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Conversation 038-153

TapeTape 38StartWednesday, April 25, 1973 at 7:22 PMEndWednesday, April 25, 1973 at 7:25 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Kleindienst, Richard G.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon directs Attorney General Richard G. Kleindienst to ensure that the prosecutor and judge in the Daniel Ellsberg case understand the extreme sensitivity of the underlying national security investigation. Nixon emphasizes that information regarding these sensitive sources and methods should be handled with restraint to prevent public exposure. This directive seeks to protect classified intelligence gathering operations by framing the scope of the legal proceedings accordingly.

Daniel EllsbergNational SecurityWatergateDepartment of JusticeHenry PetersenClassified Information
AudioNARA Description

On April 25, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Richard G. Kleindienst talked on the telephone from 7:22 pm to 7:25 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 038-153 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 38-153

Date: April 25, 1973
Time: 7:22 pm - 7:25 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Richard G. Kleindienst.

[See also Conversation No. 430-33]

      Watergate
           -President’s meeting with Henry E. Petersen
                 -Daniel Ellsberg case
                       -National security investigation
                       -Disposition of information
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

I had a good talk with Henry Peterson.
That's fine.
Are you home?
Yes, sir.
One thing I wanted to say, only as a suggestion that, I don't know, I guess you might have him pass on.
You're in charge of this one, though, aren't you?
Yeah, this is the Ellsberg case.
Yeah.
Your case, isn't it?
Yes.
I do think it's important to let the prosecutor know, as it's passed on, that this was a national security investigation of very great sensitivity.
I just think it's important that that be known.
You know what I mean?
So that he can use some restraint in terms of, like...
We're trying to get in the sources and all that sort of thing.
I don't understand.
I'm not going to .
The point being that, look, this is a national security investigation.
It involves great sensitivity.
And to have it, we're just giving it for information.
None of this was ever presented to the prosecution.
absolute assurances on that under the circumstances.
And I think the judge should know that too.
Yes, sir.
It's very important.
Okay.
Be sure that...
Okay.
Good deal.
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