Committee to Re-elect the President
Encyclopedia
The Committee for the Re-Election of the President, abbreviated CRP but often mocked by the acronym CREEP, was a fundraising
organization of United States
President
Richard Nixon's
administration. Besides its re-election activities, CRP employed money laundering
and slush fund
s and was directly and actively involved in the Watergate scandal
.
CRP used US$
500,000 in funds raised for the purpose to re-elect President Nixon to pay legal expenses for the five Watergate burglars after their indictment in September 1972, in exchange for their silence and perjury
. This act helped turn the burglary into an explosive political scandal
. The burglars, as well as G. Gordon Liddy
, E. Howard Hunt
, John N. Mitchell
, and other Nixon administration figures, were imprisoned over the break-in and their efforts to cover it up.
The CRP was also connected, e.g. via personal overlap, to the earlier group called the White House Plumbers
.
Fundraising
Fundraising or fund raising is the process of soliciting and gathering voluntary contributions as money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies...
organization of United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Richard Nixon's
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
administration. Besides its re-election activities, CRP employed money laundering
Money laundering
Money laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount...
and slush fund
Slush fund
A slush fund, colloquially, is an auxiliary monetary account or a reserve fund. However, in the context of corrupt dealings, such as those by governments or large corporations, a slush fund can have particular connotations of illegality, illegitimacy, or secrecy in regard to the use of this money...
s and was directly and actively involved in the Watergate scandal
Watergate scandal
The Watergate scandal was a political scandal during the 1970s in the United States resulting from the break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., and the Nixon administration's attempted cover-up of its involvement...
.
CRP used US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
500,000 in funds raised for the purpose to re-elect President Nixon to pay legal expenses for the five Watergate burglars after their indictment in September 1972, in exchange for their silence and perjury
Perjury
Perjury, also known as forswearing, is the willful act of swearing a false oath or affirmation to tell the truth, whether spoken or in writing, concerning matters material to a judicial proceeding. That is, the witness falsely promises to tell the truth about matters which affect the outcome of the...
. This act helped turn the burglary into an explosive political scandal
Political scandal
A political scandal is a kind of political corruption that is exposed and becomes a scandal, in which politicians or government officials are accused of engaging in various illegal, corrupt, or unethical practices...
. The burglars, as well as G. Gordon Liddy
G. Gordon Liddy
George Gordon Liddy was the chief operative for the White House Plumbers unit that existed from July–September 1971, during Richard Nixon's presidency. Separately, along with E. Howard Hunt, Liddy organized and directed the Watergate burglaries of the Democratic National Committee headquarters in...
, E. Howard Hunt
E. Howard Hunt
Everette Howard Hunt, Jr. was an American intelligence officer and writer. Hunt served for many years as a CIA officer. Hunt, with G...
, John N. Mitchell
John N. Mitchell
John Newton Mitchell was the Attorney General of the United States from 1969 to 1972 under President Richard Nixon...
, and other Nixon administration figures, were imprisoned over the break-in and their efforts to cover it up.
The CRP was also connected, e.g. via personal overlap, to the earlier group called the White House Plumbers
White House Plumbers
The White House Plumbers, sometimes simply called the Plumbers, were a covert White House Special Investigations Unit established July 24, 1971 during the presidency of Richard Nixon. Its task was to stop the leaking of classified information to the news media...
.
Prominent members
- John N. MitchellJohn N. MitchellJohn Newton Mitchell was the Attorney General of the United States from 1969 to 1972 under President Richard Nixon...
, Director - Fred MalekFred MalekFrederic Vincent "Fred" Malek is the former President of Marriott Hotels and Northwest Airlines and former assistant to United States Presidents Richard Nixon and George H.W. Bush. Malek served as a National Finance Committee co-chair of John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign...
, Deputy Director - Jeb Stuart MagruderJeb Stuart MagruderJeb Stuart Magruder has had careers as a businessman, civil servant, political organizer, and Presbyterian minister. He is also a published writer...
, Manager - Francis L. DaleFrancis L. DaleFrancis Lykins Dale was an American businessman and Republican political operative.- Early life :Dale graduated from Duke University and obtained a law degree from the University of Virginia...
, Chairman - Maurice StansMaurice StansMaurice Hubert Stans was an American accountant, high-ranking civil servant, Cabinet member, and political organizer...
, Finance Chairman - Herbert W. KalmbachHerbert W. KalmbachHerbert W. Kalmbach was the personal attorney to United States President Richard Nixon .-Biography:...
, Deputy Finance Chairman - Kenneth H. DahlbergKenneth H. DahlbergKenneth Harry Dahlberg was an American businessman and highly decorated World War II fighter ace.-Early life:...
, Midwest Finance Chairman - Hugh W. Sloan, Jr.Hugh W. Sloan, Jr.Hugh W. Sloan, Jr. was Treasurer of the Committee to Re-elect the President, Richard M. Nixon's 1972 campaign committee. Previously, he was an aide to White House Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman....
, Treasurer - James W. McCord, Jr.James W. McCord, Jr.James Walter McCord, Jr. is a former CIA agent, later involved, as an electronics expert, in the Watergate burglaries .-Career:...
, Security Coordinator - G. Gordon LiddyG. Gordon LiddyGeorge Gordon Liddy was the chief operative for the White House Plumbers unit that existed from July–September 1971, during Richard Nixon's presidency. Separately, along with E. Howard Hunt, Liddy organized and directed the Watergate burglaries of the Democratic National Committee headquarters in...
, Finance Counsel; former aide to John EhrlichmanJohn EhrlichmanJohn Daniel Ehrlichman was counsel and Assistant to the President for Domestic Affairs under President Richard Nixon. He was a key figure in events leading to the Watergate first break-in and the ensuing Watergate scandal, for which he was convicted of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and perjury...
. - E. Howard HuntE. Howard HuntEverette Howard Hunt, Jr. was an American intelligence officer and writer. Hunt served for many years as a CIA officer. Hunt, with G...
, Consultant to the White House - Donald SegrettiDonald SegrettiDonald Henry Segretti is a former political operative for the Committee to Re-elect the President during the early 1970s. Segretti was hired by friend Dwight L...
, attorney involved - Fred LaRueFred LaRueFrederick Cheney "Fred" LaRue was a presidential aide of the administration of U.S. President Richard Nixon who served time in prison for his role in events resulting the Watergate first break-in and the subsequent Watergate scandal and cover-up...
, Deputy Director; aide to John Mitchell - Charles ColsonCharles ColsonCharles Wendell "Chuck" Colson is a Christian leader, cultural commentator, and former Special Counsel for President Richard Nixon from 1969 to 1973....
, Special Counsel to the President - Devan L. ShumwayDeVan L. ShumwayDeVan L. "Van" Shumway was an American publisher and aide to President Richard M. Nixon. He served as spokeperson for Nixon's Committee to Re-Elect the President and was a staunch defender of Nixon through the Watergate scandal.-Life and career:Shumway was a native of Blanding, Utah...
, Spokesman - Roger StoneRoger StoneRoger J. Stone, Jr. is an American political consultant and lobbyist who specializes in opposition research for the Republican National Committee in the United States....
, political operative