Watergate’s Magruder arrested in Grandview

The Columbus Dispatch ^ | August 18, 2003 | Matthew Marx

[flutters]

Former Nixon aide, discovered by police lying on sidewalk, says charge baseless

Grandview police arrested key Watergate figure Jeb Stuart Magruder on Friday and charged him with disorderly conduct — a charge Magruder called "ludicrous" last night.

"It’s a baseless claim. . . . It’s ludicrous," Magruder, of Upper Arlington, told The Dispatch.

Magruder — who recently made headlines when he said former President Richard M. Nixon ordered the 1972 break-in at the Watergate hotel in Washington — is charged with one fourth-degree misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.

He is accused of lying on the sidewalk while drunk in front of 1276 Grandview Avenue and refusing a request from Grandview Police Officer Calvin Adkins to get up, Franklin County Municipal Court records show. Margruder was booked in the Franklin County jail Friday night and was released after paying a $45 bond, court records show.

Magruder, 68, a retired minister, said last night he won’t be in court today for his 9 a.m. arraignment.

"I’m going to be out of town, seeing a client in Montana."

His attorney, Jack Chester, or someone from Chester’s firm will represent him, Magruder said. Chester couldn’t be reached last night. Also, Adkins wasn’t available for comment last night. Grandview Police Sgt. Larry Balla refused to comment.

On a television documentary and in The Dispatch last month, Magruder said he was present at a meeting on March 30, 1972, when campaign manager John Mitchell was told by Nixon over the phone to go ahead with the plan. The break-in occurred two months later, on June 17, 1972, touching off one of the nation’s most notorious political scandals.

[Miss Marple]

Hmmmm.

I didn't realize this guy was now 68. I feel old.

[joesnuffy]

68yrs old... passsed out drunk on a sidewalk
Heck of a carreer cap

[Dante3]

It's better to take sit down than to drive drunk if that is the case.

[headsonpikes]

"...lying on the sidewalk while drunk..."

Quite a comedown for a former White House staffer.

Oh well, at least he wasn't turned into a bat by smoking marihuana!

[Redbob]

I feel old too, but I think it's more a Monday morning thing!

[cynicalman]

I didn't realize this guy was now 68. I feel old.

That's because we are!!!!

[YaYa123]

I don't think anyone took Magruder's latest revelation on that PBS documentary seriously. He was on the TODAY Show and explained he hadn't revealed the dynamite information before because no one had asked. I mean, who could believe such silliness...the question always was, "What did he know and when did he know it?"

Magruder should be ashamed of himself...maybe he is, and maybe that's why he got falling down drunk. We'll know soon enough if the man's got a serious booze problem, but the real disgrace is that PBS and The Today Show wanted so badly to incriminate the very dead Nixon, that they gave Magruder any credence at all.

[Skooz]

That's because we are!!!!

DANG! He was younger then (when Watergate broke) than I am now.

DANG! DANG! DANG!

[Congressman Billybob]

Is this real? Or is this the Onion?

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, "Texans for Sale or Rent" posted on FR, other publication to come.

[Consort]

[flutters]

Magruder ping.

[Skooz]

Please tell that's a PhotoShop graphic. Please tell me that is NOT an unretouched photo.

[BluH2o]

Magruder — who recently made headlines when he said former President Richard M. Nixon ordered the 1972 break-in at the Watergate hotel in Washington — is charged with one fourth-degree misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.

He is accused of lying on the sidewalk while drunk in front of 1276 Grandview Avenue and refusing a request from Grandview Police Officer Calvin Adkins to get up, Franklin County Municipal Court records show.

No doubt this is a smear campaign concocted by Nixon sympathizers to discredit the poor man. ;)

[paul51]

I’m going to be out of town, seeing a client in Montana

I'm sure the story will instill a lot of confidence.

[Drango]

accused of lying on the sidewalk while drunk...

Ahhhhhhh those good old college daze.

[Hildy]

LOL...this has to be the worst picture I've ever seen! But I'm assuming it's retouched...er...right?

[Hildy]

LOL...this has to be the worst picture I've ever seen! But I'm assuming it's retouched...er...right?

[Hildy]

LOL...this has to be the worst picture I've ever seen! But I'm assuming it's retouched...er...right?

[Hildy]

Sorry for the burps!