Charles Colson '53, who was incarcerated in 1974 after pleading guilty to obstruction of justice in one of the controversial events that brought down then-President Richard Nixon, died on Saturday at the age of 80, according to the New York Times. Serving as special counsel to Nixon from 1969 to 1973, Colson has been implicated in the cover-up of the Watergate scandal but was never charged.
Colson was convicted for his response to Daniel Ellsberg's leaking of the Pentagon Papers - confidential documents that revealed that several presidential administrations had lied to the American public about U.S. involvement in South Vietnam. Colson, seeking material to discredit Ellsberg, approved a plan to break into Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office and steal his medical records.
While serving seven months in prison, Colson was "born again" and committed himself to evangelical Christianity. After his own religious awakening in prison, Colson started Prison Fellowship Ministries, which connected prisoners with Christianity.
As an author and radio host, Colson worked to increase the clout of the evangelical Christians, who have today become a major part of political discourse. In 2000, then-Florida Governor Jeb Bush returned Colson's right to vote, serve on a jury and practice law.
At Brown, Colson made his name in the Cammarian Club, a predecessor to the Undergraduate Council of Students. Colson served as secretary of the organization.
- Adam Toobin
