Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 530 › Conversation 530-007

Nixon & Ehrlichman on Daniel Ellsberg and FBI

Tuesday, June 29, 1971 · 11:22 AM ET · Oval Office ·1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ehrlichman, John D.;  White House operatorConversation530-007 onTape 530 (tape position 01:56:54–01:58:09)StartTuesday, June 29, 1971 at 11:22 AMEndTuesday, June 29, 1971 at 11:22 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 530-007 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and John Ehrlichman discuss the internal handling of the Daniel Ellsberg investigation and their concerns regarding J. Edgar Hoover’s management of the FBI. The President expresses anxiety that internal dissension within the Bureau, exacerbated by the Ellsberg case, could undermine the administration's political standing. Nixon ultimately decides to intervene by coordinating with Attorney General John Mitchell to regain control over the Bureau's direction and ensure the case is managed according to his preferences.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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 think that Hoover would jump over the traces with Mitchell.
It's a value judgment.
I'm going to go to the FBI thing tomorrow, and I just don't want this sort of thing to happen.
Yeah, yeah.
And then let Mitchell handle it.
Attorney General Mitchell, please.
And to be brought down by the Ellsberg case of all things.
You see, Ellsberg would just add that scalp to his belt.
Either way, that he's caused dissension in the ranks of the FBI and all that stuff, it just, it has...
And I know it's breaking his heart.
Just can't help it.

NARA Description

On June 29, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:22 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 530-007 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 530-7

Date: June 29, 1971
Time: 11:22 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with John D. Ehrlichman.
[The recording begins at an unknown time while the meeting is in progress]

     Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]
          -J. Edgar Hoover
          -John N. Mitchell

[The President talked with the White House operator at 11:22 am]

[Conversation No. 530-7A]
                                               17

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                        Tape Subject Log
                                          (rev. 10/08)




[See Conversation No. 6-20]

[End of telephone conversation]

     FBI
           -Discipline
                -Daniel Ellsberg case                           Conv.No. 530-6 (cont.)
                       -Hoover
                       -Jews

Ehrlichman left at 11:22 am.

Also recorded on June 29, 1971

  • 530-006 10:57 AM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:57 am to 11:06 am.
  • 006-020 11:22 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 11:22 am.
  • 006-021 11:22 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John N. Mitchell talked on the telephone from 11:22 am to 11:27 am.
  • 530-008 11:22 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John N. Mitchell met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:22 am to 11:27 am.
  • 006-022 11:27 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:27 am and 2:28 pm.
  • 261-025 11:27 AM · 2 min — 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 11:27 am and 2:28 pm.
  • 530-009 11:27 AM · 30 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:27 am and 11:30 am.
  • 530-010 11:30 AM · 32 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Peter G. Peterson, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:30 am to 12:01 pm.

All 54 conversations from June 29, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 530-007, June 29, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/530-007 (accessed September 18, 2026).