Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 917 › Conversation 917-017
Nixon alone in the Oval Office on Watergate and H.R. Haldeman
Monday, May 14, 1973 · 11:28 AM–11:40 AM ET · Oval Office · 6 min
AI Summary
President Nixon reviewed personal dictabelt recordings and memos to document his internal thoughts and prior communications regarding the unfolding Watergate scandal. He assessed the legal and political vulnerabilities of key staff members, including H.R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman, and John Dean, while considering potential legal strategies involving immunity and clemency. The session served as a retrospective evaluation of his administration's handling of the crisis and his efforts to establish a clear record of his knowledge and decision-making.
- Watergate
- H.R. Haldeman
- John Dean
- John Ehrlichman
- Legal strategy
- White House staff
- Presidential record-keeping
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
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NARA Description
On May 14, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:28 am and 11:40 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 917-017 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 917-017
Date: May 14, 1973
Time: Unknown between 11:28 am and 11:40 am
Location: Oval Office
The President played portions of a previously recorded dictabelt tape.
**********************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift
during chronological review 2007-2013]
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
Dictabelt entry, April 6, 1973
-San Clemente
-Location
-Discussion
[Pause]
April 10, 1973 [?]
Watergate
-President’s conversation with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-President’s knowledge prior to press coverage
-President’s conversation with Henry A. Kissinger
-President’s support for Haldeman
-Appearance of guilt
-Strength
[Pause]
Watergate
-President’s conversation with John D. Ehrlichman
-Samuel J. Ervin, Jr. [?]
-Haldeman
-Staff
-Delay
-Impartiality
-Dean
-Prosecuting strategy
-Jeb Stuart Magruder
-Conviction
-Immunity
-Witness
-Charles W. Colson
-Clemency
-Review
-White House staff
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
-Set-up
-Dean, Haldeman
[Pause]
[April 7. 1973]
Memos [April 7, 1973]
-President’s drive through Laguna, California
-Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo
[Pause]
Memos for file, April 8, 1973
[Pause]
Memos for file, April 14, 1973
**********************************************************************Also recorded on May 14, 1973
- 046-025 11:25 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Lawrence M. Higby talked on the telephone from 11:25 am to 11:28 am.
- 917-009 11:28 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:28 am and 11:40 am.
- 917-011 11:28 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:28 am and 11:40 am.
- 917-013 11:28 AM · 21 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:28 am and 11:40 am.
- 917-014 11:28 AM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:28 am and 11:40 am.
- 917-015 11:28 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:28 am and 11:40 am.
- 917-016 11:28 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:28 am and 11:40 am.
- 917-018 11:28 AM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:28 am and 11:40 am.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 917-017, May 14, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/917-017 (accessed October 12, 2026).