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Conversation 909-021

TapeTape 909StartWednesday, May 2, 1973 at 10:47 AMEndWednesday, May 2, 1973 at 10:49 AMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Cole, Kenneth R., Jr.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and Kenneth R. Cole, Jr. met to discuss potential candidates to replace John W. Dean, III as White House counsel. The conversation focused on the qualifications required for the role, specifically evaluating Edward L. Morgan as a potential candidate due to his reputation as a solid thinker and his limited involvement in campaign activities. Nixon expressed concerns about pulling Morgan from his critical duties as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, ultimately directing Cole to consult with others regarding Morgan’s suitability and recommendations.

White House CounselPersonnel SelectionEdward L. MorganJohn W. Dean IIITreasury Department
AudioNARA Description

On May 2, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Kenneth R. Cole, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:47 am to 10:49 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 909-021 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 909-21

Date: May 2, 1973
Time: 10:47 am - 10:49 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Kenneth R. Cole, Jr.

       White House counsel 

             -Frederic V. Malek [?]’s possible conversation 

             -John W. Dean, III’s replacement 

             -Leonard Garment             

             -Qualifications        

                    -Age        

             -Edward L. Morgan              

                    -Previous role with White House
                            -Campaign activities
                            -Congressional relations
                            -Speeches
             -Possible telephone call to John D. Ehrlichman 

             -Current position          

                    -Assistant Treasury Secretary
                            -Law enforcement, United States Secret Service [USSS]
                            -Critical position
             -Requirements          

             -Morgan’s recommendations            

             -James T. Lynn           


Cole left at 10:49 am.
                                             -28-


                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM 


                                       Tape Subject Log 

                                      (rev. October-2012)
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.

Do you ever talk to yourself as the head of the public?
I don't have the top of my head, Mr. President.
I wouldn't want to give that to you.
He's got to be, you know, have a little experience.
There is one lawyer that I have met during my tenure here in Washington that I have a great deal of respect for who has been on the staff.
I think he's got a good sound thinker, and that's Ed Morgan.
I don't know.
I have a tremendous amount of respect for him.
He may be too close to everything now for that kind of thing, but he is one of the most solid people that I've had contact with.
He would be very good, but...
I don't know whether he's... Was he involved in the campaign?
No, sir.
He worked with us on the staff and was involved...
strictly in the business of working with the Congress during the last portion of the campaign.
To the best of my knowledge, he had no involvement at all in campaign activities.
He was out, as some of us were, making some speeches and that kind of thing.
But beyond that... Why don't you get a call to John Irvin and see what he thinks of Ed Martin?
Ed is Assistant Secretary of the Treasury right now.
He is handling the law enforcement area over there, the Secret Service.
I'm afraid that's too important.
No, no.
That's a critical, that's a critical.
No, no, no, no, no.
We don't need somebody like that.
We just need a good guy who can run through the, you know what it involves, and the counsel's office, you know, getting the clarity and all that sort of thing.
I might ask Ed for... Ed might have some thoughts on this himself, but another call that I'd like to...
check is uh jim all right
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