Who Said It
Chuck Colson

Chuck Colson, a tough marine turned Richard Nixon's "hatchet man," was converted as the Watergate scandal closed in on the President's inner circle. Skeptics saw this as a devious ploy. When an interviewer questioned his conversion, Colson said the evidence would be his life ten years later. The then second-most hated man in America is now the softened, forgiveness-seeking founder of Prison Fellowship.

What He Said
Burying His Hatchet

After fighting to prove his innocence, Colson's born-again conscience led him to change course. An offered plea bargain was designed to let him off with probation. But he rejected it because he'd have to testify that he ordered a break-in at the offices of psychiatrist Daniel Ellsberg—something he hadn't done.

But God helped him to see that his lack of direct involvement in the break-in was pure happenstance. He'd obtained the money to pay for a covert operation against Ellsberg, and tried to smear him in the press. So Colson told his law-firm partner, David Shapiro, that he'd decided to plead guilty to disseminating derogatory information to the press about Ellsberg while he was a criminal defendant.

"It's not a crime!" retorted Shapiro. "No one's ever been charged with that."

Colson said that the prosecutor might accept it as an obstruction of justice charge.

"You're an idiot," shouted Shapiro. "You're going to end up in the slammer."

"I know," was the soft answer.

Adapted from Charles W. Colson: A Life Redeemed (WaterBrook, 2005) by permission.

Prayer for the Week

Because You are absolute truth, Lord, give me the courage to adhere to Your standard.

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