Before becoming counsel to the president of the United States in July 1970 at age 31, John Dean was chief minority counsel to the Judiciary Committee of the United States House of Representatives, the associate director of a law reform commission, and associate deputy attorney general of the United States. He served as Richard Nixon's White House lawyer for a thousand days.

He did his undergraduate studies at Colgate University and the College of Wooster, with majors in English Literature and Political Science. He received a graduate fellowship from American University to study government and the presidency, before entering Georgetown University Law Center, where he received his JD in 1965.

John has written many articles and essays on law, government and politics. He has recounted his days in the Nixon White House and Watergate in two books, "Blind Ambition" (1976) and "Lost Honor" (1982).

John lives in Beverly Hills, Calif., with his wife Maureen. He works as a writer, lecturer and private investment banker. He recently sold his screenplay "The Pentagon Papers" to Turner Television and and published "The Rehnquist Choice: The Untold Story of the Nixon Appointment that Redefined the Supreme Court."

Become a Salon Premium Affiliate. Click here.