.		After his release from prison, Chapin re-entered the private sector and worked at W. Clement Stone Enterprises in Chicago. From 1977 to 1984, he published a magazine called ''Success Unlimited''. Chapin then worked for the international public relations firm [[Hill & Knowlton]] in Chicago. Later, Chapin had assignments in Geneva, Switzerland, Tokyo, Japan and Hong Kong, where he was managing director, Asia, for Hill & Knowlton.

	In 1986, Chapin started Chapin Enterprises. The firm provided consulting services to many prestigious companies and associations. Chapin remained involved in politics and in 1980 worked for [[Ronald Reagan]]'s election as president. In 1988, he held a position in the [[George H. W. Bush]] presidential campaign.		In 1986, Chapin started Chapin Enterprises. The firm provided consulting services to many prestigious companies and associations. Chapin remained involved in politics and in 1980 worked for [[Ronald Reagan]]'s election as president. In 1988, he held a position in the [[George H. W. Bush]] presidential campaign.

	Chapin has maintained an active interest in politics and he is now a business consultant and mentor/coach in East Hampton, New York.{{citation needed\|date=March 2018}}. In 2022, he published a memoir titled ''The President's Man''.<ref>''The President's Man'' {{oclc\|1300878837}}</ref>		Chapin has maintained an active interest in politics and is now a business consultant and mentor/coach in East Hampton, New York.{{citation needed\|date=March 2018}}. In 2022, he published a memoir titled ''The President's Man''.<ref>''The President's Man'' {{oclc\|1300878837}}</ref>

	==References==		==References==

2600:6C52:7E3F:80A5:1055:6131:F16E:A024: /* Watergate Scandal */

2024-02-15T05:19:33Z

Watergate Scandal

New page

{{Short description|Watergate scandal ex-convict}}
{{BLP sources|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Dwight Chapin
|image = Dwight Chapin photo portrait as Deputy Assistant to the President black and white.jpg
|office = [[Secretary to the President of the United States|White House Appointments Secretary]]
|president = [[Richard Nixon]]
|term_start = 1969
|term_end = 1973
|predecessor = [[James R. Jones]]
|successor = [[Warren S. Rustand]]
|birth_name = Dwight Lee Chapin
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1940|12|2}}
|birth_place = [[Wichita, Kansas]], U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|education = [[University of Southern California]] (Bachelor of Arts)
}}
'''Dwight Lee Chapin'''<ref>[http://www.nixonlibrary.gov/forresearchers/find/textual/special/smof/chapin.php Dwight L. Chapin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825145552/https://www.nixonlibrary.gov/forresearchers/find/textual/special/smof/chapin.php |date=2017-08-25 }}. [[Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum]].</ref> (born December 2, 1940) is an American political organizer, businessman and retired public servant. He was Deputy Assistant to President of the United States [[Richard Nixon]] during the [[Watergate scandal]]. Chapin was convicted of lying to a grand jury ([[perjury]]) during the scandal and served nine months at the [[Federal Correctional Institution, Lompoc]].

==Early life==
Chapin was born in Wichita, Kansas. He got his first experience in [[Politics of California|California politics]] in 1958 at the [[American Legion]]'s [[Boys/Girls State|Boys State]] summer program, where he was elected the head of the Tory Party. His counterpart, the Whig Party leader, was [[Stacy Keach]], who went into acting as a career. Chapin graduated in 1963 from the University of Southern California, where he was a member of [[Sigma Chi]] fraternity. At USC, he was a member of [[List of Trojans for Representative Government members|Trojans for Representative Government]] with future [[Watergate scandal]] participants [[Tim Elbourne]], [[Donald Segretti]], [[Gordon C. Strachan]], [[Herbert Porter]], and [[Ron Ziegler]].

==Early political career==
When Nixon ran for California Governor in 1962, Chapin, then still at USC, was a paid Field Man (on-the-ground organizational leader for election campaigns)<ref>[https://www.jstor.org/stable/2744744 "Political Organization (Field Men)"].</ref> and worked with the volunteer organization. After the 1962 campaign, he was hired by [[H. R. Haldeman]] to work at the [[J. Walter Thompson Company]], an advertising firm, in Los Angeles.

Chapin was part of [[Richard Nixon 1968 presidential campaign|Nixon's presidential campaign]] from 1967 to 1968, serving as Nixon's personal aide. ''Time'' described him as "young, athletic, religious, handsome, clean-cut, bright, ambitious, and tough."

==Nixon's White House Staff==
[[File:President Nixon meets with chief advisers in the Oval Office - NARA - 194672.tif|thumb|President [[Richard Nixon]] meeting with [[H.R. Haldeman]], Dwight Chapin, [[John D. Ehrlichman]] in 1970.]]
He was Special Assistant to the President (1969–1971), and then Deputy Assistant (1971–1973). He was the [[Secretary to the President of the United States#Appointments Secretary|appointments secretary]], responsible for scheduling presidential activities, appointments, and travel. In addition, Chapin was in charge of the White House television office. Chapin also oversaw the hiring and the supervising of presidential advance men, and headed that group to prepare for Nixon's second trip to the [[People's Republic of China|People's Republic of China (P.R.C.)]] in February 1972 (after the first trip to [[Japan]] in 1969). In 1973, Chapin was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the year by the [[United States Junior Chamber]] (Jaycees) for his work on the historic China trips (after Japan trips). Even Chinese government were both impressed with Chapin's skill at detail work, singling him out publicly in Beijing meetings: "You are an example of how we should utilize young men in government."

==Watergate Scandal==
It was during this time Chapin hired [[Donald Segretti]], his former colleague from USC, to disrupt the campaigns of Democratic presidential hopefuls during the 1972 presidential primary season through acts of political "sabotage" - known as the "dirty tricks" campaign. Chapin was asked to find a "[[Dick Tuck]]" (a legendary Democratic political saboteur) type of prankster to perform the "dirty tricks" to work under [[H. R. Haldeman]], Nixon's Chief of Staff, and the President.

Segretti later testified before a Watergate grand jury about the activities, including Chapin's supervisory role. Chapin denied any detailed knowledge of Segretti or actions that Segretti undertook during grand jury testimony. Segretti testified, "When Dwight hired me he made it clear he was hiring me because I was a lawyer and would know what was legal and what was not." Chapin was never indicted for any of Segretti's activities. Chapin resigned to work as an executive for United Airlines but was drawn back into the swirl of Watergate legal proceedings.

==Imprisonment==
In a 1974 jury trial, Chapin was convicted of making false material declarations before a grand jury<ref>{{cite web | url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/515/1274/293246/ | title=United States of America v. Dwight L. Chapin, Appellant, 515 F.2d 1274 (D.C. Cir. 1975) }}</ref> and was imprisoned in the federal corrections camp at Lompoc, California (so-called "Camp Cupcake")<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/14/AR2007051401676_pf.html|title=Bemoaning the Commoners at Club Fed|first=Peter|last=Carlson|date=May 15, 2007|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> from August 1975 to April 1976. Despite the relatively minor repercussions he remained indignant, initially vowing to appeal "all the way to the Supreme Court" (which he did) in a very hostile political climate. It was later revealed that he was earning $1,000 per week while in prison, on the payroll of [[W. Clement Stone]] Enterprises.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1241&dat=19760415&id=P0MPAAAAIBAJ&pg=2747,5820318|title=Who Says Crime Don't Pay|agency=Reuters|work=Daily News (Kingsport)|location=Kingsport|date=April 15, 1976}}</ref>

==After Watergate Scandal and Nixon's resignation==
After his release from prison, Chapin re-entered the private sector and worked at W. Clement Stone Enterprises in Chicago. From 1977 to 1984, he published a magazine called ''Success Unlimited''. Chapin then worked for the international public relations firm [[Hill & Knowlton]] in Chicago. Later, Chapin had assignments in Geneva, Switzerland, Tokyo, Japan and Hong Kong, where he was managing director, Asia, for Hill & Knowlton.

In 1986, Chapin started Chapin Enterprises. The firm provided consulting services to many prestigious companies and associations. Chapin remained involved in politics and in 1980 worked for [[Ronald Reagan]]'s election as president. In 1988, he held a position in the [[George H. W. Bush]] presidential campaign.

Chapin has maintained an active interest in politics and he is now a business consultant and mentor/coach in East Hampton, New York.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}. In 2022, he published a memoir titled ''The President's Man''.<ref>''The President's Man'' {{oclc|1300878837}}</ref>

==References==
<references />

==External links==
*{{C-SPAN|9266924}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[James R. Jones]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Secretary to the President of the United States|White House Appointments Secretary]]|years=1969–1973}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Warren S. Rustand]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chapin, Dwight}}
[[Category:1940 births]]
[[Category:American businesspeople]]
[[Category:American businesspeople convicted of crimes]]
[[Category:American people convicted of perjury]]
[[Category:American political consultants]]
[[Category:California Republicans]]
[[Category:New York (state) Republicans]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Nixon administration personnel]]
[[Category:People convicted in the Watergate scandal]]
[[Category:People from Wichita, Kansas]]
[[Category:University of Southern California alumni]]