Gordon Liddy

 There were some things to like or respect about Gordon Liddy. They do not include many of his political ideas or his bragging, showing off,  and marketing himself too hard as tough guy. They surely do not include his attitude, behavior, and approach while working for officials in the Nixon administration. According to his autobiography he saw nothing wrong in the political sabotage and black bag operations he planned or directed including the break in at Watergate  and was ready to assassinate a columnist who was giving the administration trouble or a colleague who agreed to cooperate with prosecutors if he had been given orders to do so. If he ever changed his mind and decided any of that was wrong, I never heard about it. He was dangerously wrong, and the country does not need people like that in government. Still among the repulsive gang of scoundrels and weasels caught up in the Watergate affair, he stood out as at least a person with some integrity and toughness. He did what he did, thinking it was the right thing to do. He got caught and took his (excessive) punishment without either betraying his associates or making a craven false apology to try to get more lenient treatment. He seems to have been someone who, if he had your back, literally or figuratively, had it and would not run away when things got hot.  After serving his time he made a new career as an author and then as the host of an entertaining, amusing, and often funny and high-spirited talk radio show.  He also did some acting including a memorable bit as a villain on Miami Vice.

He was a man who made out all right after some rough setbacks, a felon who led a better life after serving his time. In public he came across as someone whom it might have been interesting to talk with, unlike, say, Dean, Magruder, or Colson.  At least he was colorful and probably would not have been boring.