Ben-Veniste bumped into Egil "Bud" Krogh, whom he hadn't seen in 36 years since he prosecuted him during Watergate for Krogh's role as head of the White House Plumber's Unit, and did the unthinkable: he invited him to his book party, to be held just a few hours later.

The Watergate conspirator actually showed up. The party was held at the stunning Northwest Washington home of Gerry and Ellen Sigal (of Sigal Construction), where Ben-Veniste read extensively from his book, "The Emperor's New Clothes: Exposing the Truth From Watergate to 9/11."

The author doesn't mention Krogh by name in his book, the first chapter of which is dedicated to the Watergate scandal. But Ben-Veniste did mention during his lengthy reading last night that "someone" he prosecuted during Watergate was in the audience.

Since he wasn't identified and few would have recognized him, Krogh wasn't cornered by Watergate buffs before he left. And there plenty such buffs at the party, including the legendary Daniel Schorr, who was chief Watergate correspondent for CBS. (Schorr even made President Nixon's infamous enemies list.)

Presumably, though, Krogh would have been happy to hang around and chat about his role in the demise of Richard M. Nixon, since he has been traveling the country giving speeches on the topic in what he calls his "quest for redemption."

Washington Post Sleuth