The lawyer who heard the Nixon tapes and chose a different path

Science · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Before becoming a high-ranking religious leader, D. Todd Christofferson was a law clerk for a judge presiding over the Watergate trials. He was among the first people outside the White House to hear the infamous tapes, witnessing the raw mechanics of political corruption firsthand.

In 1972, D. Todd Christofferson began a clerkship for U.S. District Judge John J. Sirica. This period was historically significant as Sirica was assigned to preside over the legal proceedings stemming from the Watergate scandal. Christofferson and Sirica were the first individuals outside of the White House to listen to the Nixon White House tapes. Christofferson recalled the shock of hearing President Nixon calmly inquire about the amount of money required to keep the burglars quiet, a moment that provided indisputable evidence of presidential involvement.

Despite this high-profile legal career, Christofferson's life was defined by a transition from corporate and military service to religious leadership. Following his clerkship, he joined the U.S. military as an active duty soldier. He subsequently worked as a lawyer within Washington, D.C. He eventually became an in-house corporate lawyer for banking and healthcare companies, including NationsBank (now Bank of America). His professional trajectory was marked by high-level responsibilities, including serving as senior vice president and general counsel.

His spiritual journey was characterized by a belief that faith requires action. As a teenager, he began making bread for his family to support his mother after her cancer surgery. Later, after a period of feeling no response to his prayers in the Sacred Grove, he found assurance through reading. This philosophy—that true freedom comes from yielding to a higher will—guided his move into church leadership in 1993. He has since served in various capacities, including as an apostle and a member of the First Presidency, balancing these roles with a personal commitment to fatherhood.

His career also involved complex negotiations on sensitive historical issues. During his tenure leading the Family and Church History Department, he participated in talks with Jewish representatives about temple rites for Holocaust survivors. These negotiations resulted in a policy stating that members should only perform such work for their own family members. His life illustrates a synthesis of rigorous legal training, military service, and deep religious devotion.

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