Lewis Fielding

Lewis Fielding. He was an American psychiatrist best known as the target of the 1971 break-in orchestrated by the White House Plumbers, a covert group acting on behalf of the Nixon administration. This illegal operation, intended to steal Fielding's confidential patient files on Daniel Ellsberg, became a critical precursor to the Watergate scandal that ultimately led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon. Fielding's career was otherwise distinguished by his work in Los Angeles and his service as a medical officer during World War II.

Early life and education

Little is publicly documented about his formative years. He pursued his higher education in the field of medicine, ultimately earning his medical degree. Following this, he completed specialized training in psychiatry, which prepared him for a career focused on mental health. His educational path led him to become a licensed practitioner in the state of California, where he would establish his professional life.

Career

He maintained a private psychiatric practice in Beverly Hills, California, where he treated a number of prominent patients. During the 1960s, he began treating Daniel Ellsberg, a military analyst employed by the RAND Corporation. Fielding also served as a faculty member at the University of California, Los Angeles, contributing to the academic community. Prior to his civilian career, he had served as a medical officer in the United States Navy during the global conflict of World War II.

Watergate break-in

Following Daniel Ellsberg's release of the Pentagon Papers to *The New York Times* in 1971, officials within the Nixon administration sought to discredit him. Operatives from the White House Plumbers, including G. Gordon Liddy and E. Howard Hunt, were tasked with obtaining damaging information. On September 3, 1971, they broke into his office in Los Angeles, ransacking the premises in an unsuccessful search for Ellsberg's confidential medical records. This illegal covert operation, later investigated by the Senate Watergate Committee, was authorized by figures such as John Ehrlichman and revealed during the broader Watergate scandal trials.

Later life and death

After the intense publicity surrounding the break-in and the subsequent Watergate scandal, he largely retreated from public view. He continued his psychiatric practice for a number of years, maintaining a low profile. He passed away on March 23, 2005, in Los Angeles, due to complications from Alzheimer's disease. His death was noted by major publications including *The Washington Post* and *The New York Times*.

Legacy

His name remains permanently etched in the history of American political scandals as an unintended central figure. The break-in at his office, often called the "Ellsberg break-in," was a pivotal act demonstrating the Nixon administration's willingness to engage in criminal activity against perceived enemies. This event was a direct forerunner to the infamous Watergate complex break-in and is cited in key historical accounts like *All the President's Men*. His experience underscored critical debates about patient–doctor confidentiality, executive power, and the rule of law in the United States.

Category:American psychiatrists Category:Watergate scandal Category:1914 births Category:2005 deaths