CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY APRIL 1, 2021
G. GORDON LIDDY, WHO DIED TUESDAY AT AGE 90, WAS A CENTRAL FIGURE IN TWO SCANDALS NEARLY FIFTY YEARS AGO. ONE WAS THE ATTEMPT TO BREAK INTO MILITARY ANALYST DANIEL ELLSBERG’S OFFICE TO FIND INCRIMINATING MATERIAL THAT COULD BE LEAKED TO THE MEDIA. ELLSBERG WAS BEHIND RELEASE OF THE PENTAGON PAPERS THAT AMONG OTHER THINGS REVEALED AMERICANS WERE BEING LIED TO ABOUT CASUALTY FIGURES IN THE VIETNAM WAR.
THE OTHER SCANDAL WAS LIDDY’S LEADING A TEAM TO BREAK-IN TO DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, WHICH LED TO THE RESIGNATION OF RICHARD NIXON AS PRESIDENT.
PEOPLE TOO YOUNG TO REMEMBER THOSE DAYS MIGHT WANT TO READ SOME OF THE WATERGATE BOOKS, ESPECIALLY CHARLES COLSON’S “BORN AGAIN.”
SOME YEARS LATER, LIDDY SPOKE AT A MEDIA DINNER I HOST EACH YEAR. HE SAID HE HAD FOUND CHRIST. IT WAS A RIVETING TALK.
AFTERWARDS, A REPORTER FOR THE WASHINGTON POST ASKED LIDDY IF HE HAD SOUGHT FORGIVENESS. “YES,” LIDDY REPLIED. “EVEN FOR WATERGATE?” THE REPORTER ASKED. “NEVER!” SAID LIDDY. LIKE MANY OF US IN OUR WALK WITH CHRIST, GORDON LIDDY STILL HAD A WAY TO GO AND MAYBE HE DID. I’M CAL THOMAS.
