Samuel Dash facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sam Dash
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| Born | February 27, 1925 Camden, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Died | May 29, 2004 (aged 79) Washington, D.C., U.S.
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| Education | Temple University (BA) Harvard University (JD) |
| Occupation | lawyer |
| Known for | Chief counsel for the Senate Watergate Committee |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Sara Dash (1947–2004) |
| Children | 2 |
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Samuel Dash (born February 27, 1925 – died May 29, 2004) was an American lawyer. He became well-known for his important role in the Watergate scandal. He was the main lawyer, called the 'chief counsel,' for the Senate Watergate Committee. This committee investigated what happened during the Watergate incident. People often saw him asking questions on TV during these important hearings.
Early Life and Learning
Samuel Dash was born in Camden, New Jersey. His parents, Joseph and Ida Dash, had moved to the United States from the Soviet Union. Later, his family moved to Philadelphia.
He went to Central High School in Philadelphia. While there, he was the president of a group called the Interscholastic League of Student Associations. This group helped connect student leaders from different schools.
When he was 18, the United States was fighting in World War II. Dash paused his studies to join the Army Air Corps. He worked as a bombardier navigator, flying missions over Italy. After the war, he finished his degree at Temple University in 1947. Then, he studied law at Harvard Law School and earned his law degree in 1950.
His Career as a Lawyer
In 1955, Samuel Dash became a district attorney in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A district attorney is a lawyer who works for the government. They bring legal cases against people accused of breaking the law. Later, he started his own private law practice.
Dash became a law professor at Georgetown University. While teaching there, he was asked to help United States Senator Sam Ervin. Senator Ervin was leading a special group called the Senate Watergate Committee. This committee was set up to investigate if President Richard Nixon was involved in a break-in at the Watergate Hotel. The break-in happened at the offices of the Democratic Party. The committee also looked into efforts to stop the investigation of this break-in.
Georgetown University allowed Dash to take time off for this important work. He became the committee's chief counsel, meaning he was the main lawyer guiding their investigation. His work during the televised hearings made him famous.
About 20 years later, Dash was in the news again. He had been an ethics adviser to a special investigator named Kenneth Starr. After working for four years, Dash quit his job. He disagreed with Starr's actions in front of a group called the United States House Committee on the Judiciary. Dash felt that Starr was acting like someone trying to prove a point, not like a fair investigator.
After this, Dash went back to Georgetown University. He taught about criminal procedures there for almost 40 years. In 1976, he was chosen to join the board of Common Cause. This is a group that works to make government more open and fair.
Before he passed away, he wrote a book called The Intruders: Unreasonable Searches and Seizures from King John to John Ashcroft. This book talked about how important freedom is in modern society. It also discussed risks to freedom, especially after a law called the PATRIOT Act was passed.
Passing Away
Samuel Dash passed away in Washington, D.C., on May 29, 2004. He was 79 years old and died from heart problems. Interestingly, he died on the same day as Archibald Cox. Cox was another important lawyer involved in the Watergate scandal.
Media Appearances
- In 1983, he appeared in a TV special called Summer of Judgment: The Watergate Hearings. This show marked 10 years since the Watergate hearings.
- He was also featured in Episode 4 of the TV show based on the Slow Burn podcast. This episode used old video clips of him from the Watergate hearings.
