Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 530-008
Date: Tuesday, June 29, 1971 at 11:22 AM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Mitchell, John N.
Recording device: Oval Office
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/530-008

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Go ahead.
[0:08] So, John, the way I feel about this case is that, firstly, in terms of this, I don't know who was right, in terms of his decision was wrong, you know what I mean, about not questioning Mark's personal considerations, but in terms of our overall situation, he just cannot, and I really feel that you have to tell him this, he cannot, with Michael and Mark, to address the FBI graduation.
[0:29] And also, with the Ellsberg case being the issue, he cannot take anything which causes dissension within the FBI ranks.
[0:40] It just kind of raves, holy hell.
[0:42] They'll say this crotchety old man did it again, you see.
[0:48] That's how he did it.
[0:55] Yeah?
[1:10] Well, I'll tell you what I'd like to do.
[1:18] Why don't you just say that I, it came to my attention when I heard about it, that I feel very strongly, and I'll be glad to talk to you about it, but I feel, I understand that this is a binary thing, but I think the primary consideration is we must not have anything with regard to Ellsberg to reflect on Edgar Hoover, and he just has got to find a way to handle it.
[1:38] It's not good to do that.
[1:40] Just tell him that, and if it's needed for me to call, I'll back it up.
[1:47] I'll back it up.
[1:47] You tell him, but you tell him, I told the president, look, Edgar, he doesn't want to embarrass you in this very matter.
[1:54] He's a rude director, but he feels very strongly.
[1:57] He's coming over there to the FBI.
[1:59] After all, he knows that this is going to support him, but he feels very strongly that we must not have the Ellsberg thing.
[2:08] be a reason for the sanction of the Bureau, that could raise holy hell.
[2:12] Could that be all right?
[2:14] I want to try.
[2:22] Right?
[2:23] Yeah.
[2:23] I mean, that's an honor to be running.
[2:26] I'm ready to talk to him.
[2:27] But, absolutely.
[2:28] But, he just, I just don't, I just say that we've got to keep our eye on the main ball.
[2:32] The main ball is Ellsberg.
[2:34] We've got to get this on our pitch.
[2:36] And, uh,
[2:37] And, you know, I was talking to somebody over here yesterday, you know, about the ER, and I said, well, maybe we ought to drop the case if the Supreme Court doesn't just disband and so forth.
[2:49] And I said, hell no.
[2:52] I mean, you can't do that.
[2:54] You can't be in a position of having, as I said this morning, we can't be in a position of ever allowing
[3:03] It's just because some guy's going to be a minor of the line, probably to get away with this kind of wholesale thievery, or otherwise it's going to happen all over the government.
[3:15] Don't you agree?
[3:16] That's right.
[3:17] But let me say too, don't figure the PR is too bad either.
[3:20] It can turn around the other way.
[3:22] People don't like people that are thieves.
[3:27] Yeah?
[3:28] If you will handle it, but I'll be here if I need it.
[3:35] It's very important not to allow anything.
[3:38] We've got to have a united front on Ellsworth.
[3:41] That's the main thing.
[3:42] Do you think that can work with him or not?
[3:46] All right.
[3:46] Yeah, just say that I heard about it and I'm coming over to make this strong statement.
[3:52] Okay, fine by me.