Maureen Dean

Maureen Dean is an American writer and former political figure, best known as the wife of John Dean, the White House counsel involved in the Watergate scandal. She testified before the Senate Watergate Committee and authored Mo: A Woman's View of Watergate, a memoir offering a personal perspective on the scandal.

Early life and education

Maureen Elizabeth Kane was born on October 10, 1945, in Los Angeles, California. She attended Notre Dame Girls' Academy and later studied at Santa Monica City College.

Career

Before her involvement in Watergate, Dean worked as a media consultant and writer. In 1975, she published Mo: A Woman's View of Watergate, which became a notable firsthand account of the scandal from a spouse's perspective. The book was reviewed in outlets including The Atlantic, which called it "a rare glimpse into the human toll of political crises."

Role in Watergate

During the Senate Watergate hearings in 1973, Dean became a public figure through her televised presence alongside her husband. She later testified before the Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, providing insights into John Dean's cooperation with investigators. Her testimony addressed her awareness of the scandal's unfolding, including her husband's warning about a "rough situation" prior to their marriage. In 2022, she reappeared in media coverage during the 50th anniversary of the Watergate break-in, participating in interviews about the scandal's legacy.

Personal life

Dean married John Dean on October 13, 1972, three months before the Watergate trials began. Her previous marriages to George Owen and Michael William Biner were documented in Senate records. The Deans have no children and reside in Beverly Hills.

In popular media

In the four-part 1979 CBS miniseries Blind Ambition, based on John and Maureen Dean’s memoirs, Maureen Dean is portrayed by Theresa Russell.
In the eight-episode 2022 Starz limited series Gaslit, which reframes Watergate through the lives of Nixon-era wives, Maureen “Mo” Dean is portrayed by Betty Gilpin.

Selected works

Co-author of Blind Ambition, John Dean's memoir about Watergate.