Jailbird is a novel by
Kurt Vonnegut, originally published in 1979; it has come to be known as "his
Watergate novel". The plot involves elements ranging from labor movement of the early 20th century to the Nixon Whitehouse, and revolves around Walter F. Starbuck, a man recently released from a low security prison after having served time for a minor role in the
Watergate scandal. It is written in a standard memoir format, revealing Starbuck's current situation, then going back to tell the story of his first two days after being released from prison.