Conversation: 045-015
Prev:  045-014 Next: 045-016Start Date: 26-Apr-1973 5:56 PM
End Date: 26-Apr-1973 6:17 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Petersen, Henry E.; Recording Device: White House Telephone
NARA Description:
On April 26, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry E. Petersen talked on the telephone from 5:56 pm to 6:17 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 045-015 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 45-15 Date: April 26, 1973 Time: 5:56 pm - 6:17 pm Location: White House Telephone The President talked with Henry E. Peterson. [See also Conversation No. 431-9G] Watergate -President’s previous call to Richard G. Kleindienst -L[ouis] Patrick Gray, III -New York Times story -Gray -Possible resignation -Petersen consultation with Kleindienst -Destruction of E. Howard Hunt, Jr.’s documents The President placed the telephone on hold at an unknown time between 5:57 pm and 6:17 pm. Telephone conversation resumes at an unknown time between 5:57 pm and before 6:17 pm. Watergate -Gray -Destruction of Hunt’s documents -Gray’s public explanation -Ronald L. Zeigler -Conversation with Petersen -Hunt documents -Kleindienst -John D. Ehrlichman and John W. Dean, III -Meeting with Ehrlichman and Dean -Leaks -Transfer of Hunt documents and orders relating thereto -Dean’s conversation with Petersen -Ehrlichman’s orders to destroy documents -Transfer of documents to Gray -Comparison with J. Edgar Hoover -11- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. October-2012) Conversation No. 45-15 (cont’d) -Timing of possible statement -Possible action by President -Possible statement by Ziegler -President’s investigation -Conversations with Petersen concerning documents -Dean’s story concerning Ehrlichman’s orders -Corroboration by Dean -President’s conversation with Dean -Hunt documents -Petersen’s conversation with Dean concerning documents -Ehrlichman -Geoffrey C. Shepard -Conversation with Petersen -Grand Jury -Telephone call from Thomas M. Rees’s office -Petersen’s conversations with President -Gray -Forthcoming meeting with Kleindienst and Petersen -Possible resignation -Replacement -W. Mark Felt -Petersen -Temporary nature of appointment -Forthcoming meeting with Petersen -Timing of possible statement -Possible statement by Peterson -Dean -Ehrlichman -Dean -Forthcoming meeting with Petersen -Possible departure from staff -Ehrlichman -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman and Ehrlichman -Forthcoming meeting between counsel and U.S. Attorney -Grand Jury -Dean -Possible testimony -Jeb Stuart Magruder -Plea -12- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. October-2012) Conversation No. 45-15 (cont’d) -Petersen’s strategy -Trial -Possible action by President -“Blackmail” -Cover-up -Credibility -Comparison with Magruder -Plea