Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 38 › Conversation 038-001

Nixon, Ehrlichman & Higby on Watergate scandal and Gordon Strachan

Friday, April 13, 1973 · 9:16 AM–10:47 AM ET · White House Telephone ·1 min

ParticipantsEhrlichman, John D.;  White House operator;  Nixon, Richard M. (President);  Higby, Lawrence M.Conversation038-001 onTape 38StartFriday, April 13, 1973 at 9:16 AMEndFriday, April 13, 1973 at 10:47 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 038-001 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman coordinate communication efforts regarding Gordon C. Strachan’s recent interaction with prosecutor Earl J. Silbert. The President expresses concern over John Mitchell’s hardening stance and seeks further intelligence on the nature of the adjustments Strachan intended to make to his testimony or records. Ehrlichman is tasked with investigating the matter and providing a written report to the President through Steve Bull.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Larry Higbee, please.
Yes, sir.
You saw Mitchell's face?
Yeah.
Hard line.
Hard line.
If I had known that, I would have stopped him.
I'll be right with you.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Yes, sir.
John .
Yes, sir.
Did Gordon go back yesterday?
To my knowledge, no.
He did contact Silbert, though.
Do you know what they said?
Well, they were going to make arrangements to correct it.
I don't know the details on how.
Can you find out and have Steve give me a note here in the president's office?
Yes, sir.
Thank you.
Bye.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On April 13, 1973, John D. Ehrlichman, White House operator, President Richard M. Nixon, and Lawrence M. Higby talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:16 am and 10:47 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 038-001 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 38-1

Date: April 13, 1973
Time: Unknown between 9:16 am and 10:47 am
Location: White House Telephone

John D. Ehrlichman talked with the White House operator.

[See also Conversation No. 895-8A]

     Telephone call to Lawrence M. Higby

Ehrlichman conferred with the President at an unknown time.

[Begin conferral]

[See Conversation No. 895-8]

[End conferral]

Ehrlichman talked with the White House operator at an unknown time.

Ehrlichman talked with Higby at an unknown time.

[See also Conversation No. 895-8B]

     Gordon C. Strachan
          -Conversation with Earl J. Silbert
          -Topics
          -Report by Stephen B. Bull

Also recorded on April 13, 1973

  • 895-001 8:29 AM · 12 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:29 am and 8:49 am.
  • 895-002 8:29 AM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:29 am and 8:49 am.
  • 895-003 8:29 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:29 am and 8:49 am.
  • 895-004 8:49 AM · 15 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William E. Timmons met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:49 am to 9:04 am.
  • 895-005 9:04 AM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:04 am and 9:09 am.
  • 895-006 9:04 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:04 am and 9:09 am.
  • 895-007 9:04 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and William E. Timmons met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:04 am and 9:10 am.
  • 895-008 9:16 AM · 1 hr 34 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, White House operator, Lawrence M. Higby, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:16 am to 10:47 am.

All 42 conversations from April 13, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 038-001, April 13, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/038-001 (accessed September 18, 2026).