The White House Plumbers

More about the book

This true story delves into the secretive operations of a unit within Nixon's White House known as The Plumbers, formed to stop the leaks of the Pentagon Papers, ultimately leading to Watergate and the President's downfall. In 1971, Egil "Bud" Krogh was unexpectedly tasked by John Ehrlichman, a close advisor to Nixon, to oversee the Special Investigations Unit (SIU). Initially believing he would discuss drug control efforts in Vietnam, Krogh was instead handed the responsibility of investigating leaks of classified documents. Fueled by loyalty and determination, Krogh and co-director David Young recruited G. Gordon Liddy and E. Howard Hunt to infiltrate the office of Dr. Fielding, a psychiatrist for Daniel Ellsberg, the suspected leaker. Unbeknownst to Krogh, his actions would spiral into one of the most infamous conspiracies in U.S. history, leading to the Nixon administration's collapse. This account reveals the inner workings of the Nixon White House and illustrates how a principled individual can make grave mistakes, emphasizing the importance of integrity. It also recounts Krogh's time in prison and his journey to rebuild his life, serving as a gripping and cautionary tale about the dangers of justifying unethical means for perceived noble ends.