February 27, 1999 The class president says most seniors know G. Gordon Liddy for his radio talk show, not for his past. Seniors tap G. Gordon Liddy, convicted Watergate burglar, for graduation speech By MATT CHITTUM THE ROANOKE TIMES Virginia Military Institute, famous for its grueling "breakout" ceremony, has enlisted a commencement speaker notorious for his role in a certain break-in. G. Gordon Liddy, convicted Watergate burglar cum conservative radio talk show host, will be the speaker at the college's May 15 graduation. Liddy was chosen by the senior class through a poll, but not all of the seniors are tickled about the choice. A convicted felon such as Liddy has no business addressing the graduates of an institution such as VMI, which swears its cadets to a strict honor code that bars lying, cheating and stealing of any kind, they say. "I pray, for the good of our beloved institution, that somebody will make an executive decision and politely tell Mr. Liddy that he is not welcome at an institution of honor," senior Conor Powell wrote in an editorial in the cadet newspaper. But as late as Thursday, Senior Class President Ezra Clark polled the seniors again and confirmed that Liddy is their choice. "I'm excited, and I think it'll be a good deal," Clark said. He said Powell represents only a slim minority of seniors. Powell argues that if you ignore political differences, Liddy and President Clinton aren't much different, yet VMI would never invite Clinton to speak at commencement. "Both are men who violate our strict definition of honor," Powell wrote in his commentary. That Liddy did it almost 30 years ago makes no difference. Cadets who violate VMI's honor code aren't forgiven after 30 years, he said. They are drummed out "for good." He said he doubts VMI will invite Clinton to speak 30 years from now. Liddy concedes he is "not unused to controversy," but ditched his usual self-effacing humor for a sober tone when discussing the opposition to his appearance. He called the debate healthy, but didn't seem compelled to defend his honor too rigorously. The former Army artillery officer, FBI agent, attorney and assistant to President Nixon spent 52 months in prison for nine felonies for his part in the burglary of Democratic National Headquarters during Nixon's 1972 re-election campaign, and the ensuing cover-up. These days, he is host of a syndicated radio talk show, which airs on Roanoke station WFIR every weekday evening. "I don't think I should attempt to convince people of my honor, because anything I might say would be correctly suspect of being self-serving," he said during a break from his radio show. But he did point out that he spoke at VMI once before, in 1986, though it was not at a commencement, as well as to a pair of senior classes at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Cadets there presented him a sword. He also was made a member of the honor legion of the New York City Police Department after his release from prison. "The point is there are people on both sides of the issue of my honor," he said. Liddy was not the seniors' first choice. A list was compiled of people the seniors wanted to hear, and each senior ranked the names on the list. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who cast the lone dissenting vote in the 1996 ruling that ended VMI's all-male admissions policy, was first on the list, but declined the invitation. Liddy was second, and he said he's honored to come in second to a man he admires as much as Scalia. Clark, the class president, thinks Liddy was popular with his classmates because they know him for his talk show, not for his past. What's important is what he's doing now, Clark said. "We didn't see the Watergate scandal. We're seeing a different G. Gordon Liddy."