Richard Nixon and John Ehrlichman Conversation May 15 1972

A transcript of a conversation between Richard Nixon and John Ehrlichman on May 15, 1972, following the attempted assassination of George Wallace.

Audio clip is from The National Security Archive:
http://www2.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB156/24-107.mp3

Transcript and audio are on this youtube clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9gTDHV79LA

CONVERSATION 24-107, 15 MAY 1972, TIME: 7:37-7:42 P.M.
LOCATION: WHITE HOUSE TELEPHONE
PARTICIPANTS: EHRLICHMAN AND NIXON

NIXON
-seems to be that we're running into a very, great problem here. I've been here for four hours since the man was shot. I haven't had any report with regard to his condition, and Kleindienst [Attorney General Richard Kleindienst] said it was a thirty-two year old man, I now understand it was a twenty-two year old man...or they don't know. Nobody has questioned him, nobody is there, and Kleindienst says we've gotta surround the jail to ensure he isn't shot and the rest. Now, John: this is being handled in a terrible way. You've gotta get on top of it, and I order you to get on top of it right away.

EHRLICHMAN
Right.

NIXON
-and -Kleindienst - don't let that Goddamn rally have anything to do with it. And Pat Gray [L. Patrick Gray, head of the FBI] is on an airplane, he's been up in Connecticut, you know, at his beach or wherever the Christ he goes to, keep him out of it. But we have got to get a hold of this thing. You understand, the record is being made now. Maybe you don't understand it.

EHRLICHMAN
Yeah.

NIXON
Did you ever read the file of the Kennedy thing?

EHRLICHMAN
Yes, I know. I know exactly what-

NIXON
I mean, it's three hours afterwards and we haven't done a Goddamn thing. But I'm sitting here waiting...and I don't know anything. Do you?

EHRLICHMAN
Well, I do, because I-

NIXON
What do you know?

EHRLICHMAN
-talked to Felt- [Mark Felt, Deputy Director of the FBI, who would go on to become Deep Throat]

NIXON
Does he know anything? Is he bright?

EHRLICHMAN
He's bright, and his guys are in it.

NIXON
Yeah?

EHRLICHMAN
They are there, I have charged him with personal responsibility for the safety of this man.

NIXON
Right, so- But what I mean- I don't want his safety, I want to get his confession.

EHRLICHMAN
I understand, I understand. And his men are there interrogating him.

NIXON
Yeah.

EHRLICHMAN
And he is to report to you every half hour. Until further notice.

NIXON
Great. Great.

EHRLICHMAN
-and you should be getting the first call very shortly, if you haven't already had it.

NIXON
Haven't had a call.

EHRLICHMAN
Well, he'll be-

NIXON
John, you stay right on it, because-

EHRLICHMAN
He'll be giving me progress reports.

NIXON
Right, right. I want you to do it, because if I'm not here, you do it.

EHRLICHMAN
I'll do it.

NIXON
But keep the heat on him. Because don't let us make the mistake we made on the Kennedy thing.

EHRLICHMAN
I understand.

NIXON
-and in the, you know. Let's not do it, it's not necessary. You don't realize the forces this could let loose in this country, you know. I mean, this fellow is a Goddamn demagogue, a hatemonger...and he could let loose horrible forces. And we have got to be doing the right thing, John.

EHRLICHMAN
Yes sir.

NIXON
That's what you've got to understand.

EHRLICHMAN
I understand that.