Silent Coup

This article is about the 1992 book by Len Colodny and Robert Gettlin. For the 1951 Thai political event, see Silent Coup (Thailand).
Silent Coup: The Removal of a President
Author Len Colodny, Robert Gettlin
Country United States
Language English
Subject Watergate scandal
Publisher St. Martin's Press
Publication date
 January 1992
Media type Print (Hardcover)
Pages 580 pages
ISBN

0-312-05156-5 (hardback)

ISBN 978-0-312-92763-9 (paper)
OCLC 22493143
364.1/32/0973 20
LC Class E860 .C635 1991

Silent Coup is a book written by Len Colodny and Robert Gettlin, in which they contend that former Nixon White House counsel John Dean orchestrated the 1972 Watergate burglary at Democratic National Committee headquarters to protect his future wife Maureen Biner by removing information linking her to a call-girl ring that worked for the DNC. The first edition was published in 1991, followed quickly by an expanded second edition in January 1992. The authors also argued that Alexander Haig was not Deep Throat, but was a key source for Bob Woodward, who as a Naval officer had briefed Haig at the White House in 1969 and 1970; it was later revealed FBI deputy director Mark Felt, who was confirmed as Deep Throat in 2005, became Woodward's key source after his partner Carl Bernstein was able to locate hush money in Miami, Florida.[1]

Overview

The Washington Post described Silent Coup as one of "the most boring conspiracy books ever written," filled with "wild charges and vilifications." The New York Times Book Review attacked Silent Coup's argument that Nixon was "an innocent victim" and said it showed "a stunning ignorance of how the Government under Mr. Nixon operated." However, it also received many positive book reviews, including one from former President Gerald R. Ford.

Lawsuits

In 1992 John and Maureen Dean sued G. Gordon Liddy for libel. The case was dismissed without prejudice and was later refiled. In 2001 a federal judge declared a mistrial and dismissed the $5.1 million defamation lawsuit.[2]

The Deans also sued St. Martin's Press, publisher of Silent Coup. St. Martin's settled the case for an undisclosed sum.[2] Len Colodny also settled with John Dean. While both cases involved terms Dean cannot discuss, he has gone on record in the preface to his 2006 book, Conservatives Without Conscience, that he is "pleased" with the outcome.[3]

In 2001, former DNC secretary Ida Wells unsuccessfully sued Liddy in US District Court in Baltimore on the same basis as Dean had, the court declared a mistrial.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/watergate/part1.html
  2. 1 2 "Liddy Case Dismissed Jury Unable To Reach A Verdict After Deliberating 8 Hours". CBS News. February 1, 2001.
  3. ↑ Dean, John (2006). Conservatives Without Conscience. Viking Penguin. ISBN 9780143058779.
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