Watching Mike Wallace interview him in 1973 on 60 Minutes (which is here on TH-cam) and then this interview in 1982 is a fascinating thing. He was weasely and cold in 1973, trying his best to stay out of prison. Everything appears softened in 1982. Even the beard softens the hard edges. The home movies were a good touch for trying to seem more human. He may well have changed in the intervening years, but it's remarkable to see the interviews back to back.
Here he had nothing to lose. He speaks actually somewhat graciously of Nixon at the end, but make no mistake, "Witness to Power" was quite harsh on Nixon. Haldeman and Ehrlichman were capable and skilled men, but couldn't control Nixon, who of course, couldn't control himself. Always letting his paranoia and cynicism win out.
The cold exterior one assumes, was because he was on trial, and facing prison time. It is often wise not to tell the police and prosecution too much. Whoda thunk it?
Back in the early ‘80s when Letterman first came on late at night (12:30 to 1:30 a.m.) I got hooked and watched every night possible. I know I missed a few including this one. It’s a real treat to watch it now. I’ve always said that for my tastes Letterman was at his best during the first five or six years.
Thanks for posting. I was born in the mid 90's so it's very interesting to get a glimpse at life, and in this case politics as well, from before my time.
1) this is the Dave that years later could interview Clinton, Obama and others as good as any reporter. 2) this would be a great addendum to any documentary on Watergate. 3) great prank on Kissinger. What if Jill St. John was watching that night?
Halderman was on 60 Minutes in 1975 but it's hard to find any interviews after that. He published his Watergate diaries in 1993 but didn't do a book tour as he was dying of cancer.
Ehrlichman's 1976 novel The Company is a good read. It is arguably more revealing, as a roman a clef dealing with the deeper context of the Watergate events, than his non-fiction book Witness to Power.
One element of the novel is that the current President's predicament relates back to the assassination of a previous President (successfully covered up and made to look like an accidental plane crash), although the current President was not involved. The phrase "the Company" is, or used to be, well-known intelligence community argot for CIA. Was this retained in the TV movie?
Ehrlichman is very honest here, at least with his feelings about Nixon and not really holding too many grudges for going to prison, while Nixon remained free. Also he agreed the pardon was the best thing for the nation, I have to agree Nixon did himself in and paid a hefty price.
I have watched all the Senate Committee Hearings of the significant parties involved in the Watergate Scandal. It is still mind boggling to me how blindly supportive John Ehrlichman and H.R. Haldeman were to Richard Nixon. Had Nixon not had the advantage of so much cronyism and nepotism he might not have been so open to breaking the law so often, just because he was President and thought he was allowed to.
Good points, I think there was an "us vs. them" attitude in the White House, Nixon went off the deep end when the Pentagon Papers were released to the NY Times(or Washington Post?). There's even film of Nixon grabbing a reporter, forcibly turning him around and pushing him away. Nixon forgot we elect Presidents, not Dictators nor Kings.
I am by no means an expert on President Nixon, but his presidency and the Watergate Scandal are subjects that are very very interesting to me. I have spent a lot of time researching and reviewing information related to them both.
@@DavidKeithWilliams It's always been fascinating to me as well. Here's a great documentary "Watergate Plus 30" that PBS did in 2003 for the 30th Anniversary. th-cam.com/video/1ecxZH9pdSk/w-d-xo.html
Thank you for posting this. I felt it was a very even keeled interview and he was not as bitter as he is often portrayed. While what Ehrlichman did was illegal, the guy didn’t kill anybody and he didn’t start a war. While Watergate was bad, if you look at all of other Nixon’s accomplishments , he was a very good president.
@@ratuamartyanne8875 - OMG more Nixon apologists. He admitted ordering the break-in of Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist to David Frost. He said for "national security" He's on tape ordering the break-in of the Brookings Institute. He erased 18 minutes of recorded conversation the after the Watergate break-in occurred. He knew...He was looking for Intel that would ruin his chances for re-election in 1972.
@@jake105 you said Erlichman was STILL lying for Nixon 9 years later. How? Why? What exactly? He has been in prison for those crimes you stated. He is talking about the things he did, whilst working for Nixon. And, paints a not very flattering picture of him. So, how is he STILL lying? He did his time, leave him alone. Biden is far more corrupt. As is the FBI and Fauci.
![“อ.เบียร์ คนตื่นธรรม” มาตามคำเรียกร้อง แหกศาสตร์ฮวงจุ้ย เตือนสติอย่างมงาย | แฉ 7 พ.ย. 67 [1/3]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/5fc4S3xBNfc/mqdefault.jpg)
Letterman did a really good job with this interview.
Fantastic interview
Watching Mike Wallace interview him in 1973 on 60 Minutes (which is here on TH-cam) and then this interview in 1982 is a fascinating thing. He was weasely and cold in 1973, trying his best to stay out of prison. Everything appears softened in 1982. Even the beard softens the hard edges. The home movies were a good touch for trying to seem more human. He may well have changed in the intervening years, but it's remarkable to see the interviews back to back.
Here he had nothing to lose. He speaks actually somewhat graciously of Nixon at the end, but make no mistake, "Witness to Power" was quite harsh on Nixon. Haldeman and Ehrlichman were capable and skilled men, but couldn't control Nixon, who of course, couldn't control himself. Always letting his paranoia and cynicism win out.
The cold exterior one assumes, was because he was on trial, and facing prison time. It is often wise not to tell the police and prosecution too much. Whoda thunk it?
Back in the early ‘80s when Letterman first came on late at night (12:30 to 1:30 a.m.) I got hooked and watched every night possible.
I know I missed a few including this one.
It’s a real treat to watch it now.
I’ve always said that for my tastes Letterman was at his best during the first five or six years.
Thanks for posting. I was born in the mid 90's so it's very interesting to get a glimpse at life, and in this case politics as well, from before my time.
Good comments
Wish more were interested in the goings on of things before ‘we arrived’ on the scene
Never thought we'd look back at the Watergate era as "the good old days" for our Country
Thank you for the audio fix, I was excited to watch this
1) this is the Dave that years later could interview Clinton, Obama and others as good as any reporter.
2) this would be a great addendum to any documentary on Watergate.
3) great prank on Kissinger. What if Jill St. John was watching that night?
Did haldeman ever do an interview similar? I saw a bbc doco with him on shortly before he died on watergate and he seemed military still
Halderman was on 60 Minutes in 1975 but it's hard to find any interviews after that. He published his Watergate diaries in 1993 but didn't do a book tour as he was dying of cancer.
A very good interview.
this is incredible, donz. you're almost like a god, to me.
Let's not go nuts here. :)
Ehrlichman's 1976 novel The Company is a good read. It is arguably more revealing, as a roman a clef dealing with the deeper context of the Watergate events, than his non-fiction book Witness to Power.
It was made into a TV movie called Washington behind closed doors.
One element of the novel is that the current President's predicament relates back to the assassination of a previous President (successfully covered up and made to look like an accidental plane crash), although the current President was not involved. The phrase "the Company" is, or used to be, well-known intelligence community argot for CIA.
Was this retained in the TV movie?
Lesley Stahl of CBS news: "John Ehrlichman was fun, he was humors and delightful. I like him very much, I have to admit"
Can you elaborate regarding the book?
Interesting & honest. Nixon should have reached out to him.
Who's here in 2022 thinking here is where it all began!!
Ehrlichman is very honest here, at least with his feelings about Nixon and not really holding too many grudges for going to prison, while Nixon remained free. Also he agreed the pardon was the best thing for the nation, I have to agree Nixon did himself in and paid a hefty price.
john Ehrlichman tries to distance himself from activities around watergate but as policy adviser he was involved thats why he went to prison
I have watched all the Senate Committee Hearings of the significant parties involved in the Watergate Scandal. It is still mind boggling to me how blindly supportive John Ehrlichman and H.R. Haldeman were to Richard Nixon. Had Nixon not had the advantage of so much cronyism and nepotism he might not have been so open to breaking the law so often, just because he was President and thought he was allowed to.
Good points, I think there was an "us vs. them" attitude in the White House, Nixon went off the deep end when the Pentagon Papers were released to the NY Times(or Washington Post?). There's even film of Nixon grabbing a reporter, forcibly turning him around and pushing him away. Nixon forgot we elect Presidents, not Dictators nor Kings.
I actually think the person you are referring to that President Nixon was grabbing, turning, and pushing was his Press Secretary, Ronald Ziegler.
@@DavidKeithWilliams You're right I had to look it up again, thanks for the correction!
I am by no means an expert on President Nixon, but his presidency and the Watergate Scandal are subjects that are very very interesting to me. I have spent a lot of time researching and reviewing information related to them both.
@@DavidKeithWilliams It's always been fascinating to me as well. Here's a great documentary "Watergate Plus 30" that PBS did in 2003 for the 30th Anniversary. th-cam.com/video/1ecxZH9pdSk/w-d-xo.html
John D. Ehrlichman, H.R. Haldeman and Henry Kissinger. The "Berlin Wall" of the Nixon cabinet.
Just like Nuremberg nobody knew anything...............
Give me the bat, Wendy.
Thank you for posting this. I felt it was a very even keeled interview and he was not as bitter as he is often portrayed. While what Ehrlichman did was illegal, the guy didn’t kill anybody and he didn’t start a war. While Watergate was bad, if you look at all of other Nixon’s accomplishments , he was a very good president.
It sounds like you don’t have any idea at all of what Nixon’s criminality actually was, much less Ehrlichman’s.
He looks like that BTK guy.
Only he tried to do it to America.
Don, how long did Dave occasionally opt for the sweater before they went permanently with jacket-and-tie?
It was off and on during the first months. I’ll get back on this later.
You have to wonder what these people are thinking
Why does he looks like Steve Jobs when he was old?
Still lying for Nixon in 1982. What a shame
How? Where? Which part or statement?
@@ratuamartyanne8875 - OMG more Nixon apologists. He admitted ordering the break-in of Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist to David Frost. He said for "national security" He's on tape ordering the break-in of the Brookings Institute. He erased 18 minutes of recorded conversation the after the Watergate break-in occurred. He knew...He was looking for Intel that would ruin his chances for re-election in 1972.
@@jake105 you said Erlichman was STILL lying for Nixon 9 years later. How? Why? What exactly? He has been in prison for those crimes you stated. He is talking about the things he did, whilst working for Nixon. And, paints a not very flattering picture of him. So, how is he STILL lying? He did his time, leave him alone. Biden is far more corrupt. As is the FBI and Fauci.
@@ratuamartyanne8875 - I said he's still lying for Nixon!
@@jake105 yes, I can read. But, you are giving ZERO evidence of how and what? So, how was he STILL lying? What did he lie about?