A government official, business consultant, and author, H. R. Haldeman gained notoriety for his involvement in the 1972 Watergate scandal--a scheme devised by top-ranked government officials, including President Richard M. Nixon, to cover up the Committee to Reelect the President's connection with the burglary of the Democratic National Committee headquarters. For his role in the conspiracy, Haldeman, Nixon's chief of staff, was forced to resign from his position and was later indicted on conspiracy, perjury, and obstruction of justice charges. He spent eighteen months in California's Lompoc prison farm. When he was released, he distanced himself from politics, becoming involved instead with business and real estate ventures and working as a business consultant.

Haldeman's position as a top government aide afforded him the rare opportunity to work with the president on a daily basis. Commenting on his association with Richard Nixon, he noted: "[Nixon] didn't see me as a...