Conversation: 434-009
Prev: 434-008 Next: 434-010Start Date: 9-May-1973 6:35 PM
End Date: 9-May-1973 8:26 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.; Sanchez, Manolo; White House operator; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Buzhardt, J. Fred, Jr.;Recording Device: Old Executive Office Building
NARA Description:
On May 9, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Manolo Sanchez, White House operator, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 6:35 pm to 8:26 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 434-009 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 434-9
Date: May 9, 1973
Time: 6:35 pm - 8:26 pm
Location: Old Executive Office Building
The President met with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
Watergate
-J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr.
-Knowledge
-Daniel Ellsberg trial
-William M. Byrne, Jr.
-Request for documents
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Notes
-Removal from office
-Destruction by burning [?]
-Buzhardt’s concerns
-Senate committee
-Questions
-Executive privilege
-6-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. September-2012)
Conversation No. 434-9 (cont’d)
-Location of notes
-Partial release of documents
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Information turned over to grand jury
-Content
-Charles W. Colson
-Copies of Ehrlichman’s notes
-Buzhardt
-Buzhardt’s opinion
-Colson, Jeb Stuart Magruder and John N. Mitchell
-Haldeman
-Notes
-Partial release
-Ramifications
-Ehrlichman
-Report on investigation
-Conversation with John W. Dean, III
-Money for defendants
-Outcome
-Buzhardt
-John J. Wilson
-Conversation with J. Bruce Whelihan
-Notes
-President’s papers
-Ownership issue
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-President’s role
-Wilson
-Buzhardt’s assessment
-H. Chapman (“Chappie”) Rose
-Haldeman’s notes
-Content
-Buzhardt’s assessment
-Partial release
-Haldeman’s possible grand jury testimony
-Use of notes
-White House strategy
-7-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. September-2012)
Conversation No. 434-9 (cont’d)
-Buzhardt’s assessment of notes
-Wilson’s strategy
-Haldeman’s ownership of notes
-White House strategy
-Pre-emptive action
-Congress
-Possibility of impeachment
-President’s conversation with John W. Dean, III, March 21, 1973
-Money for defendants
-Ehrlichman
-Report
-Haldeman’s assessment
-Response to charges
-Need to protect Presidency
-Release of documents
-Mitchell [?]
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Haig’s role
-Buzhardt
-Relationship with John C. Stennis
-Haig’s recommendation
-Congressional hearings
-Possibility of delay
-Stennis’s role
-Committee membership
-National security concern
-Ehrlichman and Haldeman
-Documents
-President’s knowledge
-March 21, 1973 conversation with Dean
-Credibility of Haldeman, Dean
-Content
-Money for defendants
-William O. Bittman’s conversation with Paul L.
O’Brien
-E. Howard Hunt, Jr.
-Threats
-8-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. September-2012)
Conversation No. 434-9 (cont’d)
-Amount of money needed
-Conduit
-Cuban connection
-Las Vegas
-Money laundering
-President’s response
-Clemency
-Hunt
-Haldeman, Herbert W. Kalmbach,
Ehrlichman’s roles
-Ehrlichman’s notes
-Mitchell, Magruder, and Dean
-Haldeman’s notes
-Possible release to court
-Assessment
-Selective release
-Pre-emptive release
-Watergate compared to national security
-Use of executive privilege
-Possession
-Haldeman
-Court response
-President’s counsel
-Haldeman, Ehrlichman, Dean
-Lawyers
-Objectivity
-Buzhardt
-Compared to Leonard Garment
-Damage assessment
-Partial release of documents
-Ehrlichman’s report
Manolo Sanchez entered at 6:55 pm.
President’s telephone call
-Time of day
-9-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. September-2012)
Conversation No. 434-9 (cont’d)
Sanchez left at 6:55 pm.
Watergate
-Haldeman’s grand jury testimony [?]
-Haldeman’s notes
-Contents
-Need for White House Counsel to examine notes
-Possible release to Ervin Committee
-Pre-emptive partial release by White House
-Ehrlichman’s opinion [?]
-Garment
-President’s knowledge
-Haldeman’s notes
-Possible subpoena
-Buzhardt’s possible screening
-Haig’s support
-Haig’s possible screening
-Buzhardt’s objection
-Garment’s possible screening
-Rose’s recommendation
-Request for Haldeman’s documents
-Screening of Haldeman’s notes
-Haldeman’s house
-Buzhardt’s conversation with Wilson
-Location of Haldeman’s notes
-Use of executive privilege
-Haldeman’s appearance before grand jury
Haig talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 6:55 pm and 7:55 pm.
[Conversation No. 434-9A]
[Begin telephone conversation]
[See Conversation No. 45-177]
[End telephone conversation]
-10-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. September-2012)
Conversation No. 434-9 (cont’d)
Watergate
-Haldeman’s notes
-Retrieval
-Executive privilege
Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked with H. R. Haldeman at an unknown time between 6:55 pm and
7:55 pm.
[Conversation No. 434-9B]
[Begin telephone conversation]
[See Conversation No. 45-178]
[End telephone conversation]
Watergate
-Haig’s previous conversation with Haldeman
-Haldeman’s notes
-Haldeman’s possession
-Extracts
-Return
-Attorneys’ knowledge
-Conversation with Buzhardt, Garment, and Rose
Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 6:55
pm and 7:55 pm.
[Conversation No. 434-9C]
[Begin telephone conversation]
[See Conversation No. 45-179A]
Haig conferred with the President at an unknown time between 6:55 pm and 7:55 pm.
-11-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. September-2012)
Conversation No. 434-9 (cont’d)
[Begin conferral]
Problem
[End conferral]
[End telephone conversation]
Watergate
-Buzhardt
-President’s choice as counsel
-Haig’s conversation with Haldeman
-Garment
Haig’s previous conversation with Haldeman
Haig talked with J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. at an unknown time between 6:55 pm and 7:55 pm.
[Conversation No. 434-9D]
[Begin telephone conversation]
[See Conversation No. 45-179B]
[End telephone conversation]
Watergate
-Haldeman’s notes
-Wilson
-Meeting with Buzhardt, Rose, and Garment
-Reading of notes
-Executive privilege
-Haldeman’s comments
-Garment
-Possible contents
-President’s conversations with Haldeman
-Buzhardt
-12-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. September-2012)
Conversation No. 434-9 (cont’d)
-Haig’s support
-Knowledge of issues, temperament
-Experience with Congress
-Executive privilege
-Ehrlichman’s report
-Garment and Rose
-Handling of Watergate
-Buzhardt’s knowledge
-Contents of Haldeman’s notes
-President’s conversation with Dean, March 21, 1973
-Haig’s concern
-Haldeman’s and Ehrlichman’s involvement
-“Devil’s advocate”
-Acquisition of facts
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Possibility of Buzhardt’s review of Haldeman’s notes
-Meeting with Wilson
-Problem with Garment
-Anti-Semitism
-Haldeman
-Possible meeting between President and Haldeman
-Ehrlichman’s appearance before grand jury
-Information
-Ervin Committee hearings
-Commencement
-Dean’s appearance
-Immunity
-Dean’s documents
-Judge John J. Sirica
-Motion to release
-Timing
-Contents
-Garment’s opinion
-President’s actions after March 21, 1973
-Request for report
-Ehrlichman investigation
-President’s desire for full disclosure
-13-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. September-2012)
Conversation No. 434-9 (cont’d)
-Magruder, Mitchell, and Dean involvement
-Frederick C. LaRue’s involvement
-Money to defendants
-Haldeman and Ehrlichman’s involvement
-Haig’s opinion
-Ehrlichman
-Haldeman
-$350,000
-Haldeman’s notes
-Possible effect on Haldeman
-Contents
-March 21, 1973 conversation between President, Haldeman, and
Dean
-Intent of Haldeman’s attorneys
-Rose
-President’s possible resignation
-Haig’s forthcoming call to Haldeman
-Request for information
Haig talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 6:55 pm and 7:55 pm.
[Conversation No. 434-9E]
[Begin telephone conversation]
[See Conversation No. 45-180]
[End telephone conversation]
Watergate
-Haldeman’s notes
-Meeting with President
-Executive Office Building [EOB]
Haig talked with H. R. Haldeman at an unknown time between 6:55 pm and 7:55 pm.
[Conversation No. 434-9F]
-14-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. September-2012)
Conversation No. 434-9 (cont’d)
[Begin telephone conversation]
[See Conversation No. 45-181]
Haig conferred with the President during the conversation.
[Begin conferral]
Watergate
-President’s conversation with Dean and Haldeman, March 21, 1973
[End conferral]
[End telephone conversation]
Watergate
-Wilson
Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 6:55 pm.
Refreshment
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 7:55 pm.
Watergate
-Meeting between Haldeman’s lawyers, Buzhardt, Garment, and Rose, May 9,
1973
-Executive privilege
-Garment
-Content of Haldeman’s notes
-Haldeman’s lawyers’ knowledge
-Dean’s telephone conversation with Haldeman, March 26, 1973
-President’s meeting with Dean and Haldeman, March 21, 1973
-Dean’s interpretation
-Money for defendants
-Cubans
-15-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. September-2012)
Conversation No. 434-9 (cont’d)
-Las Vegas
-Clemency
-Hunt
-Amnesty
-Haldeman’s notes
-Wilson’s strategy
-March 26, 1973 conversation with Dean
-White House counsel
-Division of responsibilities
-Garment
-Buzhardt
-Ervin Committee hearings
-Attempt to delay
-Stennis
-Buzhardt
-Conversation with Samuel J. Ervin, Jr.
-Buzhardt and Thomas C. Korologos
-Ervin Committee
-Special prosecutor
-Television [TV]
-Hearings
-White House response
-Haldeman’s notes
-Location
-Executive privilege
-Possible meeting between Haldeman, Wilson, and Buzhardt
-Haldeman
-Meeting with Dean and the President, March 21, 1973
-President’s conversation with Richard A. Moore
-Dean’s knowledge of Watergate
-President’s telephone call to Dean, March 20, 1973
-Moore’s conversation with Dean
-Donald H. Segretti
-Haldeman
-President’s meeting with Dean, March 21, 1973
-Bittman threats
-Response
-16-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. September-2012)
Conversation No. 434-9 (cont’d)
-Necessity for Haldeman to convey story
-Compared to paper evidence
-Buzhardt
-Possible meeting between President and Haldeman
-Buzhardt, Garment, Rose
-“Feeling the cancer”
-President’s schedule
-Cabinet meeting
-Meeting with Buzhardt
-Meetings with Haldeman, Ehrlichman
-Buzhardt
-Possible role
-Documents
-Release
-Effect on Haldeman, Ehrlichman
-Ellsberg break-in
-Ehrlichman’s involvement
-Plumbers
-Ehrlichman’s involvement
-Documents in Hunt’s safe
-L[ouis] Patrick Gray, III
-Dean’s story
-Gray’s story
-Role
-Ehrlichman and Haldeman
-Mitchell’s request
-Dean
-Telephone call to Kalmbach
-Ehrlichman’s report
-Grand jury
-Kalmbach’s role
-President’s conversation with Ehrlichman, April 1973
-Dean report
-Ehrlichman investigation
-Submitted report, April 15, 1973
-White House’s assistance in breaking case
-Magruder
-17-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. September-2012)
Conversation No. 434-9 (cont’d)
-Magruder and Mitchell
-Ehrlichman’s report
-Grand jury
-Garment’s knowledge
-President’s actions
-Haig’s forthcoming conversation with Buzhardt
-Ervin Committee hearings
-Strategy
-Haldeman
-Wilson
-Possible meetings between President, Haldeman, and Ehrlichman
-Resignations of Haldeman and Ehrlichman
-Reactions
-Richardson
-Confirmation hearings
-Ehrlichman’s involvement
-Haldeman’s notes
-Buzhardt
-Misunderstanding
-Wilson’s conversation with Garment
-Location
-Ehrlichman’s appearance before grand jury
-Haldeman
-Buzhardt
-Meeting with President and Haig
Haig talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 6:55 pm and 7:55 pm.
[Conversation No. 434-9G]
[Begin telephone conversation]
[See Conversation No. 45-182]
[End telephone conversation]
Watergate
-18-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. September-2012)
Conversation No. 434-9 (cont’d)
-Buzhardt
-Frustration
Haig talked with J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. at an unknown time between 6:55 pm and 7:55 pm.
[Conversation No. 434-9H]
[Begin telephone conversation]
[See Conversation No. 45-183]
[End telephone conversation]
Watergate
-Haldeman’s notes
-Buzhardt’s review
-Haig
-Interpretation
-Meeting between Buzhardt and Haldeman
-Haldeman’s conversation with Dean, March 26, 1973
-Dean’s report
Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 6:55 pm.
Announcement of Buzhardt’s arrival
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 7:55 pm.
Watergate
-Wilson’s meeting with Garment, Rose, and Buzhardt
-Executive privilege
Buzhardt entered at 7:55 pm.
President’s schedule
-Republican fundraising dinner
-Haig’s attendance [?]
-19-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. September-2012)
Conversation No. 434-9 (cont’d)
Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 7:55 pm.
Refreshments
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 8:26 pm.
Watergate
-President’s knowledge and role
-Mitchell
-Haldeman and Ehrlichman
-Possible guilt
-Possible indictments
-Mitchell’s indictment
-Ehrlichman’s report
-Grand jury
-Ervin Committee
-Effect on Ehrlichman, Haldeman, Dean, Mitchell, Magruder
-Magruder and Dean
-Mitchell
-Funds for defendants
-Ehrlichman, Haldeman, and Kalmbach
-President’s campaign role
-Motives
-Mitchell, Haldeman, Ehrlichman
-Evidence
-Hush money
-Hearsay
-White House staff
-Moore
-Public relations [PR]
-President’s conversation with Henry E. Peterson
-Garment
-President’s counsel
-Haig
-Buzhardt’s forthcoming meeting with Haldeman
-Haldeman’s papers
-20-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. September-2012)
Conversation No. 434-9 (cont’d)
-Haldeman’s conversation with Dean, March 26, 1973
-Wilson
-Meeting with White House lawyers
-Executive privilege
-Relationship with Garment
-Ronald L. Ziegler’s view
-Buzhardt’s role on White House staff
-Compared to Garment
-Ervin Committee
-President’s papers
-Haldeman, Haig, and Kissinger
-Haldeman’s papers
-Grand jury schedule
-Haldeman and Ehrlichman
-Haldeman’s papers
-Executive privilege
-Ehrlichman’s and Dean’s papers
-Haldeman’s notes
-Executive privilege
-Buzhardt
-President’s papers
-Haldeman’s papers
-Ehrlichman
-Leaks
-India-Pakistan
-Press reaction
-Buzhardt’s legal experience
-Possession
-Papers compared to oral conversations
-Ehrlichman’s conversations with President
-Grand jury testimony
-Haldeman’s conversations with President
-Ervin Committee
-Wilson’s viewpoint
-Buzhardt’s conversation with Stennis, May 3, 1973
-Buzhardt’s possible role on White House staff
-Stennis’s willingness to assist the President
-21-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. September-2012)
Conversation No. 434-9 (cont’d)
-Stennis’s position in Senate
-Stennis compared to Ervin
-Ervin Committee hearings
-President’s efforts in investigating
-Mitchell, Ehrlichman, Haldeman, and Stennis
-Compared to Alger Hiss case
-Grand jury activities
-Compared to Lavelle case
-Ervin Committee hearings
-Effects on possible defendants
-Ervin
-Republicans
-Howard H. Baker, Jr.
-Scope
-Segretti
-Members’ desire for publicity
-Possible pressure from peers
-Stennis and Barry M. Goldwater
-Lawrence F. O’Brien
-Korologos
-Bryce N. Harlow
-Buzhardt’s priorities for action
-Haldeman’s possible meetings with Haig, President
-Buzhardt’s role
-Richardson’s concerns regarding Buzhardt
-Haig
President’s schedule
-Republican National Committee [RNC] fundraising dinner, May 9, 1973
Watergate
-President’s conversation with John B. Connally
-Resignations
-Ehrlichman and Haldeman
-President
-Possible impeachment
-Obstruction of justice
-22-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. September-2012)
Conversation No. 434-9 (cont’d)
-Bella S. Abzug and Paul N. McCloskey, Jr.
-December 1972 bombing
-Rules
-Possible White House response
-Possible effect on nation
-Compared to 1964 campaign bugging
-J. Strom Thurmond’s campaign [?]
-Buzhardt
-Buzhardt’s classmates
Haig and Buzhardt left at 8:26 pm.