(4 of 21)
P: My feeling, John, is that I better hit it now rather than just let it build up where we are afraid of these questions and everybody ...
D: These questions are just not going to go away. Now the other thing we have talked about in the past, and I still have the same problem, is to have a "here it all is" approach. If we do that...
P: And let it all hang out.
D: And let it all hang out. Let's with a Segretti—etc.
P: We have passed that point.
D: Plus the fact, they are not going to believe the truth! That is the incredible thing!
∎
P: They hope one will say one day, 'Haldeman did it,' and one day one will say I did it. They might question his political savvy, but not mine! Not on a matter like that!
Nixon says he noticed in his news summary that there is a crisis of confidence in the President.
D: I think it will pass ... I don't think that the thing will get out of hand ...
P: Oh yes, there would be new revelations.
D: They would want to find out who knew ...
P: Is there a higher up?
D: Is there a higher up? ...
P: I think they are really after Haldeman.
D: Haldeman and Mitchell.
P: Colson is not big enough name for them ...
∎
P: In any event, Haldeman's problem is Chapin isn't it? [Dwight Chapin, Nixon's former appointments secretary under Haldeman]
∎
P: Now where the hell, or how much Chapin knew I will be [expletive deleted] if I know.
Assured that Chapin did not know about Watergate, the President asks if Gordon Strachan (a Haldeman aide) was aware. Dean admits that Strachan knew early on, but has twice denied to Federal investigators having any knowledge. Dean says that Strachan is ready to deny it again before the Ervin committee.
Nixon thus knows that before March 21 at least one White House man is involved in the coverup.
D: Strachan is as tough as nails. He can go in and stonewall...
P: I guess he should, shouldn't he? I suppose we can't call that justice, can we?
D: Well, it is a personal loyalty to him. He doesn't want it any other way. He didn't have to be told ...
The President reflects that the Watergate espionage must have been unproductive since he received no report on it.
P: What was the matter? Did they never get anything out of the damn thing?
D: I don't think they ever got anything, sir.
P: A dry hole?
D: That's right.
P: [Expletive deleted]
D: Well, they were just really getting started ...
∎
P: That was such a stupid thing! ... To think Mitchell and Bob would have allowed this kind of operation to be in the campaign committee.
∎
P: Is it too late to go the hang-out road?
D: Yes, I think it is. The hang-out road —
P: The hang-out road [inaudible]
D: It was kicked around Bob and I and . . .
P: Ehrlichman always felt it should be hangout.
D: Well, I think I convinced him why he would not want to hang-out either. There is a certain domino situation here. If some things start going, a lot of other things