H. R. Haldeman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
H. R. Haldeman
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Haldeman in 1971
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| 4th White House Chief of Staff | |
| In office January 20, 1969 – April 30, 1973 |
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| President | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | James R. Jones (Appointments Secretary) |
| Succeeded by | Alexander Haig |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Harry Robbins Haldeman
October 27, 1926 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Died | November 12, 1993 (aged 67) Santa Barbara, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Joanne Horton
(m. 1949) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education |
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| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Unit | United States Naval Reserve |
Harry Robbins Haldeman (born October 27, 1926 – died November 12, 1993) was an American political helper and businessman. He is best known for being the White House Chief of Staff for President Richard Nixon. He was also involved in the Watergate scandal.
Haldeman was born in California. He served in the Navy Reserves during World War II. He later went to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). After college, he worked in advertising for 20 years.
He became involved in politics because his family had long supported the Republican Party. He met Richard Nixon in the 1950s and became very loyal to him. Haldeman helped Nixon in his campaigns for president. When Nixon became President in 1968, he chose Haldeman as his chief of staff.
Haldeman made big changes to how the White House was run. Many of his ideas for managing staff are still used today. He was known for being a strict boss who expected excellent work.
After leaving the Nixon administration in 1973, Haldeman was found guilty of crimes related to the Watergate scandal. He was sent to prison for 18 months. After his release, he became a successful businessman. He died in 1993 at age 67.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Harry Robbins Haldeman was born in Los Angeles, California, on October 27, 1926. He was one of three children. His father, Harry Francis Haldeman, owned a successful heating and air conditioning company. His father also supported Republican causes. His mother, Katherine, volunteered for groups like the Salvation Army.
Young Haldeman was known for being very proper and focused. He kept his famous flat-top haircut from high school. He was raised as a Christian Scientist. He enjoyed talking about ethics and became a Life Scout. He went to Harvard School, an elite prep school for boys. There, he met Joanne "Jo" Horton, whom he married in 1949.
During World War II, he was in the United States Navy Reserve. He did not fight in active combat. Haldeman studied at the University of Redlands and the University of Southern California. He then transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He earned his degree from UCLA in 1948. At UCLA, he met John Ehrlichman, who became a close friend and colleague in the Nixon administration.
Career Before the White House
In 1949, Haldeman started working at the J. Walter Thompson advertising agency. He worked there for 20 years in Los Angeles and New York City. Other people who worked there at the time included Ronald Ziegler, who later became Nixon's press secretary.
Haldeman's family had a long history with the Republican Party. This, along with his own interest, led him into politics. During this time, he began working for Richard Nixon. He developed great respect and strong loyalty for Nixon.
Haldeman started as an "advance man" for Nixon's campaigns in 1956 and 1960. An advance man helps plan and organize events for political candidates. He also managed Nixon's campaign for governor of California in 1962. When Nixon was elected President in 1968, he chose Haldeman to be his chief of staff.
Working for President Nixon
When Haldeman became part of the White House staff, a friend suggested he keep a daily diary. Haldeman followed this advice. He wrote in his diary every day he worked in the Nixon White House, from January 1969 to April 1973. His full diaries are very long, almost 750,000 words. A shorter version was published as The Haldeman Diaries after he died. The complete diaries are available for researchers at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum.
Haldeman was known as a tough manager who expected the best work. He and John Ehrlichman were called "the Berlin Wall" by other White House staff. This was because of their German last names and how they kept others from bothering Nixon. They were Nixon's most trusted and loyal helpers during his time as president. Both worked hard to protect what they believed was best for Nixon.
Watergate Involvement
Haldeman was a key person in the Watergate scandal. This scandal involved a break-in at the Democratic Party headquarters and efforts to cover it up.
A famous recording, known as the "Smoking Gun" tape, showed that Nixon told Haldeman to ask the CIA to stop the FBI from looking into Watergate. Nixon told him to say that the investigation would "open up the whole Bay of Pigs thing again." In his book, Haldeman later wrote that Nixon might have been talking about the Kennedy assassination. He suggested Nixon might have been reminding the CIA director about past CIA actions.
There was also a mysterious 18-and-a-half-minute gap in Nixon's Oval Office recordings. This happened during a conversation between the President and Haldeman on June 20, 1972.
Nixon asked Haldeman and Ehrlichman to resign in April 1973. It was a very emotional meeting. Haldeman resigned on April 30, 1973. Soon after, Nixon told Haldeman on the phone that he loved him like a brother. Before Nixon himself resigned, Haldeman asked for a full pardon for himself. He also asked for pardons for people who had avoided military service during the Vietnam War. Nixon refused.
On January 1, 1975, Haldeman was found guilty of working with others to commit a crime, trying to stop justice, and lying under oath. He was sentenced to prison. He served 18 months at Lompoc Federal Prison. He was released on parole on December 20, 1978.
Later Life and Death
After leaving prison, Haldeman had a successful career as a businessman. He worked in hotels, real estate, and restaurants in Florida.
On November 12, 1993, Haldeman died from abdominal cancer at his home in Santa Barbara, California. He chose not to have medical treatment, following his Christian Science beliefs. He was 67 years old. He was survived by his wife, Joanne Horton, and their four children.
After Haldeman's death, Richard Nixon said in a statement that Haldeman was a man of "rare intelligence, strength, integrity and courage." He added that Haldeman played a very important role during a difficult time for their administration. Haldeman's White House diaries were published after his death in 1994.
See also
In Spanish: H. R. Haldeman para niños
- Operation Sandwedge
