Conversation 002-002

TapeTape 2StartMonday, April 19, 1971 at 3:04 PMEndMonday, April 19, 1971 at 3:09 PMTape start time00:00:50Tape end time00:02:01ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Kleindienst, Richard G.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone

On April 19, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Richard G. Kleindienst talked on the telephone from 3:04 pm to 3:09 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 002-002 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 2-2

Date: April 19, 1971
Time: 3:04 pm - 3:09 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Richard G. Kleindienst.

[See Conversation No. 482-17B]

[A transcript of the following portion of the conversation was initially prepared for the
Watergate Special Prosecution Force [WSPF] and can be found in Record Group [RG] 460. The
Nixon Presidential Materials Staff has reviewed the transcript and has made changes as
necessary. This transcript has been reviewed under the provisions of the Presidential Recordings
and Materials Preservation Act of 1974 [PRMPA]. The National Archives does not guarantee its
accuracy.]

[End of transcript]

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

Hi, Mr. President.
Hi, Dick.
How are you?
Good.
How are you, sir?
Fine, fine.
I'm going to talk to John tomorrow about my general attitude on antitrust.
In the meantime, I know that he is left with you, the IT&T thing, because apparently he says he had something to do with them once.
Well, I have nothing to do with them, and I want something clearly understood.
And if it is not understood, McLaren's ass is to be out within one hour.
The IT&T thing, stay the hell out of it.
Is that clear?
That's an order.
You mean the order is to...
The order is to leave the goddamn thing alone.
Now, I've said this, Dick, a number of times, and you fellas apparently don't get the message over there.
I do not want McLaren to run around prosecuting people, raising hell about conglomerates, stirring things up at this point.
Now, you're keeping the hell out of that.
Is that clear?
Well, Mr. President... Or either he resigns.
I'd rather have him out anyway.
I don't like the son of a bitch.
The question, that is...
The question is, I know that the jurisdiction...
I know all the legal things.
You don't have to fill out the legal appeal file.
That's right.
A brief has to be filed tomorrow.
That's right.
Don't file the brief.
Your order is not to file a brief.
My order is to drop the goddamn thing.
Is that clear?
I understand.
Okay.