Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 45 › Conversation 045-151

Nixon phone call with Ehrlichman on Alexander M. Haig Jr.

Wednesday, May 2, 1973 · 8:51 PM–8:52 PM ET · White House Telephone · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ehrlichman, John D.Conversation045-151 on Tape 45StartWednesday, May 2, 1973 at 8:51 PMEndWednesday, May 2, 1973 at 8:52 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 045-151 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon informs John Ehrlichman of his decision to appoint Alexander M. Haig, Jr. as White House Chief of Staff to manage staff operations. The two men also discuss the Watergate scandal, specifically focusing on the extent of the Justice Department's prior knowledge regarding the break-in. They emphasize that Egil Krogh and John Dean allegedly communicated this information to officials such as Elliot Richardson and Henry Petersen, a narrative they intend to use to justify their own conduct.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Yes, sir.

I'm going to put Hague in charge tomorrow at 11 o'clock, you know, just to sort of keep things so that Hague and the rest don't go and the car might all run off.

Good.

Is that all right with you?

Sure, sure.

I think that's a great idea.

Fine.

Anything else to report?

No, sir.

I don't have any further word on that subject we discussed.

Fine.

I know.

Well, good.

I mean, you know, we've got such a hell of a good case here.

I mean, the whole goddamn thing, the Department of Justice knew about it.

There wasn't anything for me to do, was there?

That's the point.

And I reported to you and said, well, they know about it.

Mm-hmm.

All right.

Isn't that the answer?

I think that's it.

Absolutely.

And Kroger said that, too, in effect.

Right.

Dean told him that back in November.

I see.

Did he tell Richardson that?

Uh, yes, I believe he does.

He told him as much about Peterson anyway.

Right.

Okay.

All right, sir.

All right, bye.

Thank you.

NARA Description

On May 2, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman talked on the telephone from 8:51 pm to 8:52 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 045-151 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 45-151

Date: May 2, 1973
Time: 8:51 pm - 8:52 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with John D. Ehrlichman.

     White House staff
          -Appointment of Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
               -Chief of Staff
               -Responsibilities
               -Spiro T. Agnew, Leonard Garment

     Watergate
          -Egil (“Bud”) Krogh, Jr.
                -Justice Department’s knowledge
                -Conversations
                       -John W. Dean, III
                             -Knowledge
                       -Elliot L. Richardson
                       -Henry E. Petersen
                                             -95-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Also recorded on May 3, 1973

045-150 8:50 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:50 pm and 8:51 pm.
045-152 8:52 PM · 18 sec — White House operator and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:52 pm and 9:03 pm.
045-153 8:52 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:52 pm and 9:03 pm.
045-154 9:03 PM · 21 sec — White House operator and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at 9:03 pm.
045-155 9:08 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 9:08 pm to 9:10 pm.
911-001 8:27 AM · 21 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:27 am to 8:50 am.
911-002 8:51 AM · 18 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Richard G. Kleindienst met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:51 am to 9:09 am.
911-003 9:09 AM · 31 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:09 am and 9:11 am.

All 42 conversations from May 3, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 045-151, May 3, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/045-151 (accessed October 5, 2026).