Ehrlichman won the Distinguished Flying Cross in World War II. He graduated from Stanford University School of Law in 1951, and eventually became a partner in a Seattle law firm. He was a tour director during Nixon's 1968 presidential campaign. Following Nixon's victory, he became a member of the inner circle, one of the Nixon's closest advisors. He and close friend H. R. Haldeman were referred to jointly as "the germans."
As a result of Watergate, Ehrlichman resigned. He was convicted of conspiracy and perjury in 1975, for which he served 18 months in prison.
Following his release, he later became a talk-radio host. Ehrlichman died of diabetes complications in 1999.