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Conversation 030-014

TapeTape 30StartThursday, September 21, 1972 at 4:36 PMEndThursday, September 21, 1972 at 4:36 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discuss the urgent need to address the burglary of John C. Lungren’s office to avoid the appearance of a cover-up. They express concern that failing to report the incident promptly or waiting too long could lead to public suspicion regarding the administration's involvement or potential tampering with presidential files. Ultimately, Nixon directs Haldeman to obtain a quick report from FBI Director L. Patrick Gray III and insists that the matter must be disclosed immediately if it is to be handled properly.

John C. LungrenH.R. HaldemanL. Patrick Gray IIIBurglary investigationWhite House internal proceduresPublic relationsFBI
AudioNARA Description

On September 21, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at 4:36 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 030-014 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 30-14

Date: September 21, 1972
Time: 4:36 pm

                                        (rev. Oct-06)

Location: White House Telephone

H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman talked with the President.

       Investigation of break-in of John C. Lungren’s office
               -Progress report
                      -Timing
                              -Perception
                      -John D. Ehrlichman
                      -Federal Bureau of Investigation
                      -Lungren
                      -Timing
                      -Burglary
                              -Reporting
                              -The President's files
                                      -Perception
                              -Responsibility
                              -Lungren
                      -L[ouis] Patrick Gray, III
Transcript (AI-Generated)

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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

It's Mr. Haldeman, sir.
Hello.
What are the progress you're making on that thing?
None so far.
I mean, no, nothing additional.
The only problem that I see is that...
If we're going to do anything, we need to do it fairly soon.
You can't even let it wait a day, Bob, if you let it rest a day.
The point is that you're in a real problem because it looks like a fix.
Looks like why didn't you do it?
Well, that's... Well, that we did it ourselves or some damn thing.
see what i mean yep and that's the the only area that i can see a negative and i was just talking to john about it too i haven't had anything back from the bureau yet which is the the other question is whether we can get any reading on on what actually did happen but i i guess they're not going to know anything more to speak of than that jack already knows and uh so i think i think if we're going to do anything we've got to do it uh
within the next couple hours anyway it's got to be done today yeah either do it today or forget it that's three hours earlier out there so we can wait a little bit of time on the basis of looking into it sure well I really feel that as a matter of fact we may have no choice in any event I mean after all it was a burglary right that's right and it really has to report it
that uh and if it's uh the president's files are involved it looks looks like we got something we want to trying to cover up yeah that's the other side of it that's right i i really feel i don't i don't think we've got any choice bob on this one i mean and you can't be too cute i just think you just gotta put it out and uh sure so if they say that uh what's this i uh it's a bizarre business but god damn it we didn't do it that's the only thing is i i just can't conceive that that anybody
I've been trying to think of whether there was any way some stupid jackass could have done it.
And I just can't imagine that that's the case.
And I can't imagine that Jack would, you know.
No, of course not.
Dream up anything.
Oh, there's no, there's no.
Maybe you'd better get a hold of... Let me get Pat and get a report on his guy.
We really got to know fast.
Right.
But they find out and get a confirmation and call me back with you because I just know that we can't sit on a thing like this.
Right.
It just looks bad.
Right.
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