Conversation: 888-004
Prev:  888-003 Next: 888-005Start Date: 27-Mar-1973 9:47 AM
End Date: 27-Mar-1973 10:55 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Bull, Stephen B.; Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On March 27, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:47 am to 10:55 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 888-004 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 888-4 Date: March 27, 1973 Time: 9:47 am -10:55 am Location: Oval Office The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman. President's schedule -Trip to Africa -Meeting with Georges J. R. Pompidou -Montenegro -President's meeting with Henry A. Kissinger -Discussions -Visit by Mohammed Reza Pahlavi [Shah of Iran] -Coordination with Japanese visit -Dinner -Time of year -Dress -19- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) -Visits from foreign leaders -Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Shah of Iran, Kakuei Tanaka -Frequency Julie Nixon Eisenhower -Staff help -David R. Gergen -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon -Remarks to Young Republicans -Raymond K. Price, Jr.'s staff -Harold ("Tex") Lazar -Staff assistance -Price -Franklin R. Gannon -Speechwriter -Domestic Council -Ideas ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2 [Privacy] [Duration: 11s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2 ***************************************************************** -Memorandum writing White House staff -Ideas for President -Memorandums, talking papers for President -Assistance for Julie Nixon Eisenhower, Mrs. Nixon and Tricia Nixon Cox Julie Nixon Eisenhower -Appearance before Jewish group -Value -20- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 888-4 (cont’d) -Jewish support for President in 1972 election -Stance on Israel, George S. McGovern -National Council of Jewish Women -Prospectus -Daycare rights -John F. Kennedy Award -Reuben O. Askew -Stand on busing -Problems of attendance -Public appearances -Schedule office recommendations -Jewish groups -Value -Symbolism -Treatment of President -Max M. Fisher -Hollywood Legionnaire -Speech to National Council of Jewish Women -Content of remarks -Praise to group -[Dwight] David Eisenhower, II's comments -John D. Ehrlichman, Charles W. Colson -Appearance before hostile groups -Behavior at press conferences -Courtesy -President, Dwight D. Eisenhower -Value, problems -Youth groups -Princeton, liberal high schools -Contrast with the President's supporters -1968, 1972 campaigns -“Play to the crowd” -Divided populace President's meeting with Kissinger -President's problems a year ago -Camp David -Communist offensive [?] -Newsweek -21- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 888-4 (cont’d) -Achievements in last year -Vietnam settlement -Troop withdrawal -Critics -Lack of appreciation -Press -White House staff morale -Pride -Complaints in Congress about various issues -Robert F. Griffin, Hugh Scott President's achievements -Criticism in press -Economy -Inflation -Cuts in social programs -Watergate -Credibility -Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] -David S. Broder -Column -President's strength -Support by public -Inflation -Kevin P. Phillips's analysis -Liberal Democrats -Overspending -Republicans -Recession, unemployment -Criticism -Press -Vietnam -North Vietnam’s delay with POWs -President’s strength -Press demeanor -Walter L. Cronkite, Jr. President's schedule -President's instructions to Stephen B. Bull -22- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 888-4 (cont’d) -Wednesday and Thursday, Friday -President’s trip to California -Meeting with George P. Shultz -Arrangements -Day -Reason -Speech -Trade bill, economic stabilization -President's decisions -Statement for President -Price freeze -Talking points for President -Comparison with major speech, August 15, 1971 -Food prices President's second term -Broder column -President's strength -Opponents -Criticism -Worry -Underestimation of President Criticism of the President's actions during first term -Vietnam War -Cambodia, Laos -November 3, 1969 speech -May 8, 1972 decision -Times when President in trouble -Pre-August 1971 economic problems -Vietnam War -Cambodia -President's isolation -Knowledge of situation -December 1972 bombing -Themes of criticism -Criticism -Counterattack -Visit to country -23- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 888-4 (cont’d) -Wichita, Kansas -Jobs Corps appearance -Motorcades Watergate -Ronald L. Ziegler's briefing -John W. Dean, III -Report -New Problems -Completion -New problems -G. Gordon Liddy -Fifth Amendment -John J. Sirica -Immunity -Liddy's response -E. Howard Hunt, Jr. -Testimony -William O. Bittman -Delivery of money -Jeb Stuart Magruder -Testimony to grand jury -Harm to Dean -Conflicts in testimony -Talk with Kenneth W. Parkinson and Paul L. O'Brien -Testimony -Watergate planning -Gordon C. Strachan's order -Credibility -Possibility of White House involvement -Watergate break-in -Statement on Strachan's, Haldeman's and President's role -Meeting with John N. Mitchell and Haldeman -Dean's advice -Containment -Testimony of principals -Hunt -Magruder -24- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 888-4 (cont’d) -Implication of White House staff, Mitchell -Confession of perjury -Quest for immunity -Sirica -Implication of higher-ups -Haldeman's involvement in break-in -Magruder's charges -Reasons -Need to talk to him -Haldeman -Meeting with Mitchell and Ehrlichman -Magruder -Meeting with Dean -Statement on James W. McCord, Jr. -Implication of Dean, Strachan, Haldeman and President -Administration's response -Dean's warnings -Public charges -Hunt's charges -Planning the break-in -Involvement -Charles W. Colson -Bittman as source -Meeting -Colson -Dean -Testimony before grand jury -Privilege on conversations with President -Meeting between Dean and Richard A. Moore, March 26 -Plan for handling Watergate -Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI], Department of Justice, and courts -Lack of credibility -Senate hearings -Credibility -White House -Credibility -Response to charges -Problems -25- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 888-4 (cont’d) -Hunt, Magruder, Liddy, Mitchell, Hugh Sloan, Jr. -Lack of credibility -Independent commission similar to the Warren Commission on the Kennedy assassination -Statements -Need for agreement from the three branches of government -Appointments -William P. Roger's suggestions -Earl Warren -Ehrlichman -Samuel J. Ervin, Jr. -Howard H. Baker, Jr. -Former Senator John J. Williams -Warren, Tom C. Clark -Executive branch representative -Past Attorneys General -Tom C. Clark -Herbert Brownell -Ramsey W. Clark -Size, distribution -Powers -Security clearances -Need for dramatic move by President -Hope for resolution -Independent commission -Alternative to grand jury and Senate commission -Televised Senate hearings -Move by President -Need for immediate action -Dean's analysis -Magruder -Hunt -McCord -Dean's suspicions -Rejection of immunity offers -Mitchell's reaction to McCord's new lawyer -Communist involvement in Watergate -Hunt -26- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 888-4 (cont’d) -Bittman -Testimony -Ehrlichman's advice -Suspension of Dean -Leave of absence -Withdrawal of L[ouis] Patrick Gray, III's nomination -Richard G. Kleindienst -Rogers' advice -Suspension of Kleindienst -Mitchell -Haldeman, Dean -Magruder's testimony -Leave of absence -Dean -Leaves of absence -Problems -Colson -Magruder -Strachan -Magruder's testimony -Haldeman and Ehrlichman -Protection -Charges -Executive privilege -Leave of absence -Dean -Request -McCord -Call to Egil "Bud" Krogh, Jr. -Fears -Liddy -Possible testimony -Link to other operations -Plumbers -Plumbers -Problems -Ehrlichman's records -Memos from Colson -Daniel Ellsberg -27- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 888-4 (cont’d) -Colson -Involvement in various operations -International Telephone and Telegraph [ITT] -White House staff -Involvement -Dean -Innocence The President left at an unknown time before 10:55 am. Haldeman remained. Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:47 am. Pierre E. Trudeau -Telephone call to President ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4 [National security] [Duration: 9s] US-CANADA RELATIONS END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4 **************************************************************** Pierre E. Trudeau -Telephone call -Time -Arrangements -Kissinger The President entered at an unknown time after 9:47 am. George P. Shultz -28- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 888-4 (cont’d) -Kissinger -Meeting -President's schedule Bull left at an unknown time before 10:55 am. President's meeting with Japan’s finance minister, Kiichi Aichi -Kissinger’s meeting -Shultz ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5 [National security] [Duration: 1m 29s ] STEPHEN B. BULL ENTERED AT AN UNKNOWN TIME AFTER 9:47 AM PRESIDENT'S MEETING WITH KIICHI AICHI -HENRY A. KISSINGER'S OPINION -ARRANGEMENTS -LENGTH -PLACE -HANDSHAKE -ARRANGEMENTS END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5 ***************************************************************** Bull left at an unknown time before 10:55 am Watergate -Independent commission -29- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 888-4 (cont’d) -President's opinion -Public relations problems -Need for action by President -Julius Caesar's wife analogy Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:47 am Aichi meeting arrangements Bull left at an unknown time before 10:55 am Watergate -White House staff -Colson -President's involvement -Wiretapping -Types of intelligence gathering -President's orders -Colson -Use of President's authority -Use of Haldeman's name -Magruder -Use of Haldeman's name in requests -Name dropping -Meeting with President -Lack of contact except for post-Watergate tour of 1701 Pennsylvania Ave. in September 1972 -Clark MacGregor -Testimony -Hearsay -Damage -Haldeman, Strachan denials -Burglars -Clemency -Likelihood -Cubans, Liddy -Fairness question in clemency -McCord -Next action -30- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 888-4 (cont’d) -Meeting of Mitchell, Haldeman, Magruder -Dean, Moore -Investigation of independent commission idea -Discussion with Ehrlichman -Dean's suggestion -President's TV appearance -Timing -Vietnam settlement -Length -News coverage -Ehrlichman's reaction to idea -Reasons for commission -Groundwork -Recruitment of members -Prestige of members -A recruiter -Dean, William E. Timmons, Ehrlichman -Rogers' role -Rogers -Discussion with President -Discussion with Haldeman Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:47 am. President’s meeting with Kiichi Aichi -Kissinger’s opinion -Arrangement -Length -Place -Handshake -Arrangements -Executive Office Building [EOB] Bull left at an unknown time before 10:55 am. Watergate -Independent commission -President’s opinion -Public relations problems -31- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 888-4 (cont’d) -Need for action by President -Julius Caesar’s wife analogy -Funding for the commission Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:47 am. Aichi meeting arrangements Bull left at an unknown time before 10:55 am. Watergate -Independent commission -Financing -Staff -Financing -Source -Dean's report -Haldeman's meeting with Mitchell -President's meeting with Mitchell -Haldeman's meeting with Magruder -Magruder -Attorneys -Parkinson, O'Brien -Reaction to testimony -Charges -Dean's opinion -Need to protect the President -Meeting with Ehrlichman -Attempt to limit testimony -Charges -Truth -Strachan -Statement regarding Haldeman -Pressure for intelligence -Pressure on Strachan -Haldeman -McGovern campaign -Tape recordings -Ehrlichman -32- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 888-4 (cont’d) -Dealings with Hunt -Memos from Colson -Knowledge of break-in -Denial -Krogh -Knowledge -Investigation of leaks -National security -President's T.V. appearance -Importance Wounded Knee occupation -Shooting of US marshall -American Indians -Crisis -Kissinger’s reaction -Necessity for action -Precedent setting -Future trouble -Blacks -Underground groups -Ehrlichman [?] -Use of tear gas -Logistics problem -Kissinger -Use of troops -Size of force -Shultz's recommendation -Diversionary measures -Vietnam War -Son Tay prison raid -Hanoi ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6 [National security] [Duration: 12s] -33- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 888-4 (cont’d) WEAPONS END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6 ***************************************************************** -Success of operation -Reluctance of military Watergate -Evidence -Need to control -McCord -Independent commission -Dean’s opinion -Other investigation -Kleindienst -Meeting with Ehrlichman -Opinion The President and Haldeman left at 10:55 am.