Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 425 › Conversation 425-025

Nixon & Ehrlichman on Watergate and Executive strategy

Wednesday, March 28, 1973 · 7:55 PM–7:56 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 45 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ehrlichman, John D.Conversation425-025 on Tape 425StartWednesday, March 28, 1973 at 7:55 PMEndWednesday, March 28, 1973 at 7:56 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 425-025 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and John Ehrlichman held an extremely brief exchange to discuss the management of ongoing inquiries, likely related to the burgeoning Watergate scandal. The conversation centers on maintaining a strategic distance from external parties, with Nixon emphasizing his desire to avoid direct confrontation or engagement with them at that moment. Ehrlichman affirms this approach, confirming that he will adhere to the President's preferred line of conduct.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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So I was wondering how we were coming on .
Well, sure.
I think they know that I don't want to mess with them right now.
That will be the line I may have to make it to, but that's what I'm asking for.
All right.
Bye.

NARA Description

On March 28, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 7:55 pm to 7:56 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 425-025 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 425-25

Date: March 28, 1973
Time: Between 7:55 pm and 7:56 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with John D. Ehrlichman.

[See also Conversation 44-60]
                                             -17-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                          Conversation No. 425-27 (cont’d)

Also recorded on March 29, 1973

  • 044-057 7:11 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 7:11 pm.
  • 044-058 7:17 PM · 15 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:17 pm and 7:32 pm.
  • 044-059 7:38 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:38 pm and 7:55 pm.
  • 044-060 7:55 PM · 51 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:55 pm and 7:56 pm.
  • 044-061 8:50 PM · 18 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:50 pm and 9:09 pm.
  • 425-026 8:50 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 8:50 pm to 9:09 pm.
  • 425-027 9:09 PM · 58 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:09 pm and 10:41 pm.
  • 425-028 9:09 PM · 10 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:09 pm and 10:41 pm.

All 77 conversations from March 29, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 425-025, March 29, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/425-025 (accessed October 1, 2026).