Donald Sanders
Encyclopedia
Donald Gilbert Sanders was a key figure in the Watergate investigation
. As Deputy Minority Counsel of the Senate Committee, he discovered Nixon's White House tapes leading to the resignation of the President. He served as an Officer (armed forces)
in the United States Marine Corps
, Special Agent in the Federal Bureau of Investigation
, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, and Director of Investigations for the United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
.
, to Anna
Marie Schmitz (1908-2008) and Howard Sanders (1906-1988). He was educated at Washington University and the University of Missouri
, graduating in 1954 with a law degree.
In 1952, he married Dolores Henderson (1932-2008) of Columbia, Missouri
and they had three children; Deborah, Michael, and Matthew. Sanders was a Captain in the United States Marine Corps
serving from 1954 until 1956.
Sanders also arrested Victor Feguer
, the last federal prisoner executed (1963) in the 20th century by the federal government. In 1961 he was assigned to Miami, FL and then went to Washington D.C. in 1964 as Assistant Inspector. Sanders resigned from the FBI in 1969.
In February 1969, Sanders became the Chief Counsel and Chief of Staff of the House Committee on Internal Security, formerly the House Un-American Activities Committee
. The HCIS investigated and held hearings for a number of organizations and individuals who were considered dangerous to national security.
Sanders was admitted to practice law before the United States Supreme Court.
He left the HCIS in March 1972 and joined the United States Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities (Watergate Committee) as the Deputy Minority Counsel. One of Sanders' responsibilities was to gather evidence by interviewing officials and aides to find out more information about the Watergate break-in. The most famous of these interviews occurred on Friday, July 13, 1973. Federal Aviation Administration
head, Alexander Butterfield
, was being privately questioned by Senate committee staff members, when Sanders asked if it were possible that a recording system had been used in the White House. Mr. Butterfield (a former White House aide) answered, "I wish you hadn't asked that question, but, yes, there is."
Sanders went to relay the news to Fred Thompson, who was the Minority Counsel. Sanders first had to call him out of a local restaurant. "Because he was with some reporters, I got him away from them, and got him out on the street corner and told him the story," Sanders said.
On Monday, July 16, 1973, during the televised hearings, Thompson publicly asked, "Mr. Butterfield, are you aware of the installation of any listening devices in the Oval Office of the president?"
The revelation of cover up on the taping system in the Oval Office led the House Judiciary Committee to submit three articles of impeachment for obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of congress. When the final article was approved July 30, 1974, Richard Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974.
Sanders retired from national service in 1982 and returned to practice law in Columbia, Missouri
. He was elected as Boone County Commissioner in 1988, and served until 1990. He completed an MA in History from the University of Missouri
in 1991. Sanders was President of the Boone County Historical Society. He and his family donated land to Boone County where Nathan Boone blazed the Booneslick Trail across central Missouri. Sanders also served as Chairman of the Administrative Board of Midway Locust Grove United Methodist Church. On September 26, 1999, Sanders died of cancer at the age of 69.
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...
. As Deputy Minority Counsel of the Senate Committee, he discovered Nixon's White House tapes leading to the resignation of the President. He served as an Officer (armed forces)
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, Special Agent in the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, and Director of Investigations for the United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
The United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence is dedicated to overseeing the United States Intelligence Community—the agencies and bureaus of the federal government of the United States who provide information and analysis for leaders of the executive and legislative branches. The...
.
Early life and education
Sanders was born in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, to Anna
Marie Schmitz (1908-2008) and Howard Sanders (1906-1988). He was educated at Washington University and the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
, graduating in 1954 with a law degree.
In 1952, he married Dolores Henderson (1932-2008) of Columbia, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
and they had three children; Deborah, Michael, and Matthew. Sanders was a Captain in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
serving from 1954 until 1956.
FBI career
In November, 1959, Sanders completed his FBI training and was assigned to Birmingham, Alabama. He was on the team in 1961 that solved the burning of the Freedom Riders' bus by the Ku Klux Klan.Sanders also arrested Victor Feguer
Victor Feguer
Victor Harry Feguer was a convicted murderer and the last federal inmate executed in the United States before the moratorium on the death penalty following Furman v. Georgia, and the last person put to death in the state of Iowa...
, the last federal prisoner executed (1963) in the 20th century by the federal government. In 1961 he was assigned to Miami, FL and then went to Washington D.C. in 1964 as Assistant Inspector. Sanders resigned from the FBI in 1969.
Capitol Hill
House Un-American Activities Committee
The House Committee on Un-American Activities or House Un-American Activities Committee was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. In 1969, the House changed the committee's name to "House Committee on Internal Security"...
. The HCIS investigated and held hearings for a number of organizations and individuals who were considered dangerous to national security.
Sanders was admitted to practice law before the United States Supreme Court.
He left the HCIS in March 1972 and joined the United States Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities (Watergate Committee) as the Deputy Minority Counsel. One of Sanders' responsibilities was to gather evidence by interviewing officials and aides to find out more information about the Watergate break-in. The most famous of these interviews occurred on Friday, July 13, 1973. Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
head, Alexander Butterfield
Alexander Butterfield
Alexander Porter Butterfield is a retired U.S. military officer, public servant, and businessman. He served as the deputy assistant to President Richard Nixon from 1969 until 1973. He was a key figure in the Watergate scandal, but was not personally involved in any wrongdoing, and was not...
, was being privately questioned by Senate committee staff members, when Sanders asked if it were possible that a recording system had been used in the White House. Mr. Butterfield (a former White House aide) answered, "I wish you hadn't asked that question, but, yes, there is."
Sanders went to relay the news to Fred Thompson, who was the Minority Counsel. Sanders first had to call him out of a local restaurant. "Because he was with some reporters, I got him away from them, and got him out on the street corner and told him the story," Sanders said.
On Monday, July 16, 1973, during the televised hearings, Thompson publicly asked, "Mr. Butterfield, are you aware of the installation of any listening devices in the Oval Office of the president?"
The revelation of cover up on the taping system in the Oval Office led the House Judiciary Committee to submit three articles of impeachment for obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of congress. When the final article was approved July 30, 1974, Richard Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974.
Later years
Afterwards, Sanders worked as a Senior Program Analyst for the Atomic Energy Commission and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs (Ford administration). In the latter position, he received the Distinguished Civilian Service Award, the department's highest recognition. He returned to the Hill as Director of Investigations for the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and then worked for the Senate Select Committee on Ethics.Sanders retired from national service in 1982 and returned to practice law in Columbia, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
. He was elected as Boone County Commissioner in 1988, and served until 1990. He completed an MA in History from the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
in 1991. Sanders was President of the Boone County Historical Society. He and his family donated land to Boone County where Nathan Boone blazed the Booneslick Trail across central Missouri. Sanders also served as Chairman of the Administrative Board of Midway Locust Grove United Methodist Church. On September 26, 1999, Sanders died of cancer at the age of 69.
External links
- Archives of the University of Missouri - ' Donald Sanders' Papers'