The War On News

A record of government actions against journalism and fact-based reporting, from the first press laws to today

Incident

United States: Nixon White House "enemies list" naming journalists, September 1971

United StatesRSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180

Engraving of an empty press briefing room with a lectern and rows of chairs

On September 9, 1971, the office of Charles Colson, special counsel to the president of the United States, Richard Nixon, sent White House Counsel John Dean, the president's lawyer on official matters, a memorandum naming 20 people as an initial "enemies list." The list named political opponents, including journalists, for possible action through federal agencies, such as tax audits by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the United States federal tax agency. The IRS commissioner, Donald C. Alexander, refused to launch audits of the people on the list. The lists became public during the Watergate investigations into Nixon's White House.1

What happened

On September 9, 1971, the office of Charles Colson, special counsel to the president of the United States, Richard Nixon, sent White House Counsel John Dean a memorandum, drafted by the aide George T. Bell, naming 20 people as an initial "enemies list." A longer master list of hundreds of names was compiled over the following years.1234

On August 16, 1971, Dean had written a memo about "how we can use the available federal machinery to screw our political enemies," including through tax audits, denial of federal grants and contracts, and litigation.1234

Journalists were among the people named on the versions of the list, including the CBS News correspondent Daniel Schorr. The IRS commissioner, Donald C. Alexander, refused to launch audits of the people on the list. The lists became public during the Watergate investigations.1234

Status as of 2026-09-22: Ended. The lists became public during the Watergate investigations and are part of the historical record.4

What reason was given

Stated justification

No public justification was issued. An internal White House memo by Dean described the purpose as "how we can use the available federal machinery to screw our political enemies."2

What changed for reporting

Journalists named on the list faced possible federal scrutiny, including tax audits. The IRS did not carry out the audits on the people listed.3

Timeline

1971

9 September 1971
United States: Nixon White House "enemies list" naming journalists, September 1971

Who acted

NameRole in this incidentOffice at the time
Charles ColsonorderedSpecial Counsel to the President (Nixon administration)
Richard NixonotherPresident of the United States (1969-1974)

Sources

  1. Nixon's Enemies List archived copyWikipedia, reporting. Source record
  2. Richard M. Nixon archived copyThe Free Speech Center, MTSU, reporting. Source record

Claims and evidence

Each numbered claim quotes the source it rests on.

  1. Colson's office sent the initial enemies-list memorandum to John Dean.sent in memorandum form to John Dean on September 9, 1971Nixon's Enemies List archived copy, Wikipedia.Claim 59, checked 2026-09-22.
  2. No public justification was issued; internal memos described the intent privately.how we can use the available federal machinery to screw our political enemiesNixon's Enemies List archived copy, Wikipedia.Claim 60, checked 2026-09-22.
  3. Journalists were among the political opponents named for potential tax audits and other federal action.Daniel Schorr, journalistNixon's Enemies List archived copy, Wikipedia.Claim 61, checked 2026-09-22.
  4. The lists are part of the public historical record from the Watergate era.sent in memorandum form to John Dean on September 9, 1971Nixon's Enemies List archived copy, Wikipedia.Claim 62, checked 2026-09-22.