US Presidential Official, Watergate Figure, Author. He served as Special Council to President Richard Nixon from 1969 to 1973. Raised during the “Great Depression” era under impoverished circumstances, the New England native managed to attend Brown University from where he received his BA and later attained his law degree from George Washington University. After service with the US Marine Corps, Colson gained political exposure as an administrative assistant to Massachusetts Senator Leverett Saltonstall. He had become a partner in a law firm, prior to joining the Nixon administration. Colson was among those caught up in the Watergate scandal and for his role involved, he pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and was sentenced to three years in prison in 1974 (released after serving seven months). During his time while incarcerated, he turned to evangelical Christianity and founded the Board of Prison Fellowship. He authored numerous books including the bestselling “Born Again” (1976) which was made into a 1978 motion picture adaptation which starred Dean Jones. Colson was recipient of the Templeton Prize in 1993 for his efforts in forwarding the religious movement. He died following surgery to remove a blood clot in his brain. (bio by: C.S.)