On June 23, 1972, Nixon and Haldeman discussed the progress the FBI was making in their investigation and an inability to control it.'The smoking gun' tape. Source: Nixon Library. Watergate Tapes. Recording available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oe3OgU8W0s In discussing how to ask Helms for his assistance to seek a "hold" on the FBI investigation, Nixon said "well, we protected Helms from one hell of a lot of things". Nixon's team (chiefly Haldeman, Ehrlichman, and Dean) then asked Helms in effect to assert a phony national security reason for the break-in and, under that rationale, to interfere with the ongoing FBI investigation of the Watergate burglaries. Such a course would also involve the CIA in posting bail for the arrested suspects. Initially Helms made some superficial accommodation that stalled for several weeks the FBI's progress. At several meetings attended by Helms and Walters, Nixon's team referred to the Cuban Bay of Pigs fiasco, using it as if a talisman of dark secrets, as an implied threat against the integrity of CIA. Immediately, sharply, Helms turned aside this gambit.Helms (2003) pp. 9–10 (Bay of Pigs), pp. 11–12 (bail), p. 283 (Nixon's team members). The White House specifically requested Helms to bring DDCI Walters with him to meetings (p. 8).Powers (1979) pp. 297–311.Ranelagh (1986) pp. 520–530.Weiner (2007) p. 630 (investigation stalled for "sixteen days at most").
on june 23 1972 nixon and haldeman discussed the progress the fbi was making in their investigation and an inability to control it'the smoking gun' tape source nixon library watergate tapes recording available at https//wwwyoutubecom/watchv=_oe3ogu8w0s in discussing how to ask helms for his assistance to seek a "hold" on the fbi investigation nixon said "well we protected helms from one hell of a lot of things" nixon's team (chiefly haldeman ehrlichman and dean) then asked helms in effect to assert a phony national security reason for the break-in and under that rationale to interfere with the ongoing fbi investigation of the watergate burglaries such a course would also involve the cia in posting bail for the arrested suspects initially helms made some superficial accommodation that stalled for several weeks the fbi's progress at several meetings attended by helms and walters nixon's team referred to the cuban bay of pigs fiasco using it as if a talisman of dark secrets as an implied threat against the integrity of cia immediately sharply helms turned aside this gambithelms (2003) pp 9–10 (bay of pigs) pp 11–12 (bail) p 283 (nixon's team members) the white house specifically requested helms to bring ddci walters with him to meetings (p 8)powers (1979) pp 297–311ranelagh (1986) pp 520–530weiner (2007) p 630 (investigation stalled for "sixteen days at most")