Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 38 › Conversation 038-145

Nixon phone call with Kleindienst on Watergate and John W. Dean III

Wednesday, April 25, 1973 · 3:14 PM–3:16 PM ET · White House Telephone · 38 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Kleindienst, Richard G.Conversation038-145 on Tape 38StartWednesday, April 25, 1973 at 3:14 PMEndWednesday, April 25, 1973 at 3:16 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 038-145 ↗

AI Summary

Attorney General Richard G. Kleindienst urgently requested an immediate meeting with President Nixon to discuss the legal implications of John W. Dean III’s recent statements to prosecutor Earl J. Silbert regarding the Daniel Ellsberg case. Kleindienst emphasized that the gravity of the situation required prompt action and legal consultation. The President instructed Kleindienst to report to the White House alone to address the matter.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello.
Hello.
Hello, Dick.
Yes.
Hi.
Oh, is this the President?
Yeah.
Hi, Mr. President.
How are you?
I've got to see you right away.
Why?
It came to my attention this morning the implications of Dean's statement to Silbert with respect to the Ellsberg case.
I think just as a matter of law, we've got to do something, and I've got to talk to you about it.
All right.
Come right over.
Yeah, come over now.
All right.
Do you want me to bring Peterson, or should I come by myself?
By yourself.
All right, sir.

NARA Description

On April 25, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Richard G. Kleindienst talked on the telephone from 3:14 pm to 3:16 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 038-145 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 38-145

Date: April 25, 1973
Time: 3:14 pm - 3:16 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Richard G. Kleindienst.

[See also Conversation No. 430-12]

     President’s schedule
           Request for meeting

     Watergate
          -John W. Dean, III’s statements to Earl J. Silbert
                -Daniel Ellsberg case

Also recorded on April 25, 1973

  • 430-012 3:14 PM · 25 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Richard G. Kleindienst met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:14 pm to 3:16 pm.
  • 430-013 3:16 PM · 36 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:16 pm and 3:35 pm.
  • 430-014 3:16 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:16 pm and 3:35 pm.
  • 430-015 3:16 PM · 32 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:16 pm and 3:35 pm.
  • 430-016 3:35 PM · 39 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Richard G. Kleindienst, and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:35 pm to 4:10 pm.
  • 430-017 4:10 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:10 pm and 4:25 pm.
  • 430-018 4:10 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:10 pm and 4:25 pm.
  • 430-019 4:10 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Lawrence M. Higby met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:10 pm and 4:25 pm.

All 59 conversations from April 25, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 038-145, April 25, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/038-145 (accessed October 4, 2026).