Dwight Chapin
Encyclopedia
Dwight L. Chapin was Deputy Assistant to the President
Richard M. Nixon
.
Chapin was born in Wichita, Kansas
. He got his first experience in California politics in 1958 at the American Legion
's Boys State summer program, where he was elected the head of the Tory Party. His counterpart, the Whig Party leader, was Stacy Keach
, who went into acting as a career.
Mr. Chapin studied at the University of Southern California
, where he was a member of Sigma Chi
fraternity, graduating in 1963. When Nixon ran for California Governor in 1962, Chapin, then a student at USC
, was a paid Field Man (the on-the-ground organizational leaders for election campaigns)and worked with the volunteer organization. After the 1962 campaign while still at USC he was hired by H.R. Haldeman to work at the J. Walter Thompson Company in Los Angeles.
Chapin was part of Nixon's Presidential campaign from 1967 to 1968, serving as the President's Personal Aide. Time magazine described him as "young, athletic, religious, handsome, clean-cut, bright, ambitious, and tough."
He was Special Assistant to the President (1968-71) and then Deputy Assistant (1971-73). He was the appointments secretary, responsible for scheduling presidential activities and appointments. In addition, Chapin was in charge of the White House television office. Chapin also oversaw the hiring and supervising of the Presidential advance men, and headed that group in 1969 to prepare for Nixon's trip
to the People's Republic of China
. In 1973 Chapin was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the year by the United States Junior Chamber
(Jaycees) for his work on the historic China trip. Even Chinese Premier Chou En-lai was impressed with Chapin's skill at detail work, singling him out publicly in the Beijing meetings: "You are an example of how we should utilize young men in government."
It was during this time Chapin hired Donald Segretti
, his former colleague, to disrupt the campaigns of Democratic Presidential hopefuls during the 1972 Presidential primary season through acts of political "sabotage" - known as the "dirty tricks
" campaign. Chapin was asked to find a "Dick Tuck
" (a legendary Democratic political saboteur) type of prankster to perform the "dirty tricks" to work under H.R. Haldeman, Nixon's Chief of Staff and the President.
Segretti later testified before a grand jury about the activities including Chapin's supervisory role. Chapin denied any detailed knowledge of Segretti or the activities that Segretti undertook during grand jury
testimony. Segretti testified,"When Dwight hired me he made it clear he was hiring me because I was a lawyer and would know what was legal and what was not." Chapin was never indicted for any of Segretti's activities. Chapin resigned to work as an executive for United Airlines
but was drawn back into the swirl of Watergate legal proceedings.
In 1974 Chapin was found guilty of making "false and or misleading statements" for refusing to offer incriminating evidence and was remanded to the California corrections camp at Lompoc (so-called "Camp Cupcake") from August 1975 to April 1976. Despite the relatively minor repercussions he remained indignant, initially vowing to appeal "all the way to the Supreme Court" [he did appeal to the Supreme Court] in a very hostile political climate. It was later revealed that he was earning $1000 a week while in prison, being on the payroll of W. Clement Stone
Enterprises.
Afterward Chapin reentered the private sector, working at W. Clement Stone
Enterprises in Chicago and from 1977-79 published a magazine called Success Unlimited. Chapin then went to work for the International Public Relations firm of Hill & Knowlton
in Chicago. Later Chapin had assignments in Geneva, Switzerland; Tokyo, Japan and Hong Kong
where he was Managing Director, Asia, for Hill & Knowlton.
In 1986 Chapin started Chapin Enterprises. The firm provided consulting services to many prestigious companies and associations. Chapin remained involved in politics and in 1980 working for Reagan's election and in 1988 had a position in the George H.W. Bush Presidential campaign. He has maintained an active interest in politics.
He is now a business consultant, mentor/coach and a real estate broker in East Hampton
, New York.
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Richard M. Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
.
Chapin was born in Wichita, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
. He got his first experience in California politics in 1958 at the American Legion
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
's Boys State summer program, where he was elected the head of the Tory Party. His counterpart, the Whig Party leader, was Stacy Keach
Stacy Keach
Stacy Keach is an American actor and narrator. He is most famous for his dramatic roles; however, he has done narration work in educational programming on PBS and the Discovery Channel, as well as some comedy and musical...
, who went into acting as a career.
Mr. Chapin studied at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, where he was a member of Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
fraternity, graduating in 1963. When Nixon ran for California Governor in 1962, Chapin, then a student at USC
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, was a paid Field Man (the on-the-ground organizational leaders for election campaigns)and worked with the volunteer organization. After the 1962 campaign while still at USC he was hired by H.R. Haldeman to work at the J. Walter Thompson Company in Los Angeles.
Chapin was part of Nixon's Presidential campaign from 1967 to 1968, serving as the President's Personal Aide. Time magazine described him as "young, athletic, religious, handsome, clean-cut, bright, ambitious, and tough."
He was Special Assistant to the President (1968-71) and then Deputy Assistant (1971-73). He was the appointments secretary, responsible for scheduling presidential activities and appointments. In addition, Chapin was in charge of the White House television office. Chapin also oversaw the hiring and supervising of the Presidential advance men, and headed that group in 1969 to prepare for Nixon's trip
Sino-American relations
For the article on U.S.-Taiwan relations, see Republic of China – United States relations.Sino-American or People's Republic of China–United States relations refers to international relations between the United States of America and the government of People's Republic of China...
to the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. In 1973 Chapin was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the year by the United States Junior Chamber
United States Junior Chamber
The United States Junior Chamber is a leadership training and civic organization for people between the ages of 18 and 41. Areas of emphasis are business development, management skills, individual training, community service, and international connections. The U.S...
(Jaycees) for his work on the historic China trip. Even Chinese Premier Chou En-lai was impressed with Chapin's skill at detail work, singling him out publicly in the Beijing meetings: "You are an example of how we should utilize young men in government."
It was during this time Chapin hired Donald Segretti
Donald Segretti
Donald Henry Segretti is a former political operative for the Committee to Re-elect the President during the early 1970s. Segretti was hired by friend Dwight L...
, his former colleague, to disrupt the campaigns of Democratic Presidential hopefuls during the 1972 Presidential primary season through acts of political "sabotage" - known as the "dirty tricks
Dirty tricks
Dirty tricks are unethical, duplicitous, slanderous or illegal tactics employed to destroy or diminish the effectiveness of political or business opponents...
" campaign. Chapin was asked to find a "Dick Tuck
Dick Tuck
Dick Tuck is a former American political consultant, campaign strategist, advance man, and political prankster for the Democratic National Committee.-Pranks:...
" (a legendary Democratic political saboteur) type of prankster to perform the "dirty tricks" to work under H.R. Haldeman, Nixon's Chief of Staff and the President.
Segretti later testified before a grand jury about the activities including Chapin's supervisory role. Chapin denied any detailed knowledge of Segretti or the activities that Segretti undertook during grand jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
testimony. Segretti testified,"When Dwight hired me he made it clear he was hiring me because I was a lawyer and would know what was legal and what was not." Chapin was never indicted for any of Segretti's activities. Chapin resigned to work as an executive for United Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
but was drawn back into the swirl of Watergate legal proceedings.
In 1974 Chapin was found guilty of making "false and or misleading statements" for refusing to offer incriminating evidence and was remanded to the California corrections camp at Lompoc (so-called "Camp Cupcake") from August 1975 to April 1976. Despite the relatively minor repercussions he remained indignant, initially vowing to appeal "all the way to the Supreme Court" [he did appeal to the Supreme Court] in a very hostile political climate. It was later revealed that he was earning $1000 a week while in prison, being on the payroll of W. Clement Stone
W. Clement Stone
William Clement Stone was a businessman, philanthropist and New Thought self-help book author.-Early life and work:...
Enterprises.
Afterward Chapin reentered the private sector, working at W. Clement Stone
W. Clement Stone
William Clement Stone was a businessman, philanthropist and New Thought self-help book author.-Early life and work:...
Enterprises in Chicago and from 1977-79 published a magazine called Success Unlimited. Chapin then went to work for the International Public Relations firm of Hill & Knowlton
Hill & Knowlton
Hill & Knowlton is a global public relations company, headquartered in New York City, United States, with 79 offices in 44 countries. Hill & Knowlton was founded in Cleveland, Ohio in 1927 by John W. Hill and is today led by Chairman & CEO, Paul Taaffe...
in Chicago. Later Chapin had assignments in Geneva, Switzerland; Tokyo, Japan and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
where he was Managing Director, Asia, for Hill & Knowlton.
In 1986 Chapin started Chapin Enterprises. The firm provided consulting services to many prestigious companies and associations. Chapin remained involved in politics and in 1980 working for Reagan's election and in 1988 had a position in the George H.W. Bush Presidential campaign. He has maintained an active interest in politics.
He is now a business consultant, mentor/coach and a real estate broker in East Hampton
East Hampton (town), New York
The Town of East Hampton is located in southeastern Suffolk County, New York, at the eastern end of the South Shore of Long Island. It is the easternmost town in the state of New York...
, New York.