Key Watergate Figure Hunt Dead at 88

Copyright © 2007 NPR. For personal, noncommercial use only. See Terms of Use. For other uses, prior permission required.

RENEE MONTAGNE, host:

A man whose name became synonymous with the Watergate scandal has died. E. Howard Hunt was a CIA officer who helped plan a Guatemalan coup and the Bay of Pigs invasion before he became a key organizer of the Watergate burglary. Hunt told the Senate committee investigating the break-in that he regretted his role.

He called the affair, quote, an unfortunate use of executive power and said he was sorry he did not have the wisdom to withdraw.

Mr. E. HOWARD HUNT (Former CIA Officer): I want to emphasize that at the time of the Watergate operation, I considered my participation as a duty to my country. I thought it was an unwise operation but I viewed it as lawful.

MONTAGNE: Hunt pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges, and he served nearly three years in prison. He died yesterday in Miami of complications from pneumonia. E. Howard Hunt was 88.

(Soundbite of music)

MONTAGNE: It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News.

Copyright © 2007 NPR. All rights reserved. No quotes from the materials contained herein may be used in any media without attribution to NPR. This transcript is provided for personal, noncommercial use only, pursuant to our Terms of Use. Any other use requires NPR's prior permission. Visit our permissions page for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by a contractor for NPR, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of NPR's programming is the audio.