(19 of 21)
Nonetheless the decision is made to keep Dean away from the White House without actually firing him ("Pass the word to everybody in this place that he's a piranha," Ehrlichman suggests). Nixon needs no urging. He emphatically makes the point that Dean never saw him alone until March, and then only at Ehrlichman's suggestion. He declines responsibility for Dean's conduct.
It is finally decided that Nixon will make a statement on television announcing that he has ordered a full investigation and will automatically suspend any White House staffers who are indicted by the grand jury and fire any who are convicted.
APRIL 17,1973, 2:46 P.M.
The Oval Office. Present: the President and Petersen.
Nixon bears down hard on Petersen not to grant immunity to Dean. With immunity, Dean can get off scot-free or escape with prosecution for a minor offense in exchange for talking freely. Petersen tries to resist Nixon, but the pressure is intense.
HP: I don't want to immunize John Dean; I think he is too high in the echelon but—it's a—
P: The prosecutor's got the right to make that decision?
HP: Yes, sir.
∎
P: I think it would — look — because your close relationship with Dean — which has been very close — it would look like a straight deal.
∎
HP: The thing that scares the hell out of me is this — suppose Dean is the only key to Haldeman and Ehrlichman and the refusal to immunize Dean means that Haldeman and Ehrlichman go free.
∎
P: ... I cannot ... in good conscience and you can't in good conscience say that you are going to send Hal deman and Ehrlichman — or anybody for that matter — or Colson — down the tube on the uncorroborated evidence of John Dean.
Later, reviewing how the whole mess began, Nixon says, "Mitchell wasn't minding the store and Magruder is a weak fellow ... and then afterwards they compounded it... basically they were trying to protect Mitchell—let's face it." Then there is this exchange.
P: What would you do if you were Mitchell?
HP: I think I would probably go to Saudi Arabia to tell you the truth.
P: Poison.
As Nixon's TV date draws near, Petersen begins advising the President on what should be said. At one point, he comments: "Damn, I admire your strength. I tell you." And Nixon replies: "Well, that's what we are here for." At another, Petersen recounts how he has told Silbert: "Now dammit, Silbert, keep your eye on the mark—we are investigating Watergate—we are not investigating the whole damn realm of politics."
APRIL 17, 1973, 3:50 P.M.
The Oval Office. Present: the President, Haldeman, Ehrlichman and Ziegler. By this time, the group is resigned to Dean's blasting the Administration. Still, Ehrlichman finds cause for optimism.
E: The more battles the President wins, like the economical stabilization performance, the more urgent the Ervin hearings become. It's the only thing they have left now. You're winning all the big ones.
APRIL 17,1973, 5:20 P.M.
E.O.B. Present: the President, Haldeman, Ehrlichman and Secretary of