Chapin was convicted of lying to a grand jury (perjury) during the scandal and served nine months at the Federal Correctional Institution, Lompoc.

He got his first experience in California politics in 1958 at the American Legion's Boys State summer program, where he was elected the head of the Tory Party.

At USC, he was a member of Trojans for Representative Government with future Watergate scandal participants Tim Elbourne, Donald Segretti, Gordon C. Strachan, Herbert Porter, and Ron Ziegler.

When Nixon ran for California Governor in 1962, Chapin, then still at USC, was a paid Field Man (on-the-ground organizational leader for election campaigns)[2] and worked with the volunteer organization.

Chapin also oversaw the hiring and the supervising of presidential advance men, and headed that group to prepare for Nixon's second trip to the People's Republic of China (P.R.C.)

Chapin was asked to find a "Dick Tuck" (a legendary Democratic political saboteur) type of prankster to perform the "dirty tricks" to work under H. R. Haldeman, Nixon's Chief of Staff, and the President.

Despite the relatively minor repercussions he remained indignant, initially vowing to appeal "all the way to the Supreme Court" (which he did) in a very hostile political climate.

Later, Chapin had assignments in Geneva, Switzerland, Tokyo, Japan and Hong Kong, where he was managing director, Asia, for Hill & Knowlton.