Henry E. Petersen

Henry E. Petersen (1921-1991)^[1] was a United States Assistant Attorney General during the Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford administrations. Petersen conducted many Watergate questionings and was perhaps the only one to conduct research on allegations of modern time US voting fraud in the 1970s.

The violation allegedly occurred during September 1970 Florida primary elections when Kenneth Collier, later a co-author of the book "Votescam," was a candidate for U.S. Congressman running against the incumbent Claude Pepper on the Democratic ticket.

Background

The elections were suspected to have been "rigged" because, immediately after the closing of polls, Miami television stations were able to predict the final vote percentage of each candidate, as well as the projected vote totals, with purportedly complete accuracy. The computers used for this purpose were apparently programmed by Professor Ross Beiler of the University of Miami and Mr. Elton Davis of the Cavanaugh Computer Corporation. The two men are named in the below memo from Petersen to the Acting Director of the FBI at the time (L. Patrick Gray) concerning the investigation:

[...] The Colliers allege Beiler and Davis participated in a scheme to rig the above-mentioned primary. Statements obtained from the Colliers regarding their allegations have been forwarded to the Criminal Division, which has requested Beiler and Davis to be interviewed to ascertain their possible involvement in alleged scheme to rig this election. If Professor Beiler or Mr. Davis acknowledges that he did participate in rigging this election, the Bureau should attempt to ascertain the manner in which this rigging was affected, for what purpose it was effected, and who directed the elections to be rigged.

ACTION: Departmental Attorney Craig C. Donsanto was contacted and advised as a matter of courtesy. Crime Records Division were recommended to advise Congressman Pepper that at the specific request of Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen, Criminal Division of the Department of Justice, an investigation has been instituted. (End of memo)^[2]

Petersen began his career with the FBI in 1947 and eventually with the Justice Department before resigning in 1974.^[1][3]

Personal

Petersen was born in Philadelphia in 1921, grew up in Washington DC area and served in the United States Marine Corps in the South Pacific during World War II.^[1] After returning, Petersen studied at Georgetown University and received his law degree from Catholic University.^[1]

Petersen died in Sunderland, Maryland in 1991 at the age of 70.^[4]

External links

224 - Letter Accepting the Resignation of Henry E. Petersen as Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division. November 5, 1974:

• http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=4548
• http://watergate.info/sussman/reviews.shtml
• Higgins, George V., "The Friends of Richard Nixon", The Atlantic, November 1, 1974.

References