Conversation: 424-030
Prev:  424-029 Next: 424-031Start Date: 29-Mar-1973 12:54 PM
End Date: 29-Mar-1973 1:34 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Ehrlichman, John D.; Recording Device: Old Executive Office Building
NARA Description:
On March 29, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and John D. Ehrlichman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 12:54 pm to 1:34 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 424-030 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 424-30 Date: March 29, 1973 Time: Unknown between 12:54 pm and 1:34 pm Location: Executive Office Building The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman. President's speech -Preparation -President’s hard work -John D. Ehrlichman [?] -28- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Aug.-2010) Conversation No. 424-30 (cont’d) -Past speeches by President -President’s schedule -Amount of time available -Compared with press conferences -Public reaction -Price controls -Term "freeze" compared with "ceiling" -George P. Shultz Watergate -New developments -Ervin Committee -Howard H. Baker, Jr. -Speech to Press Club -Charges against John W. Dean, III, Jeb Stuart Magruder -Call to Spiro T. Agnew -Opposition to President's stand on executive privilege -Public relations problem -James McCord Jr.'s charges -Hearsay -E. Howard Hunt, Jr. and G. Gordon Liddy -Ervin Committee -Testimony of Hunt and Liddy -John N. Mitchell and Magruder -Problem of executive privilege -Public hearings -Problem of separation of powers -Advantages of grand jury -Dean appearance -Waiver of privileges -A public statement -Grand jury hearings -Waiver of privileges re criminal conduct -Waiver of executive privilege -Charles W. Colson -Watergate matters compared with White House business -Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. -Press conference -Attacks on Committee's leaks -Source -29- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Aug.-2010) Conversation No. 424-30 (cont’d) -Judiciary committee employee -Discovery -Secret Service tail -Employee -Political views -Ervin Committee -Agnew -Baker -Possible White House action -Dean testimony -Grand jury appearances -Ronald L. Ziegler’s announcement -Dean’s appearance -McCord’s testimony -Validity -Bugging -McCord's involvement in other incident -Charges -Watergate reports -Delivery to Gordon C. Strachan -Strachan's knowledge of contents -Grand jury testimony -Dean -Mitchell's request -Arthur Becker’s office meeting -William P. Rogers -Advice -Mitchell meeting with Liddy -Dean's recollection of Mitchell's reaction -Purpose -Liddy's presentation -Rejection -Second meeting -Purpose -Dean's arrival -Liddy's presentation -Rejection -Dean's recounting to Haldeman -Haldeman's knowledge -Intelligence gathering -30- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Aug.-2010) Conversation No. 424-30 (cont’d) -Bugging operation -President's contacts with Dean and Magruder -Pre- and post-election period -Grand jury -Dean testimony -Charges -Waiver of executive privilege -Guidelines -Involvement in break-in -Mitchell -Magruder -Colson -Ehrlichman -Richard A. Moore -Ehrlichman -Abilities as lawyer -Magruder -Charges against others -Severity -Accusations against Mitchell -Mitchell -Possible charges -Break-in -Discussion of Watergate -Charges -Validity -Grand jury -Dean -Publicity for testimony -Dean -Meeting with Ehrlichman and Haldeman -Testimony -Basis for refusal -Mitchell -Meeting with Haldeman and Ehrlichman -Colson -Haldeman’s call -Rogers -Ehrlichman meeting with Haldeman -31- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Aug.-2010) Conversation No. 424-30 (cont’d) The President talked with Ehrlichman at an unknown time between 12:54 pm and 1:34 pm. [Conversation No. 424-30-A] President's schedule -George P. Shultz's draft Haldeman meeting with Ehrlichman -Location [End of telephone conversation] Colson -Debate in Clark Mollenhoff [?] -Knowledge of Liddy and Hunt's activities, Watergate Watergate -Magruder -Attacks on Colson -Substance of charges -Major questions -Motive, knowledge of break-in President's schedule -A break Watergate -Ziegler's announcement -George H. W. Bush's call -Meeting with President -Urgency -Political advice -Impact of Watergate -Meeting with Haldeman -Bryce N. Harlow -Gerald R. Ford -Explanation of Watergate -Damage to President -Attacks on President -White House staff -32- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Aug.-2010) Conversation No. 424-30 (cont’d) -Accusations -President's meeting with Bush -Haldeman's return call -President's awareness of crisis -President's strategy -Bush's suggestions -Bush's concerns Haldeman left at 1:34 pm.