Geoff Shepard holds degrees from both Whittier College and the Harvard Law School. He joined the Nixon administration in August, 1969, as a White House Fellow and then served on the White House Domestic Council from August, 1970 through March, 1975. He became associate director in November, 1972—a position he held until he left the staff. Since his primary public policy focus was on issues concerning the Department of Justice, Geoff knew and had worked with virtually all of the major Watergate figures.
Following the departures of Bob Haldeman, John Ehrlichman and John Dean from the White House at the end of April, 1973, Geoff also assumed a key role in defending President Nixon, acting as principal deputy to J. Fred Buzhardt, President Nixon’s Watergate defense counsel. In this capacity, he helped transcribe the White House tapes, administered the document rooms housing the seized files of departed aides, and worked with various White House counselors–including Bryce Harlow and Dean Burch—on Watergate developments.
He later testified as a government witness in the Plumbers trial and was subpoenaed as a government witness in the Watergate cover–up trial.
Geoff left Washington at the beginning of 1977, but has arranged and hosted annual reunions of Nixon–Ford White House policy planning staffs for over three decades. He also is the producer of the Nixon Legacy Forums, which feature former officials discussing various ideas and policy initiatives of the Nixon Administration.
