White House Plumbers (HBO Miniseries) Episode 2: While the White House Plumbers may have taken some liberties with the actual historical events, the captivating performances of the main characters and the peculiar occurrences that unfold throughout the series make it a compelling and entertaining viewing experience. In episode 2, Liddy and Hunt are presented with an opportunity to redeem themselves as a leaked memo from Dita Beard puts Attorney General John Mitchell in legal jeopardy.
*Spoiler Alert*
White House Plumbers (HBO Miniseries) Episode 2 Recap:
At the beginning of episode 2, we see Kathleen Turner’s character, Dita Beard, typing a memo that reveals International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation (ITT) had paid $400,000 for hotel rooms in San Diego during the 1972 Republican National Convention. This payment was made in exchange for a settlement of an anti-trust lawsuit by the Justice Department. Beard also mentions the involvement of John Mitchell, who was the attorney general for Nixon at the time.
Back in 1972, journalist Jack Anderson somehow acquired the memo and revealed its contents, sparking a Senate investigation. This turn of events also compelled Dita Beard to become a pivotal witness in the investigation. This is when our main characters, Howard Hunt and Gordon Liddy, enter the picture, determined to “make things better.”
In the following scene, Gordan and Howard are socializing with sex workers during a dinner, regaling them with tales of their past accomplishments which seems to be for no apparent reason. As the sex workers express confusion over why Gordan and Howard are sharing stories of their past accomplishments, one of the women finally asks for the reason behind it.
It’s then that the duo reveals their grand plan for the upcoming Democratic National Convention, which is set to take place at the same location where they are currently dining in Miami. They propose to set up the two women with some prominent figures from Washington who will be attending the convention, equipped with hidden cameras to capture any illicit activities – for blackmailing matters.
Naturally, the women are skeptical and ask why they should trust them. In response, Liddy takes matters into his own hands and places his hand on top of a burning candle to demonstrate his unwavering commitment to keeping his word.
“Liddy and Hunt introduces Project Gemstone”
In the next scene, we see Howard and Gordon meet John Mitchell, who currently serves as the attorney general and heads the committee working towards the re-election of the president. The duo presents their “Project Gemstone,” which outlines various plans to gain an advantage over the Democratic Party. The plans are divided into three levels. The first level, called “Sapphire,” involves luring Democrats onto a yacht with sex workers during the convention in Miami. The goal is to record the scene and use it to blackmail those involved.
The second level, “Project Diamond,” involves abducting and potentially assassinating radical leaders and sending them to Mexico. The final stage, “Project Ruby,” includes planting their own people within the rival presidential candidate’s campaign. Meanwhile, Hunt is not confident about Liddy’s ability to handle the mission they both agreed on.
As the meeting regarding Project Gemstone seems to be wrapping up, Liddy surprises everyone with additional ideas. He introduces his team and outlines more projects, including Project Garnet, which involves associating financially struggling individuals with the rival party. Project Emerald involves eavesdropping on the transportation of the Democratic Party, and Project Crystal and Topaz are continuations of Project Emerald.
Finally, there is Project Opal, which involves planting bugs in the DNC offices. Liddy proposes that all of these services be offered in exchange for a million dollars, leaving everyone in the room baffled. The Attorney General, however, finds the entire presentation absurd and immediately dismisses Hunt and Liddy.
What is John Mitchell worked up about?
After Jack Anderson’s article regarding the Nixon administration’s integrity was published and Dita Beard contacted John Mitchell about it, Mitchell found himself caught in a difficult situation to testify in court and answer the accusations (that could potentially result in him losing his position). Meanwhile, Howard and Gordon became aware of the situation and are eager to assist Mitchell in order to save their ass.
One of Gordon’s associates made an impulsive joke suggesting that Liddy should kill Anderson. As usual, he takes matters into his own hands and develops a scheme with Hunt to remove the key witness, Dita Beard, ITT’s top lobbyist, from the investigation.
We then see Liddy visiting Dita at her house, presenting himself as a legal representative with free legal counseling for her. However, his intimidating demeanor causes Dita to feel uneasy as he insinuates that she may be under the scrutiny of the FBI. Dita is anxious about the outcome of the investigation and confesses that she indeed wrote the memo. She is also distressed by the fact that her colleagues have turned their backs on her.
Liddy warns her that she could end up in prison if the investigation proceeds. To evade the situation, he proposes that Dita fakes a medical crisis, which would allow her to be absent during her crucial testimony. Dita agrees hastily, and Liddy escorts her to a specialized osteopathic hospital in Denver, owing to her cardiac issues. This, obviously, leads Dita to miss her trial and testimony for the time being.
White House Plumbers (HBO Miniseries) Episode 2 Ending, Explained:
Does Liddy’s plan to take Dita away from her trial work?
Although Liddy’s plan did work but only for a while until the Senate investigators decided to travel to Denver to question their witness, Liddy and Hunt did hope for this and had already devised another plan to resolve the matter. They offered ITT compensation to Dita in exchange for lying during her trial. Although White House Counsel John Dean did not give his direct approval, he indirectly supported Hunt’s plan.
Next, we see Howard Hunt visiting Dita again at the hospital in Denver and bribing her with a carton of Marlboro cigarettes. He also reminds her that if she somehow goes to jail, there will be a negative impression of her family. So he convinces her to deny anything about typing any memo. He also plans with her a fake heart attack during the interrogation. Dita follows his instructions carefully, and the investigation is halted due to a lack of evidence.
Howard Hunt and Gordon Liddy’s plan is successful, and they receive congratulations from their committee. John Mitchell is also pleased with their work. As a result of their success, the committee approves one of the plans from their Project Gemstone. The plan to plant bugs inside the DNC offices at Watergate is given the green light. Although Hunt and Liddy are not thrilled about the selection of this project from their elaborate plans, they are content with helping President Nixon in any way possible.
