40 years removed from the Watergate scandal, and it’s still one of the most talked about times in our country’s history. This morning, we get a unique perspective from G. Gordon Liddy, the man who was at the center of the scandal. He joined us from York County, as he’s in town for the Spring Carlisle event happening this weekend.
PRESS RELEASE FROM CARLISLE EVENTS:
G. Gordon Liddy to Attend Spring Carlisle and Corvettes at Carlisle in 2013
Political Talker Onsite as Two Prized Motorcycles Cross the Block
Friday, April 05, 2013
Spring Carlisle opens the Carlisle Events home-based schedule in April. The event, April 24-28, features nearly 100,000 enthusiasts and thousands of collector cars. In addition to the excitement on the grounds, there is a two-day collector car auction hosted by Auctions America at the nearby Carlisle Expo Center. The auction, held Thursday and Friday of event weekend, will see some 300 machines cross the block. Of those vehicles, some are cars, some are trucks and at least two are motorcycles. The bikes aren’t the standard run-of-the-mill bikes either, as they are owned by G. Gordon Liddy.
Liddy is famous for many reasons, but none more so than the Watergate scandal of 1972. In May and June of that year, Liddy organized and directed burglaries of the Democratic National Committee Headquarters. After participants of the crimes were arrested, a subsequent investigation led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon in 1974 and not long after, Liddy was convicted on a myriad of charges, leading to a sentence of 20 years in prison. Liddy served just eight years, however; having his sentence commuted by then President Jimmy Carter.
Following his release from Federal Prison, Liddy’s life and career rebounded in a remarkable way. In 1980, he released a book that sold millions of copies and was later made into a TV movie. He embarked on a lecture tour too that ultimately saw him named the top speaker on the college circuit by the Wall Street Journal. Liddy found his way to Hollywood as well, appearing in episodes of Miami Vice and, in a bit of irony, played himself in the 1995 Oliver Stone movie “Nixon.” Liddy also acted in MacGyver and Airwolf before becoming a radio talk show host in 1992. His radio days were very popular with his show lasting 20 years.
The bikes, however, are the main reason that Liddy will be at Spring Carlisle and the Auctions America auction. The custom built bikes were procured by Liddy as prizes for victories on the NBC TV show Fear Factor. At the time, Liddy was 75 years old and was the oldest competitor ever to appear on the program. Not only did he compete, he won various challenges, leading to his then possession of the bikes. Through Liddy, the bikes are being consigned to Auctions America for auction.
Along with the Liddy bikes, sale highlights for the Spring Carlisle auction include a rare, first generation 1959 Chevrolet Corvette “Big-Brake” Fuel-Injected Roadster. One of only 142 produced, and quite possibly the only example finished in the desirable Tuxedo Black with Red interior trim, complete owner history dating back to its original delivery on March 3, 1959 and much more. Additional notable entries include a 1958 Chevrolet Impala Convertible with one-year-only styling, fitted with a 348-cid V-8 engine, tri-power carburetion and power glide transmission, an all-American 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS LS5 Convertible striking in Cranberry Red with black stripes and a black interior and a 1999 Bentley Azure Convertible just two owners and 36,000 miles from new.
In addition to coming to Spring Carlisle for the Auction, Liddy will return for Corvettes at Carlisle (August 23-25). Liddy, a Corvette enthusiast with a license plate that reads H20Gate, will be onsite with his C4 Lingenfelter ZR-1 Corvette. Liddy will not only be walking the grounds, enjoying the nearly 5,000 Corvettes onsite, he’ll be positioned within the ZR-1 area and be a Celebrity Judge.