This conversation illustrates how difficult Watergate was to understand, even for the people orchestrating the cover-up. The recording captured President Richard M. Nixon wondering once again why the break-in at the Democratic national headquarters had occurred. Although he personally had called for a political intelligence-gathering operation to aid his reelection, he could only wonder why the illegal aspects of it were run out of his own reelection committee. Moreover, neither he nor White House chief of staff H. R. “Bob” Haldeman knew where several hundred thousand dollars in campaign contributions had gone.

Date: 1972-08-01
Time: 10:33-11:50
Participants: Richard M. Nixon, H. R. "Bob" Haldeman
Location: Oval Office
Tape: 758-011 B