President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman and William Timmons to discuss several high-level administration issues, including the Watergate scandal and various political maneuvers. The participants coordinated a potential strategy for responding to the Ervin Committee hearings, evaluated public relations and counterattack efforts against political opponents, and reviewed the handling of financial issues involving John Mitchell. Additionally, they addressed personnel and legislative matters, such as the placement of David Eisenhower in a congressional office, the management of base closures in Philadelphia and New Hampshire, and preparations for the President’s upcoming energy message.
On April 10, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and William E. Timmons met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:16 am and 8:37 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 892-004 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 892-4
Date: April 10, 1973
Time: Unknown between 8:16 am and 8:37 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
Concert by Philadelphia Orchestra
-Eugene Ormandy
-Ludwig Van Beethoven
-Symphony audiences in Washington, DC
-Tristan and Isolde
-Margaret Ormandy
-Trips to People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Doves
-Eugene Ormandy
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Conversation No. 892-4 (cont’d)
-Knowledge of music
-Talent
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[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
[Dwight] David Eisenhower, II
-George H. W. Bush
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 10 s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
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[Dwight] David Eisenhower, II
-Harry S. Dent
-Relationship with Hugh Scott
-Bush
-Republican National Committee [RNC] chairman
-Concern for Eisenhower
-Residence in Maryland
- -[Dwight] David Eisenhower, II’s plans
-Candidacy in Pennsylvania
-Work for George A. Goodling
-Washington, DC
-Dent
-Eisenhower’s meeting
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
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Conversation No. 892-4 (cont’d)
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 35 s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
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[Dwight] David Eisenhower, II
-Goodling
-President’s meeting
-Haldeman’s telephone call to [Dwight] David Eisenhower, II
-Bush’s advice
-Eisenhower’s work for Goodling
-President’s meeting with Goodling
-Bush’s role as intermediary
-Dent’s role
-Bush’s role
-Dent
-Scott
-Pennsylvania State Republican Chairman Clifford L. Jones
-Residency
-Washington, DC
-Cost of living
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
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Weather
-Possibility of snow
-President’s trip to Camp David
Watergate
-Samuel J. Ervin, Jr.
-John D. Ehrlichman [?]
-Conversation with President [?]
-Ervin Committee
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
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Conversation No. 892-4 (cont’d)
-James W. McCord, Jr.
-Haldeman, Charles Colson, Dwight L. Chapin, John W. Dean III
-Leonard Garment
-John N. Mitchell
-Money
-Sources
-Kenneth W. Parkinson
-Handling
-Dean’s role
-Mitchell
-Herbert W. Kalmbach
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Paul L. O’Brien
-William O. Bittman
-Parkinson
-Reason
-Mitchell
-Mitchell
-Cover-up
-Garment
-Jeb Stuart Magruder
-Testimony of White House staff
-Haldeman’s testimony
-Role at Committee to Re-elect the President [CRP]
-Magruder
-Haldeman’s conversation with Gordon C. Strachan
-Ehrlichman
-Negotiations with Ervin Committee
-Campaign financing
-Charges against Democrats
-White House counterattack
-Howard H. Baker, Jr.
-Charles Colson
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-Responsibility
-Forthcoming grand jury testimony
-Chapin
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
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Conversation No. 892-4 (cont’d)
-Strachan
-Dean
-Ervin Committee hearings
-Haldeman’s forthcoming testimony
-Richard A. Moore
-Public relations
-Timing
-Statement by Haldeman
-Strachan
-Chapin
-Content
-Donald H. Segretti
-Moore, Ronald L. Ziegler
William E. Timmons entered at 8:31 am.
Haldeman’s telephone call to Eisenhower
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
Haldeman left at 8:31 am.
Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield
-President’s previous meeting
-Thomas C. Korologos
-Possible trip to People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Participation
-PRC reaction
-Watergate
-Ervin
-Cambodia
-Montana
-Mansfield’s statement
Base closing
-Exceptions
-Portsmouth, New Hampshire
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
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Conversation No. 892-4 (cont’d)
-Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
-Henry L. Bellmon
-Reelection campaign
-Philadelphia
-Scott
-Frank L. Rizzo
-Kenneth R. Cole, Jr.
-Necessity of closure
President’s forthcoming energy message
-Forthcoming meeting
-Congressional committees
-Interior and Insular Affairs Committee
-Foreign Relations Committee
-Joint Committee on Atomic Energy
-Public Works Committee
Wilbur D. Mills
-Appearance
Morale of House Republicans
-President’s vetoes
-Water and sewer bill
The President left at an unknown time after 8:31 am.
[Pause]
The President entered at an unknown time before 8:37 am.
President’s schedule
-Meeting time
The President and Timmons left at 8:37 am.
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. September-2012)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.