Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on Justice Department
18 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Kleindienst, Reagan, Bull
President Nixon and Charles Colson met to discuss the administration's political strategy regarding the recent killing of police officers, with Nixon expressing frustration over the Justice Department's failure to take aggressive legal action or project a sufficiently firm image. The two strategized on how to exploit the issue to court public support and push for new federal legislation against police killings, while also reviewing current polling data and congressional maneuvering on the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) and the Antiballistic Missile (ABM) program. Nixon emphasized his desire for a hard-line, proactive stance to contrast with Democratic candidates, ultimately tasking Colson with finding ways to leverage these issues for electoral advantage.
President Nixon and Governor Ronald Reagan discussed the need for national unity regarding U.S. peace proposals in Vietnam, emphasizing that a unified front is essential to force North Vietnam to negotiate. Following this strategic discussion, Reagan advocated for the appointments of William French Smith and Caspar Weinberger to potential roles within the administration, specifically the Supreme Court or Attorney General. Nixon explained his preference to nominate Richard Kleindienst as the immediate successor to John Mitchell due to the logistical challenges of transitioning a new official into the Justice Department, while acknowledging the high qualifications of Reagan's candidates.
President Nixon consulted with California Governor Ronald Reagan to coordinate political messaging regarding a new Vietnam peace proposal, emphasizing the need for a unified national voice to force North Vietnamese negotiations. Nixon also discussed personnel decisions within the Justice Department, explaining his preference for Richard Kleindienst to serve as Attorney General for the remainder of the term rather than installing a new appointee who would lack the necessary institutional knowledge. The two leaders additionally touched upon internal administrative personnel and ongoing political dynamics in California.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull discussed a controversial Justice Department lawsuit challenging Texas’s established ten-mile fishing rights, which conflicted with prior legislative and judicial precedents. Concerned by the political implications and the inquiries from Texas Supreme Court Justice Price Daniel, Nixon directed Bull to investigate the origin and rationale behind the filing. The President expressed frustration with the litigation, emphasizing the need to clarify why the administration pursued a suit that appeared to contradict settled state maritime boundaries.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman, Richard Kleindienst, and Caspar Weinberger to address a wide-ranging agenda including Social Security legislation, death penalty policy following Supreme Court rulings, and security preparations for the upcoming national political conventions. The discussion also covered the health of George C. Wallace and administrative personnel matters. Finally, the group engaged in a detailed dialogue regarding the burgeoning Watergate investigation, specifically focusing on the contents of E. Howard Hunt’s safe, FBI involvement, and potential strategies to manage the political fallout and legal ramifications of the break-in.
President Nixon, H. R. Haldeman, Kenneth Cole, and Ronald Ziegler discussed administrative reactions to the ongoing occupation at Wounded Knee and the handling of the Watergate investigation. Cole clarified that the White House was distancing itself from direct management of the Wounded Knee standoff, deferring tactical control to the Justice Department and John Whitaker while maintaining a hardline stance against amnesty for the protesters until hostages are released. Additionally, the participants reviewed the status of the FBI’s Watergate inquiry and the impact of L. Patrick Gray’s testimony. Cole was tasked with providing a follow-up status report on the Bureau of Indian Affairs by the following morning.
President Nixon dictated a memorandum for the file regarding a variety of administrative and policy matters. The discussion covered public relations strategies for domestic policy, the status of Vietnam War objectives and U.S. troop withdrawals, and the performance of the Justice Department and FBI. Nixon also reviewed personnel and scheduling concerns, specifically regarding the roles of H.R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman, and William Rogers, while noting potential awards for customs agents.
President Nixon and Attorney General Richard G. Kleindienst coordinated to place an urgent telephone call to Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen. The primary purpose of this interaction was to facilitate direct communication between the Attorney General and Petersen regarding the ongoing Watergate investigation. Nixon provided Petersen's contact information to the White House operator to ensure the call could be completed immediately.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to place a telephone call to Assistant Attorney General Henry Peterson. The request served as a direct communication link to the Justice Department during the escalation of the Watergate scandal. No further substantive discussion occurred during this brief administrative exchange.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to relay a message to Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen regarding a scheduled call. He requested that the operator inform Petersen of a temporary delay, noting that he would initiate the follow-up conversation in approximately 30 minutes. This communication served as a brief administrative coordination to manage his schedule while dealing with the Justice Department.
President Nixon and Attorney General Richard Kleindienst held a brief, late-night discussion regarding the status of a national security investigation. They touched upon the complexities of obtaining a judicial decision and the political implications of how the public perceives the case. The exchange concluded with the President dismissing Kleindienst, leaving the specific procedural next steps unresolved.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull and unidentified individuals to coordinate an urgent meeting with Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen. The participants focused on logistics for facilitating this discussion, with the President instructing his staff to secure Petersen’s presence at the White House immediately. The conversation highlights the administration's high-priority efforts to maintain direct communication with the Justice Department official overseeing the unfolding Watergate investigation.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discussed a strategic plan to manage the mounting Watergate crisis ahead of a forthcoming presidential speech. Ziegler proposed that Nixon appoint William P. Rogers as Attorney General to lead the Justice Department, arguing this move would provide a "masterstroke" that separates the President from the ongoing investigation. The pair also coordinated the handling of H.R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman, and John Dean, focusing on the implementation of forced leaves of absence to stabilize the administration while maintaining the President's personal defense against allegations.
President Nixon met with Attorney General Richard Kleindienst to coordinate their accounts regarding the Justice Department's handling of evidence related to the break-in at Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office. They focused on establishing that the administration had acted appropriately by investigating John W. Dean III’s allegations for nine days before reporting the findings to the judge, and they emphasized that no usable evidence was ever obtained from the break-in. Nixon directed Kleindienst to assure incoming Attorney General Elliot Richardson that the President had no prior knowledge of the break-in and had consistently instructed officials to cooperate fully with investigations.
Alexander Haig and Leonard Garment coordinated on the status of legal filings regarding Watergate-related documents and communications with the Justice Department. Garment confirmed that a motion had been filed and agreed to press for updates from the court via Justice Department channels. Additionally, the pair briefly discussed the competence of an unnamed individual, with Garment expressing confidence in the person's performance relative to previous alternatives.
President Nixon met with Henry E. Petersen to discuss the ongoing Watergate investigation, the appointment of a special prosecutor, and the administration's continued cooperation with the Justice Department. Nixon emphasized his desire for transparency and his frustration with the perceived leaks and the handling of the Daniel Ellsberg case, specifically regarding the unauthorized entry into his psychiatrist's office. The two also addressed concerns about the impact of the Ervin Committee's televised hearings on the ability of key figures like John Mitchell to receive a fair trial.
President Nixon met with newly appointed Attorney General Elliot L. Richardson to discuss the administration of the Justice Department, personnel appointments, and the ongoing Watergate scandal. Nixon emphasized the importance of maintaining strict executive privilege regarding presidential papers while encouraging Richardson to take a proactive leadership role in national security and law enforcement issues. The two also addressed the necessity of curbing government leaks, which Nixon argued were damaging to sensitive foreign policy negotiations, including those involving the Soviet Union and China.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig met to coordinate White House strategy regarding the Watergate scandal and the forthcoming economic Phase IV program. They discussed the necessity of adopting a more aggressive posture against Democratic political maneuvers and media leaks, specifically expressing frustration with the performance of staff members who maintained unauthorized contacts with reporters. Nixon also evaluated the current Justice Department leadership, particularly Attorney General Elliot Richardson, emphasizing the need for loyal, decisive action in managing legal challenges and personnel appointments.