Nixon, Ziegler & Bull on Watergate and Law Enforcement

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

I would suggest, Mr. President, we leave it loose.

Don't commit yourself.

And because it's just two, three days after the, let's see, it's on the 14th, I think.

Leave the option open to drop by, maybe.

Okay.

Let's look at

except the fact that you can't come this year.

I said that you might be free.

But still, you can drop by.

Maybe if I ever leave that open.

I was going to hurt my dude.

Is he all right?

Well, it's good.

I think it is.

How do you place Spud's point?

Well, they were interested in it, but he responded in some way or another.

What did he say?

Well, primarily why Dean sat in and isn't the FBI here, which is not even an issue as far as I'm concerned.

Why, for Christ's sake, he hasn't said anything to the lawyer.

What else did he say?

Well, that was pretty much it.

Right.

the domestic police at the outset.

Well, when I go out, I'm sure they'll come back to Watergate.

There's nothing more to say.

The entire Watergate situation, Mr. President, in my view,

The Watergate security thing, which are two separate circumstances.

We're proceeding with a strategy now, which of course is one which states clearly it's all been covered.

No line both on federal officers or on officers and on prison guards.

It should be reinstated.

You need to save federal, you know, because it's already been said.

And we barely need protections.

Who cares?

Who the hell is going to care?

No, I think they...

Well, there's no newspaper to hang it on.

I mean, that fact would be noted.

I don't think there's a deeper picture.

Well, my view is that we ought to fire Lyon.

The Watergate thing and the Sedetti thing, that has been our strategy up to this point.

And I think before we move off of that strategy and everyone talks so much about it, we should

either adopt the strategy that we're following, which is to say nothing, and everyone agree that we say nothing, or we should adopt a counter-strategy, which is to say something.

And I think that we have the strategy up to this point.

Well, I think we have to divide it down.

Obviously, on the Watergate thing, there's nothing for us to add as to whether or not we should say something

attempt to justify or get into a justification is why John Dean sat in interviews with a lot of staff.

Well, just go over everything that's been written, go over everything that

What would the impact be by doing that?

What would the problems be by doing that?

And then what would the advantages be by doing that?

I'm not at all convinced that that's the right thing to do.

You're convinced, are you?

I feel that the strategy... Can you just continue to have it seep out of the way?

Well, that's why I... Where's the only problem?

It's still, at this point, everyone has a public effect, even though they're on television.

one iota of uh public effect um you know um

to make a little speech yes sir aren't you great absolutely peace is here here's how to come to our men are home and now how do we deal with peace absolutely because it is a significant major event and uh that's the point we're going to have any one of that with regard to this uh team evening

Right.

I agree, sir, on that.

All right.

I agree particularly on selling out the federal budget.

Yeah, what?

sir absolutely mandatory new penalties on the drug pushers don't legalize marijuana yes sir that's your position and should be stated okay well where do you want to do this i might do it in here you want to how long does it take for the sun

I think you better have at it now.

I'd like to get this.

Can they do it now?

We can have it started.

Well, you see, I'm going to be using the office for a while.

But we can do it after Rogers.

Yes, sir.

Because it's not for tonight.

Why don't Rogers and I go out there and sit outside for a meeting?

Oh, that's good.

Have it set up for a job there.

I'll see if it works.

Why don't we, even though there's no newspaper, I just wonder if somebody might use it.

Why don't we just do it in some way?

Yeah, like we could say, we could say we're for a discussion of the, you see, the Vietnam, the Paris Conference and the Vietnam.

Progress is a big, big reason.

And other affordable.

They've got to send the, uh, have the radio call.

The line is already sent.

I've got to see.

I've got nothing to take that away.

And I might do this.

And I'll have to have the line, sure.

But they, you notice how they, I don't know, God damn it, have most of the line.

So they're working on it.

The lines are affordable and everything.

I take that as something private.

Of course, you see, Sidi quoted this morning about how we were so crooked and all that sort of thing.

Does he really think that?

Maybe he does.

Can any person really think, I mean, Jesus Christ, how weird is that?

Because I want to get them out of the way before I have to go on television.

Right?

Or do you think we should go on television next Thursday?

No, sir.

The time to go on television is the end of the month.

Yes, sir.

Absolutely.

Peace is here.

Here's how it comes to our men at home.

And now how do we deal with peace?

Absolutely.

Yes, sir.

Because it is a significant major event.

And that's why we're going to have this one.

With regard to this TV thing...

I agree particularly about selling out the federal

Yes, sir.

Absolutely.

Mandatory new penalties on the drug pushers.

Don't legalize marijuana.

Yes, sir.

That's your position and it should be stated.

Good job.

Okay, well, where do you want to do this?

I may do it in here, Mr. President.

Get another dose.

I think you'd better have at it now.

I'd like to get this... Can they do it now?

We can have it started... Well, you see, I'm going to be using the office for a while.

But we can do it at... After Rogers?

Yes, sir.

Because it's not for tonight.

Why don't Rogers and I go out there and sit outside for a meeting?

Oh, that's good.

Have it set up for a job there.

Okay.

Why don't we, even though there's no new statement, I was wondering if somebody might use it.

Did you do it in the summer?

Yeah, we could say we're for a discussion of the Paris Conference and the Vietnam Congress and other forums.

But now, son, he likes to have a picture.

It's not about some money.

It's just

They got us out of the, uh, out of the radio boat.

Mine is already out of the sea.

I'm going to take that away, and I'm going to do this, and I'll have to have a lot of children.

But they, you notice how they've gotten them in at most of the time.

So, they're working on it.

take that and get something private.

Of course, you see, Sidi quoted this morning about how we were so crooked and all that sort of thing.

Does he really think that?

Maybe he does.

Can any person really think, I mean, Jesus Christ, how we're so crooked?

Nixon, Ziegler & Bull on Watergate and Law Enforcement

AI Summary

Audio

Transcript (AI-generated)

NARA Description

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Also recorded on March 9, 1973

Cite this conversation