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Charles “Chuck” Colson, once President Nixon’s “hatchet man” who was convicted on Watergate charges, has become a prominent evangelical leader.

Created by washingtonpost on Mar 2, 2011

Last updated: 07/13/11 at 01:00 PM

• President George W. Bush gives Colson major civilian award
  2008

  For Colson’s work with prisoners, Bush gives him one of the highest honors the government can bestow upon a civilian. Photo: Colson quotes from the Bible during a speech in 2011 (Bill O'Leary/Post)

• Criticizes Mark Felt, aka ‘Deep Throat’
  Jun 2005

  Colson appears across the national news media criticizing former FBI official Mark Felt, who was publicly identified as the Washington Post’s Watergate source Deep Throat. Photo: Joan Felt and her father Mark Felt, a.k.a. "Deep Throat," at their home in Santa Rosa, Ca., in 2005.
  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2007/05/24/VI2007052401252.html?hpid=topnews

• Offers theological support for Iraq invasion
  2002

  Colson co-signs the Land Letter, in which several evangelical leaders offer religious reasons for a preemptive strike. Photo: Colson speaks at a conference in 2011 in Leesburg, Va (Bill O'Leary/Post).

• Florida Gov. Jeb Bush restores Colson’s civil rights
  2000

  A quarter-century after his felony conviction took away his right to vote, Bush reinstates Colson’s civil rights. Photo: Colson bears testimony at a conference for 10,000 evangelical Protestants at Amsterdam's RAI congress center Wednesday, August 2, 2000. (Peter Dejong/AP)
  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/onpolitics/watergate/charlescolson.html

• Wins top religion prize
  1993

  Colson is awarded The Templeton Prize, worth approximately $1.5 million. Photo: Colson with Sen. Don Nickles (R-Okla) and Gary Bauer of the Family Research council (right) after a Senate voted failed to override President Clinton's late-term abortion veto in 1996.
  http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A99555-1993Feb20?language=printer

• Publishes 'Born Again'
  1976

  Colson publishes "Born Again," which sold more than 2 million copies and was made into a feature film. Photo: Actor Dean Jones, who plays the part of Colson in the new movie "Born Again," has his tie adjusted by the associate producer of the movie Paul Temple, at a dinner before the premiere of the movie, Sept. 24, 1978 in Washington. Colson looks on at center with ex-Senator Harold Hughes who plays himself in the film about Colson's involvement in Watergate and his subsequent conversion to Christianity. (Charles Tasnadi/AP).

• Founds prison ministry
  1976

  Colson founds Prison Fellowship, a non-profit organization designed to bring a Christian worldview to inmates. Photo: Colson and singer Pat Boone talk about “Decency in the Media” before a meeting of The National Religious Broadcasters in Washington Monday, Feb. 23, 1976. (PBR/AP)
  http://onfaith.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/charles_colson/

• Released from prison
  Jan 31, 1975

  After serving seven months in an Alabama prison, Colson is released.

• Sentenced to prison
  Jun 21, 1974

  Colson pleads guilty to obstruction of justice in the Watergate-related Daniel Ellsberg “Pentagon Papers” case and is sentenced to 1-3 years in prison and fined $5,000. Photo: Daniel Ellsberg talks to the press about the Pentagon Papers trial in 1973 (AP)
  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/watergate/part2.html

• Watergate: Colson is indicted
  Mar 1, 1974

  Colson and six other presidential aides are charged with conspiring to cover up the Watergate burglary. Photo: Former White House aide Charles W. Colson arrives June 21, 1974 at U.S. District Court in Washington to be sentenced for obstructing justice. He pled guilty to one count, carrying a maxmum penalty of five years in prison and a $3,000 fine. (bd/AP Photo)
  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/watergate/part2.html

• Resigns from White House
  Mar 10, 1973

  Nearly a year after Colson’s name was first linked to the Watergate controversy, he returns to the practice of law. Photo: Charles Colson in an interview in 1973 (File photo/Post)
  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/watergate/colson.html

• Becomes Nixon’s special counsel
  Nov 1969

  Colson is named one of the president’s closest political advisers, particularly on building a new conservative majority. In this job he became involved in illegal political activities and creating Nixon’s infamous “enemies list.” Photo: Colson faces reporters after he was charged in the Watergate cover-up, March 1, 1974. (Charles Bennett/AP)
  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/watergate/colson.html

• Helps run Nixon campaign
  1968

  Colson serves as counsel to Nixon's Key Issues Committee. Photo: Colson enters a House intelligence subcommittee Friday June 29, 1973 to testify to the assertion that he approved and helped secure CIA disguises for an effort to obtain information on Senator Edward M. Kennedy's Chappaquidick accident. (File/AP)
  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/watergate/colson.html