Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 044-117
Date: Monday, April 9, 1973 at 8:21 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ehrlichman, John D.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/044-117

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:01] Yes, sir.
[0:02] I think with Garment, if you would instruct him with a really hard line that we cannot give on Dean going down.
[0:12] Otherwise, John, I was just thinking of the story that comes out when you go out Thursday, the White House caves on everything.
[0:17] In other words, we've got to hold on some.
[0:20] All right.
[0:21] And so I think we should hold on Dean.
[0:23] All right.
[0:23] And we will answer anything on him on written interrogatories.
[0:28] All right.
[0:28] And...
[0:30] You don't think that'll hold?
[0:32] Oh, I think it'll hold.
[0:33] I mean, they don't have much choice, you know.
[0:36] And I said, you know, we'll take a lawsuit on this.
[0:38] And the dean will cover in written interrogatories.
[0:41] And he'll give sworn statements.
[0:44] any involvement.
[0:46] But tell Garment that's the deal.
[0:47] All right.
[0:48] Yeah, I said to the senator, you know, do you really want to sue us when we're ready, willing, and able to give you all the information?
[0:57] And the only thing we won't do is send our fellow up there for a television circus?
[1:01] And so he said, well, you know, I don't want a confrontation with the president under any circumstances, and so on and so forth.
[1:09] Okay, but tell Garment that's it.
[1:11] I will.
[1:12] I forgot to tell you, I talked to Renfray this afternoon.
[1:15] He wanted to freeze everything.
[1:16] Well, he wants to submit something in writing, and he'll have it down here Wednesday.
[1:20] But his major point is that it's a question of confidence.
[1:24] and that we need a spokesman that we don't have, that we need somebody like Connolly to articulate our policy.
[1:33] He doesn't think that Schultz can do it.
[1:36] No, he's pretty tough on Schultz.
[1:41] So he may be right about that.
[1:42] You think so?
[1:43] Yeah.
[1:43] Well, you know, we've talked about that before.
[1:45] It's a problem.
[1:46] There's no question.
[1:47] And nobody's out there really sort of that people believe.
[1:50] That's right.
[1:51] So that was his major point.
[1:54] His substantive point, he said he'd like to give me in writing.
[1:58] He said he was having trouble contacting you.
[2:00] And I said, well, look, I'm here.
[2:01] You can call me any time.
[2:03] So he said, fine.
[2:04] He was grateful for that.
[2:06] And so he'll have something here by messenger on Wednesday afternoon.
[2:11] Okay.
[2:11] With regard to that, then, there's nothing for me to do tomorrow.
[2:15] Is that right?
[2:15] That's right.
[2:16] putting their feet to the fire and so forth.
[2:19] As a matter of fact, I think what we ought to do is hold Herb and George's paper until we get Renfray's, and then we'll have both.
[2:25] Okay, fine.