Episode 121: John Mindermann – Watergate, FBI Public Perception Today

Retired agent John Mindermann served in the FBI for 20 years. During his career, he was a firearms and defensive tactics instructor, and leader of the first Washington Field Office SWAT Team. In this episode of FBI Retired Case File Review, he reviews his assignment on C-2, the Miscellaneous Crimes Squad assigned to the Watergate investigation. He reveals little-known facts about the case, including the circumstances leading to the interview of a key witness and the FBI shutdown of the Presidential business offices in the White House. Later in his career, he was assigned to the Behavioral Science Unit in Quantico, Virginia, where  he specialized in violence avoidance, and created and taught Crisis Intervention and Police Stress programs. Prior to retiring, he transferred back to his hometown, San Francisco, where he supervised an Organized Crime and Narcotics Squad. John Mindermann is the author of In Pursuit: From the Streets of San Francisco to Watergate,  a gripping tale of a defining moment in American history—the Watergate scandal—told for the first time by the FBI agent who was coincidentally on weekend duty when the burglary occurred.

Supervisory Special Agent (Retired)

John Mindermann

3/4/1968 – 5/1/1988

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following are links to FBI website and CNN overviews regarding the Watergate investigation and recent articles about the public perception of the FBI today:

Watergate – FBI Famous Cases

Watergate Fast Facts CNN

New York Times 6/27/2017: How Donald Trump Misunderstood the FBI – Since Watergate, the Bureau as come to view itself as an essential, and essentially independent, check on the president.

Time Magazine – 2018: The FBI Is in Crisis. It’s Worse Than You Think

“All you hear is negative stuff about the FBI … It gets depressing.” Tom O’Connor, President – FBI Agents Association.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Pursuit is John Mindermann’s account of a defining moment in American history and his FBI career—the Watergate scandal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jerri Williams

View posts by Jerri Williams
Jerri Williams, a retired FBI agent, author and podcaster, jokes that she writes about the FBI to relive her glory days. After 26 years with the Bureau specializing in major economic fraud and corruption investigations, she calls on her professional encounters with scams and schemers to write police procedurals inspired by true crime FBI cases in her Philadelphia FBI Corruption Squad crime fiction series featuring flawed female FBI agent Kari Wheeler. Jerri’s FBI for Armchair Detectives nonfiction series enables readers to discover who the FBI is and what the FBI does by debunking misconceptions about the FBI in books, TV, and movies. Her books are available as ebooks, paperbacks, and audiobooks wherever books are sold. She’s also the host of FBI Retired Case File Review, a true crime podcast with more than 300 episodes available on all popular podcast apps and YouTube.

4 Comments

  1. Joe GosseauxJune 22, 2018

    I just finished listening to your podcast of John Mindermann account of the Watergate investigation. I also was assigned to the C2 Squad with John and recalled many of the incidents of which he spoke. We all worked investigative leads as directed by SA Lano. His comments re SA Lano, the case agent, were on point.Without Angie Lano’s persistence and the other C2 agents, the Watergate investigation would never have reached its successful conclusion and the resignation of President Nixon. I thoroughly enjoyed the podcast. I need to email John and compliment him. Great job on this Jerri.

    Reply
    1. Jerri WilliamsJune 22, 2018

      Joe – What a great career you had! I had no idea you were on the Watergate squad. What other great cases are you hiding from me?

      Reply
  2. Reylyn CheckettsJune 21, 2018

    I have listened to your podcasts since day one and love them. Today’s episode was one of your very best.
    I could go on and on about what an awesome job you do but let me just say, You are a CLASS ACT.
    Thank you.

    Reply
    1. Jerri WilliamsJune 21, 2018

      Thanks for listening. I enjoyed this one too. These stories must be told!

      Reply

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