Photographs in the Staff Section Courtesy of Gordon Freedman, Watergate Staff 1973-1974.
© 2017 Gordon Freedman
The Staff Page is still under construction as we are actively locating former staff members. What is displayed here are the individuals for whom we either have photographs from the time or with whom we are currently in contact. Others have not been listed yet.
Senators
Lowell Weicker
Although we appear to be in an unprecedented era of partisanship, the key similarity to previous times is our institutions. We get to the bottom of abuses of power because of our Constitution and the courage of strong men and women. That’s what we’re always fighting for. That should never change.
Deputy Chief Counsel
Rufus Edmisten I
The Watergate Committee showed that people of different political stripes can be civil and make democracy work. The Committee played a pivotal role in bringing alive the doctrine of “separation of powers” which is absolutely essential to a nation of laws and freedom. This doctrine appeals to lacking in today’s political discourse. Government leaders would do well to study the lessons from the Watergate era.
Assistant Chief Counsel
David M. Dorsen
James Hamilton
Terry Lenzner
Legal Staff
Mark J. Biros
Gordon Eugene Boyce
Donald Burris
William M. Mayton
Barry Schochet
Dennis Summers W.
Alan S. Weitz
Watergate emboldened us to challenge abuse of power. But, putting the suffix “-Gate” on every potential scandal has de-sensitized us to real threats to our core institutions and undermined the public’s faith in legitimate government. We need to prove, again, that public servants of good faith and common purpose can serve us and protect the mutual covenant embodied in our Constitution.
Michael J. Madigan
Ronald Rotunda
William Shure H.
Majority Investigators
Michael J. Hershman
I had hoped a lasting significance would have been that no one, regardless of how powerful, is above the law.
For me, the Watergate Committee was a defining experience which started me on the road to promoting transparency and accountability, and led me to found Transparency International.
Minority Investigators
Emily Sheketoff
Computer Research Assistants
Peter Drymaslki
Jospeh Tasker
Majority Research Staff Assistants
John Elmore
Grayson Fowler
Michael Kopetski
Dave Erdman
Lacy Parnell
Bruce Quan
Watergate proved that the balance of powers envisioned by the founders of the republic to prevent the abuse of power, by any one individual holding the highest office, worked. The coming crisis will see if the system continues to work.
It was a rare opportunity and privilege to work with some of the brightest and most dedicated professionals on an investigation of such wide-ranging constitutional and political consequence.
Today’s political pundits opining on Watergate have largely miscast the investigative process leading to the articles of impeachment as a partisan witch hunt. I argue that the Watergate investigation represented the correct balance of power between the branches of government.
James Rowe
Lee Sheehy
Paul Summit
Matha Tally
Staff Assistants
Syndey Blackmer
Elisabeth “Lil” Demarse
The Watergate investigations proved our system worked. There were abuses. The fourth estate [the press] uncovered the abuses, the legislative branch executed its authority under separation of powers to address the abuses, and the judicial branch, confirmed that not even the president is above the law. It was a great affirmation of the power of our constitution to provide checks and balances.
As Mark Twain said, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it rhymes.” The parallels between Nixon’s and Trump’s actions aren’t exact, but they rhyme, primarily as abuse of presidential power.
John Dolan
Gordon Freedman
Truth in a democracy must be immutable, and guarded carefully. The Watergate investigations were committed to the truth.
The Watergate Committee experience for me was about camaraderie and commitment to a goal larger than ourselves.
Interns
Lee Cory Troutman
Democracy depends upon a free press.
The experience allowed me, an 18-year old intern, to observe the greatest legal minds and statesmen of the day, both Democrat and Republican, put country above party and safely guide us through the worst constitutional crisis in history.
Rachel Dash
Rudi Dash
Subcommittee on the Separation of Powers Personnel
Walker Nolan
James L. Stuart
Michael J. Carpenter
Allen Dale
Senate Staff
Geoffrey Baker
Billy Sparks
We each have a role to play when our liberties are challenged regardless of party or loyalty. Our greatness as a nation is determined by how we respond when we are required to live up to our oath to protect and defend the constitution.
Standing on the floor of the United States Senate, I felt history. I heard the voices of the great debates and saw this deliberative body act to save our union. They rose not because they sought the spotlight, but because they knew their duty. They faithfully carried it out for each of us as Americans in order to forever protect our right to cast our votes in a free and open election. That is an obligation all of us must never forget.