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Conversation: 906-024

Prev:  906-023 Next: 906-025

Start Date: 27-Apr-1973 6:49 PM

End Date: 27-Apr-1973 8:04 PM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Bull, Stephen B.White House operatorSanchez, ManoloZiegler, Ronald L.

Recording Device: Oval Office

906-024a.mp3

906-024b.mp3

NARA Description:

On April 27, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Stephen B. Bull, White House operator, Manolo Sanchez, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 6:49 pm to 8:04 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 906-024 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 906-24

Date: April 27, 1973
Time: 6:49 pm - 8:04 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

      Watergate
           -Seymour M. Hersh story
           -John W. Dean, III
                 -March 21, 1973 conversation with President and Haldeman
                      -Dean’s beliefs
                      -President’s statements concerning funds
                      -Haldeman’s actions
                                -37-

       NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                          Tape Subject Log
                         (rev. October-2012)

                                                Conversation No. 906-24 (cont’d)

      -Conversation with John D. Ehrlichman
            -Ehrlichman’s reaction
-President’s conversation with Henry E. Petersen
      -Paul L. O’Brien’s story
            -William O. Bittman
-Dean
      -Involvement with funds
            -Conversations with President and Haldeman
                  -Frederick C. LaRue’s delivery
      -March 21, 1973 conversation with President and Haldeman
            -Dean report
      -Credibility compared with President, Ehrlichman and Haldeman 

            -Ronald L. Ziegler’s view      

            -Patrick J. Buchanan’s view       

      -Reasons for actions
-Presidency
      -Dean, Ehrlichman, Haldeman
-Ehrlichman and Haldeman
      -Possible leaves of absence      

            -Duration       

            -Timing       

                  -Dean
      -Timing of interviews        

            -US Attorney       

            -Samuel Dash        

            -John J. Wilson’s view       

      -Departures linked to Dean’s departure 

            -Wilson’s view        

      -Possible leaves of absence      

-President’s schedule
      -Camp David
      -President’s forthcoming statement
            -Raymond K. Price, Jr.
            -Buchanan
-Ehrlichman and Haldeman
      -Leaves of absence
-Dean
                                 -38-

       NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                           Tape Subject Log
                          (rev. October-2012)

                                                  Conversation No. 906-24 (cont’d)

     -Departure from White House staff 

           -Form       

           -Notification       

                 -Leonard Garment
-Haldeman and Ehrlichman
     -Departures from White House staff 

           -Dean       

           -Wilson’s view         

     -Public impression
-Charges against Ehrlichman
     -L[ouis] Patrick Gray, III
     -Burning of files
     -Robert Lee Vesco
           -Libya
                 -Embassy
     -Ellsberg break-in
           -Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] questioning, April 27, 1973
-Dean
     -Veracity
     -Attacks on President
     -Hersh story
           -Ziegler’s story        

                 -New York Times

                 -Bittman        

                 -O’Brien        

                        -Dean’s statement about President      

     -Robert U. (“Bob”) Woodward story 

     -President’s conversation with Petersen       

           -Charles A. Shaffer’s statements to prosecutors, April 23, 1973
                 -Bittman, Hunt conversation
     -Plumbers
-Hersh
     -John N. Mitchell and Haldeman
     -Woodward story
     -Compared with Woodward
     -Conversation with Wilson
           -Evidence against Haldeman and Ehrlichman
                                -39-

       NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                          Tape Subject Log
                         (rev. October-2012)

                                                Conversation No. 906-24 (cont’d)

      -Story concerning President      

            -Bittman, O’Brien        

-Dean
      -Lawyers
      -Story to lawyer
            -Conversation with Ziegler concerning Haldeman
-Haldeman and Ehrlichman
      -Leaves of absence
            -Timing and effect
      -Dean’s departure from staff
-Richard A. Moore
      -Relationship with Dean
-Garment
      -Compared with Moore
-President’s forthcoming speech
      -Leaves of absence
            -News leads        

                  -Washington, DC        

                  -Meridian, Mississippi       

-Haldeman and Ehrlichman
      -Timing of release of statements
-Gray
-Haldeman and Ehrlichman
      -Timing of release of statements
-President’s forthcoming speech
      -Request for Dean’s departure
            -Compared to Senator, Nikita S. Khruschev
-Dean
      -Possible indictment
            -Petersen’s view       

      -Negotiations with prosecutors       

      -Possible meeting with President       

            -Departure from White House staff
                  -Haldeman and Ehrlichman        

      -Resignation       

      -Possible meeting with President       

            -Leaves of absence
                                -40-

       NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                          Tape Subject Log
                         (rev. October-2012)

                                                Conversation No. 906-24 (cont’d)

-Haldeman and Ehrlichman
     -Timing of leaves of absence
           -Camp David
                 -Meeting with President      

     -Firing of Gray and Dean 

     -Leaves of absence        

           -Statement
           -President’s response
-Dean
     -Garment’s request
           -Departure from White House staff
     -Leave of absence
-Haldeman and Ehrlichman
     -Timing of departure
           -Dean
-Dean
     -Possible conversation with President
           -Petersen’s advice
     -Garment as intermediary        

           -Replacement          

           -White House counsel        

                 -Ehrlichman’s opinion
-Robert Walters’s conversation with Gerald L. Warren
     -Lawrence M. Higby
           -Information from prosecution
-Higby
     -Involvement
     -Gordon C. Strachan
     -Conduct from Dean
-Dean
     -Possession of documentary evidence        

           -Payments to Committee to Reelect the President [CRP] 

           -$350,000        

-Haldeman and Ehrlichman
     -Departures from White House staff
           -Departure of Dean
     -Possible instructions from President
                                             -41-


                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM 


                                      Tape Subject Log 

                                     (rev. October-2012)

                                                            Conversation No. 906-24 (cont’d)

           -Dean
                 -Garment as representative for President
           -Haldeman and Ehrlichman
                 -Schedules        

           -President’s schedule        

           -Haldeman and Ehrlichman         

                 -Leaves of absence
                       -Timing
           -President’s forthcoming speech
           -President’s refusal to see Dean
           -Request for Garment to speak to Dean
           -Notes to Garment, Dean
                 -Departure from White House staff
           -Haldeman and Ehrlichman
                 -Departures from White House staff
                       -News leads
                 -Separation from Dean
                       -Timing
           -Dean
                 -Possible meeting with President
                 -Garment
                 -Separation from Ehrlichman and Haldeman
           -Haldeman and Ehrlichman         

                 -Timing of statements       

           -President’s schedule        

                 -Speech        

                 -Willy Brandt        

                       -Meeting with President
                 -Diplomatic credentials
                       -German Ambassador [Bundt von Staden]

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 6:49 pm.

     President’s schedule      

           -Diplomatic credentials      

                 -German Ambassador         

                      -Brandt’s arrival ceremonies      

                                                       -42-


                       NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM 


                                               Tape Subject Log 

                                              (rev. October-2012)

                                                                           Conversation No. 906-24 (cont’d)

              -Camp David        

                    -Helicopter       

              -Bull’s telephone call to Rose Mary Woods 



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       Press relations          

             -Ziegler          


Bull left at an unknown time before 8:00 pm.

       Watergate
            -Haldeman and Ehrlichman          

                 -Use of Camp David         

                 -Departures from White House staff 

            -Dean      

                 -Evidence against President      

                 -Control of Dean       

                 -Departure from staff        

            -Haldeman and Ehrlichman          

                 -Request for leaves of absence 

                                                -43-


                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM 


                                        Tape Subject Log 

                                       (rev. October-2012)

                                                               Conversation No. 906-24 (cont’d)

                 -Garment as counsel            

                 -President’s conversation with Petersen       

           -Dean       

                 -Hearsay         

                 -Evidence against President             

                       -Use         

                       -Effect        

                 -Feelings concerning Presidency           

                       -John Wilkes Booth              

                 -Actions         

                 -Use of confidential information          

                       -Ellsberg break-in            

           -President’s schedule          

                 -Camp David            

                       -Work on speech             

                              -Impact         

           -Popular support for President 

                 -Meridian, Mississippi           

                 -News stories          

                 -Gallup poll on Watergate             

                 -Importance of Watergate as issue 

                 -John C. Stennis           

           -President’s schedule          

                 -Price’s visit to Camp David 

                 -Ziegler       

           -Hersh and Woodward stories

The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 6:49 pm and
8:02 pm.

[Conversation No. 906-24A]

[Begin telephone conversation]

[See Conversation No. 45-37]

[End telephone conversation]
                                             -44-


                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM 


                                     Tape Subject Log 

                                    (rev. October-2012)

                                                            Conversation No. 906-24 (cont’d)


Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 6:49 pm.

     President’s schedule
           -Camp David
                 -Dog
                 -Helicopter

Sanchez left at an unknown time before 8:02 pm.

The President talked with Ziegler between 8:02 pm and 8:03 pm.

[Conversation No. 906-24B]

[Begin telephone conversation]

[See Conversation No. 45-38]

[End telephone conversation]

     Ziegler’s location        

           -Price       


     Watergate       

          -Ziegler’s visit to Camp David 

          -President’s upcoming speech        


Haldeman left at 8:04 pm.