Conversation: 427-001
Prev: 426-055 Next: 427-002Start Date: 13-Apr-1973 2:50 PM
End Date: 13-Apr-1973 4:20 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); [Unknown person(s)]; Ehrlichman, John D.; Bull, Stephen B.;Recording Device: Old Executive Office Building
NARA Description:
On April 13, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, unknown person(s), John D. Ehrlichman, and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:50 pm to 4:20 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 427-001 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 427-1
Date: April 13, 1973
Time: 2:50 pm - 4:20 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman. This recording began while the conversation
was in progress.
Watergate
-Jeb Stuart Magruder’s testimony
-Charles W. Colson’s report
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Reports on progress of case
-Information reaching White House
-White House reaction to unreliable information
-Magruder
-Effect of possible White House statement
-Haldeman’s statement
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Ehrlichman
-Timing
-Effect of statement release prior to opening of
Ervin Committee hearings
-Revelation of facts
-Magruder, John W. Dean, III
-Knowledge
-John N. Mitchell’s recommendation that Dean not testify
-Grand jury
-Protection of principals
-Magruder, Mitchell
-Haldeman
-Sherman Adams case analogy
-Bernard Goldfine
-Strategy for handling case
-Colson
-2-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 427-1 (cont’d)
-Possible source of information in Mitchell’s law firm
-Targets of investigation
-Haldeman, Colson
-Possibility of broadening rather than cutting-off
investigation
-Possible reaction to Magruder testimony
-Mitchell
-Preferred course of action for Magruder
-Ehrlichman’s possible conversation with Magruder
-Need for authoritative figure as advisor to Magruder
-Report from Lawrence M. Higby
Watergate strategy
-Magruder
-Higby’s report on conversation
-Denial of Colson’s report on disclosure
-Mitchell
-Possible Ervin Committee testimony
-Ehrlichman’s presence at meeting
-Dean
Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 2:50 pm and 3:18 pm.
[Conversation No. 427-1A]
[Begin telephone conversation]
Request for Ehrlichman to join meeting
-Magruder
-Ziegler
[End telephone conversation]
Watergate
-Ziegler briefing
-Schedule
-Magruder
-3-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 427-1 (cont’d)
-Tape of conversation with Higby
-Testimony
-Possible prison term
-Higby
-White House staff involvement
-Haldeman
-Knowledge of guilt
-Colson’s possible misperception of case
-Prosecution strategy and tactics
Ehrlichman entered at 3:18 pm.
Watergate
-Magruder
-Tape of conversation with Higby
-Denial of Colson story on disclosure of information by Magruder
-Contacts and evidence
-Mitchell
-Knowledge of status, possible prison term
-Lack of implication of White House staff
-Possible deception of Colson by lawyers
-Haldeman-Colson conversation
-Tape, transcript
-Ehrlichman’s previous conversation with Dean
-Dean
-Truthfulness
-Mitchell
-Discussion of Dean Report release
-Knowledge of pre-break-in planning meeting
-Post-break-in activities
-Pressure
-Haldeman
-Necessity of meeting with Mitchell
-Colson
-Magruder
-Colson’s possible dealings with E. Howard Hunt, Jr.
-Colson’s telephone calls to Magruder
-4-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 427-1 (cont’d)
-Gordon C. Strachan
-Hunt, G[eorge] Gordon Liddy’s presence in Colson’s office
-Frederick C. LaRue’s presence in Magruder’s office
-Dean’s report on pre-break-in activities
-Intelligence gathering
-Colson’s telephone call to Magruder
-Alleged call to Haldeman
-Pressure on Magruder from Colson
-Liddy
-Plans
-Mitchell’s choice of alternatives
-Dean’s knowledge
-Involvement of the Committee to Re-elect the President [CRP]
-Liddy’s CRP connection in break-in
-James W. McCord, Jr.
-Investigation
-Source in U.S. Attorney’s office
-Henry E. Petersen’s and Richard G. Kleindienst’s action
-Indictment of Magruder and Mitchell in break-in case
-Mitchell, LaRue, Robert C. Mardian
-Involvement in post-break-in activities
-White House staff
-Lack of implication in case
-U.S. Attorney’s office
-Targets of investigation
-Advice to counsel
-White House staff involvement
-LaRue
-Funds issue
-Earl C. Silbert, Seymour Glanzer
-Concern for institution of the presidency
-Timing of indictments
-Effect of start of Ervin hearings
-Judge John J. Sirica
-Request ban on testimony
-Protection of defendants
-Mitchell’s role
-5-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 427-1 (cont’d)
-Reaction to LaRue, Mardian recommendations
-Calls to Ehrlichman
-Report to Haldeman, Dean
-Instructions to Herbert W. Kalmbach on fundraising
-Campaign funds
-Defense fund
-Comparison of Watergate defendants with the
Berrigan brothers and Daniel Ellsberg
-Kalmbach’s legal representation
-Possible indictment
-Burglary
-Magruder
-Mitchell
-Fundraising
-Possibility of trial
-Martha Beall Mitchell
-Possible indictment
-Attorney General
-Joseph T. Sneed
-Responsibility for decisions
-Question of special prosecutor
-Earl J. Silbert
-William P. Rogers
-Kleindienst resignation
-Strategy for White House action
-Response to possible Mitchell indictment
-Possible testimony by Magruder
-Higby
-Dean as witness
-Knowledge of facts
-Post-break-in meetings with Mitchell
-Executive privilege invocation
-White House counsel
-Leonard Garment’s role
-Charles Wright
-Constitutional compared with criminal lawyer
-Possible signal to Silbert
-6-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 427-1 (cont’d)
-Possible Dean resignation
-Disclosure of information
-Liddy
-”Hush money” charge
-Use of funds for defendants
-Appearance of payoff
-Intelligence reports
-Number of copies
-Possible testimony by secretary
-Dean, Kleindienst
-Liddy
-Copy to White House
-Strachan, Magruder
-Typing by Liddy’s secretary
-Copy to White House
-Strachan, Colson
-Identification of wiretapping as source
-Lawrence F. O’Brien
-Magruder
-Effectiveness of possible meeting with Ehrlichman
-Reaction to possible prison term
-Need to tell the truth
-Higby tape
-Pressure to tell the truth
-Dean
-Possible testimony
-Conversation with Mitchell
-Genesis of Watergate break-in
-Resignation as White House counsel
-Groundwork for meeting with the US attorney
-Invocation of privilege on lawyer-client conversations
-Avoidance of White House role in incriminating Mitchell
-Dean’s account compared to Colson’s account
The President talked with Stephen B. Bull between 3:54 pm and 3:55 pm.
[Conversation No. 427-1B]
-7-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 427-1 (cont’d)
[Begin telephone conversation]
[See Conversation No. 38-5]
[End telephone conversation]
Watergate
-Dean
-Role
-Forthcoming interview with US attorney
-Tenure on White House staff
-Magruder
-Colson’s report on disclosure
-Dean’s possible perjury role
-Subornation of perjury
-Mitchell-Magruder-Dean meeting
-Dean
-Subornation of perjury
-Failure to inform the President of Magruder’s role
-Use of Magruder in Inaugural planning
-Grand jury testimony
-Haldeman, Colson
-Containment
-Glanzer’s comments to Dwight L. Chapin
-Silbert and Glanzer
-Justice Department, US Attorney
-Colson
-Need for meeting with Haldeman, Ehrlichman
-Scapegoat investigation target
-Desire for Dean firing
-John B. Connally’s recommendation
-Mitchell, Magruder
-Colson
-Statement about White House involvement
-Haldeman’s conversations with Strachan, Magruder, Chapin
-Magruder
-8-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 427-1 (cont’d)
-Grand jury
-Legal position on disclosure of testimony before grand jury
-Public statement by witness to the press
-Limitations on Dean’s possible appearance
-Postponement of Ervin Committee hearings
-Possible effect of Mitchell trial
-Political motive for Ervin hearings
-Public relations
-Ziegler
-Chapin statement on Donald H. Segretti
-White House comments to press
-CRP
-Cooperation with grand jury
-Barry M. Goldwater’s statement
-Mitchell
-Advice
-Possible indictment, prison term
-Martha Beall Mitchell
-Dean
-Ruination of career
-Mitchell
-Clark MacGregor’s July 1972 appointment to head CRP
-Chance for action on Watergate issue
-Danger to Mitchell
-President’s lack of attention to question
-1972 Moscow Summit
-Vietnam War
-Autonomy of CRP
-Lack of White House involvement
-Possible statement by McGregor
-Impact on campaign
-Democratic Party nominee
-George S. McGovern, Edward M. (“Ted”)
Kennedy
-Colson
-Need for control
-Forthcoming meeting with Ehrlichman
-9-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 427-1 (cont’d)
Haldeman and Ehrlichman left at 4:20 pm.