Conversation: 888-004
Prev: 888-003 Next: 888-005Start Date: 27-Mar-1973 9:47 AM
End Date: 27-Mar-1973 10:55 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Bull, Stephen B.;Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On March 27, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:47 am to 10:55 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 888-004 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 888-4
Date: March 27, 1973
Time: 9:47 am -10:55 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
President's schedule
-Trip to Africa
-Meeting with Georges J. R. Pompidou
-Montenegro
-President's meeting with Henry A. Kissinger
-Discussions
-Visit by Mohammed Reza Pahlavi [Shah of Iran]
-Coordination with Japanese visit
-Dinner
-Time of year
-Dress
-19-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2010)
-Visits from foreign leaders
-Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Shah of Iran, Kakuei Tanaka
-Frequency
Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Staff help
-David R. Gergen
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
-Remarks to Young Republicans
-Raymond K. Price, Jr.'s staff
-Harold ("Tex") Lazar
-Staff assistance
-Price
-Franklin R. Gannon
-Speechwriter
-Domestic Council
-Ideas
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Privacy]
[Duration: 11s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
*****************************************************************
-Memorandum writing
White House staff
-Ideas for President
-Memorandums, talking papers for President
-Assistance for Julie Nixon Eisenhower, Mrs. Nixon and
Tricia Nixon Cox
Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Appearance before Jewish group
-Value
-20-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2010)
Conversation No. 888-4 (cont’d)
-Jewish support for President in 1972 election
-Stance on Israel, George S. McGovern
-National Council of Jewish Women
-Prospectus
-Daycare rights
-John F. Kennedy Award
-Reuben O. Askew
-Stand on busing
-Problems of attendance
-Public appearances
-Schedule office recommendations
-Jewish groups
-Value
-Symbolism
-Treatment of President
-Max M. Fisher
-Hollywood Legionnaire
-Speech to National Council of Jewish Women
-Content of remarks
-Praise to group
-[Dwight] David Eisenhower, II's comments
-John D. Ehrlichman, Charles W. Colson
-Appearance before hostile groups
-Behavior at press conferences
-Courtesy
-President, Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Value, problems
-Youth groups
-Princeton, liberal high schools
-Contrast with the President's supporters
-1968, 1972 campaigns
-“Play to the crowd”
-Divided populace
President's meeting with Kissinger
-President's problems a year ago
-Camp David
-Communist offensive [?]
-Newsweek
-21-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2010)
Conversation No. 888-4 (cont’d)
-Achievements in last year
-Vietnam settlement
-Troop withdrawal
-Critics
-Lack of appreciation
-Press
-White House staff morale
-Pride
-Complaints in Congress about various issues
-Robert F. Griffin, Hugh Scott
President's achievements
-Criticism in press
-Economy
-Inflation
-Cuts in social programs
-Watergate
-Credibility
-Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]
-David S. Broder
-Column
-President's strength
-Support by public
-Inflation
-Kevin P. Phillips's analysis
-Liberal Democrats
-Overspending
-Republicans
-Recession, unemployment
-Criticism
-Press
-Vietnam
-North Vietnam’s delay with POWs
-President’s strength
-Press demeanor
-Walter L. Cronkite, Jr.
President's schedule
-President's instructions to Stephen B. Bull
-22-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2010)
Conversation No. 888-4 (cont’d)
-Wednesday and Thursday, Friday
-President’s trip to California
-Meeting with George P. Shultz
-Arrangements
-Day
-Reason
-Speech
-Trade bill, economic stabilization
-President's decisions
-Statement for President
-Price freeze
-Talking points for President
-Comparison with major speech, August 15, 1971
-Food prices
President's second term
-Broder column
-President's strength
-Opponents
-Criticism
-Worry
-Underestimation of President
Criticism of the President's actions during first term
-Vietnam War
-Cambodia, Laos
-November 3, 1969 speech
-May 8, 1972 decision
-Times when President in trouble
-Pre-August 1971 economic problems
-Vietnam War
-Cambodia
-President's isolation
-Knowledge of situation
-December 1972 bombing
-Themes of criticism
-Criticism
-Counterattack
-Visit to country
-23-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2010)
Conversation No. 888-4 (cont’d)
-Wichita, Kansas
-Jobs Corps appearance
-Motorcades
Watergate
-Ronald L. Ziegler's briefing
-John W. Dean, III
-Report
-New Problems
-Completion
-New problems
-G. Gordon Liddy
-Fifth Amendment
-John J. Sirica
-Immunity
-Liddy's response
-E. Howard Hunt, Jr.
-Testimony
-William O. Bittman
-Delivery of money
-Jeb Stuart Magruder
-Testimony to grand jury
-Harm to Dean
-Conflicts in testimony
-Talk with Kenneth W. Parkinson and Paul L. O'Brien
-Testimony
-Watergate planning
-Gordon C. Strachan's order
-Credibility
-Possibility of White House involvement
-Watergate break-in
-Statement on Strachan's, Haldeman's and President's role
-Meeting with John N. Mitchell and Haldeman
-Dean's advice
-Containment
-Testimony of principals
-Hunt
-Magruder
-24-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2010)
Conversation No. 888-4 (cont’d)
-Implication of White House staff, Mitchell
-Confession of perjury
-Quest for immunity
-Sirica
-Implication of higher-ups
-Haldeman's involvement in break-in
-Magruder's charges
-Reasons
-Need to talk to him
-Haldeman
-Meeting with Mitchell and Ehrlichman
-Magruder
-Meeting with Dean
-Statement on James W. McCord, Jr.
-Implication of Dean, Strachan, Haldeman and President
-Administration's response
-Dean's warnings
-Public charges
-Hunt's charges
-Planning the break-in
-Involvement
-Charles W. Colson
-Bittman as source
-Meeting
-Colson
-Dean
-Testimony before grand jury
-Privilege on conversations with President
-Meeting between Dean and Richard A. Moore, March 26
-Plan for handling Watergate
-Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI], Department of Justice, and
courts
-Lack of credibility
-Senate hearings
-Credibility
-White House
-Credibility
-Response to charges
-Problems
-25-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2010)
Conversation No. 888-4 (cont’d)
-Hunt, Magruder, Liddy, Mitchell, Hugh Sloan, Jr.
-Lack of credibility
-Independent commission similar to the Warren Commission on
the Kennedy assassination
-Statements
-Need for agreement from the three branches of
government
-Appointments
-William P. Roger's suggestions
-Earl Warren
-Ehrlichman
-Samuel J. Ervin, Jr.
-Howard H. Baker, Jr.
-Former Senator John J. Williams
-Warren, Tom C. Clark
-Executive branch representative
-Past Attorneys General
-Tom C. Clark
-Herbert Brownell
-Ramsey W. Clark
-Size, distribution
-Powers
-Security clearances
-Need for dramatic move by President
-Hope for resolution
-Independent commission
-Alternative to grand jury and Senate commission
-Televised Senate hearings
-Move by President
-Need for immediate action
-Dean's analysis
-Magruder
-Hunt
-McCord
-Dean's suspicions
-Rejection of immunity offers
-Mitchell's reaction to McCord's new lawyer
-Communist involvement in Watergate
-Hunt
-26-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2010)
Conversation No. 888-4 (cont’d)
-Bittman
-Testimony
-Ehrlichman's advice
-Suspension of Dean
-Leave of absence
-Withdrawal of L[ouis] Patrick Gray, III's nomination
-Richard G. Kleindienst
-Rogers' advice
-Suspension of Kleindienst
-Mitchell
-Haldeman, Dean
-Magruder's testimony
-Leave of absence
-Dean
-Leaves of absence
-Problems
-Colson
-Magruder
-Strachan
-Magruder's testimony
-Haldeman and Ehrlichman
-Protection
-Charges
-Executive privilege
-Leave of absence
-Dean
-Request
-McCord
-Call to Egil "Bud" Krogh, Jr.
-Fears
-Liddy
-Possible testimony
-Link to other operations
-Plumbers
-Plumbers
-Problems
-Ehrlichman's records
-Memos from Colson
-Daniel Ellsberg
-27-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2010)
Conversation No. 888-4 (cont’d)
-Colson
-Involvement in various operations
-International Telephone and Telegraph [ITT]
-White House staff
-Involvement
-Dean
-Innocence
The President left at an unknown time before 10:55 am. Haldeman remained.
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:47 am.
Pierre E. Trudeau
-Telephone call to President
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[National security]
[Duration: 9s]
US-CANADA RELATIONS
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
****************************************************************
Pierre E. Trudeau
-Telephone call
-Time
-Arrangements
-Kissinger
The President entered at an unknown time after 9:47 am.
George P. Shultz
-28-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2010)
Conversation No. 888-4 (cont’d)
-Kissinger
-Meeting
-President's schedule
Bull left at an unknown time before 10:55 am.
President's meeting with Japan’s finance minister, Kiichi Aichi
-Kissinger’s meeting
-Shultz
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[National security]
[Duration: 1m 29s ]
STEPHEN B. BULL ENTERED AT AN UNKNOWN TIME AFTER 9:47 AM
PRESIDENT'S MEETING WITH KIICHI AICHI
-HENRY A. KISSINGER'S OPINION
-ARRANGEMENTS
-LENGTH
-PLACE
-HANDSHAKE
-ARRANGEMENTS
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
*****************************************************************
Bull left at an unknown time before 10:55 am
Watergate
-Independent commission
-29-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2010)
Conversation No. 888-4 (cont’d)
-President's opinion
-Public relations problems
-Need for action by President
-Julius Caesar's wife analogy
Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:47 am
Aichi meeting arrangements
Bull left at an unknown time before 10:55 am
Watergate
-White House staff
-Colson
-President's involvement
-Wiretapping
-Types of intelligence gathering
-President's orders
-Colson
-Use of President's authority
-Use of Haldeman's name
-Magruder
-Use of Haldeman's name in requests
-Name dropping
-Meeting with President
-Lack of contact except for post-Watergate tour of 1701 Pennsylvania
Ave. in September 1972
-Clark MacGregor
-Testimony
-Hearsay
-Damage
-Haldeman, Strachan denials
-Burglars
-Clemency
-Likelihood
-Cubans, Liddy
-Fairness question in clemency
-McCord
-Next action
-30-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2010)
Conversation No. 888-4 (cont’d)
-Meeting of Mitchell, Haldeman, Magruder
-Dean, Moore
-Investigation of independent commission idea
-Discussion with Ehrlichman
-Dean's suggestion
-President's TV appearance
-Timing
-Vietnam settlement
-Length
-News coverage
-Ehrlichman's reaction to idea
-Reasons for commission
-Groundwork
-Recruitment of members
-Prestige of members
-A recruiter
-Dean, William E. Timmons, Ehrlichman
-Rogers' role
-Rogers
-Discussion with President
-Discussion with Haldeman
Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:47 am.
President’s meeting with Kiichi Aichi
-Kissinger’s opinion
-Arrangement
-Length
-Place
-Handshake
-Arrangements
-Executive Office Building [EOB]
Bull left at an unknown time before 10:55 am.
Watergate
-Independent commission
-President’s opinion
-Public relations problems
-31-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2010)
Conversation No. 888-4 (cont’d)
-Need for action by President
-Julius Caesar’s wife analogy
-Funding for the commission
Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:47 am.
Aichi meeting arrangements
Bull left at an unknown time before 10:55 am.
Watergate
-Independent commission
-Financing
-Staff
-Financing
-Source
-Dean's report
-Haldeman's meeting with Mitchell
-President's meeting with Mitchell
-Haldeman's meeting with Magruder
-Magruder
-Attorneys
-Parkinson, O'Brien
-Reaction to testimony
-Charges
-Dean's opinion
-Need to protect the President
-Meeting with Ehrlichman
-Attempt to limit testimony
-Charges
-Truth
-Strachan
-Statement regarding Haldeman
-Pressure for intelligence
-Pressure on Strachan
-Haldeman
-McGovern campaign
-Tape recordings
-Ehrlichman
-32-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2010)
Conversation No. 888-4 (cont’d)
-Dealings with Hunt
-Memos from Colson
-Knowledge of break-in
-Denial
-Krogh
-Knowledge
-Investigation of leaks
-National security
-President's T.V. appearance
-Importance
Wounded Knee occupation
-Shooting of US marshall
-American Indians
-Crisis
-Kissinger’s reaction
-Necessity for action
-Precedent setting
-Future trouble
-Blacks
-Underground groups
-Ehrlichman [?]
-Use of tear gas
-Logistics problem
-Kissinger
-Use of troops
-Size of force
-Shultz's recommendation
-Diversionary measures
-Vietnam War
-Son Tay prison raid
-Hanoi
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
[National security]
[Duration: 12s]
-33-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2010)
Conversation No. 888-4 (cont’d)
WEAPONS
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
*****************************************************************
-Success of operation
-Reluctance of military
Watergate
-Evidence
-Need to control
-McCord
-Independent commission
-Dean’s opinion
-Other investigation
-Kleindienst
-Meeting with Ehrlichman
-Opinion
The President and Haldeman left at 10:55 am.