Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 425 › Conversation 425-023
Nixon & Haldeman on Watergate scandal and Executive privilege
Wednesday, March 28, 1973 · 4:20 PM–4:40 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 15 min
AI Summary
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discussed legal strategy and damage control regarding the Watergate scandal, specifically focusing on potential testimony from aides like John Dean and Jeb Magruder. They explored the use of executive privilege to limit testimony, the possibility of presidential pardons for various individuals involved, and the challenge of managing public perception regarding White House involvement. The conversation underscored the administration's efforts to contain the investigation and suppress further damaging disclosures.
- Watergate scandal
- Executive privilege
- Presidential pardons
- John Dean
- Jeb Magruder
- White House investigation
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 7 minutes of this recording (about 45% of it) is represented by only a few words. Listen to the audio rather than relying on the text below; a corrected transcript is queued.
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
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NARA Description
On March 28, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:20 pm to 4:40 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 425-023 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 425-23
Date: March 28, 1973
Time: 4:20 pm - 4:40 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
-15-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Conversation No. 425-23 (cont’d)
Watergate
-John W. Dean, III
-Possible testimony
-Privilege
-Subjects
-Gordon C. Strachan
-Jeb S. Magruder
-Charles W. Colson
-Pardons
-Length of terms
-Bicentennial, 1976
-Christmas 1974
-Cubans
-Magruder
-Dean
-Richard G. Kleindienst
-Schedule
-President's schedule
-Liaison with Ervin Committee
-Information
-Henry E. Peterson, Richard A. Moore
-Lowell P. Weicker, Jr.
-Check on taxes
-Donald H. Segretti
-E. Howard Hunt, Jr.
-Kleindienst
-Moore
-George P. Shultz [?]
-William P. Rogers
-Cabinet
-White House cooperation
-White House involvement
-Availability of full story of Watergate
-Liddy
-Magruder
-Question of knowledge
-Liddy
-16-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Conversation No. 425-23 (cont’d)
-James W. McCord, Jr.
-Knowledge of plan
-Liddy's plan
-Provisions
-Rejection
-Magruder
-John N. Mitchell
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Herbert W. Kalmbach
-Point of contact
-Accusations against
-Mitchell
Haldeman left at 4:40 pm.Also recorded on March 28, 1973
- 044-053 3:57 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:57 pm and 4:00 pm.
- 425-019 3:57 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:57 pm to 4:00 pm.
- 044-054 4:00 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:00 pm and 4:11 pm.
- 425-020 4:00 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:00 pm and 4:11 pm.
- 425-021 4:00 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:00 pm and 4:11 pm.
- 044-055 4:11 PM · 49 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:11 pm and 4:12 pm.
- 425-022 4:11 PM · 50 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:11 pm to 4:12 pm.
- 425-024 4:40 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:40 pm and 7:55 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 425-023, March 28, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/425-023 (accessed October 12, 2026).