Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 234 › Conversation 234-017
Ehrlichman & Shultz on Presidential pardons and Samuel Pierce
Friday, December 8, 1972 · 12:05 PM–1:12 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 3 min
AI Summary
John D. Ehrlichman and George P. Shultz discuss potential presidential pardons for the upcoming Christmas season, specifically addressing the case of a Chicago attorney convicted of tax fraud. Shultz also briefs Ehrlichman on Samuel Pierce’s career objectives, noting that Pierce prefers a judicial appointment over an ambassadorship and intends to remain at the Treasury Department for several more months. The pair coordinate the documentation and handling of these personnel and legal matters for further review by the President.
- Presidential pardons
- Samuel Pierce
- Judicial appointments
- Tax fraud
- Personnel management
- Department of the Treasury
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
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NARA Description
On December 8, 1972, John D. Ehrlichman and George P. Shultz met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 12:05 pm and 1:12 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 234-017 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 234-17
Date: December 8, 1972
Time: Unknown between 12:05 pm and 1:12 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire
John D. Ehrlichman talked with George P. Shultz.
[See Conversation No. 157-24]
-19-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUMAlso recorded on December 8, 1972
- 157-022 9:04 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 9:04 pm.
- 234-012 9:04 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 9:04 pm.
- 234-013 9:04 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 9:04 pm and 9:12 pm.
- 157-023 9:12 PM · 15 sec — Camp David operator and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at Camp David at 9:12 pm.
- 157-024 12:05 PM · 3 min — George P. Shultz, Camp David operator, and John D. Ehrlichman talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 12:05 pm and 1:12 pm.
- 234-016 12:05 PM · 21 sec — George P. Shultz and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 12:05 pm and 1:12 pm.
- 234-018 1:12 PM · 56 sec — Manolo Sanchez and unknown person(s) met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 1:12 pm and 4:00 pm.
- 234-019 1:12 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Julie Nixon Eisenhower met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 1:12 pm and 4:00 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 234-017, December 8, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/234-017 (accessed October 10, 2026).