President Nixon and J. Fred Buzhardt discussed the status of the "Huston Plan," specifically seeking evidence that the controversial intelligence program had been formally rescinded or terminated. They aimed to locate documentation of its termination to distance the White House from the plan and counter potential allegations that it provided a legal "cover" for the Watergate break-in. Nixon and Buzhardt speculated that John W. Dean may have attempted to use the document as a retroactive justification for his actions, and they agreed to coordinate with intelligence agencies to establish a clear record of the plan's cancellation.
On May 16, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 5:39 pm and 5:53 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 920-009 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 920-9
Date: May 16, 1973
Time: Unknown between 5:39 pm and 5:53 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr.
Watergate
-Huston Plan
-Buzhardt’s activities
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2011)
Conversation No. 920-9 (cont’d)
-William C. Sullivan
-Robert Mardian
-Search of files
-Tom C. Huston
-Defense Intelligence Agency [DIA]
-Central Intelligence Agency [CIA]
-James R. Schlesinger
-Lt. Gen. Vernon A. Walters
President’s schedule
Watergate
-Huston Plan
-Termination
-Records
-DIA
-National Security Agency [NSA]
-Meeting with NSA representatives
-Electronic surveillance
-Forthcoming meeting with Buzhardt
-Possible implementation
-Surreptitious entry
-Explanation
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[National security]
[Duration: 28 s ]
INTELLIGENCE
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2011)
Conversation No. 920-9 (cont’d)
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
*****************************************************************
Watergate
-Domestic disturbances
-Targeted groups
-Weathermen
-Students for a Democratic Society [SDS]
-Black Panthers
-Possible White House response
-Egil (“Bud”) Krogh, Jr.
-President’s approval
-Chile
-John W. Dean III
-Role
-Huston Plan
-Motive
-Break-in
-James W. McCord’s statement regarding motive
-Knowledge of document
-Sol Lindenbaum memo, March 1972
-Motive
-Huston Plan
-Huston’s memory
-Possible White House response
-Buzhardt’s activities
-Mardian and Sullivan
-Mardian’s role
-Intelligence committee
-Buzhardt’s forthcoming call
The President and Buzhardt left at an unknown time before 5:53 pm.
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2011)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.