The Watchman Who Unveiled Watergate
Frank Wills, an African American security guard, inadvertently played a pivotal role in one of the most significant political scandals in American history—the Watergate scandal. His discovery of a break-in at the Democratic National Headquarters in the Watergate Office Building on June 17, 1972, set off a chain of events that ultimately led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon. Despite his critical role in this historic moment, Wills’s life was marked by hardship, obscurity, and personal struggles.
Born on February 4, 1948, in Savannah, Georgia, Frank Wills was raised by his mother, Marjorie Wills, a single parent. In 1953, the family moved to North Augusta, South Carolina, where Marjorie had grown up. Wills left Jefferson High School at the age of 17 and joined Job Corps, a federal program aimed at providing vocational training to disadvantaged youth. This opportunity took him to Battle Creek, Michigan, where he acquired skills that enabled him to secure employment at major automotive companies like Ford Motor Company and Chrysler Motors in the late 1960s.
In April 1971, Wills relocated to Washington, D.C., where he began working as a private security guard at the Watergate Complex. This job would place him at the center of an event that would forever change the course of American politics. In the early hours of June 17, 1972, while patrolling the corridors of the Watergate Office Building, Wills noticed that tape had been placed over the latches of several doors to prevent them from locking. Suspecting foul play, he removed the tape and continued his rounds. When he later found the tape had been replaced, Wills alerted the Washington, D.C., police. Officers arrived promptly and arrested five men who were caught breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters.
The break-in and subsequent investigation revealed connections between the burglars and President Nixon’s reelection campaign. This discovery set off a political firestorm that culminated in Nixon’s resignation in 1974. Wills’ quick thinking and diligence as a security guard had inadvertently exposed one of the most notorious scandals in U.S. history. The Watergate scandal thrust Frank Wills into the national spotlight. He briefly enjoyed public recognition for his role in uncovering the break-in and even portrayed himself in the Academy Award-winning film All The President’s Men (1976), which chronicled the events surrounding the scandal. Hoping to capitalize on his newfound fame, Wills hired an agent but struggled to maintain his relevance as public interest in Watergate waned.
By the late 1970s, Wills found himself working a series of low-paying jobs. His financial struggles were compounded by legal troubles. In 1979, he was arrested for shoplifting a $0.98 pen and fined $108. A few years later, in September 1982, Wills was arrested again for shoplifting a pair of $16 tennis shoes. This second offense attracted media attention and reignited public interest in his life. Despite efforts by civil rights organizations like the NAACP to support him legally, Wills was convicted and sentenced to a year in jail. After a protracted legal battle that reached as high as the United States Supreme Court (which declined to hear his case), Wills ultimately served only three weeks of his sentence for reasons that remain unclear.
In November 1984, Wills became a father when his girlfriend gave birth to their daughter, Angel. However, his personal life continued to be overshadowed by financial instability and difficulty securing steady employment. Following the death of his mother in 1992, Wills’ circumstances worsened, and he spent much of his later years living in poverty. Frank Wills passed away on September 27, 2000, at the age of 52 from complications related to AIDS. Despite his critical role in exposing one of the most consequential political scandals in American history, he died largely forgotten by the public.
Frank Wills’ life is a poignant reminder of how individuals who play key roles in historic events can often be overlooked or undervalued in their aftermath. His dedication to his job as a security guard on that fateful night in 1972 helped uncover a scandal that reshaped American politics and governance. Yet, his later years were marked by financial struggles and personal challenges that stood in stark contrast to his brief moment of national recognition. While history has largely remembered Watergate for its political implications and the downfall of a presidency, Frank Wills’ contribution serves as a testament to the power of vigilance and integrity—even in seemingly ordinary roles. His story underscores the need to honor those whose actions have far-reaching consequences, regardless of their social or economic status.