Conversation: 895-008
Prev:  895-007 Next: 895-009Start Date: 13-Apr-1973 9:16 AM
End Date: 13-Apr-1973 10:47 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ehrlichman, John D.; White House operator; Higby, Lawrence M.; Sanchez, Manolo; Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On April 13, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, White House operator, Lawrence M. Higby, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:16 am to 10:47 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 895-008 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 895-8 Date: April 13, 1973 Time: 9:16 am - 10:47 am Location: Oval Office The President met with John D. Ehrlichman. Weather Watergate -Ehrlichman’s conversation with Richard G. Kleindienst -Grand Jury -Donald H. Segretti testimony -Immunity for former White House staff -Jeb Stuart Magruder -Justice Department policy for perjury -9- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. April-2011) Conversation No. 895-8 (cont’d) -Gordon C. Strachan’s testimony -Magruder -James W. McCord’s testimony -Recall of John N. Mitchell -Grand Jury appearance -E. Howard Hunt, Jr.’s hearsay testimony -G[eorge] Gordon Liddy’s possible testimony -Indictments -Magruder -Ehrlichman’s forthcoming meeting with John W. Dean, III -Sally H. Harmony -Preparation of reports -Liddy’s knowledge -Indictments -Liddy’s statement -Illegal acts by Committee for the Re-election of the President [CRP] -Funds for defendants’ payoff -Campaign finances -Obstruction of justice -Legal definition -Guilt of burglars -Previous testimony -McCord, Hunt, Cubans -McCord -Connection between Mrs. Dorothy Hunt and Kenneth W. Parkinson -Samuel J. Ervin, Jr. -Charles R. Ritchie’s ruling on separation of powers Ehrlichman’s schedule Watergate -Gordon C. Strachan -Ehrlichman’s call to Lawrence M. Higby Ehrlichman talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 9:16 am and 10:47 am. -10- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. April-2011) Conversation No. 895-8 (cont’d) [Conversation No. 895-8A] [See Conversation No. 38-1] Ehrlichman conferred with the President at an unknown time between 9:16 am and 10:47 am. Watergate -Mitchell -Statement -Content [End of conferral] Ehrlichman talked with the White House operator at an unknown time. [Conversation No. 895-8B] [See Conversation No. 38-1] Ehrlichman talked with Higby at an unknown time between 9:16 am and 10:47 am. [Conversation No. 895-8B] [Begin telephone conversation] [See Conversation No. 38-1] [End telephone conversation] Watergate -Ehrlichman’s call to Higby -Strachan’s meeting with Earl J. Silbert -$350,000 -Disposition -Fred C. LaRue -Position with CRP -11- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. April-2011) Conversation No. 895-8 (cont’d) -Dean’s role -Purpose -CRP’s attitude -$10,000,000 collected before April -Disposition -Herbert W. Kalmbach -Bookkeeping -Channeling of money -$350,000 -Disposition -LaRue -Dean’s conversation with Maurice H. Stans -Strachan’s conversations -Dean -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman -Hugh W. Sloan’s knowledge -US Attorney’s interest -Investigation -LaRue -Paul L. O’Brien -Forthcoming testimony -Effect -Phone conversation with Silbert -Strachan -Effect of testimony -Haldeman -LaRue -Testimony about $350,000 -Tax liability -Paul L. O’Brien’s conversation with Ehrlichman in San Clemente -$350,000 -Mitchell and Strachan -Strachan’s testimony to US Attorney, November 1972 -Haldeman’s instructions -Uses -William J. Baroody, Jr. -Charles W. Colson -12- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. April-2011) Conversation No. 895-8 (cont’d) -President’s conversation with Colson, April 12, 1973 -White House counterattack -Patrick J. Buchanan -Kenneth L. Khachigian -Selection of staff -Tom Charles Huston President’s conversation with John B. Connally -President’s forthcoming energy message -Connally’s assessment Watergate -Connally’s conversation with President -Haldeman’s possible testimony before Ervin Committee -Need for independent lawyer to advise President -Role -Leonard Garment -Richard A. Moore -Charles A. Wright -Ehrlichman’s conversation with Richard A. Moore -Dean’s departure -Possible replacements -Garment -[Horace] Chapman (“Chappie”) Rose -Wright -Edward Lombard -Thomas E. Dewey -Edward Baumgardner -Ehrlichman’s conversation with William P. Rogers -Baumgardner -Lombard -Wright -Appearances before Ervin Committee -President’s conversation with John B. Connally Ehrlichman’s conversation with Byron R (“Whizzer”) White -Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] -13- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. April-2011) Conversation No. 895-8 (cont’d) -Interest -Washington, DC gossip -Importance of job FBI Directorship -Samuel L. Devine -Petition -Ideology -William M. Byrne, Jr. -Daniel Ellsberg trial -Ellsberg’s lawyer -Health -Byrne’s interest in FBI position Watergate -Ehrlichman’s conversation with Moore -Possible statement by Haldeman -Possible statements by White House staff -Ronald L. Ziegler’s opinion -Content -Haldeman’s statement -Funds under his control -Segretti -Grand Jury -Segretti -Dwight L. Chapin -Strachan -Haldeman’s approval -Referral to Kalmbach -Seymour Glanzer’s reaction -Silbert and Glanzer technique -Strachan -Racial composition -White House staff statements Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 9:16 am. -14- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. April-2011) Conversation No. 895-8 (cont’d) Refusal of refreshment Sanchez left at an unknown time before 10:47 am. Watergate -White House staff statements -Ervin Committee -President’s conversation with Connally -Ervin Committee -Haldeman -Indictments -Grand Jury -Ervin Committee -Magruder -Ehrlichman’s forthcoming conversation with Dean -Possible Grand Jury testimony -Strachan’s testimony -Glanzer’s questioning -Dean -Conversation with Magruder -Possible testimony -Mitchell’s advice -Executive privilege -Perception of cover-up -Possible testimony -LaRue -Garment’s meeting with Paul O’Brien, April 12, 1973 -Note from Ehrlichman on Strachan’s testimony -Mitchell -Information from Grand Jury -Kleindienst -Henry E. Petersen -Possible indictment -Dean’s possible testimony -Sloan -Postelection activities -15- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. April-2011) Conversation No. 895-8 (cont’d) -Knowledge -Stans -Knowledge of funds for defendants -Henry B. Rothblatt -Statements concerning payments -Money for defendants -Uses -Effects -Haldeman, Dean, Ehrlichman -Ehrlichman’s response -Mitchell -Kalmback’s knowledge -Ervin Committee -Grand Jury -Schedule -Ehrlichman’s forthcoming conversation with Colson -Haldeman -Possible appearance before Ervin Committee -Television [TV] spectacle -Judicial test of separation of powers doctrine -Executive session -Ervin Committee -Ehrlichman’s negotiations with Ervin -Courtroom rules -Executive session -Ehrlichman’s forthcoming call to Howard H. Baker, Jr. -William E. Brock III and George H. W. Bush -Televised hearings -Haldeman -Possible public statement -Possible Grand Jury testimony -Strachan’s and Chapin’s testimony -Segretti -Haldeman’s possible public statement -Content -Colson, Buchanan, Khachigian, Baroody, W. Richard Howard -Evidence against George S. McGovern’s campaign -16- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. April-2011) Conversation No. 895-8 (cont’d) -Segretti -Money -Congressional leadership, Cabinet -White House staff meeting -Haldeman address -Friendly forum -News reports concerning Watergate -Kenneth W. Clawson -Colson -Possible statement -Haldeman -Possible statement -Dean -Possible statement -Haldeman -Possible statement -White House staff -Chapin -Strachan -Colson, Dean -Colson -Possible statement -Forthcoming conversation with Ehrlichman -Haldeman -Possible statement -Dean -Leave -Possible special counsel -Wright -Lombard -Wright -Relationship with Ervin -Thomas G. Corcoran -Knowledge of government -Bachelor -Widower -Dean’s testimony -17- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. April-2011) Conversation No. 895-8 (cont’d) FBI Directorship -Possible nominees -White Ehrlichman’s call to Barry M. Goldwater -Goldwater’s schedule -Arizona, California Legal services -White House staff opinion -President’s opinion -Independent corporations [?] -Howard J. Phillips -Legislation -Modification -Phillips’s view American Bar Association [ABA] -Administration’s bill Watergate -Spiro T. Agnew -Statement -Meeting with Haldeman -Investigation of bribery -Agnew’s service as Governor of Maryland -Haldeman’s assistance in stopping investigation -Statement on Watergate -Ehrlichman’s assessment ***************************************************************** [Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift] President’s conversation with Connally -Political party affiliation -18- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. April-2011) Conversation No. 895-8 (cont’d) [End segment reviewed under deed of gift] ***************************************************************** Watergate -Connally’s advice -Campaign financing -Segretti -Plea of self-incrimination -Possible testimony by Chapin -Lawyer’s advice -Possible statement by Haldeman -Chapin -Possible statement to White House staff -Relationship to Haldeman’s possible statement -John D. Ehrlichman’s conversation with Ziegler and Lyndon K. (“Mort”) Allin -Haldeman’s image -Possible leave of absence -Agnew -President’s conversation with Connally -Leaves of absence -Dean -Haldeman -Impact of decision -Haldeman -Possible appearance before Ervin Committee -Segretti -Possible leave of absence -Effect -Duties in White House -Ehrlichman’s forthcoming meeting with Haldeman -Statement -Segretti’s activities -Magician -Campaign practices -“Canuck” letter -Letter on Henry M. (“Scoop”) Jackson and Hubert H. Humphrey -19- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. April-2011) Conversation No. 895-8 (cont’d) -E. Howard Hunt, Jr. -Violation of federal statute -Possible disbarment -Ervin Committee -Chapin and Haldeman appearance -Ehrlichman’s negotiation with Ervin and Baker -Executive session -Precedents set by Kissinger -Statement about White House offer -Public televised hearings -Opinion of Ziegler and Moore -White House public position on Committee’s interests -Ehrlichman’s negotiations with Ervin and Baker -Chicago Tribune story -Ehrlichman’s possible call to Aldo Beckman -Effect -President’s conversation with Connally -Ehrlichman’s schedule -Dean -Colson -Haldeman compared with Connally -White House relationship with Ervin Committee -Headlines -Wright -Possible statement by Haldeman and Chapin -Ervin’s letter to Ritchie -Richey’s assessment of Ervin’s action -Richey’s intelligence -Statements for Haldeman and Chapin -Buchanan’s drafts -Compared to Raymond K. Price, Jr. and David R. Gergen ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4 [Privacy] [Duration: 3 s ] -20- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. April-2011) Conversation No. 895-8 (cont’d) END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4 ***************************************************************** Watergate -White House relationship with Ervin Committee -Statements for Haldeman and Chapin -Buchanan’s drafts -Working -Content President’s meeting with Congressmen, April 12, 1973 -Joe D. Waggonner’s conversation with President -Administration’s goal -Vetoes -Support for President -Veteran’s bill -John L. McClellan -Hugh Scott -Assessment of speech -Gerald R. Ford -Assessment of speech -Richard W. Bolling -Economic stabilization -Opinions of Carl B. Albert -Changes -Lobbying against rollback of prices -Albert -Lobbying groups -Oklahoma cattle growers Watergate -Ervin Committee -Charges of cover-up -Reaction to Ziegler’s statement -Ehrlichman’s forthcoming conversation with Dean -21- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. April-2011) Conversation No. 895-8 (cont’d) -Mitchell -Kleindienst -Dean -Grand Jury testimony -Liddy testimony -Harmony -Copies of reports for Haldeman -Ehrlichman’s conversation with Colson -Hunt’s testimony National economy -President’s conversation with Connally -President’s actions -Spokesperson -Decisive action -Lumber -Price freeze -Ehrlichman’s meeting with Alan Greenspan -Reaction to Herbert Stein’s paper -Price competitiveness of foreign products -Sony -Datsun -Effects of devaluation -Flexibility of price setting -Phase II’s effects -Greenspan’s clients -Effects of wage and price controls -Mythology of effects -Political effects -1974 elections -President’s conversation with Connally -1971 controls decision -Inflation -Economic boom -Ehrlichman’s conversation with Greenspan -Natural moderation of the economy -Pierre Rinfret’s letter to President -22- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. April-2011) Conversation No. 895-8 (cont’d) -Freezes -Inflation -Brazil -Uruguay -Spokesperson -Indices of consumer confidence -Recession -Michigan Survey -Ehrlichman’s conversation with Greenspan -Rinfret -Letter -Greenspan’s assessment of Rinfet -Arthur F. Burns -Rinfret’s concern with Wall Street -Greenspan’s analysis -President’s weekend reading Watergate -Ehrlichman’s frothcoming conversations -Dean -Colson -Haldeman Ehrlichman left at 10:47 am.