Sam Ervin was an American politician who served as a Democratic Senator from North Carolina from 1954 to 1974. He is best known for his role as the chairman of the Senate Watergate Committee, which investigated the Watergate scandal during the Nixon administration. Ervin was a staunch defender of civil liberties and an advocate for the Constitution. He was also a strong opponent of the Vietnam War and the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade. Ervin's work on the Watergate Committee helped to uncover the truth behind the scandal and ultimately led to President Nixon's resignation.