Thread by @ewbarnard

1. Let's do some Fun Facts from my high school days... for no particular reason (cc @cookietpa)!

I'm keeping in mind that the modern era, 2017-2021, has been known as the "Nixon Speed Run".

2. The phrase "Watergate Seven" was a thing. Except it wasn't!

The "Watergate Seven" of 1972 were a thing, of course.

But so were the "Watergate Seven" of 1974. Two different groups, both numbering (you guessed it) seven.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watergate…

3. The latter also brings us to a Presidential First:

"The grand jury also named Nixon as an unindicted co-conspirator. The indictments marked the first time in U.S. history that a president was so named."

Pretty cool, huh? To be the first?

4. So let's count to fourteen - the two cohorts of seven. Here we go!

One. G. Gordon Libby served 4-1/2 years in prison.

Two. E. Howard Hunt served 2 years 9 months in prison.

Do you sense a trend here? Let's keep going.

5. Let's see... Three would be Bernard Barker. He reversed his plea and served 18 months in prison. But there was another charge, and he served an additional year in prison.

By the by... I'm not mentioning the sentences; who cares once you're out. This is time *on site*.

6. Four is Virgilio Gonzalez, 13 months in prison.

Five. Eugenio Martinez, 15 months in prison; pardoned.

Six. James W. McCord Jr., served 4 months. That's why you give up some names.

7. Seven is Frank Sturgis. 14 months in prison.

So, the first cohort? Real prison time for everyone. How about that second cohort, though?

8. Eight is John N. Mitchell. 18 months in prison.

Nine is H.R. Haldeman. While in prison, Haldeman worked in a facility testing sewage. 18 months in prison.

But, hey, every one of of this cohort has his own wikipedia page, so there's that.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._R._Hal…

9. John Erlichman. 18 months in prison.

Charles Colson. 7 months prison.

Gordon C. Strachan. Huh. I don't recall his name like the others. Aha! Charges were dropped before trial. Nice to be forgotten, eh?

10. Robert Mardian. Conviction overturned on appeal. I don't remember him either. Perhaps a pattern emerges.

Kenneth Parkinson. Acquitted. Yup forgot him too. A pattern confirmed.

11. So - yeah - apropos of nothing in particular - we have The Watergate Seven, *and* The Watergate Seven. That's the Fun Fact for now.

And, of course, the first president to be named unindicted co-conspirator.

*Way* better to be *indicted* co-conspirator, don't you think?
/end