Eye of the Storm Documentary Film Collection
Collection DescriptionHistorical NoteIn 1995, Jack and Mark Barnette engaged John Ehrlichman, White House Counsel on Domestic Affairs to President Richard Nixon, to collaborate with them on a film project to tell the inside story of those working in the White House during the Watergate scandal that ultimately brought down the Nixon presidency. The goal of the project was to produce a broadcast-quality television documentary that would air on the 25th anniversary of the scandal. The Barnettes formed Three Bees Production, LLC and American International Television, LLC based in Marietta, Georgia. Over the next two years, the project team conducted video interviews with the principal characters in the cover-up, and developed the script. The project's work culminated in long and short versions of the video documentary In the Eye of the Storm, hosted by author Tom Clancy, as well as the video production An Evening with Ehrlichman at London University, and video footage of Bob Woodward's interview with Ehrlichman. The production group was unsuccessful in marketing the documentary for broadcast, and only a small number of home videos were distributed. Scope and ContentThe majority of the collection consists of transcripts of the interviews conducted for In the Eye of the Storm (1997), An Evening with John Ehrlichman (1997), Bob Woodward's interview with John Ehrlichman (1996), depositions from the court case Maureen K. Dean and John W. Dean v. St. Martin's Press, Inc., Len Colodny; Robert Gettlin; G. Gordon Liddy; et. al., and interviews conducted by Len Colodny for his book Silent Coup (1991). Interviews conducted for the production of In the Eye of the Storm include: John Ehrlichman, Jack Caulfield, Charles Colson, Leonard Garment, Alexander Haig, Joan Haldeman, Larry Higby, Joan Hoff, James Hougan, Egil Krough, Paul Leeper, G. Gordon Liddy, Thomas Moorer, Roger Morris, James Schlesinger, Daniel Schorr, Herman Talmadge, and Dick Tuck. The transcripts of these interviews may be found in Series I: Production Files and the video recordings are in Series V: Audiovisual Materials, found here. Other production files such as drafts, notes, research, interviewee release forms, correspondence, to do lists, and marketing and distribution plans for In the Eye of the Storm can also be found in Series I. The depositions from the Deans lawsuit against St. Martin Press and Len Colodny relate to Colodny's book Silent Coup, which argued that John Dean had some involvement with the Watergate break-in and coverup and that his wife was affiliated with a prostitution ring. document the case brought against St. Martin's Press and Len Colodny for his book Silent Coup. The book argued that Dean was heavily involved in the Watergate break-in and cover up and that his wife was affiliated with members of a prostitution ring. The Dean's sued the publishing company, the authors, and two of the interviewees quoted in the book for libel. These depositions are closed to public access. The collection also contains files kept by John Ehrlichman during the production of In the Eye of the Storm, referred to as "E Files". The types of records in this series include composite files for key figures involved with the Watergate scandal, deposition notes regarding John and Maureen Dean v. St. Martin's Press, and production notes and drafts. These files are a mixture of correspondence, photocopies of original documents at the National Archives and Nixon Library, and Ehrlichman's own handwritten notes. Organization and ArrangementThis collection is organized into five series: I. Production Files; II. Ehrlichman's Files; III. Research Files; IV. Stills and Footage Contracts; and V. Audiovisual Materials (AV is listed in a separate finding aid, found here). Administrative InformationConditions Governing AccessSeries III: Research Files contains depositions from Maureen K. Dean and John W. Dean v. St. Martin's Press, Inc., Len Colodny; Robert Gettlin; G. Gordon Liddy; et. al.. These files are closed to public access pending legal review. Preferred CitationEye of the Storm Documentary Film Collection, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641. User RestrictionsLibrary acts as "fair use" reproduction agent. Copyright InformationBefore material from collections at the Richard B. Russell Library may be quoted in print, or otherwise reproduced, in whole or in part, in any publication, permission must be obtained from (1) the owner of the physical property, and (2) the holder of the copyright. It is the particular responsibility of the researcher to obtain both sets of permissions. Persons wishing to quote from materials in the Russell Library collection should consult the Director. Reproduction of any item must contain a complete citation to the original. Finding Aid PublicationFinding aid prepared on: 2012. Related Materials and SubjectsSubject TermsRelated Collections in Other RepositoriesSam J. Ervin Papers Howard H. Baker, Jr. Papers, Richard Milhous Nixon Presidential Library Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein: Watergate Papers, Harry Ransom Center Gerald R. Ford, Vice Presidential Papers, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library John Dean papers on the Watergate Affair, Robert E. and Jean R. Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Nixon Era Center, Mountain State University |
Special Collections Libraries
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-1641