Martha Mitchell was a prominent American socialite and political figure who gained fame and notoriety for her outspoken and controversial statements during the Watergate scandal.

She was the wife of John N. Mitchell, the U.S. Attorney General under President Richard Nixon, and a close friend of the president and his wife.

She was also known for her flamboyant personality, colourful fashion, and lavish parties. She was dubbed “the Mouth of the South” by the media and became a household name in the 1970s.

Profile

• Full name: Martha Elizabeth Beall Mitchell
• Date of birth: September 2, 1918
• Age: 58 years old (at the time of death)
• Gender: Female
• Place of birth: Pine Bluff, Arkansas, U.S.
• Nationality: American
• Profession: Socialite, political activist, columnist
• Height: 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
• Parents: George V. Beall and Arie Beall Ferguson
• Siblings: N/A
• Spouse: Clyde Jennings Jr. (m. 1946; div. 1957), John N. Mitchell (m. 1957; Sep. 1973)
• Children: Clyde Jay Jennings and Martha Elizabeth Mitchell
• Relationship status: Separated at the time of death
• Net worth: $3 million

Early Life & Education

Martha Mitchell was born on September 2, 1918, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to George V. Beall, a cotton broker, and Arie Beall Ferguson, a drama teacher.

She was an only child and grew up in a wealthy and influential family. She attended Pine Bluff High School, where she was a cheerleader and debate team member.

She graduated in 1936 and enrolled at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, where she majored in history and minored in French.

She was active in various clubs and societies, such as the Glee Club, the Dramatic Club, and the International Relations Club.

She also wrote for the college newspaper and yearbook. She graduated in 1940 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Personal Life

Martha Mitchell married Clyde Jennings, Jr., a naval officer, in 1946. They had a son, Clyde Jay Jennings, in 1947.

The couple moved to Washington, D.C., where Jennings worked as a lawyer, and Mitchell worked as a secretary for Senator John L. McClellan of Arkansas. They divorced in 1957 after Jennings had an affair with another woman.

Martha Mitchell married John N. Mitchell, a lawyer and a friend of Jennings, in 1957. They had a daughter, Martha Elizabeth Mitchell, in 1959.

The couple moved to New York City, where Mitchell became a partner at a prestigious law firm, and Martha Mitchell became a prominent socialite.

She hosted lavish parties at their penthouse apartment and befriended many celebrities, politicians, and journalists. She also became involved in various charitable and political causes, such as the American Cancer Society, the Republican National Committee, and the Nixon presidential campaign.

Martha Mitchell was a close friend of Richard and Pat Nixon, who often invited her to the White House and Camp David.

She was also a confidante of the president and his wife, often giving them advice and feedback on various issues. She was considered one of Washington’s most influential women and admired for her charm, wit, and honesty.

However, Martha Mitchell’s marriage and friendship with the Nixons deteriorated in 1972 when the Watergate scandal broke out.

She became suspicious of her husband’s involvement in the cover-up and tried to expose the truth to the media. She also accused the president and his aides of corruption, abuse of power, and conspiracy.

She claimed that she was kidnapped, drugged, and beaten by the president’s men to silence her. She also suffered from alcoholism, depression, and paranoia and was hospitalized several times. She separated from her husband in 1973 and filed for divorce, but it was never finalized.

Career

Martha Mitchell did not have a formal career, but she was a prominent figure in New York and Washington’s social and political scene.

She was a columnist for the New York Post, writing about her opinions and experiences on various topics, such as fashion, travel, entertainment, and current affairs.

She was also a frequent guest on radio and television shows, where she shared her views and stories with the public. She was known for her outspoken and controversial statements, which often made headlines and sparked debates.

She was also a source of information and gossip for many journalists, who often quoted or interviewed her for their stories.

Awards

Martha Mitchell did not receive formal awards, but she was recognized and honoured by various organizations and institutions for her contributions and achievements.

Some of them are:

• She was named one of the Ten Most Admired Women in America by Good Housekeeping magazine in 1970.
• She was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters by Agnes Scott College in 1971.
• She was inducted into the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame in 2016.

Death

Martha Mitchell died on May 31, 1976, at 58, in New York City. She had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of bone cancer, in 1974 and had undergone chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

She was hospitalized at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where she succumbed to the disease. She was buried at the Bellwood Cemetery in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, next to her parents.

Controversy

Martha Mitchell was a controversial figure who often sparked controversy with her outspoken and provocative statements. Some of the most notable controversies she was involved in are:

She accused the president and his aides of corruption, abuse of power, and conspiracy during the Watergate scandal. She claimed she had inside information and evidence proving their guilt.

She also claimed that she was kidnapped, drugged, and beaten by the president’s men to silence her. She became known as the “Watergate Canary” and the “Watergate Siren” by the media and the public.

She criticized the president and his wife for their handling of the Vietnam War, the economy, and the social issues. She also mocked their appearance, manners, and taste. She called Pat Nixon “a plastic doll” and Richard Nixon “a liar” and “a crook”. She also said that she wished he would resign or die.

She revealed the president’s secret plan to bomb North Vietnam in 1972 before it was officially announced. She told a reporter that the president was going to “drop the big one” and that she was “scared to death”. She also said that she hoped the president would be impeached or assassinated.

She insulted and offended many foreign leaders and dignitaries, such as Indira Gandhi, Golda Meir, Anwar Sadat, and Haile Selassie. She made derogatory remarks about their appearance, culture, and policies. She also made racist and sexist comments about various ethnic and gender groups.

Social Media

• Instagram handle: N/A
• Twitter handle: N/A

Net Worth

Martha Mitchell’s net worth at the time of her death is estimated to be around $3 million, and she lived a luxurious and extravagant lifestyle.

She owned a penthouse apartment in New York City, valued at $500,000 in 1973.

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