The Nation: It Started with $200,000 in a Worn Briefcase

THE accusations raised in the grand jury indictments of John Mitchell and Maurice Stans—along with a notorious financial freebooter and a leading New Jersey Republican—form a sleazy story that might well give pause to even the most hardened ward heeler.

At the heart of the matter is the secret Nixon campaign contribution of $200,000 in cash that was paid to Stans by Financier Robert L. Vesco. The indictments assert that Mitchell and Stans reciprocated by aiding Vesco in his unsuccessful efforts to quash a Securities and Exchange Commission probe into his "looting" of a...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!