Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 045-119
Date: Tuesday, May 1, 1973 at 7:19 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Rogers, William P.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/045-119

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Yeah.
[0:01] Yeah, Mr. President.
[0:02] Oh, Bill, just get your judgment before I give Elliot a call.
[0:06] You know, with regard to this sort of sense of the Senate resolution about a special prosecutor, I think Elliot should stay one jump ahead of that.
[0:15] You know, I've told him he could do what he wanted, but after all, he is the prosecutor.
[0:19] He is it himself.
[0:21] he should simply say that he plans to once the grand jury finishes, or what's your advice that I tell him or I want to tell him?
[0:30] Well, I think maybe what he ought to do, what he should do is to say that maybe they'll consult with the congressional leaders about that, to get their
[0:43] I suggest we shouldn't rush into that because basically, you know, we know the problem of the special prosecutor.
[0:49] It isn't a question of trying to get justice done.
[0:54] It's a question of delaying it.
[0:56] Not only that, but, you know, he's 100% honest and he should not be sort of taken out of the picture as if he's a man of no integrity.
[1:06] But I think that what he could say is it's a difficult problem to respond to the
[1:12] to the public interest in having impartial prosecutor just as you do.
[1:18] Sure.
[1:19] And he wants to consult with the leaders of the Congress.
[1:22] Right.
[1:22] See if they have any suggestions and try to work it out sensibly for the interest of the country.
[1:27] Fine.
[1:27] Good.
[1:29] I think that's the way to do it.
[1:30] God damn, I must, I sure agree with you on that.
[1:35] You know, Percy.
[1:36] Well, I went too far.
[1:37] I went beyond the pale.
[1:38] Yeah, I mean, if he had made it as a suggestion or something.
[1:41] That's right.
[1:42] But it just makes it sound as if Elliot Richardson is not a man of integrity and stature, my guy.
[1:46] Well, it attacks the new attorney general.
[1:49] Of course.
[1:49] That's why the hell we appointed him, Bill.
[1:51] That's right.
[1:52] All right.
[1:52] Well, we'll not worry about it.
[1:54] Just one round in the battle.
[1:55] Good.
[1:56] That's right.
[1:56] Okay.
[1:56] Thanks, Mr.
[1:57] Prince.