Operation Sandwedge

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Operation Sandwedge was a secret plan in 1971 by President Nixon’s aides to spy on his political enemies to help his 1972 re‑election. It was created by H. R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman, and Jack Caulfield. Caulfield, a former police officer, proposed targeting the Democratic Party and the anti‑war movement, using illegal “black bag” operations to dig up dirt on finances and private lives, including personal records. The plan also aimed at potential rivals inside the Republican Party.

Control of Sandwedge was given to G. Gordon Liddy in late 1971. He expanded the idea into Operation Gemstone, which included several parts: Diamond (to disrupt protests), Ruby (undercover work and honeypots), Crystal (electronic surveillance and wiretaps), and Sapphire (sabotaging rival campaigns). Gemstone was seen as broader and more extreme than Sandwedge, and after some resistance it was scaled down and approved in 1972. Sandwedge, however, did not move forward after requests for funding were rejected in early 1972.

Liddy’s Gemstone plan eventually led to the Watergate break-ins. This controversy triggered a large criminal investigation, resulting in many trials and convictions. Facing potential impeachment, Nixon resigned in August 1974, becoming the only U.S. president to do so.

Caulfield later said canceling Sandwedge was a mistake and argued it could have prevented Watergate; Dean argued the plan’s ideas were sound, but Caulfield’s implementation ended up killing it.