Conversation: 881-003
Prev:  881-002 Next: 881-004Start Date: 16-Mar-1973 10:34 AM
End Date: 16-Mar-1973 11:10 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Dean, John W., III; [Unknown person(s)]; Ziegler, Ronald L.; Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On March 16, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, John W. Dean, III, unknown person(s), and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:34 am to 11:10 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 881-003 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 881-3 Date: March 16, 1973 Time: 10:34 am -11:10 am Location: Oval Office The President met with John W. Dean III. Watergate -Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] files disclosure to investigation -Press conference question -Richard G. Kleindienst's meeting with Samuel J. Ervin, Jr. and Howard H. Baker, Jr. -Evaluated report on files -Inspection by committee counsel -Limits on disclosure -Previous agreements with J. Edgar Hoover -L[ouis] Patrick Gray, III's testimony to Judiciary Committee -Raw files -Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy -Roman L. Hruska's inspection -Limits on raw files -James O. Eastland -Gray -FBI investigations -Control -Credibility of FBI -Dean report -Richard A. Moore -Oral report -Summary of findings -Briefing of Ziegler, White House staff -Cooperation with Congress -Washington Star reports -White House clarifications -FBI files -Kennedy -Judiciary Committee -Chairman, ranking members -Gray -6- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 881-3 (cont’d) -Release to Attorney General -Propriety -Gray's testimony -Meeting with Ervin and Baker -Administration's position -Baker's statements on television [TV] -Kleindienst -Previous conversation with President -Discussion of issues and ground rules -Options -Baker's motives -John N. Mitchell -Talk with Baker -Baker -Talk with President -Contents -Contacts with Kleindienst -Influence of Washington, D.C. on attitudes -Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. -Edward J. Gurney -Position on Watergate -Political aspirations -Fred D. Thompson -Dealings with Samuel Dash -Ervin Committee -Investigation of charges against Democrats -Publicity -Barry M. Goldwater speech -Letter to Ervin -William H. Sullivan -Material -Call to Dean -Lyndon B. Johnson -Amount of material -Need to broaden investigation -Democrats -Strength, organization -Press -Detroit News -Inadequacies of White House efforts -7- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 881-3 (cont’d) -President's image -Protection -Dangers -Disclosure of information -Dean testimony -Watergate -Donald H. Segretti -Disclosure of information -Briefing of Ziegler -Strategy -Dean report -Oral report -Responses to committee -Post election -Full disclosure -Dangers -Advantages -Cover-up -Interviews of White House staff at White House offices by Dash -Pre-emption of hearings -Full disclosure -Problems -Ervin Committee -Baker -Court challenge -Credibility -Expressions of concern -Work by Dean and Moore -Need for master plan -Stay at Camp David -Mitchell -Judgment -John D. Ehrlichman, Maurice H. Stans -G. Harrold Carswell, Kleindienst, Gray -Cover-up -Avoidance -Necessity -Presidency -Ziegler's answer on Dwight L. Chapin and Segretti at press conference -Misleading statements -8- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 881-3 (cont’d) -News summary -Note to Dean from President -FBI agent's comments -Herbert W. Kalmbach -FBI files -Dean's meeting with Ziegler An unknown man entered at an unknown time between 10:34 am and 10:58 am. Request for Ziegler's attendance at meeting Watergate -TV coverage of press conference -National Broadcasting Company [NBC] -John W. Chancellor -President's responses to questions -Credibility -Advantages of TV -President's credibility -Necessity -Ervin Committee -Activities, thinking -White House knowledge -Attitude of members -Gurney, Baker Ziegler entered at 10:58 am. -White House strategy -FBI files -Kleindienst's report to Ervin and Baker -Disclosure -Answer to press -Limitations, guidelines -Hoover precedent -Statement on disclosure -Raw files -Danger to innocent people -Committee chairman -Ervin -9- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 881-3 (cont’d) -White House policy -Kleindienst -Ervin and Baker -Gray -Orders from White House -Supervision of Attorney General -Leaks to press from Judiciary Committee -Kalmbach -White House policy -Gray -Testimony -Disclosure of information -Dean report -Format -Statements -Ehrlichman -Kleindienst's meeting with Ervin and Baker -Ziegler's comments to press -President's meeting with Baker -White House staff appearances before Committee -President's opposition -Ervin's knowledge -Baker's statement -Baker's ideas on testimony -Stans -Mitchell -President's view -White House staff -White House staff -Testimony before Committee Dean's call to Kleindienst Dean left at 11:06 am. Dean's job -Difficulties President's press conference -TV coverage -10- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 881-3 (cont’d) -Watergate -Issues covered in T.V. coverage -Food prices, Dr. David K. E. Bruce's appointment -Vietnam settlement Watergate -Ziegler's statement -Cooperation of administration -President's orders -Limitations -Past precedents -Ziegler's briefing on Watergate -Problem of cover-up -Segretti -Protection of President -Ervin Committee -Work with White House -Complete disclosure of facts -Concern for innocent -Ziegler's comments for press -Past statements -Stans -Referral to President's statement President's press conference -TV coverage -Ziegler's evaluation -Press hostility -Press respect for President -Firmness -Wire services -Reactions -Networks, morning newspapers -Washington Star Ziegler left at 11:10 am. -11- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010)