John D. Ehrlichman and John W. Dean III discuss Dean’s precarious legal standing and potential grand jury testimony regarding the Watergate scandal. The conversation centers on navigating the fallout from James McCord’s recent statements and the implications of Dean’s past interactions with key figures, including John Mitchell and Jeb Stuart Magruder. They evaluate the risks of Dean providing voluntary testimony versus appearing before the Ervin Committee, while also addressing allegations surrounding Donald Segretti and the administration's overall liability.
On March 29, 1973, John D. Ehrlichman and John W. Dean, III talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:35 pm and 6:24 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 044-080 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 44-080 Date: March 29, 1973 Time: Unknown between 5:35 pm and 6:24 pm Location: White House Telephone John D. Ehrlichman talked with John W. Dean, III. [This is the original beginning of conversation No. 044-080, which has been merged with conversation 044-078 and 044-079.] Watergate -Dean -Possible grand jury testimony -Dean’s knowledge of meetings in John N. Mitchell’s office -Conversations with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman and Ehrlichman -Truthfulness -Results -Dean’s conversation with Paul L. O’Brien -Jeb Stuart Magruder, Mitchell, Dean, White House -Mitchell -Attitude -Conversation with President -Dean -Possible grand jury subpoena -O’Brien -James W. McCord, Jr.’s statement -Conversation with G. Gordon Liddy -Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. -Press conference -Work of the press -Responsibility for Watergate -Conversations with Richard G. Kleindienst and L[ouis] Patrick Gray, III -Donald H. Segretti -Allegations Page | 54 White House Tapes of the Nixon Administration, 1971-1973 Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542 -Dean -Fred F. Fielding -Dean -Possible grand jury appearance -Volunteering of testimony -Comparison with Ervin Committee -O’Brien’s view
No transcript is available for this conversation. The audio may not contain audible speech, or the recording may not yet have been processed.