About this recording
893-021a
- President Richard M. Nixon
- John D. Ehrlichman
- H. R. Haldeman
- Ronald L. Ziegler
- Stephen B. Bull
April 11, 1973
Conversation No. 893-21
Date: April 11, 1973
Time: 3:18 pm - 4:49 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with John D. Ehrlichman, H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman, and Ronald L. Ziegler.
Simplified tax return
-George P. Schultz
-45-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. February-2011)
Conversation No. 893-21 (cont’d)
-Evaluation
President’s schedule
-Evening meetings
Watergate
-Problems of presidency
-Excessive strength
-Lack of candor
-Role of Senate
-Scheduling
-Televised hearings
-Witnesses
-White House staff
-John N. Mitchell, Robert C. Mardian, Frederick LaRue, Jeb Stuart
Magruder
-Haldeman
-John W. Dean, III
-Possible presidential actions
-Popular perceptions
-Value of initiative
-Role of Ervin Committee
-Grand jury
-Dean
-Instructions concerning privilege
-Ehrlichman, Leonard Garment
-Protection of Mitchell
-Magruder
-Sally H. Harmony’s testimony
-G[eorge] Gordon Liddy
-Gordon C. Strachan’s testimony
-Haldeman’s hiring of Donald H. Segretti
-$350,000
-Handling
-Haldeman’s instructions
-LaRue
-Haldeman’s hiring of Donald H. Segretti
-Possible press reports
-Gray’s testimony about Segretti
-46-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. February-2011)
Conversation No. 893-21 (cont’d)
-Dwight L. Chapin, Herbert W. Kalmbach
-Dean
-Effects of possible testimony on Mitchell
-Haldeman’s possible testimony
-Watergate investigation
-Warren Commission
-Special prosecutor
-Ervin Committee
-Exercise of privilege
-Ervin Committee’s functions
-Protection of White House
-Haldeman
-Relationship with Magruder
-Long-term effects of testimony
-Future statements
-Washington Post
-Carl Berstein
-Robert U. (“Bob”) Woodward
-Ervin Committee
-Testimony by White House staff
-Conditions: voluntary vs. court-ordered
-Supreme Court ruling
-Effects of televised hearings
-John D. Ehrlichman’s negotiations with Samuel J. Ervin, Jr.
-Dean’s appearance before Grand Jury
-Ehrlichman letter on Dean
-Testimony by White House staff
-Haldeman
-Dean
-Committee staff’s view of Haldeman or Mitchell’s role
-Haldeman
-Allegations against
-Executive privilege
-John B. Connally’s view
-President’s position
-Candor
-White Hosue staff testimony before Ervin Committee
-Investigation for President
-Ehrlichman’s suggestion of appointing a justice to write report
-47-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. February-2011)
Conversation No. 893-21 (cont’d)
-Ervin Committee Report
-Leaks
-Grand Juries
-Strachan’s testimony
-Harmony’s testimony
-Public impressions
-Press coverage
-Ervin Committee
-White House staff testimony
-Dean
-Executive privilege
-White House cooperation
-Dean
-Possible testimony before Grand Jury
-Grand Jury leaks
-Washington, DC
-Funds
-Ervin Committee
-Executive Branch investigation
-Possible testimony against Dean
-Ehrlichman’s hypothetical testimony example
-Statement by Dean
-Effect
-Ziegler’s example of hypothetical testimony from a woman
-Linda Lovelace
-Possible testimony by Magruder
-Possible statements by Dean
-Attendance at Committee for the Re-election of the President [CRP]
meetings
-Requests from Mitchell for money
-Kalmbach
-Role in raising money
-Popular impression
-Possible lack of testimony
-Mitchell
-New York Daily News story
-New York Grand Jury
-Ervin Committee
-Televised hearings
-48-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. February-2011)
Conversation No. 893-21 (cont’d)
-Successful witnesses
-Howard Hughes
-Francis A. (“Frank”) Sinatra
-Problems
-Dean’s availability
-White House position
-Possible future testimony on Dean
-Scope of possible testimony
-Grand Jury
-Public reaction
-Forthcoming Grand Jury testimony
-Staff’s discussions with Grament
-Dean
-Haldeman
-Charles Colson, Chapin, Strachan
-Availability of witnesses
-Hierarchy
-Executive privilege
-Haldeman
-Executive privilege
-Knowledge
-Comparison with Dean’s situation
-Layers of Executive privilege
-Dean
-Forthcoming testimony
-Knowledge
-Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] raw files
-Contact with Donald H. Segretti
-Written interrogatories
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 3:18 pm.
President’s schedule
-Trip to Camp David
-Departure time
-Transportation
-Marine One helicopter
Bull left at an unknown time before 4:20 pm.
-49-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. February-2011)
Conversation No. 893-21 (cont’d)
Watergate
-Ervin Committee
-Haldeman
-Dean
-Arrangements for forthcoming testimony
-Televised hearings
-Forthcoming White House statements
-Dean report
-Mitchell
-Risks
-Timing
-Future attacks by committee
-Timing
-Wording
-Possible statement by Haldeman
-Response to allegations
-New York Post story’s contents
-Lowell P. Weicker, Jr.
-Involvement with Segretti
-Document by Ehrlichman for negotiations
-Televised hearings
-Changes
Ziegler left at 4:20 pm.
Watergate
-Ervin Committee
-Ehrlichman’s negotiations
-Televised hearings
-Impact on possibility of White House staff testimony
-Approval by committee
-Information given to Garment
-Discrepancies
-Ratification by committee compared to gentleman’s agreement
-FBI raw files
-Televised hearing
-Objections by witnesses
-Ehrlichman’s negotiations
-50-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. February-2011)
Conversation No. 893-21 (cont’d)
-Committee process
-Circus atmosphere
-Dean’s testimony
-Dean
-Forthcoming appearance before Grand Jury
-Possible treatment by committee members
-Weicker
-Joseph M. Montoya
-Erhlichman’s forthcoming negotiations with Ervin, April 11, 1973
-Timing of deal
-Televised hearings
-Testimony of White House staff
-Conditions
-Press reaction
-Televised hearings
-Other media
-Press attendance
-Motion pictures
-Radio
-Comparison with courtroom rules
-Televised hearings
-Duration of meeting
Ehrlichman left at 4:32 pm.
Watergate
-Ervin Committee
-Ziegler’s opinions
-Statements by White House staff
-Haldeman
-Possible statement
-Strachan
-Testimony
-Hugh W. Sloan, Jr.’s testimony concerning $350,000
-Haldeman’s connection with Segretti
-Watergate break-in
-Discussions with James Keough and Haldeman prior to testimony
-Haldeman’s instructions about testimony
-Mitchell
-51-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. February-2011)
Conversation No. 893-21 (cont’d)
-Dean
-Discussions about funds
-Haldeman
-Ehrlichman
-Haldeman’s response to Dean’s request
-$350,000
-Haldeman’s instructions concerning disposition
-Origin
-Kalmbach’s role in 1970 election
-Haldeman’s suggestions
[Background noise from aircraft obscures conversation.]
Watergate
-$350,000
-Expenditure
-Concerns about campaign spending violations
-Responsibility
-Haldeman’s forthcoming statement
-Use
-Haldeman’s involvement in postelection use
-Strachan’s testimony
-Sloan’s testimony
-Watergate break-in
-Strachan’s testimony
-Original size of fund
-Maurice H. Stans
-Comparison with Democrats’ funds
-Dean
-Involvement with funds for burglars
-Use for funds
-Contact with burglars
Haldeman’s schedule
Haldeman left at 4:49 pm.
-52-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. February-2011)
Date: April 11, 1973
Time: 3:18 pm - 4:49 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with John D. Ehrlichman, H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman, and Ronald L. Ziegler.
Simplified tax return
-George P. Schultz
-45-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. February-2011)
Conversation No. 893-21 (cont’d)
-Evaluation
President’s schedule
-Evening meetings
Watergate
-Problems of presidency
-Excessive strength
-Lack of candor
-Role of Senate
-Scheduling
-Televised hearings
-Witnesses
-White House staff
-John N. Mitchell, Robert C. Mardian, Frederick LaRue, Jeb Stuart
Magruder
-Haldeman
-John W. Dean, III
-Possible presidential actions
-Popular perceptions
-Value of initiative
-Role of Ervin Committee
-Grand jury
-Dean
-Instructions concerning privilege
-Ehrlichman, Leonard Garment
-Protection of Mitchell
-Magruder
-Sally H. Harmony’s testimony
-G[eorge] Gordon Liddy
-Gordon C. Strachan’s testimony
-Haldeman’s hiring of Donald H. Segretti
-$350,000
-Handling
-Haldeman’s instructions
-LaRue
-Haldeman’s hiring of Donald H. Segretti
-Possible press reports
-Gray’s testimony about Segretti
-46-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. February-2011)
Conversation No. 893-21 (cont’d)
-Dwight L. Chapin, Herbert W. Kalmbach
-Dean
-Effects of possible testimony on Mitchell
-Haldeman’s possible testimony
-Watergate investigation
-Warren Commission
-Special prosecutor
-Ervin Committee
-Exercise of privilege
-Ervin Committee’s functions
-Protection of White House
-Haldeman
-Relationship with Magruder
-Long-term effects of testimony
-Future statements
-Washington Post
-Carl Berstein
-Robert U. (“Bob”) Woodward
-Ervin Committee
-Testimony by White House staff
-Conditions: voluntary vs. court-ordered
-Supreme Court ruling
-Effects of televised hearings
-John D. Ehrlichman’s negotiations with Samuel J. Ervin, Jr.
-Dean’s appearance before Grand Jury
-Ehrlichman letter on Dean
-Testimony by White House staff
-Haldeman
-Dean
-Committee staff’s view of Haldeman or Mitchell’s role
-Haldeman
-Allegations against
-Executive privilege
-John B. Connally’s view
-President’s position
-Candor
-White Hosue staff testimony before Ervin Committee
-Investigation for President
-Ehrlichman’s suggestion of appointing a justice to write report
-47-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. February-2011)
Conversation No. 893-21 (cont’d)
-Ervin Committee Report
-Leaks
-Grand Juries
-Strachan’s testimony
-Harmony’s testimony
-Public impressions
-Press coverage
-Ervin Committee
-White House staff testimony
-Dean
-Executive privilege
-White House cooperation
-Dean
-Possible testimony before Grand Jury
-Grand Jury leaks
-Washington, DC
-Funds
-Ervin Committee
-Executive Branch investigation
-Possible testimony against Dean
-Ehrlichman’s hypothetical testimony example
-Statement by Dean
-Effect
-Ziegler’s example of hypothetical testimony from a woman
-Linda Lovelace
-Possible testimony by Magruder
-Possible statements by Dean
-Attendance at Committee for the Re-election of the President [CRP]
meetings
-Requests from Mitchell for money
-Kalmbach
-Role in raising money
-Popular impression
-Possible lack of testimony
-Mitchell
-New York Daily News story
-New York Grand Jury
-Ervin Committee
-Televised hearings
-48-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. February-2011)
Conversation No. 893-21 (cont’d)
-Successful witnesses
-Howard Hughes
-Francis A. (“Frank”) Sinatra
-Problems
-Dean’s availability
-White House position
-Possible future testimony on Dean
-Scope of possible testimony
-Grand Jury
-Public reaction
-Forthcoming Grand Jury testimony
-Staff’s discussions with Grament
-Dean
-Haldeman
-Charles Colson, Chapin, Strachan
-Availability of witnesses
-Hierarchy
-Executive privilege
-Haldeman
-Executive privilege
-Knowledge
-Comparison with Dean’s situation
-Layers of Executive privilege
-Dean
-Forthcoming testimony
-Knowledge
-Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] raw files
-Contact with Donald H. Segretti
-Written interrogatories
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 3:18 pm.
President’s schedule
-Trip to Camp David
-Departure time
-Transportation
-Marine One helicopter
Bull left at an unknown time before 4:20 pm.
-49-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. February-2011)
Conversation No. 893-21 (cont’d)
Watergate
-Ervin Committee
-Haldeman
-Dean
-Arrangements for forthcoming testimony
-Televised hearings
-Forthcoming White House statements
-Dean report
-Mitchell
-Risks
-Timing
-Future attacks by committee
-Timing
-Wording
-Possible statement by Haldeman
-Response to allegations
-New York Post story’s contents
-Lowell P. Weicker, Jr.
-Involvement with Segretti
-Document by Ehrlichman for negotiations
-Televised hearings
-Changes
Ziegler left at 4:20 pm.
Watergate
-Ervin Committee
-Ehrlichman’s negotiations
-Televised hearings
-Impact on possibility of White House staff testimony
-Approval by committee
-Information given to Garment
-Discrepancies
-Ratification by committee compared to gentleman’s agreement
-FBI raw files
-Televised hearing
-Objections by witnesses
-Ehrlichman’s negotiations
-50-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. February-2011)
Conversation No. 893-21 (cont’d)
-Committee process
-Circus atmosphere
-Dean’s testimony
-Dean
-Forthcoming appearance before Grand Jury
-Possible treatment by committee members
-Weicker
-Joseph M. Montoya
-Erhlichman’s forthcoming negotiations with Ervin, April 11, 1973
-Timing of deal
-Televised hearings
-Testimony of White House staff
-Conditions
-Press reaction
-Televised hearings
-Other media
-Press attendance
-Motion pictures
-Radio
-Comparison with courtroom rules
-Televised hearings
-Duration of meeting
Ehrlichman left at 4:32 pm.
Watergate
-Ervin Committee
-Ziegler’s opinions
-Statements by White House staff
-Haldeman
-Possible statement
-Strachan
-Testimony
-Hugh W. Sloan, Jr.’s testimony concerning $350,000
-Haldeman’s connection with Segretti
-Watergate break-in
-Discussions with James Keough and Haldeman prior to testimony
-Haldeman’s instructions about testimony
-Mitchell
-51-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. February-2011)
Conversation No. 893-21 (cont’d)
-Dean
-Discussions about funds
-Haldeman
-Ehrlichman
-Haldeman’s response to Dean’s request
-$350,000
-Haldeman’s instructions concerning disposition
-Origin
-Kalmbach’s role in 1970 election
-Haldeman’s suggestions
[Background noise from aircraft obscures conversation.]
Watergate
-$350,000
-Expenditure
-Concerns about campaign spending violations
-Responsibility
-Haldeman’s forthcoming statement
-Use
-Haldeman’s involvement in postelection use
-Strachan’s testimony
-Sloan’s testimony
-Watergate break-in
-Strachan’s testimony
-Original size of fund
-Maurice H. Stans
-Comparison with Democrats’ funds
-Dean
-Involvement with funds for burglars
-Use for funds
-Contact with burglars
Haldeman’s schedule
Haldeman left at 4:49 pm.
-52-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. February-2011)