About this recording
427–1
- President Richard M. Nixon
- H. R. Haldeman
- UNKNOWN
- John D. Ehrlichman
- Stephen B. Bull
April 13, 1973
Conversation No. 427-1
Date: April 13, 1973
Time: 2:50 pm - 4:20 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman. This recording began while the conversation
was in progress.
Watergate
-Jeb Stuart Magruder’s testimony
-Charles W. Colson’s report
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Reports on progress of case
-Information reaching White House
-White House reaction to unreliable information
-Magruder
-Effect of possible White House statement
-Haldeman’s statement
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Ehrlichman
-Timing
-Effect of statement release prior to opening of
Ervin Committee hearings
-Revelation of facts
-Magruder, John W. Dean, III
-Knowledge
-John N. Mitchell’s recommendation that Dean not testify
-Grand jury
-Protection of principals
-Magruder, Mitchell
-Haldeman
-Sherman Adams case analogy
-Bernard Goldfine
-Strategy for handling case
-Colson
-2-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 427-1 (cont’d)
-Possible source of information in Mitchell’s law firm
-Targets of investigation
-Haldeman, Colson
-Possibility of broadening rather than cutting-off
investigation
-Possible reaction to Magruder testimony
-Mitchell
-Preferred course of action for Magruder
-Ehrlichman’s possible conversation with Magruder
-Need for authoritative figure as advisor to Magruder
-Report from Lawrence M. Higby
Watergate strategy
-Magruder
-Higby’s report on conversation
-Denial of Colson’s report on disclosure
-Mitchell
-Possible Ervin Committee testimony
-Ehrlichman’s presence at meeting
-Dean
Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 2:50 pm and 3:18 pm.
[Conversation No. 427-1A]
[Begin telephone conversation]
Request for Ehrlichman to join meeting
-Magruder
-Ziegler
[End telephone conversation]
Watergate
-Ziegler briefing
-Schedule
-Magruder
-3-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 427-1 (cont’d)
-Tape of conversation with Higby
-Testimony
-Possible prison term
-Higby
-White House staff involvement
-Haldeman
-Knowledge of guilt
-Colson’s possible misperception of case
-Prosecution strategy and tactics
Ehrlichman entered at 3:18 pm.
Watergate
-Magruder
-Tape of conversation with Higby
-Denial of Colson story on disclosure of information by Magruder
-Contacts and evidence
-Mitchell
-Knowledge of status, possible prison term
-Lack of implication of White House staff
-Possible deception of Colson by lawyers
-Haldeman-Colson conversation
-Tape, transcript
-Ehrlichman’s previous conversation with Dean
-Dean
-Truthfulness
-Mitchell
-Discussion of Dean Report release
-Knowledge of pre-break-in planning meeting
-Post-break-in activities
-Pressure
-Haldeman
-Necessity of meeting with Mitchell
-Colson
-Magruder
-Colson’s possible dealings with E. Howard Hunt, Jr.
-Colson’s telephone calls to Magruder
-4-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 427-1 (cont’d)
-Gordon C. Strachan
-Hunt, G[eorge] Gordon Liddy’s presence in Colson’s office
-Frederick C. LaRue’s presence in Magruder’s office
-Dean’s report on pre-break-in activities
-Intelligence gathering
-Colson’s telephone call to Magruder
-Alleged call to Haldeman
-Pressure on Magruder from Colson
-Liddy
-Plans
-Mitchell’s choice of alternatives
-Dean’s knowledge
-Involvement of the Committee to Re-elect the President [CRP]
-Liddy’s CRP connection in break-in
-James W. McCord, Jr.
-Investigation
-Source in U.S. Attorney’s office
-Henry E. Petersen’s and Richard G. Kleindienst’s action
-Indictment of Magruder and Mitchell in break-in case
-Mitchell, LaRue, Robert C. Mardian
-Involvement in post-break-in activities
-White House staff
-Lack of implication in case
-U.S. Attorney’s office
-Targets of investigation
-Advice to counsel
-White House staff involvement
-LaRue
-Funds issue
-Earl C. Silbert, Seymour Glanzer
-Concern for institution of the presidency
-Timing of indictments
-Effect of start of Ervin hearings
-Judge John J. Sirica
-Request ban on testimony
-Protection of defendants
-Mitchell’s role
-5-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 427-1 (cont’d)
-Reaction to LaRue, Mardian recommendations
-Calls to Ehrlichman
-Report to Haldeman, Dean
-Instructions to Herbert W. Kalmbach on fundraising
-Campaign funds
-Defense fund
-Comparison of Watergate defendants with the
Berrigan brothers and Daniel Ellsberg
-Kalmbach’s legal representation
-Possible indictment
-Burglary
-Magruder
-Mitchell
-Fundraising
-Possibility of trial
-Martha Beall Mitchell
-Possible indictment
-Attorney General
-Joseph T. Sneed
-Responsibility for decisions
-Question of special prosecutor
-Earl J. Silbert
-William P. Rogers
-Kleindienst resignation
-Strategy for White House action
-Response to possible Mitchell indictment
-Possible testimony by Magruder
-Higby
-Dean as witness
-Knowledge of facts
-Post-break-in meetings with Mitchell
-Executive privilege invocation
-White House counsel
-Leonard Garment’s role
-Charles Wright
-Constitutional compared with criminal lawyer
-Possible signal to Silbert
-6-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 427-1 (cont’d)
-Possible Dean resignation
-Disclosure of information
-Liddy
-”Hush money” charge
-Use of funds for defendants
-Appearance of payoff
-Intelligence reports
-Number of copies
-Possible testimony by secretary
-Dean, Kleindienst
-Liddy
-Copy to White House
-Strachan, Magruder
-Typing by Liddy’s secretary
-Copy to White House
-Strachan, Colson
-Identification of wiretapping as source
-Lawrence F. O’Brien
-Magruder
-Effectiveness of possible meeting with Ehrlichman
-Reaction to possible prison term
-Need to tell the truth
-Higby tape
-Pressure to tell the truth
-Dean
-Possible testimony
-Conversation with Mitchell
-Genesis of Watergate break-in
-Resignation as White House counsel
-Groundwork for meeting with the US attorney
-Invocation of privilege on lawyer-client conversations
-Avoidance of White House role in incriminating Mitchell
-Dean’s account compared to Colson’s account
The President talked with Stephen B. Bull between 3:54 pm and 3:55 pm.
[Conversation No. 427-1B]
-7-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 427-1 (cont’d)
[Begin telephone conversation]
[See Conversation No. 38-5]
[End telephone conversation]
Watergate
-Dean
-Role
-Forthcoming interview with US attorney
-Tenure on White House staff
-Magruder
-Colson’s report on disclosure
-Dean’s possible perjury role
-Subornation of perjury
-Mitchell-Magruder-Dean meeting
-Dean
-Subornation of perjury
-Failure to inform the President of Magruder’s role
-Use of Magruder in Inaugural planning
-Grand jury testimony
-Haldeman, Colson
-Containment
-Glanzer’s comments to Dwight L. Chapin
-Silbert and Glanzer
-Justice Department, US Attorney
-Colson
-Need for meeting with Haldeman, Ehrlichman
-Scapegoat investigation target
-Desire for Dean firing
-John B. Connally’s recommendation
-Mitchell, Magruder
-Colson
-Statement about White House involvement
-Haldeman’s conversations with Strachan, Magruder, Chapin
-Magruder
-8-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 427-1 (cont’d)
-Grand jury
-Legal position on disclosure of testimony before grand jury
-Public statement by witness to the press
-Limitations on Dean’s possible appearance
-Postponement of Ervin Committee hearings
-Possible effect of Mitchell trial
-Political motive for Ervin hearings
-Public relations
-Ziegler
-Chapin statement on Donald H. Segretti
-White House comments to press
-CRP
-Cooperation with grand jury
-Barry M. Goldwater’s statement
-Mitchell
-Advice
-Possible indictment, prison term
-Martha Beall Mitchell
-Dean
-Ruination of career
-Mitchell
-Clark MacGregor’s July 1972 appointment to head CRP
-Chance for action on Watergate issue
-Danger to Mitchell
-President’s lack of attention to question
-1972 Moscow Summit
-Vietnam War
-Autonomy of CRP
-Lack of White House involvement
-Possible statement by McGregor
-Impact on campaign
-Democratic Party nominee
-George S. McGovern, Edward M. (“Ted”)
Kennedy
-Colson
-Need for control
-Forthcoming meeting with Ehrlichman
-9-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 427-1 (cont’d)
Haldeman and Ehrlichman left at 4:20 pm.
Date: April 13, 1973
Time: 2:50 pm - 4:20 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman. This recording began while the conversation
was in progress.
Watergate
-Jeb Stuart Magruder’s testimony
-Charles W. Colson’s report
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Reports on progress of case
-Information reaching White House
-White House reaction to unreliable information
-Magruder
-Effect of possible White House statement
-Haldeman’s statement
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Ehrlichman
-Timing
-Effect of statement release prior to opening of
Ervin Committee hearings
-Revelation of facts
-Magruder, John W. Dean, III
-Knowledge
-John N. Mitchell’s recommendation that Dean not testify
-Grand jury
-Protection of principals
-Magruder, Mitchell
-Haldeman
-Sherman Adams case analogy
-Bernard Goldfine
-Strategy for handling case
-Colson
-2-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 427-1 (cont’d)
-Possible source of information in Mitchell’s law firm
-Targets of investigation
-Haldeman, Colson
-Possibility of broadening rather than cutting-off
investigation
-Possible reaction to Magruder testimony
-Mitchell
-Preferred course of action for Magruder
-Ehrlichman’s possible conversation with Magruder
-Need for authoritative figure as advisor to Magruder
-Report from Lawrence M. Higby
Watergate strategy
-Magruder
-Higby’s report on conversation
-Denial of Colson’s report on disclosure
-Mitchell
-Possible Ervin Committee testimony
-Ehrlichman’s presence at meeting
-Dean
Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 2:50 pm and 3:18 pm.
[Conversation No. 427-1A]
[Begin telephone conversation]
Request for Ehrlichman to join meeting
-Magruder
-Ziegler
[End telephone conversation]
Watergate
-Ziegler briefing
-Schedule
-Magruder
-3-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 427-1 (cont’d)
-Tape of conversation with Higby
-Testimony
-Possible prison term
-Higby
-White House staff involvement
-Haldeman
-Knowledge of guilt
-Colson’s possible misperception of case
-Prosecution strategy and tactics
Ehrlichman entered at 3:18 pm.
Watergate
-Magruder
-Tape of conversation with Higby
-Denial of Colson story on disclosure of information by Magruder
-Contacts and evidence
-Mitchell
-Knowledge of status, possible prison term
-Lack of implication of White House staff
-Possible deception of Colson by lawyers
-Haldeman-Colson conversation
-Tape, transcript
-Ehrlichman’s previous conversation with Dean
-Dean
-Truthfulness
-Mitchell
-Discussion of Dean Report release
-Knowledge of pre-break-in planning meeting
-Post-break-in activities
-Pressure
-Haldeman
-Necessity of meeting with Mitchell
-Colson
-Magruder
-Colson’s possible dealings with E. Howard Hunt, Jr.
-Colson’s telephone calls to Magruder
-4-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 427-1 (cont’d)
-Gordon C. Strachan
-Hunt, G[eorge] Gordon Liddy’s presence in Colson’s office
-Frederick C. LaRue’s presence in Magruder’s office
-Dean’s report on pre-break-in activities
-Intelligence gathering
-Colson’s telephone call to Magruder
-Alleged call to Haldeman
-Pressure on Magruder from Colson
-Liddy
-Plans
-Mitchell’s choice of alternatives
-Dean’s knowledge
-Involvement of the Committee to Re-elect the President [CRP]
-Liddy’s CRP connection in break-in
-James W. McCord, Jr.
-Investigation
-Source in U.S. Attorney’s office
-Henry E. Petersen’s and Richard G. Kleindienst’s action
-Indictment of Magruder and Mitchell in break-in case
-Mitchell, LaRue, Robert C. Mardian
-Involvement in post-break-in activities
-White House staff
-Lack of implication in case
-U.S. Attorney’s office
-Targets of investigation
-Advice to counsel
-White House staff involvement
-LaRue
-Funds issue
-Earl C. Silbert, Seymour Glanzer
-Concern for institution of the presidency
-Timing of indictments
-Effect of start of Ervin hearings
-Judge John J. Sirica
-Request ban on testimony
-Protection of defendants
-Mitchell’s role
-5-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 427-1 (cont’d)
-Reaction to LaRue, Mardian recommendations
-Calls to Ehrlichman
-Report to Haldeman, Dean
-Instructions to Herbert W. Kalmbach on fundraising
-Campaign funds
-Defense fund
-Comparison of Watergate defendants with the
Berrigan brothers and Daniel Ellsberg
-Kalmbach’s legal representation
-Possible indictment
-Burglary
-Magruder
-Mitchell
-Fundraising
-Possibility of trial
-Martha Beall Mitchell
-Possible indictment
-Attorney General
-Joseph T. Sneed
-Responsibility for decisions
-Question of special prosecutor
-Earl J. Silbert
-William P. Rogers
-Kleindienst resignation
-Strategy for White House action
-Response to possible Mitchell indictment
-Possible testimony by Magruder
-Higby
-Dean as witness
-Knowledge of facts
-Post-break-in meetings with Mitchell
-Executive privilege invocation
-White House counsel
-Leonard Garment’s role
-Charles Wright
-Constitutional compared with criminal lawyer
-Possible signal to Silbert
-6-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 427-1 (cont’d)
-Possible Dean resignation
-Disclosure of information
-Liddy
-”Hush money” charge
-Use of funds for defendants
-Appearance of payoff
-Intelligence reports
-Number of copies
-Possible testimony by secretary
-Dean, Kleindienst
-Liddy
-Copy to White House
-Strachan, Magruder
-Typing by Liddy’s secretary
-Copy to White House
-Strachan, Colson
-Identification of wiretapping as source
-Lawrence F. O’Brien
-Magruder
-Effectiveness of possible meeting with Ehrlichman
-Reaction to possible prison term
-Need to tell the truth
-Higby tape
-Pressure to tell the truth
-Dean
-Possible testimony
-Conversation with Mitchell
-Genesis of Watergate break-in
-Resignation as White House counsel
-Groundwork for meeting with the US attorney
-Invocation of privilege on lawyer-client conversations
-Avoidance of White House role in incriminating Mitchell
-Dean’s account compared to Colson’s account
The President talked with Stephen B. Bull between 3:54 pm and 3:55 pm.
[Conversation No. 427-1B]
-7-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 427-1 (cont’d)
[Begin telephone conversation]
[See Conversation No. 38-5]
[End telephone conversation]
Watergate
-Dean
-Role
-Forthcoming interview with US attorney
-Tenure on White House staff
-Magruder
-Colson’s report on disclosure
-Dean’s possible perjury role
-Subornation of perjury
-Mitchell-Magruder-Dean meeting
-Dean
-Subornation of perjury
-Failure to inform the President of Magruder’s role
-Use of Magruder in Inaugural planning
-Grand jury testimony
-Haldeman, Colson
-Containment
-Glanzer’s comments to Dwight L. Chapin
-Silbert and Glanzer
-Justice Department, US Attorney
-Colson
-Need for meeting with Haldeman, Ehrlichman
-Scapegoat investigation target
-Desire for Dean firing
-John B. Connally’s recommendation
-Mitchell, Magruder
-Colson
-Statement about White House involvement
-Haldeman’s conversations with Strachan, Magruder, Chapin
-Magruder
-8-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 427-1 (cont’d)
-Grand jury
-Legal position on disclosure of testimony before grand jury
-Public statement by witness to the press
-Limitations on Dean’s possible appearance
-Postponement of Ervin Committee hearings
-Possible effect of Mitchell trial
-Political motive for Ervin hearings
-Public relations
-Ziegler
-Chapin statement on Donald H. Segretti
-White House comments to press
-CRP
-Cooperation with grand jury
-Barry M. Goldwater’s statement
-Mitchell
-Advice
-Possible indictment, prison term
-Martha Beall Mitchell
-Dean
-Ruination of career
-Mitchell
-Clark MacGregor’s July 1972 appointment to head CRP
-Chance for action on Watergate issue
-Danger to Mitchell
-President’s lack of attention to question
-1972 Moscow Summit
-Vietnam War
-Autonomy of CRP
-Lack of White House involvement
-Possible statement by McGregor
-Impact on campaign
-Democratic Party nominee
-George S. McGovern, Edward M. (“Ted”)
Kennedy
-Colson
-Need for control
-Forthcoming meeting with Ehrlichman
-9-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 427-1 (cont’d)
Haldeman and Ehrlichman left at 4:20 pm.