Conversation: 912-002
Prev:  912-001 Next: 912-003Start Date: 8-May-1973 8:21 AM
End Date: 8-May-1973 9:23 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.; [Unknown person(s)]; Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On May 8, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:21 am to 9:23 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 912-002 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 912-2 Date: May 8, 1973 Time: 8:21 am - 9:23 am Location: Oval Office The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler. Watergate -News summary -Harris poll -President’s possible resignation -President’s possible resignation -Bella S. Abzug -Previous conversations in Florida -Ziegler’s forthcoming press briefing -President’s knowledge of Watergate activities -Exposure to story in newspapers, reports -James W. McCord, Jr. -Break-in and cover-up -Donald H. Segretti -2- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2012) Conversation No. 912-2 (cont’d) -Dwight L. Chapin and H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman -Funds for defendants -Dinner for Daniel Ellsberg -President’s involvement in cover-up -Role of intent -President’s conversation with John W. Dean, III, March 21 -E. Howard Hunt, Jr., William O. Bittman and $120,000 -Egil (“Bud”) Krogh, Jr. -Pentagon Papers -President’s instructions regarding leaks -President’s knowledge of Ellsberg break-in -Krogh -Timing -John D. Ehrlichman -Reaction to knowledge of break-in -President’s investigation -Photograph -Justice Department -Krogh -President’s meeting with Richard G. Kleindienst and Henry E. Petersen, April 15 -Need for disclosure to judge -President’s reaction -Press allegations -President’s prevention -President’s telephone call with Petersen -National security -Interrogation of Hunt -President’s concerns over press allegations -Dean -Delay in disclosing evidence -W. Matthew Byrne -National security -President’s meeting with Kleindienst and Petersen -Disclosure of evidence -Justice Department investigation -Confirmation from Kleindienst -3- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2012) Conversation No. 912-2 (cont’d) -Delays -President’s telephone conversation with Petersen, April 16 -Hunt -Ellsberg -National security -Fruits of plumbers’ investigation -Ellsberg prosecutors -President’s knowledge of Hunt’s involvement Henry A. Kissinger’s cable -Announcement of US - Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] summit -Alexander M. Haig, Jr. Watergate -Dominance in press -Harris poll -President’s possible resignation -Special Prosecutor -Implications -Public support of bold actions -Ziegler’s conversation with Haig on plane -William P. Rogers White House staffing -Changes -Ziegler’s views -Internal shuffling -Conversation with Haig -Rogers -Resignation -Leonard Garment and Joseph R. Califano -Kissinger and State Department -Rogers -John B. Connally -Consultant -Domestic Council -Pentagon -4- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2012) Conversation No. 912-2 (cont’d) -Dr. James R. Schlesinger -William J. Casey -Central Intelligence Agency [CIA] -Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] Director -Public relations [PR] aspects -James T. Lynn -Richard B. Ogilvie -President’s conversations with Haig, Ziegler -Connally -Treasury Department -State Department -Kissinger -Kissinger -Foreign policy role Impact on Watergate Press relations -News stories -Lebanon -Release of Terrance G. Leonhardy in Mexico -River convoy to Phnom Penh -North Vietnam -Invitation to US families to visit burial sites in North Vietnam Watergate -Elliot L. Richardson -Ziegler’s forthcoming press briefing -President’s knowledge and participation -Allegations of cover-up -John N. Mitchell -Funds for defendants -President’s investigation Press relations -News items -Wounded Knee -Watergate -5- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2012) Conversation No. 912-2 (cont’d) -Ziegler’s forthcoming press briefing -Disaster Preparedness and Assistance Act -Transmission to Congress Watergate -Hunt’s possible testimony -Charles W. Colson -Clemency -Dean -Possible immunity by prosecutors -Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] report -Ziegler’s opinion -Dean’s reaction -President’s statement -Prison -Fear -Treatment -Jeb Stuart Magruder -Conviction -Bargain -Conversations with President -Tone -Bittman’s request for $120,000 -President’s response -Haldeman’s recordings -President’s response -Possible statement by Dean An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 8:21 am and left at an unknown time before 9:23 am. Watergate -Ellsberg break-in -President’s knowledge -Ehrlichman -Ziegler’s knowledge -Ziegler’s forthcoming conversation with Haldeman -6- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2012) Conversation No. 912-2 (cont’d) -President’s knowledge -Press coverage -Revelations regarding Hunt and G[eorge] Gordon Liddy -Timing -Ziegler’s conversation with Ehrlichman -Ehrlichman’s possible departure -National security -Bugging compared to burglary -Hunt and Liddy -Ehrlichman’s files -Hunt and Liddy -National security -President’s discussion with Henry E. Petersen -President’s need for counsel -Ziegler’s discussions with Haig -Garment -Harris Poll -National mood -Rogers -Possible departure from State Department -PR impact -Possible role on White House staff -Haig -Kissinger -Haldeman -Image in nation -Kissinger -Connally -Dean -Papers -Administration’s attempts to obtain -Justice Department -Haldeman’s motion [?] -Garment -Possible immunity -Possible statements by lawyers -Reasons for departure -7- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2012) Conversation No. 912-2 (cont’d) -Seeking immunity -Haldeman and Ehrlichman -Possible White House response to attacks -Patrick J. Buchanan and Garment -Money for Bittman -President’s investigation -Ziegler’s conversation with Garment -Fred D. Thompson’s desire for a private meeting with Ziegler -Ziegler’s conversations with Dean -Guidance for briefings -Ziegler’s and Richard A. Moore’s forthcoming meeting with Thompson -Ziegler’s conversations with Dean -Thompson’s desire for private meeting with Ziegler and Gerald L. Warren -Dean’s guidance for press briefings -Dean -Possible charges against President -Assertions of executive privilege -Blackmail -Thomas A. Pappas -Ziegler’s possible response -Conversations with President regarding funds -Possible response by President -Ziegler’s conversations with Warren and L. Diane Sawyer -Newsweek article -Warren’s allegations regarding Dean’s veracity -Jack N. Anderson comments -Conversation with President, February 27 -Executive privilege -Dean and L[ouis] Patrick Gray, III -FBI files -Dean’s possible investigation -Possible strategy -Newsweek article -Possible charges against President -Bittman -John N. Mitchell -Possible obstruction of justice -8- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2012) Conversation No. 912-2 (cont’d) -Newsweek article -Conversation with Ziegler -Feelings for President -President’s statement on immunity -Trials -Difficulties for prosecution -Mitchell -Magruder -Dean -Dean -Possible charges against President -Bittman -Lying by administration -Clemency -Veracity -Ehrlichman -Meeting with President, September 15, 1972 -Possible attack on credibility -President’s request for resignation, April 15 -Possible testimony -New York Times story -Delay in presenting affidavit -Petersen -Jim Weihard of New York Daily News -Conversation with Justice Department President’s schedule -Haig Ziegler left at 9:23 am. -9- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2012) Conversation No. 912-3 (cont’d)