Plumber Hired by Nixon’s Administration to Stop Government Leaks

If you’ve ever heard the phrase “the plumber hired by Nixon’s administration to stop government leaks,” you might picture an actual plumber fixing pipes. But this “plumber” wasn’t fixing faucets—he was part of a covert team tasked with plugging classified information leaks that threatened the presidency. This story is at the heart of one of America’s most infamous political scandals. In this article, we’ll uncover who these “plumbers” really were, what they did, and why their actions ultimately unraveled the Nixon administration.

Who Were the “Plumbers” in Nixon’s Administration?

Despite the misleading name, the “Plumbers” were not tradespeople—but a secret White House unit formed in 1971. Their official mission? To stop government leaks of classified information to the press. The nickname came from their supposed role: to “plug leaks,” much like a plumber stops a water leak.

The unit was officially known as the White House Special Investigations Unit, and it reported directly to top Nixon aides like John Ehrlichman. Its most prominent members included:

• E. Howard Hunt – Former CIA officer
• G. Gordon Liddy – Former FBI agent and lawyer

These men were chosen for their intelligence backgrounds and willingness to operate in legal gray areas. Their first major target? Daniel Ellsberg, the defense analyst who leaked the Pentagon Papers to The New York Times in 1971.

“We were not above the law—we thought we were the law,” admitted E. Howard Hunt years later in interviews about the group’s mindset.

Why Did Nixon Create a Secret “Leak-Stopping” Unit?

By 1971, President Richard Nixon was increasingly paranoid about national security breaches. The Pentagon Papers revealed decades of government deception about the Vietnam War, and Nixon feared more damaging leaks could follow—especially during his 1972 re-election campaign.

His administration believed that traditional law enforcement was too slow or compromised, so they formed an off-the-books team to:

• Identify leakers
• Conduct illegal break-ins (e.g., Ellsberg’s psychiatrist’s office)
• Gather compromising information on political enemies

This extralegal approach violated constitutional norms—and ultimately became a cornerstone of the Watergate scandal.

What Did the Plumbers Actually Do?

The Plumbers’ operations quickly escalated from surveillance to outright criminal activity. Key actions included:

1. The Break-In at Daniel Ellsberg’s Psychiatrist’s Office (1971)
   Hunt and Liddy orchestrated a burglary at Dr. Lewis Fielding’s office in Los Angeles to steal Ellsberg’s medical files, hoping to discredit him. The operation failed to find useful information but set a dangerous precedent.
2. Planning the Watergate Break-In (1972)
   Liddy later masterminded the infamous Watergate complex break-in, targeting the Democratic National Committee headquarters. The goal? Install wiretaps and photograph documents. When the burglars were caught on June 17, 1972, it triggered a chain reaction of investigations.
3. Sabotage and “Dirty Tricks”
   The Plumbers also engaged in political espionage, forged documents, and even discussed kidnapping journalists.

According to the National Archives, the Plumbers’ actions were central to the articles of impeachment later brought against Nixon.

For more context, see the Watergate scandal entry on Wikipedia .

How Did the “Plumbers” Lead to Nixon’s Downfall?

Initially, the White House denied any connection to the Watergate burglars. But as journalists (notably Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein of The Washington Post) and federal investigators dug deeper, a trail led straight to the Plumbers—and then to Nixon himself.

Key turning points:

• The Discovery of the White House Tapes – Secret recordings revealed Nixon approving cover-ups.
• The “Smoking Gun” Tape (June 23, 1972) – Proved Nixon ordered the FBI to halt its Watergate investigation.
• Resignation (August 9, 1974) – Facing near-certain impeachment, Nixon became the only U.S. president to resign.

The Plumbers didn’t just fail to stop leaks—they created the biggest leak of all: public exposure of systemic abuse of power.

White House Plumbers vs. Modern Leak Prevention: A Comparison

This contrast shows how the Plumbers’ reckless tactics led to lasting reforms in government transparency and ethics.

Lessons from the Plumbers: Why This History Still Matters

The story of the “plumber hired by Nixon’s administration to stop government leaks” isn’t just a Cold War curiosity—it’s a cautionary tale about:

• Abuse of executive power
• The danger of operating in secrecy
• The vital role of a free press

In today’s era of whistleblowers like Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning, the tension between national security and transparency remains. But thanks to post-Watergate reforms—including the Ethics in Government Act (1978)—covert units like the Plumbers are far less likely to operate with impunity.

As historian Rick Perlstein notes:

“Watergate wasn’t an anomaly—it was the logical endpoint of a presidency that saw enemies everywhere and laws as optional.”

FAQ Section

Q1: Was there really a plumber hired by Nixon to stop leaks?
A: No—not a literal plumber. The term “Plumbers” was a nickname for a secret White House unit created to stop classified information leaks. They were former intelligence and law enforcement officers, not tradespeople.

Q2: What was the main goal of Nixon’s Plumbers?
A: Their initial goal was to identify and silence government leakers, especially after the Pentagon Papers leak. But they soon engaged in illegal activities, including break-ins and political sabotage.

Q3: Did the Plumbers succeed in stopping leaks?
A: No. Their operations were largely ineffective and counterproductive. The Watergate break-in they planned led to massive public exposure and Nixon’s resignation—creating far more “leaks” than they ever stopped.

Q4: Who were the key members of the Plumbers unit?
A: E. Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy were the most prominent. Both were convicted for their roles in the Watergate scandal and served prison time.

Q5: How is the term “Plumbers” used in politics today?
A: It’s mostly a historical reference. However, it’s sometimes invoked metaphorically to describe any secretive government effort to control information or silence dissent.

Q6: Could something like the Plumbers happen again?
A: Modern checks and balances—such as the Freedom of Information Act, inspector generals, and 24/7 media scrutiny—make it harder. But as recent events show, vigilance is still essential to prevent abuse of power.

Conclusion

The tale of the “plumber hired by Nixon’s administration to stop government leaks” is a powerful reminder that secrecy without accountability leads to corruption. What began as an attempt to protect national security turned into one of the gravest constitutional crises in U.S. history.

Understanding this chapter isn’t just about the past—it’s about protecting democracy today. If you found this deep dive insightful, please share it on social media to help others learn from history. After all, those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it—especially when it comes to power, secrecy, and the truth.