← 903-019903-021 →

Conversation 903-020

TapeTape 903StartFriday, April 20, 1973 at 12:34 PMEndFriday, April 20, 1973 at 12:37 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Moore, Richard A.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and Richard A. Moore discussed the narrative surrounding the La Costa meeting, focusing on framing the President's directives regarding Donald Segretti as legitimate attempts to formulate political strategy rather than obstruction. They reviewed the involvement of key figures including John Mitchell, John Dean, H.R. Haldeman, and John Ehrlichman, particularly regarding the distribution of funds to Watergate defendants. Nixon sought to clarify and distance his inner circle from potential legal culpability by emphasizing that his subordinates did not knowingly participate in illegal activities.

Watergate scandalLa Costa meetingObstruction of justiceH.R. HaldemanJohn EhrlichmanJohn MitchellDonald Segretti
AudioNARA Description

On April 20, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Richard A. Moore met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:34 pm to 12:37 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 903-020 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 903-20

Date: April 20, 1973
Time: 12:34 pm - 12:37 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Richard A. Moore.

     Watergate
          -La Costa meeting
               -Purpose
                     -President’s directive
                           -Donald H. Segretti
               -John N. Mitchell
               -John W. Dean, III
               -Funds for defendants
                     -Ehrlichman’s statement concerning Mitchell and Nelson A. Rockefeller
               -Haldeman and Ehrlichman
                     -Participation and knowledge

Moore left at 12:37 pm.
Transcript (AI-Generated)

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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

but you very briefly .
I am .
I think it's very important for you to remember why you went out there.
But as I didn't realize it, I knew it was apparently meant for two days.
But the purpose of these meetings was to carry out my direction, which I said, for Christ's sake, stand with me and stick with me.
We were trying to find out what we could do.
I mean, before the earthquake began, that was the opposite area of the plane, before the hurricane hit.
Could we get some sort of position?
Could we say something about security?
Could we say something, you know, remember our last strategy?
Thank you.
that it was the same jurors only two or three minutes.
And that at that point, it was simply a case that John Spurgeon says nothing new.
He'd always mentioned a pie that needed the money.
And he said, well, maybe we'll get it from Rock and Roll.
And it doesn't need the money.
And that was honest.
Yeah.
And it's not easy to be kind of like this.
And that is here.
It's not in the home.
No, that's true.
That's true.
That's not honest.
I don't know.
I didn't say that they didn't know.
I said, yeah, this was a science.
And I think some of you must have, and most seriously, I say that we're experiencing this at least a weekend.
It's everybody in this thing said it won't reach you.
Now, any knowledge will help.
I've tried that.
I've tried the process.
Well, just let me say, I don't want more than what you are, except that what you're talking about, I just don't understand.
But you didn't, you never thought it was.
You didn't participate in it.
What do you see as the participation
As far as the legal thing is concerned, neither of these did anything, right?
The other, the nine was there.
Yes, and this is where...
I agree.
This office may not...
I agree.
← 903-019903-021 →