Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 519 › Conversation 519-003

Nixon & Ehrlichman on Richard M. Helms and Personnel changes

Monday, June 14, 1971 · 10:06 AM–10:07 AM ET · Oval Office ·33 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ehrlichman, John D.Conversation519-003 onTape 519 (tape position 00:58:26–00:59:15)StartMonday, June 14, 1971 at 10:06 AMEndMonday, June 14, 1971 at 10:07 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 519-003 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and John Ehrlichman held a brief, cryptic discussion regarding potential personnel changes involving CIA Director Richard M. Helms. The conversation centers on the administration's skepticism regarding Helms's ability to fulfill specific requirements or maintain a desired focus. No formal decision was finalized during this one-minute exchange.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I know he can't do it, but...
Well, they, uh, they almost, uh, carried the major focus.

NARA Description

On June 14, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:06 am to 10:07 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 519-003 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 519-3

Date: June 14, 1971
Time: 10:06 am - 10:07 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with John D. Ehrlichman

     Personnel
          -Changes
               -Richard M. Helms

The President and Ehrlichman left at 10:07 am

Also recorded on June 14, 1971

  • 005-060 8:30 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:30 am and 12:16 pm.
  • 061-001 8:30 AM · 1 hr 46 min — President Richard M. Nixon, State Department representatives, and other officials, including William P. Rogers, John N. Irwin, II, U. Alexis Johnson, Nathanial Samuels, William B. Macomber, Jr., Richard F. Pedersen, William I. Cargo, Marshall Green, Rodger P. Davies, Martin J. Hillebrand, Martin F. Herz, Charles A. Meyer, Harvey R. Wellman, Maurice J. Williams, David M. Ashbire, John N. Mitchell, Elliot R. Richardson, John B. Connally, Roger T. Kelley, Leonard Unger, Robert H. McBride, Arthur K. Watson, Kingdon Goud, Jr., William J. Handley, Ellsworth F. Bunker, George H. W. Bush, John D. Ehrlichman, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Ronald L. Ziegler, Donald H. Rumsfield, Egil ("Bud") Krogh, Jr., John E. ("Jack") Ingersoll, and Richard M. Helms, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 8:30 am and 4:34 pm.
  • 519-001 8:49 AM · 56 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Alexander P. Butterfield, Ronald L. Ziegler, and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:49 am to 10:04 am.
  • 519-002 10:04 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:04 am and 10:06 am.
  • 061-002 11:54 AM · 55 min — President Richard M. Nixon and railway union leaders, including Frank T. Gladney, John J. McNamara, C. J. Coughlin, William W. Winpisinger, Charles J. Chamberlain, Anthony L. Krause, C. L. Dennis, J. R. Tipton, A. T. Otto, Jr., Charles R. Pfenning, J. W. O'Brien, Richard W. Smith, James E. Yost, Charles E. Goodlin, Harold C. Crotty, Charles Luna, John A. Volpe, Charles W. Colson, George T. Bell, Willie J. Usery, Jr., and James D. Hodgson, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 11:54 am and 11:59 pm.
  • 519-004 11:56 AM · 19 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Peter G. Peterson, Harry S. Dent, Peter M. Flanigan, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:56 am to 12:17 pm.
  • 005-061 12:16 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods talked on the telephone from 12:16 pm to 12:19 pm.
  • 005-062 12:16 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:16 pm and 2:41 pm.

All 57 conversations from June 14, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 519-003, June 14, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/519-003 (accessed September 18, 2026).