Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 427 › Conversation 427-003
Nixon & Ehrlichman on Watergate scandal and Executive privilege
Monday, April 16, 1973 · 3:25 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 12 sec
AI Summary
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman met to discuss the burgeoning Watergate scandal and the escalating pressure from investigations. The conversation centered on the potential legal ramifications for White House staff and the management of ongoing inquiries. They addressed the necessity of coordinating their responses to minimize political fallout as the administration faced mounting scrutiny.
Audio
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
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NARA Description
On April 16, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 3:25 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 427-003 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 427-3
Date: April 16, 1973
Time: 3:25 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President talked with an unknown person John D. Ehrlichman [?].
Meeting requestAlso recorded on April 16, 1973
- 038-066 3:25 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at 3:25 pm.
- 038-067 3:25 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 3:25 pm to 3:26 pm.
- 427-004 3:25 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 3:25 pm.
- 427-005 3:25 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:25 pm to 3:26 pm.
- 427-006 3:27 PM · 28 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:27 pm to 4:04 pm.
- 038-068 4:04 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at 4:04 pm.
- 038-069 4:04 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and John W. Dean, III talked on the telephone from 4:04 pm to 4:05 pm.
- 427-007 4:04 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 4:04 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 427-003, April 16, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/427-003 (accessed October 23, 2026).