President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman to discuss the potential mishandling of David Eisenhower's Navy discharge and the broader political performance of Secretary of the Navy John Warner. The participants also strategized on how to counter the Ervin Committee's Watergate investigation by broadening its scope to include past political campaigns, and they coordinated a messaging plan to defend the administration's impoundment of budget funds. Finally, the group reviewed legislative priorities and briefing materials for an upcoming meeting with Republican Congressional leaders.
On February 6, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:19 am to 9:35 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 850-005 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 850-005
Date: February 6, 1973
Time: 9:19 am - 9:35 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with John D. Ehrlichman and H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
The President’s schedule
-Republican Congressional leaders meeting
[Dwight] David Eisenhower II’s discharge from the Navy
-President’s inquiries
-Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft
-Timing
-Living arrangements
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo
-Comdr. Craig S. Campbell
-Secretary of the Navy [John W. Warner]
-Early release
-Political appearances
-Early release program for Naval officers
-Letter from Bureau of Naval Personnel
-Campbell’s previous conversation with David Eisenhower
-Haldeman’s conversations with Campbell
Warner
-Reappointment
-Maurice H. Stans’s list
-Contributions
-Katherine Conover (Mellon) Warner
-Reappointment
-Interference with David Eisenhower’s discharge
-Politics
-Information for the President
David Eisenhower’s discharge from the Navy
-Early release program
-Routine nature
-Form
-John Warner’s interference
-Campbell
-Conversation with Haldeman
-Warner
-United States [US] Navy
-Information for the President
-Timing
-Rebozo’s purchase of house
-Retention as officer
-David Eisenhower’s meeting with Campbell
-Edward C. Nixon’s experience in Navy
-Involvement of Warner and Captain
-Equal treatment
-Routine process
-The President’s instruction
-Haldeman’s forthcoming conversation with Campbell
-The President’s conversation with Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Message from Campbell to Haldeman
-Campbell’s previous conversation with David Eisenhower
-Decline early release
John Warner
-Reappointment
-Involvement in David Eisenhower’s discharge
-Campaign contributions
-Performance as Secretary of the Navy
-Campaign contributions
-Katherine Warner
-Wealth
-Stans
Information for President
-Statistics
Watergate
-Ervin Committee
-Hugh Scott
-President’s comments
-Scott
-Ehrlichman’s meeting with John N. Mitchell
-Purpose
-John F. Kennedy’s campaign
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-Wiretaps
-Amendments to Ervin Committee charter
-Scope of inquiry
-Support for the President in the Senate
Budget
-Forthcoming bills
-Possible vetoes
-Budget impacts
-President’s view
-Costs
-Funding reserves
-Press relations
-Briefing
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Quality
-New York Times, Washington Post
-Ziegler’s presentation
-Paul H. O’Neill
-Office of Management and Budget [OMB]
-Distribution of copies
-Lincoln Day speeches
-Impoundment
-Thomas Jefferson
-Amount
-Executive privilege
-John W. Dean, III
-Library of Congress [LOC]
-Precedent
-Kennedy and Johnson administrations
-Ehrlichman’s anecdote
-Congressional relations
-Impoundment
-Public relations
-Taxes
-Mail
-Television [TV]
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:20 am.
The President’s schedule
-Meeting with Republican Congressional leaders
-Copies of briefing
Amnesty
-Charles W. Colson’s paper
-Revision
-Andrew Johnson’s policies
The President, Haldeman, Ehrlichman and Bull left at 9:35 am.This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.