John Ehrlichman: The 60 Minutes Watergate Interview (1973)
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- Опубликовано: 12 июн 2022
- In June 1973, Nixon advisor John Ehrlichman told 60 Minutes the White House had “no interest” in covering up the Watergate break-in because “it had no exposure.” Ehrlichman served 18 months in prison for his role in the cover-up.
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Why has the Liddy interview been taken down?
I was a college senior/graduate student in '73 '74. Remember this with amazing clarity. There used to be a joke "you knew it was going to be a really bad day when Mike Wallace showed up at your office for an interview..." In watching this at the time, Ehrlichman was immediately seen as such a profound liar that public opinion took a huge swing against Nixon. Regrettable that today the level of "electronic journalism" isn't really journalism, just "instant headlines" that seldom, if ever, convey accurately the facts and never get retracted when shown to be wrong.
It never was really "journalism", since the Press' interest in Watergate was really just political. The Johnson Administration had among other things, bugged Goldwater's personal residence, and nobody in the Press cared, since it was their side doing it.
Mike Wallace. Wow. Every question was a setup to a follow-up. Would have been a fine police interrogator.
That's right.nothin covert about his line of questioning
Seeking the truth and not trying to hide it is a trait long gone in journalism!
“I don’t recall.“. “ to the best of my recollection“. “not that I necessarily recall”
Thanks for making this historic material available in full, 60 Minutes. Your archives are a national treasure.
Media archives = national treasure… grow up, ffs.
@@MikesFitnessGoals have a nice day Mike
It’s too bad we can’t watch all of the achieves from the 1970s to 1990s
In this clip, we see Mr. Ehrlichman twisting, slowly, slowly in the wind.
Ah, the good ole' days, when people who committed crimes against the government actually went to prison
Which is why Nixon should have went to prison as an example for future politicians. But instead ol' spineless Ford (Warren Commission fraudster) pardoned him.
Not only that, they had class, unlike the bottom feeders today
But not long enough...
Against the people.
@@SuperSedingAngeL-yr0 Many of the convictions were for perjury and obstruction of justice.
Wallace was a uniquely strong interviewer.
He could be probing, relentless, amiable and disarming at the same time.
No one nowadays to my knowledge can pull that off.
IMO, the best interviewers of all time were Wallace and James Day.
He's from a bygone era, when the American press was truly the Guardian of Freedom.
A reporter told Mike Wallace critics said he was terrible evil person on and on. Mike Wallace shrugged and said goes with the territory. Everyone loved the "gotcha" journalism.
Mike Wallace was amazing. One of the best.
wym one of the best?
You’re correct.
He could be probing, relentless, congenial and disarming at the same time.
@@charleswinokoor6023 Mike was sometimes bad about talking over someone who is just about to say something revealing, like at 02:40
his son tries to be like his dad, no comparison
@@Gamzor his son is the definition of hack journalism
Very interesting. Thanks, 60 Minutes, for posting this video.
Erlichmans nervous smile is like and arctic wind, sending a chill to whomsoever its directed at. Nevertheless, fascinating, articulate and somehow likable
Never noticed before but Ehrichman's phrasing, tone of voice, even his eye movements, are very similar to Nixon's.
An intellect….
You are right. Birds of a feather flock together.
Mike , Ehrlichman sweats like Nixon, and lies as well.
Raised his one eyebrow a lot.
Dude you nailed it. I was just thinking the same thing
Ehrlichman is a world class liar. History has shown Dean was honest in all of his testimony and all books he authored.
And now everyone in Washington is a ten times worse liar about 10 times worse things.
Ehrlichman was perspiring around the lips, a sure sign he was a poor liar.
I agree, John Dean was forthcoming and honest, excellent memory and kept precise motes.
When in doubt say the phrase not to my recollection
Justin Taylor, when LYING, just say I don't recall or not to my recollection!
It astounds me that these guys can accurately recall the dates of conversations when 70% of their jobs are meetings.
Exactly.
Convicted of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and perjury. Lying. See the liar lie.
Boom
"I was a late bloomer, I must confess." Reminds me of the SNL sketch of the caveman lawyer: "Your bright lights and strange customs frighten and confuse me. I'm just a simple caveman lawyer."
Whenever one can you use the Caveman Lawyer in a comment, then you've got "bright lights" and magic.
😂😂😂😂😂😂 this is hilarious
Did I say that? I didn't say that. I don't know why you think I would say that. The only things missing are Martin Short and the cigarette with an inch of ashes refusing to fall off.
Ha ha! And we thought Short was making that persona up.
I think the character was Nathan Therm. Classic!
This is hellerious
interesting how the camera is so zoomed in on his face.. makes him look more omnious
What's that saying - never let them see you sweat? Ehrlichman, an obviously intelligent fellow, knew the handwriting on the wall (prison) the more Wallace probed. That sweat on the upper lip and the shifty eyes told the story
Just like his boss.
Nixon had that same upper lip just below the nostrils glisten in the spot light look.
Videos like this are incredibly interesting, and the quality of comments are a lot higher than the average video.
Before the interview: Hey Bob, just add 4 more of those 1000 W lamps just above Ehrlichman's seat. Oh yes, and let's not forget to turn up the temperature of that heated seat...
Erlichman looks as bad as Nixon did when he debated JFK.
Let's all agree Mike Wallace had a wickedly stylish watch !!!
but that was when wearing a watch was stylish.
@@tomloft2000 - But what did he use for a phone?
This guy was supposed to know everything about everything that was going on but now he knows nothing that's an oxymoron
OxyMORON
Yea he never even heard of watergate!!
Ehrlichman is like Schultz from HOGAN'S HEROES: "I know nothing...nothing" or else" I was too dumb to know what was going on."
Even as a 10 year old kid when this interview happened I felt like he was not telling the truth.
Long before there was CNN and MSNBC, there was 60 Minutes.
Ehrlichman tried to cover up for himself and his boss when there was literally no way out. A few months later after this interview he testified in front of the Senate committee with an absurdly weak case. It was a nasty case of office politics, Dean had already seen that Nixon and Ehrlichman/Halderman were setting him up to be the scapegoat, so he turned into the prosecutors witness.
Dean really never served any prison time, he was in the witness protection program.
Ehrlichman served 18 months.
Halderman served 18 months
G. Gordon Liddy served the most at almost 5 years.
Actually Eric - Ehrlichman testified less than a month later (On July 25th) after this interview broadcast on June 29.
@@davidbridge5408 oh this interview was June 29th 1973? I was only 7 at the time however I can just imagine people watching this screaming at their TV set "LIAR!!!!!!!"
Eric, one thing is universally accepted by persons involved and legal and historical scholars, John Dean was a liar and a rat out to save himself after concocting the entire scheme. He was by no means a "hero" the left and Nixon haters make him out to be.
I said the same thing!!!! I was 7 as well... Big ups to 1966!!!
This is SOOOO much like Prince Andrew's interview. Sorry the body-language folks can't see his whole body for analysis. Does anyone NOT think this guy is lying? Oh, and I remain in awe of Mike Wallace.
I remember a passage from the book ATPM where it noted in WH press corp circles Haldeman & Ehrlichman were called Nixon's "2 German shepherds" and also called "Hans & Franz"
BRIEF COMMENT: (RIP) To the late John Ehrlichman & the late Mike Wallace, one of 60 minutes top reporters & correspondents. Frankly 60 Minutes is not the same program anymore due to the passing of many its more famous TV Correspondents like: The late Ed Bradley, the late Morley Safer & also the late producer Don Hewitt, they both knocked heads many times over many different types of news stories. These are historically very valuable TV Interviews from the 1970's, its good that CBS News Archive has now disseminated them to youtube.
This is how journalism is done
"was"
might as well have been interviewing Sgt. Schultz from Hogan’s Heroes “I know nothing, nothing”😀
Wow. This ole boy is sweating like he's in the electric chair.
Back to a time when the news wasn't completely gov't. controlled.
He's just under a very strong lamp: maybe those norty press people did this on purpose.
You can gain as much information from his sweating and facial expressions as you can from what he is avoiding saying.
"These pretzels are making me thirsty!"
I love the fact he claims he didn’t know LIDDY. Especially when LIDDY was named lead legal counsel to CREEP
He also never heard of CREEP. That was non W House lingo. He might have heard of the CRP. He said he met Liddy and Hunt only once. It might just be he left all that to subordinates, and didn't know all details. But on the other hand, here he seems to want us to believe he knew much less he should have known.
That’s not what he said. He said he didn’t know he was named Lead legal counsel
He never said he didn’t know him.
I just think it was interesting that all of them said they really didn’t have any relationship when they all did in terms of planning and meeting it was just a way in my opinion of trying to disavow their actions
“Oh right, yeah, buffahs. The Administration had plenty of buffahs…”
We're watching this old video thinking it's in the past knowing full well this is happening today in exactly the same way and we can't do nothing about it...
Exactly the same way except they are smart enough not to tape themselves talking about it.
Like Bush/Cheney saying we will answer questions...but not under oath. Go back to sleep America, everything is just dandy...
A million times worse
Exactly the same is happening in Russia. Except that it's much worse. Involves killing political opponents, not just breaking into their offices. That's the fundamental difference between the east and the west. Since 1917 Soviet/Russian regime killed more than 22 millions of (mostly) their own citizens and started many wars, including the worst of them by invading Poland on 17.09.1939. The ultimate evil empire. 🤷♂️🤷♂️
Good time stamps:
- When Ehrlichman learned of the Watergate Break-in is at 16:35
- Ehrlichman’s refusal to answer this question, and Mike Wallace’s excellent response laying out the facts and the timeline, is a heart-stopping moment at 17:54 and 19:09
The list at 30:39
12:28 mark his when the sweat beads start showing up just as Wallace presses him about his assertion that his FBI interviews are incorrect.
Edit: advances to his upper lip at the 13:00 mark 😰
@@mercygrrl DAMN nice catch. The full Frost Nixon watergate interview got uploaded again and you can see Nixon getting similarly nervous 😀👍
That sly smile...hmmmm.
Watched Nixon Frost interviews last night...again. Riveting.
@@gregv79 it’s amazing. like a real-life shakespearean drama
I remember WATERGATE well. I watched these interviews when they first aired. Very fascinating.
Fascinating today, too.
I was 5 years old when this episode came on. And I didn't understand what was going on. Now that I'm older. I know what was really going on. Back then. Mr Wallace you were great.
Why would anybody agree to do a sit down interview with Mike Wallace is beyond me. I guess John Ehlichman didn’t get the memo. 🤦🏼♂️
This interview was broadcast BEFORE Alexander Butterfield revealed the existence of the Oval Office tapes. Given the recorded conversations in which Ehrlichman participated, it is comical to watch him try to blame John Dean.
Because John Dean WAS to blame. If you study all about Watergate that becomea clear. He set up and knew in advance of the break in and initiated the cover up by himself to save his own a**. I suggest you watch the interview with General Vernon Walters in the senate hearings. Joh Dean and John Dean alone set the cover up in motion and told no one.
The good old days when criminals were held accountable for their crimes.
lol ummm sure
But were they ? Or... were they all ? Or did some of them got away with a symbolic punishment, thanks to a clever lawyer ?
1st lie right out of the gate. No pun intended.
Good one.😉
this had to have been soon after he was fired . There were so many lies he told here it is almost hard to count . It had to be later on that it was more clear that Ehrlichman was involved in so many of those events that he was denying . Tony Ulasowitz - he said he didn't know anything about him - he worked and reported directly to Ehrlichman . so many lies
Never seen anyone with so much crook and liar written all over him!
You need to watch some of the trump people.
Agree!
He absorbed a lot of Nixon's mannerisms and delivery.
What has happened to today's journalists? This is thebar how to intellegently and fairly interview someone. Rarely see proper journalism like this today.
Mr. WALLACE went fishing for a Barracuda and in all actuality found a phat octopus....
He lies like a pro.
Love this rewind release ! Perfect timing
He should have received a decade in jail for his barefaced lies...
A politician lying...10 years???
@@Wall2000x Yes! It would've discouraged Trump and his minions from doing the same!!!
@@chrisporter3795 What did Trump do except govern for 4 years? What has been proven in a court of law? Where is the crime? Are we the Soviet Union? Howard Baker wanted Nixon out of the way so he could be US President. Didn't work out that way for Baker. Nixon did not do anything that Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson did while in the Oval Office. I would add the first Bush to the list of sneaks. Clinton bombed an aspirin factory. Where is your sense of decency?
Agreed, 18 months not enough. Though, Ehrlichman actually did some good things too (NYTimes, surprisingly, ran a great article on many of those accomplishments). Just a shame that he will always be remembered for his role as Nixon's "gatekeeper", all the lies and for co-establishing a grp known as the "plumbers". I think he was still very much in "protect mode" here for this interview, only this time he was also protecting himself (still hoping he might not be disbarred). He, like many watergate criminals, went on to become a writer and consultant (w/ some limited success). He, like many watergate criminals, went on to become a writer and consultant (with some limited success).
Look how sweaty John Ehrlichman was at the end of this clip when Mike Wallace asked John for his reaction to Mike's last question. Holy S#!+! I was too young to remember Watergate. I was 2 years old at the time, but Mike Wallace 's probing questions was indeed called for ! Great Journalism that you do not see today!!!
What a creep.
Show some respect to your elders
If only I could raise my eyebrow like erlichman..game..set ..match with my kids
You can get a sense watching this and watching interviews with Haldeman at the time of just how intimidating the atmosphere must have been the closer you got to the throne. There isn’t much feeling of humour or humanity there, it’s government with a snarl. And this is seeing them after their fall when a little more humility might have been expected.
Erlichman is superficially charming. But when he smiles its like an arctic wind. I'm sure dealing with him was a spooky if not terrifying ordeal. He and Howard Hunt were the most mysterious. Even Nixon was scared of Hunt. Am yet je wrote novels ( apparently good ones) and william f Buckley was godfather to his children.
Ehrlichman and Haldeman had resigned at this point and were about to testify in the Senate....
But the revelation of the taping system had not happened..
Ehrlichman still had a hope here that he could Lie his way out.
Real journalist back then.
He's was one sharp, cagey dude. The art of the dodge.
He is like a caricature for meanness. Just look at the guy.
It’s the camera angle and the lighting. Total left wing liberal media bias LOL
He doesn't look at all mean. He seems to have a good sense of humor actually. Beria for example, or Heydrich, now these guys looked really mean....
Compared to today Watergate is nothing.
Great video
Cheers for the video 😎 👌
Haldeman, Mitchell, Ehrlichman, Dean.....it follows a pattern if you dig what I mean.
I can dig it
If you turn off the audio, everything that life has taught you screams: 'that's a liar. Stay away!'
Don’t forget, Ehrlichman has a law degree. His witty responses reflect it.
Sorry, I just don't recall. Furthermore I have no recollection. Brilliant, eh ?
Nope. Ehrlichman is lying.
Watching this makes it so clear what a giant Mike Wallace was particularly in comparison to his son, Chris. Chris would never have been capable of such a detailed, intelligent and challenging interview.
What a little creep.
I was seven years old when this interview was conducted. It was all anyone in my extended family talked about. I thought, ‘what’s the big deal about a cake they serve at all the picnics?’
Ha I just realized how similar 😂
WOW, I've never seen clip before. He's is sweating big time. Trying to answer tough questions under pressure, his presence shows pire guilt in his involvement. 👏
They put extremely thick makeup on you before you go into these interviews. On top of the fact that there's lights staring directly at you, and the camera takes a 200X zoom of your face.
Sometimes you can judge a book by it's cover
John Ehrlichmann's memoir's must have been an interesting read !!
Ehrlichmann mellowed in later years. I remember I saw an interview he did in 1981 and he was much more open and likeable.
I read one of them. It's all, "I can't recall". John Dean's book seems the most credible, because he offers dialogue.
@@stevea6816 I found him even then quite likeable. He clearly has a good sense of humor. Younger folks like Dean were just scared off by those bushy eyebrows and Haldeman's crew cut. I think those two were acting much meaner than they really were.It's like kindergarten teachers, who sometimes have to raise their voice and to punish norty kids, but who outside of the classroom are very likeable persons. I'm sure there were two Ehrlichmans.
“I don’t recall” lol.. how many times has that been used. 🤣
Nice to see nothing has changed in Washington
Well there you go....what's the prize for consistency?
I was so pleased when 60 Minutes used the same dogged zeal and curiosity to hold those behind Operation Fast and Furious responsible for their criminal acts.
Too bad they didn't have the "Chewbacca Defense" back then... he woulda walked!
(South Park reference- lawyer puts a mask of Chewbacca on the head of his client and proclaims to the Jury "What does Chewbacca have to do with this case?! Absolutely NOTHING! Which is why my client is INNOCENT!")
This was the prelude to what's happening today
No self respecting politician would endeavor to be president without a really good Ehrlichman and a really good Haldeman. Can't be done without 'em.
Let's admit we don't want to make this a habit....after we clean up aisle Trump!
"I use this as my playbook. The ONLY difference between Nixon and me is that I will not resign."--Joe Biden.
Erlichmann is sweating profusely.
He's almost trying to be Nixon.
At the time, we didn't see our politicians as shrewed. Elected officials were honest like George Washington and Abe Lincoln.
The release of the Pentagon Papers would have shredded that vision already.
You're nursing a serious delusion. Better take your meds, fella.
For some of us, we had a eye on George and gave Lincoln a wide berth!
Listening to the Nixon tapes I think shocked Americans back into reality.
„Ehrlich“ means „honest“ in German. Ain’t it funny?
Does anyone notice Ehrlichman’s upper lip is sweating?
Underneath his eyes and cheeks too.
This was child play compared to what Trump has been doing!
Ah the good old days of innocence,
I wouldn't call this "child play", but it's true Trump and his croonies took it to yet another level. The difference also is significant: Nixon won his re-election, no doubt about that, Trump didn't but claims he did. It's he who looks like a spoiled toddler who can't stand it to loose whatever game he plays.
Biden, Trump, Obama, Bush 2, Clinton, Bush 1, and Reagan. Every administration after Nixon's was far more corrupt than Nixon's. What they learned was how to be more nervy, more bold and more shameless and the media/press (with the exception of the Trump administration) was/is pliant and willing accomplices. The media/press are stenographers for almost every administration with the exception of Nixon's and Trump's. Also, Trump hasn't been president for 18 months and the Biden/Harris administration is going far above and beyond Trump. And the country is in far worse shape --- the pandemic is getting worse, no baby formula, inflation is ludicrous (btw Nixon stopped out of control inflation with a price&wage freeze which Biden could do but won't), gas prices are astronomical and will only get worse, rent is through the roof, there's a homelessness crisis, price of groceries and other necessities is absurd, the oncoming food/supply shortages which we already see because so many goods are not getting to stores, Roe vs Wade overturned (despite Obama promising to codify it and could have between 2009-2010... the Democrats allowed Roe to die in order to use it as a campaign issue in this year's midterm election).... one thing that is clear is the united states has done nothing but make war (abroad and against its own citizens within its borders) and go downhill fast since this interview. America has steadily and consistently just gotten progressively worse as time has gone on. But one thing is certain if Trump were president right now none of this would be allowed to happen because the media/press would be all over it and they (along with the deep state) would be encouraging & facilitating protests and rioting in the streets all over the country. And they would be covering it 24/7
And Biden?
"In a button-down White House." Wallace is driving the knife in here. The old dilemma: Either you knew and were thus in on it (bad) or it happened right under your nose while you were in control and thus you are incompetent (possibly worse)...choose one horn.
This was only just posted? How ..........interesting.
50th Anniversary of Watergate.....a connection called, history!
He even sweats like Nixon
Yes and ?
And stammers like Nixon also.
I was born in 69...so I'm ignorant about a lot of this...but, this man is lying!!!
What time stamp was the admittance about the war on drugs.
I thought he might drown in his own sweat.
IRS audits to political opponents ? This was common practice during the Kennedy and Johnson administration.
Agreed Jorge, using the IRS as a political weapon goes back to the 1930s when FDR began using audits against many of his conservative opponents (and even outspoken private citizens). Then both Kennedy and Johnson dramatically expanded the IRS role in "surreptitious" investigations and audits.
And Nixon had it done on his own brother!
@@oldhickory4686 Yep, and Nixon too! But you're right, whereas Jack had Bobby to ruthlessly pursue opponents, Nixon was right there in the trenches with H&E. Nixon was probably the dirtiest of the bunch.
@@attsealevel Yes, and I'm not sure where I read it, but I remember someone had commented that if these men had never been associated with Nixon, they probably would have had fine, successful careers. (might be in Dean's book)
@@oldhickory4686 Hmm, bet you're right about that. Ehrlichman actually did some good things too (NYTimes surprisingly ran a great article on many of those accomplishments). Just a shame that he will always be remembered for his role as Nixon's "gatekeeper". And yes, Dean's "Blind Ambution" is a great read. The free TV mini-series is right here on youtube. It's 3 hrs (so a little long) but I like it a lot (Martin Sheen is excellent),
This was filmed after he was forced to quit ( 4-30-73) he was still loyal to Nixon
His body language/facial contortions are interesting.
29:04 Bruh actually said “Piffle.”
28:26 really knocked him senseless.
Actually it was 16:45. FIFY
@@baronvonnembles That too, but 28:26 left his head visibly spinning.
The beginning of party and truth over country.
Started with Kennedy
@@povertyspec9651 sorry not even close to the Republican Party
It sure was. When republicans ignored the crimes in front of their very faces so they could carry their idol crook presidents water.
The problem with so many Americans is confirmation bias, and believing that a politician has done his or her job by getting the vote. To the contrary, that’s when the job begins.
No different from parents who see no wrong in their own kids and blame their bad behavior on everyone else.
This must be before the Butterfield disclosure of the Taping in the oval office.? He's lying from the jump.
"I know nothKline. Sargeant Schultz. But he even looks a bit like Colonel Klink.
Wow! I just happen to stumble to this video. First God bless the late Mike Wallace. What a great journalist and reporter he was. Straight foward and did his homework.
As much as I would like to believe John E. I dont by his testimony.
I think he is trying to salvage or save face to the Nixon presidency of that era. And the role he played in the administration. In his talk with Mike Wallace.
I wish we had the Walter Cronkites, the Mike Wallace's and so many of the pioneers of passed journalist and reporters.
God bless our military women and men in uniform. And our great nation.
00:45 “and I want whiskey on ice”….