Word: chapin
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...event, Haldeman's problem is Chapin isn't it? [Dwight Chapin, Nixon's former appointments secretary under Haldeman...
...where the hell, or how much Chapin knew I will be [expletive deleted] if I know...
...person being questioned take sure refuge in familiar evasions like "I do not remember" or "to the best of my recollection." Cagey use of such weaseling can make a later prosecution for lying more difficult, but not impossible. Indeed one of the charges on which Dwight Chapin was convicted was for his claimed failure to remember details of his dealings with Political Saboteur Donald Segretti. The legal theory traces back to the Queen's case in 1820, in which a footman was suspected of having had a lengthy affair with Queen Caroline. Questioned about the matter, a fellow servant...
...answer was misunderstood or that he hadn't adequately prepared for the question" and so made an honest mistake. But while it may be necessary, taking the stand is a dangerous maneuver, particularly if a witness is nervous, or has an otherwise unfavorable demeanor. Observers at the Chapin trial felt that the defense was holding its own until he began testifying. His evasive manner and bad memory did not go over well with the jury...
...Chapin also had trouble with what may be the classic dilemma for Watergate defendants. Character witnesses, as Bellows points out, are especially important when the issue is whether the defendant is a liar. But Chapin could find only two such witnesses. Most other potential supporters were themselves already involved in the Watergate scandal. Last week John Mitchell ran into a related problem and presented no character witnesses for fear they would be cross-examined about Mitchell's other imminent trial. Future Watergate defendants will probably have the same trouble Chapin and Mitchell...