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Conversation 038-055

TapeTape 38StartSunday, April 15, 1973 at 8:25 PMEndSunday, April 15, 1973 at 8:26 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Petersen, Henry E.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen discuss the need to ensure full cooperation and transparency from individuals involved in the Watergate investigation, specifically G. Gordon Liddy. Nixon directs Petersen to convey that the President wants all parties to testify truthfully and rejects the notion that Liddy’s silence is due to presidential influence or protection. Petersen agrees to contact Liddy’s legal counsel immediately to emphasize that the President expects full disclosure from everyone involved.

Watergate scandalG. Gordon LiddyObstruction of justiceFull disclosureJohn W. DeanPresidential authority
AudioNARA Description

On April 15, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry E. Petersen talked on the telephone from 8:25 pm to 8:26 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 038-055 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 38-55

Date: April 15, 1973
Time: 8:25 pm - 8:26 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Henry E. Petersen.

[A transcript of the following portion of this conversation was prepared Richard Nixon’s Special
White House Counsel for Watergate Matters and submitted to the Committee on the Judiciary of
the House of Representatives. This transcript can be found in Submission of Recorded
Presidential Conversations (SRPC), pages 768-769 (1-2). Please refer to the logging below.]

     Watergate
          -John W. Dean, III
          -G[eorge] Gordon Liddy
                -President’s desire for full disclosure
                -President’s knowledge
          -President’s desire for full disclosure
                                              -33-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                       (rev. January-2011)
Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

Hello?
I hear Mr. Peterson.
Yes, I'm trying to reach Dean.
I think I may be able to get him, I hope.
He seems to be in transit from someplace to someplace.
But I'll report to you after I see him.
Very good.
Anyway, in the meantime, on Liddy, I don't know the man, of course, and have no control over him.
But it would help if you were to tell him
the president wants everybody involved in this to do everything they know.
Okay.
Indeed so.
I'll get in touch with the lawyer first thing in the morning.
I'll do it tonight.
Very good.
I don't want to fart around, okay?
Very good.
Don't you think that's the best thing to do?
Indeed so.
Fine.
But one thing I want to be sure is that Henry understands as far as Lydia is concerned, I don't know, I have no control over him.
I don't know the man at all.
And I just want
But since he has raised the question that maybe he's not talking because of me.
Oh, no, no, no.
I don't want to leave that impression.
Because of Mitchell.
He's taking orders from higher authority.
Well, by God.
He's keeping his mind that since you're the highest authority.
Fine.
He'll stand in line.
All right.
We handle discreetly.
I just want him to be sure to understand, as far as the president is concerned, everybody in this case is to talk and tell the truth.
You ought to tell everybody.
You don't even have to call me on that with anybody.
Just say those are your orders.
Very good.
Fair enough?
Yes, sir.
Okay.
All right.
Thank you, sir.
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