Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 45 › Conversation 045-011

Nixon phone call with Kleindienst on Watergate and Daniel Ellsberg

Thursday, April 26, 1973 · 4:50 PM–4:51 PM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Kleindienst, Richard G.Conversation045-011 on Tape 45StartThursday, April 26, 1973 at 4:50 PMEndThursday, April 26, 1973 at 4:51 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 045-011 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consulted with Attorney General Richard G. Kleindienst regarding the status and procedural developments of the Daniel Ellsberg case on the West Coast. The President expressed urgency in receiving a report on the matter, noting that he needed to be kept informed as the legal situation evolved. Kleindienst agreed to monitor the situation and provide the President with an update later that evening.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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?
Attorney General.
AG?
Yes, this is Dick.
Yes, sir.
I said AG.
Aren't you Attorney General?
Yes, sir.
All right.
I wanted to get anything further on the Coast matter.
I haven't received a report back.
Okay, boy.
It's still, it's only, well, it's now clock there.
Would you want me to call you later on this evening?
Yeah, I probably, that might be a good idea.
Until what time, sir?
In other words, I would think by 5 their time or by before then, I should know.
I'll give you a call.
I'm going out to dinner tonight, and I'll call you as soon as I know.
Uh, yeah, the problem is where I'll be.
Let me think.
All I want to know is the procedure, you know.
Let me say...
Six one half dozen other dick, as far as I'm concerned.
Let's get the goddamn thing hung out there.
Sure, and I think the thing is pretty much up to the judge anyway.
Yep.
That's right.
As soon as I get word on it, I'll call you, Mr. President.
Right, right, right.
You do that.
Yes, sir.
And we'll get the word.
Okay, sir.
Fine.
As far as you're concerned, there's two possibilities, as you've indicated, going one way or the other.
I don't know the law, but you know it.
I've got to depend on you for the law, boy.
Okay.
Great.
Thank you, Mr. President.

NARA Description

On April 26, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Richard G. Kleindienst talked on the telephone from 4:50 pm to 4:51 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 045-011 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 45-11

Date: April 26, 1973
Time: 4:50 pm - 4:51 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Richard G. Kleindienst.

[See also Conversation No. 431-9B]

     Watergate
          -Daniel Ellsberg case
               -Kleindienst report to President
                      -President’s schedule
               -Court procedures

Also recorded on April 26, 1973

  • 045-009 3:52 PM · 13 sec — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone from 3:52 pm to 3:54 pm.
  • 431-008 3:52 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:52 pm to 3:54 pm.
  • 045-010 3:59 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:59 pm and 4:50 pm.
  • 431-009 3:59 PM · 4 hr 10 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, White House operator, Richard G. Kleindienst, John D. Ehrlichman, Henry E. Petersen, Ronald L. Ziegler, Stephen B. Bull, and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:59 pm to 9:03 pm.
  • 045-012 4:51 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:51 pm and 5:53 pm.
  • 045-013 5:53 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Richard G. Kleindienst talked on the telephone from 5:53 pm to 5:55 pm.
  • 045-014 5:55 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:55 pm and 5:56 pm.
  • 045-015 5:56 PM · 20 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry E. Petersen talked on the telephone from 5:56 pm to 6:17 pm.

All 73 conversations from April 26, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 045-011, April 26, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/045-011 (accessed October 5, 2026).