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Watergate Conspirator Jeb Magruder, 79, Dies In Danbury

DANBURY, Conn. – Jeb Magruder, one of the key players in the Watergate scandal that led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon, died Sunday, May 11, in Danbury. He was 79.

Jeb Magruder

Jeb Magruder

Photo Credit: Hull Funeral Home

Magruder was deputy director of Nixon’s Committee to Re-Elect the President in 1972. He spent seven months in prison for lying about his role in the scandal. Magruder said in 2003 that Nixon knew of the Watergate burglary early in the process, which contradicted his earlier testimony.

Magruder said on a PBS documentary in 2003 that during a phone conversation in 1972, he heard Nixon tell John Mitchell, “John, … we need to get the information on Larry O’Brien and the only way we can do that is through Liddy’s plan. And you need to do that.”

Mitchell was Nixon’s attorney general, and G. Gordon Liddy was a former FBI supervisor.

After Watergate, Magruder became an American Presbyterian minister, businessman, civil servant and author.  

Magruder had been a resident of Maplewood at Danbury, an assisted living facility that specializes in treating patients with Alzheimer's disease, dementia and memory loss, according to the News-Times. He died from complications due to a stroke.

.Magruder was born Nov. 5, 1934 on Staten Island, N.Y. He graduated from Curtis High School and Williams College. He also served two years in the Korean War.

He is survived by his four children and their spouses; Whitney Magruder (Jacqueline), Justin Magruder (Joyce), Tracy Sennett (Scott) of Redding, and Stuart Magruder (Emily); and nine grandchildren.

Burial after cremation will take place at Arlington National Cemetery. A private family service will be held at that time. Donations can be made to Habitat for Humanity at its website.

Magruder’s full obituary is on the Hull Funeral Service website.

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