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As Richard Nixon headed towards impeachment in 1974, a handful of Republican congressmen did everything they could to defend him.
But no one wound up going in the tank for him as much as Rep. Earl Landgrebe (R-IN).
But no one wound up going in the tank for him as much as Rep. Earl Landgrebe (R-IN).
A state senator for a decade, Landgrebe won his House seat in 1968 when Rep. Charles Halleck, a longtime GOP leader, decided to retire.
Landgrebe won with 55% of the vote the first time, narrowly won re-election in 1970, but then took a third term in 1972 easily with 55% again.
Landgrebe won with 55% of the vote the first time, narrowly won re-election in 1970, but then took a third term in 1972 easily with 55% again.
When the Watergate scandal broke, Landgrebe emerged as one of the more ridiculous defenders of the president.
"Don't confuse me with facts," he said when the end drew near. "I've got a closed mind. I will not vote for impeachment."
"Don't confuse me with facts," he said when the end drew near. "I've got a closed mind. I will not vote for impeachment."
From that same piece, which came out in August 1974, when almost everyone else in the GOP had thrown in the towel:
"I'm going to stick with my President even if he and I have to be taken out of this building and shot."
Nixon resigned from office a day after that piece ran.
"I'm going to stick with my President even if he and I have to be taken out of this building and shot."
Nixon resigned from office a day after that piece ran.
On election day a few months after Nixon's resignation -- in a rematch against the same opponent he'd beaten 55%-45% in the 1972 race -- Congressman Landgrebe went down in a humiliating 39%-61% loss.
He had tied himself to Nixon and, sure enough, he wound up going down with him.
He had tied himself to Nixon and, sure enough, he wound up going down with him.
