According to many sources I have read, Dean instigated it. Unfortunately, I do not have those at hand to quote or link. I believe one source was G. Gordon Liddy, one an investigative journalist for a conservative magazine. Dean was definitely involved--this one was not Liddy's baby, although Liddy did plan and hel execute some of Nixon's investigative forays.
One interesting article about Watergate gave the reason for Dean's planning it was to see if his intended (now his wife) was listed in the call girl ring the Dems were setting up. They were planning marriage and Dean was afraid if her name came up, it could harm his career.
If anyone remembrs sources for this, please post. One of my failings is reading constantly and simply filing all info mentally under a topic without sourcing it.
vaudine
I was thinking of the official version of Watergate as it came out in the hearings before the Ervin committee in 1973. I had forgotten about the theory that the break-in was because of Dean's wife (or perhaps then-fiancee)...I saw the book arguing that case in a bookstore but never read it.