Original historic pastel color drawing from courtroom trials of Watergate sketched by Pat Davies.

14” x 17” on plain artist stock drawing paper, removed from the artist sketchpad.

Original Watergate courtroom sketch of David Bress by Pat Davies. Mr. Bress was a prominent Washington attorney who was lead defense counsel for Robert Mardian during the Watergate hearings. Robert Mardian was President Nixon’s Assistant Attorney General and one of the Watergate Seven accused of conspiracy to obstruct justice, in the cover up for the 1972 Watergate break-in. Mr. Mardian was convicted in January 1975. David Bress had to withdraw from the trial early because of a cancer diagnosis and died March 10, 1976. His death was just months before the appeal court overturned Maradian’s conviction citing Mr. Bress illness as a factor in reversing the conviction.

On the date of this sketch the defendants attorneys were arguing for a delay in the trial. Judge John J. Sirica ruled against the arguments and that the trial would begin as scheduled on September 9. The exchange between attorneys and Judge Sirica was often testy on this day, quoting Judge Sirica “there is no better time to try this case than the present time”.

Before Watergate David was the United States attorney for the District of Columbia where he prosecuted many cases related to the civil unrest of the 1960’s including anti Vietnam protest and the riots following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

The sketch is marked Mardian’s lawyer Aug 19, 1974 in the upper right corner. This sketch is not signed by the artist.

These drawings were done in a time when cameras where banned from courtrooms and only a few professional sketch artists were allowed access. Possible done for the Daytona Beach News-Journal.

Good condition with some slight aging, should frame nicely.

Shipping is $10 and will combine shipping with other Watergate sketches I have listed.

Thanks and good luck!