Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 917-020
Date: Monday, May 14, 1973 at 11:42 AM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.
Recording device: Oval Office
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/917-020

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:02] The Star has a story this afternoon, which is not a problem at all.
[0:07] I just want to know how to handle it.
[0:11] In June of 71, at the time of the Pentagon paper leaks, when we had a great concern about national security affairs, a letter was sent to Edgar over your signature that said Crowe is the guy in charge of this investigation.
[0:28] Now, I assume that took place totally
[0:32] of those things that came across my choice in my son.
[0:34] Right, right.
[0:35] So I think what I'm going to simply say is not to be uptight about it at all.
[0:39] This gentleman has great concern about the .
[0:42] .
[0:42] .
[0:42] Absolutely, absolutely.
[0:44] And he was designated as the man to be in charge.
[0:46] Yes.
[0:48] Absolutely.
[0:49] Yep.
[0:55] Good.
[0:56] They're working on that now.
[0:58] Well, I, when I did say it, I'll just have Dean Crowe on it.
[1:04] I said that no one in the White House was aware of
[1:24] Oh.
[1:24] Perhaps, but God damn it, that's what Dean told me.
[1:31] Tell me.
[1:31] Henry was aware.
[1:32] I know, but I'm crumbling.
[1:33] See, I wasn't aware, but the people I checked indicated they weren't now, so I'm fine.
[1:39] I stumbled right on the couch.
[1:41] I don't want you to get your credibility out.
[1:44] Well, it's, it's, it's out there on this, it's out there on all the rest of that stuff, too.
[1:49] No, you could just say you were not aware of anything.
[1:56] this being a national security area that's it's probably understandable that you were not put that way and frankly you didn't probe in the national security special agent why don't you say that
[3:35] I agree.
[3:36] But the only memory I ever wrote to you on the evening of mine.
[3:44] Would you see my point?
[3:45] How goddamn innocent that is.
[3:47] Sure.
[3:47] I say, look, in the 36th, can't we get the dope out on L.A. Neptune?
[3:50] And you notice how I said, how I had ordered no demonstrations against the governor there.
[3:56] Maybe Goldwater has the guts to do this.
[4:00] Not as a semblance of any thought of it.
[4:03] I didn't think I'd ever written anything, but that just probably popped out of my head one day because I didn't see it.
[4:13] I don't know what it was, but I said, this is an uncut one.
[4:18] I really have a copy.
[4:45] That's good.
[4:46] Sure it is.
[5:28] It's reassuring sometimes.
[5:30] Yes, it is.
[5:31] And sometimes, you know, if you have a recollection of something.
[5:42] I mean, you always think that you might have done it, which I don't think I would have ever written anything that was wrong.
[5:51] Because I had no knowledge.
[5:53] But I got it taken out of context.
[6:05] Goddamn papers, whatever.
[6:06] What the hell do you think are in them now?
[6:08] They say they've got secret men.
[6:10] I had the slightest idea.
[6:13] You've never felt those papers or all that before?
[6:17] I still don't.
[6:17] I still don't.
[6:18] It may be that some of them are made.
[6:21] It may be that they're used as money.
[6:29] On activity, maybe.
[6:31] Yeah, but he says if they're intercepted,
[6:35] I see 100% of the FBI agents.
[6:36] If they're FBI agents, I don't give a shit because they're all back in the mirror.
[6:39] God damn it, they are FBI agents.
[6:45] I don't even know that.
[6:48] If they're 100%, they cause problems.
[7:11] Yes, sir.
[7:12] Absolutely.
[7:13] I just wanted to make sure.
[7:15] Don't send me anything about this.
[7:21] Oh, sure.
[7:22] Of course I ordered it.
[7:24] Sure.
[7:25] I said, Crowe was the man.
[7:26] I'll tell you, I did it.
[7:28] Personally.
[7:31] And I didn't have a personal recollection of it.
[7:33] But I did what happened.
[7:35] I said, Crowe was the best guy to handle it.
[7:36] He gave me at least a paper and I signed it.
[7:39] That's what happened, I'm sure.
[7:42] Okay.
[7:43] Okay.
[7:43] Okay.
[7:44] Okay.
[7:44] Okay.