Conversation: 424-010
Prev:  424-009 Next: 424-011Start Date: 27-Mar-1973 6:05 PM
End Date: 27-Mar-1973 7:10 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); [Unknown person(s)]; Recording Device: Old Executive Office Building
NARA Description:
On March 27, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 6:05 pm to 7:10 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 424-010 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 424-10 Date: March 27, 1973 Time: 6:05 pm – 7:10 pm Location: Executive Office Building The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman. -6- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Aug.-2010) Conversation No. 424-10 (cont’d) Watergate -Haldeman's conversation with Charles W. Colson? -Obstruction of justice and conspiracy changes -Independent panel -Problems -Warren Commission -Special prosecutor -Problem -No limit on authority -Grand Jury -Danger of losing control -Problem -Culpability of White House staff -E. Howard Hunt, Jr. -Advisor for President -Trial and criminal law experience -Overreaction -Richard G. Kleindienst’s meeting with John J. Sirica -Signal to Sirica -Trial lawyer's advice -Criminal lawyer -Advice -William P. Rogers -Sirica -President's conversation with Ronald L. Ziegler -James W. McCord, Jr. -Colson -Hunt's statement -Ziegler's understanding -Cover-up -Charges -Hearsay -Grand Jury -John W. Dean, III’s testimony - McCord's allegations -Cooperation with judiciary -Limitations -Haldeman -Answers to Grand Jury -7- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Aug.-2010) Conversation No. 424-10 (cont’d) -Executive privilege -Guidelines -Colson -Effect of Watergate -Dean -Effect of Watergate -Involvement -Firing -Disbarment -Colson's involvement -Jeb Stuart Magruder -Meeting with Dean -Perjury -Conspiracy charges against Dean -Funds for lawyers' fees -Colson -Involvement in Watergate -Advice -Retention of criminal lawyer for White House -Legal advisor -Colson -Damage to presidency -Danger of extent of damage -John D. Ehrlichman, Dean -Watergate -Extent of damage to presidency -Conversation with Hunt -Clemency question -Previous discussion -Time -Hunt -Dorothy Hunt -Family -President's handling of issue -Influence of election -Ehrlichman -Involvement with other activities -President's handling -Past mistakes -Independent panel -8- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Aug.-2010) Conversation No. 424-10 (cont’d) -Rogers's advice -John N. Mitchell -Involvement with Watergate -Resolution of issue -Administrative strategy -Colson's advice -Potential problems -Hunt, Sirica -Dean -Testimony -Colson -Assessment of damage of cover-up -Options for President -Independent panel -Special counsel -Benefits -Problems -Full disclosure -Problems -Court cases -Colson -Statement for Ziegler -Executive privilege -Possible waiver -White House staff -Cooperation with grand jury, Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] -Statement for Ziegler -Colson's advice -Criminal charges -Cooperation with Grand Jury -Extent -Statement for Ziegler -Drafting -Executive privilege -Application with grand jury, Congress -Criminal conduct -Colson's advice on statement for Ziegler -Cooperation with grand jury -Separation of powers -Criminal charges -9- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Aug.-2010) Conversation No. 424-10 (cont’d) -Form of investigation -Senate hearing -Sirica -Dealings with Kleindienst -Appointment to bench -Rogers's action as Attorney General during Dwight D. Eisenhower Administration -Cover-up charges -Involvement of White House staff -Haldeman, Dean, Ehrlichman -Gordon C. Strachan -Mitchell -Robert C. Mardian, Frederick C. LaRue -Kenneth W. Parkinson, Paul L. O'Brien -Dean -Haldeman -Extent -Colson -Ehrlichman -Colson -Clemency and funds for defendants -Extent -Perjury charges -Magruder -Strachan -Cover-up charges -Comparison to original crime -Full disclosure -Advantages compared to problems -Ehrlichman -Colson -Issue -Danger of perspective -Election campaign -Effect on Watergate issue handling -Colson -Promise of clemency -Clemency -Sirica's use of sentencing -Independent panel -10- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Aug.-2010) Conversation No. 424-10 (cont’d) -President's opposition -Dangers -Colson's opposition to panel -Sherman Adams case -Eisenhower administration -White House staff -Firing of everyone -Possible prison terms -Executive privilege -Colson -Dean -Level of involvement -Danger of firing -Further disclosures -Hearsay nature of evidence -Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy -Surveillance -Legitimacy -Personal life -Disclosures -L. Patrick Gray, III Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 6:05 pm and 7:10 pm. [Conversation No. 424-10-A] Gray -Information The President talked with the unknown person at an unknown time between 6:05 and 7:10 p.m. Watergate [End of telephone conversation] Watergate -Donald H. Segretti -Investigation by Kennedy -Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities -Lowell P. Weicker Jr.'s subpoena -11- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Aug.-2010) Conversation No. 424-10 (cont’d) -Activities -Direction -Haldeman's knowledge -Authorization of money -Purpose -Public defense of Haldeman's role -Ervin Committee -Weicker - Confrontation with Haldeman -Money for campaign -Cash contribution -Investigation -Executive privilege -Limits of investigation -White House strategy -Press -Interest -Ability to sustain -Washington Post -Editorials -President's interest in Watergate -Need for diversion -Special counsel -Problems -Colson -1972 campaign -Discussions with President -President's use of time ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 [National security] [Duration: 14s ] LAOS, CANADA END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 -12- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Aug.-2010) Conversation No. 424-10 (cont’d) ***************************************************************** President's meeting with George P. Shultz Watergate -Dealing with case -Special counsel -Benefits -Nature of advice -Value -Legal ramifications of actions -Recruitment -Reputation -Henry E. Peterson -Criminal lawyer as advisor to White House -Consultation with President -Dealings with White House staff -Weicker's campaign finances -Ervin Committee -A list -Campaign financing -Murray M. Chotiner -Colson's advice -Public disclosures -Internal Revenue Service [IRS] -Special counsel -Petersen and Kleindienst -Statement by Ziegler -McCord -Ervin Committee -Areas of investigation -Campaign funds -Haldeman's defense -Dean -Defense against charges -Money to Committee to Re-elect the President [CRP] -Weicker -13- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Aug.-2010) Conversation No. 424-10 (cont’d) Haldeman left at 7:10 pm.