Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 895 › Conversation 895-021

Nixon & Ehrlichman on White House internal affairs and Charles Colson

Friday, April 13, 1973 · 12:59 PM ET · Oval Office · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]; Ehrlichman, John D.Conversation895-021 on Tape 895StartFriday, April 13, 1973 at 12:59 PMEndFriday, April 13, 1973 at 12:59 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 895-021 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and John Ehrlichman coordinate their schedules and discuss an ongoing meeting involving Charles Colson. The participants focus on the mounting political pressures surrounding the White House and investigate the substance and motivations behind Colson’s recent actions. The conversation serves as a preparatory session for later briefings regarding these unfolding external demands.

Audio

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Oh, uh, is John in with you?
Oh, did he want to see me before I, uh, go over here a second?
Huh?
Maybe?
Tom's gonna drop in in a minute.
Yeah.
Yeah, if you want me to drop in in a minute.
Okay, fine, fine.
Then I have a, yeah, why don't you say, how about 2.30, how's that?
All right, fine, fine.
Did you get, what was the, did you get the Colson?
Right.
What does that involve?
Well, who is he, what does he say?
Why is he doing it and how?
He knows this, huh?
What is he saying about it?
Well, I've told him all these pressures.
Like what?
Why don't you come and give me just a little feel of it?

NARA Description

On April 13, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, unknown person(s), and John D. Ehrlichman met in the Oval Office of the White House at 12:59 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 895-021 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 895-21

Date: April 13, 1973
Time: 12:59 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with an unknown person at 12:59 pm.

[Conversation No. 895-21A]

[Begin telephone conversation]

     John D. Ehrlichman
          -Meeting with President

[End telephone conversation]

The President talked with Ehrlichman at 12:59 pm.

[Conversation No. 895-21B]

[Begin telephone conversation]

     Meeting with President

     John W. Dean, III

     Meeting with President

     Meeting with Charles W. Colson
          -Substance of discussion
          -Press
          -Pressures

     Meeting with President

[End telephone conversation]
                                             -49-

                  NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                             Conversation No. 895-22 (cont’d)

Also recorded on April 13, 1973

  • 895-017 11:50 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:50 am.
  • 895-018 11:50 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Jeni Brown, Herbert G. Klein, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:50 am to 11:53 am.
  • 895-019 11:53 AM · 19 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:53 am.
  • 895-020 11:53 AM · 1 hr 23 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Peter J. Brennan, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:53 am to 12:59 pm.
  • 895-022 12:59 PM · 24 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:59 pm to 1:29 pm.
  • 895-025 12:59 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at 12:59 pm.
  • 038-002 1:28 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:28 pm and 2:46 pm.
  • 895-026 1:29 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:29 pm and 4:22 pm.

All 42 conversations from April 13, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 895-021, April 13, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/895-021 (accessed October 12, 2026).