17 conversations found
On April 28, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry E. Petersen talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 7:06 pm and 7:11 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 164-024 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon consulted with Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen regarding the legal status of potential immunity for John Dean, specifically inquiring whether preliminary discussions between prosecutors and Dean's legal counsel had created "immunity by estoppel." Nixon expressed concern that Dean might invoke the Fifth Amendment during upcoming legal proceedings in New York, clarifying that he would not permit any White House staffer on leave to maintain their position if they refused to testify freely. Petersen confirmed that no formal or estoppel-based immunity had been granted, and he was tasked with providing the President with an update on Dean's status and testimony plans on the following Monday.
On April 28, 1973, Ronald L. Ziegler and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 7:20 pm and 8:10 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 164-026 of the White House Tapes.
Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler directed the Camp David operator to locate former aide Charles W. Colson, who was visiting his son in Princeton, New Jersey. The effort to reach Colson proved difficult as he was not registered at his expected motel and had uncertain travel plans for the evening. Ziegler specifically instructed the operator to maintain a professional demeanor and ensure the request did not appear overly urgent.
On April 28, 1973, Ronald L. Ziegler, Camp David operator, and Gerald L. Warren talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 7:20 pm and 8:10 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 164-025 of the White House Tapes.
Ronald L. Ziegler initiated a call to Gerald L. Warren to receive a briefing on an impending Washington Post story regarding the Watergate scandal. Warren reported that John Dean was prepared to testify under oath that H. R. Haldeman and John D. Ehrlichman directed a White House cover-up and possessed knowledge of illegal activities, including wiretapping. The conversation highlights the internal state of alarm and the chaotic efforts by senior officials to mount a counter-offensive against Dean's damaging allegations.
On April 28, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 8:05 pm and 8:21 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 164-001 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a telephone connection with his Press Secretary, Ronald L. Ziegler. The brief exchange served purely administrative purposes, as the President requested assistance in establishing communication with a key member of his staff. No substantive policy discussions or major developments occurred during this brief interaction.
On April 29, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:05 am and 10:19 am. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 164-027 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a telephone connection with his National Security Advisor, Henry Kissinger. This brief interaction served solely as an administrative request to reach Kissinger for official consultation. No further policy discussions or significant substantive developments occurred during this short exchange.
On April 29, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:19 am and 10:25 am. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 164-028 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger spoke via telephone to discuss the ongoing political damage caused by the Watergate scandal and strategies for managing the fallout. Nixon expressed his intent to replace Attorney General Richard Kleindienst with Elliot Richardson and to appoint a new, aggressive FBI director to restore order. The President also emphasized that any past FBI surveillance related to national security leaks—specifically concerning the Daniel Ellsberg case—must be staunchly defended as a necessary executive action.
On April 29, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:25 am and 10:26 am. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 164-029 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to initiate an urgent telephone connection with Secretary of State William P. Rogers. This brief administrative interaction served as the necessary step to facilitate a direct communication line between the President and his top diplomat. No further substantive discussion occurred during this exchange.
On April 29, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, William P. Rogers, and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:26 am and 10:36 am. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 164-030 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon consulted Secretary of State William P. Rogers regarding the strategic management of the Watergate scandal, specifically focusing on the necessary resignations of H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman. Nixon sought Rogers's advice on how to handle the duo's apparent reluctance to leave, ultimately concluding that their continued presence hindered government operations and that full resignations were unavoidable. Additionally, they discussed the upcoming public announcement regarding the appointment of a new FBI director and the oversight of the ongoing investigation.
On April 29, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:36 am and 11:46 am. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 164-031 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a telephone connection with Secretary of State William P. Rogers. This call was initiated to establish communication between the President and his top diplomat while Nixon was stationed at Camp David. The interaction served exclusively as a logistical step to coordinate the official consultation.
On April 29, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, William P. Rogers, and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:46 am and 11:52 am. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 164-032 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon consulted with Secretary of State William P. Rogers regarding the impending resignations of H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman amid the deepening Watergate scandal. Rogers advised Nixon against attending the meeting with his aides to maintain distance and credibility, recommending instead that the President present the resignations as a firm, unilateral decision rather than a matter for negotiation. The conversation concluded with an agreement that the two aides should resign voluntarily to maintain the 'high ground' while John W. Dean would be dismissed separately, allowing Nixon to distance himself from the scandal's fallout.
On April 29, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:52 am and 12:01 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 164-033 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a telephone connection with H. R. Haldeman. This brief administrative interaction served as an intermediary step to establish direct communication with his Chief of Staff. No further substantive policy matters were discussed during this brief exchange.
On April 29, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 12:01 pm and 12:28 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 164-035 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a telephone connection with Secretary of State William P. Rogers. This brief administrative interaction served as a logistical step to initiate a high-level discussion between the President and his top diplomat. No further substantive policy matters were discussed during this short exchange.
On April 29, 1973, Camp David operator and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at Camp David at 12:01 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 164-034 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon communicated with the Camp David operator to follow up on a pending call request from H. R. Haldeman. The operator informed the President that Haldeman was currently at church but expected to return shortly. It was decided that the operator would await Haldeman’s return so that he could initiate a return call to the President.
On April 29, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and William P. Rogers talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 12:28 pm and 12:30 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 164-036 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon requested Secretary of State William P. Rogers to travel to Camp David to review and provide editorial feedback on a draft of his forthcoming address regarding the Watergate scandal. Nixon tasked speechwriter Raymond K. Price, Jr. with preparing the draft and sought Rogers's input, explicitly referencing Rogers's prior assistance during the 1952 Checkers fund crisis. The two agreed that Rogers would arrive at 5:00 p.m. to review the document and offer suggestions to strengthen the President's public response.
On April 29, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 12:30 pm and 12:32 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 164-037 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an outgoing telephone call to White House Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. The interaction was limited to this administrative request to connect the two parties. No further substantive policy matters or strategic discussions occurred during this brief communication.
On April 29, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone at Camp David from 12:32 pm to 12:34 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 164-038 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler strategize on the public framing of the resignations of H. R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman. They aim to draft resignation letters that pivot away from a mere leave of absence to account for the prolonged uncertainty surrounding the upcoming Ervin Committee hearings. By emphasizing the aides' confidence in their eventual exoneration, Nixon seeks to manage the political optics of the departures.
On April 29, 1973, Ronald L. Ziegler and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at Camp David from 12:49 pm to 12:52 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 164-039 of the White House Tapes.
Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler briefs President Nixon on his efforts to secure the resignations of H. R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman. Ziegler confirms that while Haldeman has agreed to comply with the President's decision, he anticipates greater resistance from Ehrlichman and intends to coordinate the process during an upcoming helicopter ride. The two men also discuss the logistical challenge of ensuring the departing aides have sufficient financial support during their transition.