James W. McCord Biography and Timeline

DNC Wiretap Installation

McCord participates in the first successful Watergate entry and helps install electronic listening devices inside the Democratic National Committee offices.

Role range: 1972-1974

Watergate

During the Watergate operation, McCord handles the bugging equipment, Bernard Barker photographs documents, and Virgilio Gonzalez performs the lock work.

Watergate

Eugenio Martinez and Frank Sturgis are assigned lookout duties while McCord and the other operatives prepare for the Watergate entry.

Watergate

McCord is assigned responsibility for the electronic surveillance equipment used in the Watergate operation.

Watergate

McCord joins the Watergate team in room 214 of the Watergate Hotel as the group finalizes plans to enter the Democratic National Committee offices.

Arrest of James W McCord, Jr

McCord is arrested with Bernard Barker, Virgilio Gonzalez, Eugenio Martinez and Frank Sturgis inside the Democratic National Committee offices at the Watergate complex.

CREEP (Committee to Re-elect the President)

After McCord and the burglary team are arrested, G. Gordon Liddy begins shredding documents connected with the Watergate intelligence operation.

CREEP (Committee to Re-elect the President)

After the Watergate arrests, James W. McCord Jr. becomes a major subject of the developing investigation into the burglary and surveillance operation.

CREEP (Committee to Re-elect the President)

McCord and the other arrested burglars are processed by police after the break-in; several members of the group initially provide false names.

CREEP (Committee to Re-elect the President)

McCord serves as security coordinator for the Committee to Re-Elect the President, creating a direct campaign connection when he is arrested at Watergate.

CREEP (Committee to Re-elect the President)

McCord's arrest draws attention to the fact that G. Gordon Liddy and E. Howard Hunt had previously worked at the White House.

Watergate

After Frank Wills removes tape from a door latch, McCord retapes the latch, prompting Wills to become suspicious when he returns.

Watergate

Police arrive in plain clothes and an unmarked car, bypass the lookout, and enter the Democratic National Committee offices where McCord and the other burglars are found.

Watergate

Security guard Frank Wills notices tape covering door latches at the Watergate complex, an observation that leads toward discovery of McCord and the other burglars.

Watergate Arrest

McCord is arrested inside Democratic National Committee headquarters with four other burglars while carrying surveillance equipment and cash.

Role range: 1972-1974

Trial

The Watergate break-in trial opens; McCord and G. Gordon Liddy proceed to trial while the other defendants enter guilty pleas during the following week.

Watergate Conviction

James W. McCord Jr. is convicted of conspiracy, burglary and wiretapping charges arising from the Watergate operation.

Watergate

In his letter to Judge Sirica, McCord alleges that defendants were pressured to plead guilty and remain silent about the Watergate operation.

Watergate

In his letter to Judge Sirica, McCord states that perjury occurred during the Watergate trial.

Watergate

McCord sends a letter to United States District Judge John Sirica describing concerns about the Watergate case before sentencing.

Watergate

McCord states in his letter to Judge Sirica that the Watergate break-in was not an operation directed by the Central Intelligence Agency.

Watergate

McCord tells Judge Sirica that additional government officials, not yet publicly named, were involved in matters surrounding Watergate.

McCord Letter Public Disclosure

Judge John Sirica makes McCord's letter public in court, bringing its allegations of political pressure, perjury and wider involvement into public view.

Role range: 1972-1974

Senate Watergate Committee

Leaks following McCord's closed Senate testimony contribute to the committee's decision to conduct later Watergate hearings in public.

Senate Watergate Committee

McCord tells Senate investigators that G. Gordon Liddy said John Mitchell had approved the burglary and surveillance operation.

Senate Watergate Committee

McCord testifies for about five hours in a closed session of the Senate Watergate Committee.

Senate Watergate Committee

McCord alleges to Senate investigators that White House Special Counsel Charles Colson knew about the Watergate operation in advance.

Role range: 1972-1974 – 1969-1974

Senate Watergate Committee

McCord tells investigators that G. Gordon Liddy said senior Nixon campaign officials had approved the burglary and surveillance operation.

Role range: 1972-1974 – 1969-1974

Watergate

The New York Times reports that McCord told Senate investigators that payments for Watergate defendants came through the Committee to Re-Elect the President.