$Unique_ID{bob01220}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Nixon Tapes, The
April 17, 1973. (2:39pm - 2:40pm)}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Various}
$Affiliation{}
$Subject{ehrlichman
nixon
pres
indictment
right
say

}
$Date{1974}
$Log{}
Title:       Nixon Tapes, The
Author:      Various
Date:        1974

April 17, 1973. (2:39pm - 2:40pm)

Telephone conversation:  President Nixon and John Ehrlichman

Operator:  Yes, sir.

Pres. Nixon:  Mr. Ehrlichman, please

Operator:  Thank you.

Pres. Nixon:  John - I don't want to interrupt your statement preparing,

J. Ehrlichman:  Yes, sir.  That's alright.

Pres. Nixon:  But I just wanted to be sure to check the points you want with
               Peterson.  He will be in just 10 minutes so, (1) Do immunity.
               However, I would say that for any of the top three.

J. Ehrlichman:  Uh, huh.

Pres. Nixon:  In other words, so that I can, if it sort of appears that if you
               want to give it to Strachan, that is ok.  See?  Don't you think
               that is a good line?

J. Ehrlichman:  I think that is good.  Any of the people in - The four points
               as I wrote them down were to inform him that you were making a
               statement; Your policy with regard to suspension and firing.

Pres. Nixon:  Which is charges or indictment -

J. Ehrlichman:  Indictment for suspension and firing for conviction, which
               will be in the statement that I am drafting.

Pres. Nixon:  Wait a minute.

J. Ehrlichman:  He'll tell the press that.

Pres. Nixon:  Right.

J. Ehrlichman:  Then privately to him, your policy with regard to immunity for
               top people.

Pres. Nixon:  Yeah, and leaks from the Grand Jury.

J. Ehrlichman:  I wouldn't limit it to three.  I would say any top person,
               like Dean or up.

Pres. Nixon:  Yeah.

J. Ehrlichman:  It will sell.

Pres. Nixon:  Then I will say, as far as a fellow like Strachan, that is fine.
               You can do what you want.

J. Ehrlichman:  Yeah

Pres. Nixon:  That strengthens the position.

J. Ehrlichman:  Colson, Dean, anybody of that kind, no dice.

Pres. Nixon:  He has mentioned these four to me.  I will just say that.

J. Ehrlichman:  And then, of course, the leaks out of the Grand Jury.  And put
               it to him whether he doesn't think the later exposure would
               prejudice the whole investigation and whether he shouldn't
               withdraw at an appropriate time so that a replacement can be
               obtained.

Pres. Nixon:  Charges and - I am going to follow a policy of accepting
               resignations on charges or indictment.  Is that it?

J. Ehrlichman:  No.  Suspension on indictment and a resignation on conviction.

Pres. Nixon:  Of course.  That is right.  Everybody would know that.
               Suspension on indictment and resignation on refusing to
               cooperate.  Right?

J. Ehrlichman:  Or conviction

Pres. Nixon:  Right.  And what about charges?  I mean remember we had that
               gray area.

J. Ehrlichman:  Well, there again you will have to reserve the right,
               depending on the seriousness of the charge -

Pres. Nixon:  Yeah.  I will say if there is a serious corroborated charge,-

J. Ehrlichman:  Then you want him to bring it to you and you will reserve
               judgment on the individual case.