06/01/2007
Samuel Garrison III, Watergate Lawyer and Gay Activist, Dies
Samuel Alexander Garrison III, an attorney who defended Richard Nixon in impeachment hearings over the Watergate scandal, and later became involved in a high-profile gay rights/sodomy case, died of Leukemia on Sunday at 65.
The Roanoke Times reports: "Garrison came into the national spotlight in 1974, when he was appointed chief minority counsel for the presidential impeachment inquiry in the Watergate scandal, tasked with speaking in defense of President Nixon. In an interview with The Roanoke Times, Garrison recalled the stress of the job causing him to collapse from anxiety one morning, though he didn't tell his co-workers. Garrison returned to Roanoke a star and went into private practice. But that practice ended in 1980 with a conviction for embezzling $46,000 from a bankruptcy account, which earned him 128 days in a federal prison. Garrison said he took the money to try to save a struggling restaurant business that he partly owned. The crime didn't end his career. In fact, Garrison was under consideration for a staff position with the Republican Party in 1982 when he publicly revealed that he was gay. He went from a Hunting Hills house to an old Volkswagen and food stamps. He suffered even worse things: His teenage daughter died from injuries in a car crash. His intimate partner died of cancer; his father died of complications from a stroke."
The paper notes: "He became active in politics again, as a Democrat and as corresponding secretary for the Alliance of Lesbian and Gay Organizations of Western Virginia. He attended city council meetings to protest ordinances that he believed discriminated against gays."
In 1998, Garrison defended 10 men arrested in a police sting for cruising for sex in a public park, but was unsuccessful in his efforts to declare sodomy laws in Virginia unconstitutional.
His partner of 17 years, Mark Harris, told the Washington Post: "Sam's goal was to convince society that being gay shouldn't be a question of right or wrong, but a part of who they are," Harris said. "He asked, 'Why should such a small part be such a big deal?'" Harris told the Roanoke Times, "I think what drove him was the hope of the day when sexual orientation was not the entire person but just a part of them."
Garrison was disbarred again in 2004 for a check-kiting scheme as his career floundered, but kept on as an activist: "Afterward, Garrison continued to be an activist, voicing his opposition to Virginia's marriage amendment, calling it "the fear amendment." He told The Roanoke Times, 'The whole thing is about people being afraid for the new world.' Garrison had spoken about how even during his early success, his knowledge of his homosexuality and attitudes toward it made him see the world as oppressive. After coming out, he gained real self-esteem, he said."
Watergate Lawyer Garrison Dies at 65 [washington post]
Lawyer relished role as activist [roanoke times]
Posted 9:15 AM EST by Andy Towle in News, Republican Party, Samuel Garrison | Permalink
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Is this a story about personal redemption? I think so. Maybe I'm too forgiving. I'll be waiting to read Leland's and PACIFICOCEANBOY'S take on Mr. Garrison's life: young ambitious lawyer for "the establiment" turned gay activist with social conscience.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Jun 1, 2007 9:54:41 AM
I sense some serious spin to this story. The blurbs about his criminal history and having a daughter (was he married at some point?) stick out glaringly and feel as if they were inserted into the story apropos of nothing. Giving us further background to explain his actions would probably have made the guy look even worse. And as far as the horrible things he suffered (losing a child to a car accident, partner died of cancer, father died of a stroke), these things are not so exceptionally remote as to be remarkably tragic. There is probably more than one reader of this blog who has lost three loved-ones in the same ways (by injury and illness). Life itself is tragic; this guy's life is not exceptionally so. Call me a cold-hearted bitch, but I'm not moved to sympathy.
Crimes of fraud, like embezzlement and "check-kiting" schemes, aren't done out of passion or insanity, but are deliberate. Choosing to do these crimes is a sign of a defect in character. Restaurants fail all the time; how many restaurant owners commit larceny to keep their businesses going?
Let's not let him completely off the hook just because he was gay and did some good with the bad.
Posted by: Chris | Jun 1, 2007 10:25:38 AM
Yeah, I don't think I'll be donating to his memorial.
Posted by: anon | Jun 1, 2007 11:43:58 AM
You are right, there is alot of spin in that article.
Sam’s many illustrious accomplishments included: Educationally: Roanoke Catholic High School, 1959; class valedictorian; class president, senior, junior, sophomore and freshman years; National Honor Society; Elks National Scholarship; National Merit Scholarship. B.S. (Educ.), School of Education, University of Virginia, 1963; vice president, The Jefferson Society; Secretary, U.Va. Class of ‘63; president, Virginia Chapter, Delta Upsilon Fraternity. J.D., School of Law, University of Virginia, 1966; John Bassett Moore Society; student clerk, McGuire, Woods & Battle, Charlottesville, Virginia, 1964-66; summer associate, Kelley Drye Newhall Maginnes & Warren, New York, New York, 1965; Professionally: Retired lawyer, formerly in private practice, Roanoke, Virginia; former member, American Bar Association, Virginia Bar Association, Virginia State Bar, Roanoke Bar Association; NAACP representative on Board of Directors, Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley, 1994-97, 2003-04; associate, Richard Lee Lawrence & Associates, Roanoke, Virginia, 1993-96; partner, Mundy & Garrison, Roanoke, Virginia 1975-78, Publically: Press Secretary, Virginia GOP gubernatorial nominee, 1961; Commonwealth’s Attorney, City of Roanoke, 1970-71 (carried 30 of 32 precincts as Republican nominee in 1969 election); Chief Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, 1966-69; chair, Roanoke Valley Law Enforcement Council, 1968-70. Statewide Co-Chair, Virginians for Reagan, 1968, Associate counsel responsible to the Minority, Committee on the Judiciary, United States House of Representatives, 1970-72, Hon. Emmanuel Celler (D-NY), Chair, Hon. Richard H. Poff (R-VA), Ranking Member, Counsel to the Vice President of the United States, and his Special Assistant for liaison with Members of the House of Representatives, 1972-73; in the latter capacity, served as chief co-coordinator of participation by House Members in the April, 1973, visit to Capitol Hill of President Thieu of South Vietnam, which visit was hosted by the Vice President as President of the Senate, Chief Minority Counsel, Nixon Presidential Impeachment Inquiry, Committee on the Judiciary, United States House of Representatives, July¬-August, 1974; Deputy Minority Counsel, Nixon Impeachment Inquiry, December, 1973, to July, 1974, Featured twice on ABC-TV’s “Nightline,” May, 2003; chair, Progressive Democratic Coalition, Roanoke, 1993-95; vice chair, Roanoke City Democratic Committee, 1993, 2003-present; member, Sixth District Democratic Committee, State Central Committee, 2002-present; member, State Resolutions Committee, Democratic Party of Virginia, 2005 to present; member, Special Events Committee, City of Roanoke, 1992-95; recipient, Lambda Service Award, Alliance of Lesbian and Gay Organizations of Western Virginia, 1992; recipient, Community Service Award, Human Rights Campaign, 1994; member, executive board, Virginia Partisans Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club, 2002-present; member, United States Attorney’s Hate Crimes Task Force, Western District of Virginia, 2001-03; Board Member, Virginia Council on Human Rights, 2003-04, appointed by Governor Mark Warner. The Virginia Partisans recently established the Sam Garrison Voter Outreach Scholarship Award to the Democratic Party of Virginia to sponsor a summer intern to work with the State Democratic Party doing grassroots voter outreach. Sam was a passionate civil rights advocate and opened many doors for many minorities in our community.
Posted by: Mark Harris, Sam's partner | Jun 1, 2007 4:06:36 PM
Sorry for your loss, at least you have the comfort of having so many to share it with you.
Posted by: anon (gmail.com) | Jun 1, 2007 4:23:54 PM
Dear Mark,
My deepest condolences for your loss. He did a lot of good and like all of us (expect some that are supersilious idiots that are perfect and write comments in this blog) he had flaws. As a Catholic also I say to all "whom who is free of sin cast the first stone". If you are not perfect shut up and acknoledge that Sam did a lot of good for all of us. Again my deepest condolences. Oscar.
Posted by: Oscar | Jun 2, 2007 3:41:24 AM
Anyone who'd say a bad thing about Sam didn't know Sam Garrison. He was, above all, a compassionate caring man who gave his all toward what he believed in. He will be deeply missed by all of us in Virginia and those of us involved with the Virginia Partisans.
I wish that there were a million more Sam Garrison's out there fighting for our rights every day. We simply wouldn't have the same problems we do now.
Posted by: Sean H | Jun 2, 2007 9:00:08 PM
the blog is with full information about the great lawyer who did much for his profession...
cheers,
Suma
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Posted by: Suma valluru | Jul 5, 2007 7:25:03 AM