Harry Robbins Haldeman

Harry Robbins Haldeman 1971

Harry Robbins ("HR") Haldeman ( listen ^{? / I} ; born October 27, 1926 in Los Angeles , California ; † November 12, 1993 in Santa Barbara , California) was Chief of Staff of the White House under President Richard Nixon . His two first names were mostly used abbreviated in public. Since friends called him "Bob" because of his middle name, the misunderstanding arose that the "R." stands for "Robert". His surname refers to his Swiss ancestors.

Life

In 1948, Haldeman graduated from the University of California . There he also met his friend John Ehrlichman (later Nixon's internal affairs advisor). Both together then became known in the White House as "The Berlin Wall" because of their German-sounding names and their shielding measures for the President. Haldeman met Nixon in 1959 and led his unsuccessful election campaigns in 1960 and 1962. However, after managing Nixon's successful election as US President in 1968 ( presidential election in the United States in 1968 ), this led to his appointment as Chief of Staff of the White House.

Both Haldeman and Ehrlichman belonged to Nixon's inner circle, where essential personal and confidential matters were discussed. These conversations were recorded on a White House tape system commissioned by Nixon himself. These included conversations in which Nixon had commissioned Haldeman to cover up the background to the Watergate break- in. The recordings exposed Haldeman and Ehrlichman as key figures in the Watergate scandal. However, a suspicion in this regard arose even before it was published, in particular on the basis of the statements of the main witness John Dean . Therefore, on April 29, 1973, Nixon persuaded his two advisors, Haldeman and Ehrlichman, to resign in very personal one-on-one meetings at Camp David , which became official the next day.

Until Nixon's resignation, Haldeman tried to hide the Watergate conspiracy and extradited others, such as John N. Mitchell , to justice. On January 1, 1975, Haldeman was sentenced to eight years in prison for conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and perjury, with an early release no earlier than two and a half years. This sentence was later reduced to the extent that Haldeman was released on December 20, 1978, after a total of 18 months in prison.

While still in prison, he published his portrayal of the Watergate scandal ("The Ends of Power") together with Joseph Di Mona in 1978. The book was the basis for Oliver Stone's film " Nixon " (1995), in which Haldeman was played by the actor James Woods .

After his release, Haldeman worked as a businessman and invested a. a. in properties, hotels and restaurant chains. Haldeman died on November 12, 1993 of complications from cancer.

In 1994, The Haldeman Diaries, the diaries from his time at the White House, were published posthumously.

literature

• HR Haldeman (with Joseph DiMona): The Ends of Power. Dell Publishing, New York NY 1978, ISBN 0-440-12239-2 .
• HR Haldeman: The Haldeman Diaries. Inside the Nixon White House. Berkley Books, New York NY 1995, ISBN 0-425-14827-0 .

Web links

Commons : HR Haldeman  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Haldeman biography