The Special Prosecutors receive seven of the nine tapes they requested. Several investigators listen intently (and repeatedly) to the March 21 “cancer on the Presidency” conversation between Dean and Nixon. Most sit in stunned silence as they hear the plot play out before them.

Jaworski explains to the staff that one of their investigators had been sifting through materials at the White House when he noticed some pages were retyped and rewritten. It’s his conclusion that most are no longer useful as they can’t be sure what was altered or completely changed.

John Doar is appointed as the chief counsel for the House Judiciary Committee.

Having listened to the March 21 tape, Jaworski tries to convince Haig that the President is, in fact, a crook, calling the conversation “terrible beyond description”, but Haig remains steadfast that the President has not committed any crime.

After reading the transcripts all night, Harlow tells Haig, “Al, those tapes will destroy the President.” Haig calls a meeting of the key players. Harlow says the March 21 tape is very damaging, but Buchanan insists that the President will survive. “It’s not like the Catholic Church, where it’s a sin just to think about it.”

The Post publishes two Watergate stories. The first saying two of the President’s advisors are no longer convinced of his innocence. The second story accuses the President’s lawyers of giving evidence to the lawyers for Haldeman and Ehrlichman. Haig calls Post publisher Katharine Graham to say the stories were “scurrilous”.

Jaworski had previously been given access to hear tapes that were not subpoenaed, but Nixon decides that should stop. Jaworski asks to hear the tape from June 4, 1973 when Nixon had spent his day listening to conversations with John Dean. He implies to Haig that if he could hear that tape, his requests would stop. Buzhardt tells Haig “no” saying the tapes show the President, Haig, and Ziegler plotting against Dean, and Nixon admitting he may be involved in the cover-up. It would also lead to Jaworski to want more tapes. Haig thinks it’s a chance to bring things to an end, and Nixon is persuaded to let him hear the tape.

Jaworski listens to the June 4 tape and is given a copy.

An expert panel brought in to analyze the tapes releases a report concluding the missing section of the tape was the result of five separate erasures. The conclusion, although the panel never said it, was Rose Mary Woods was lying or someone accessed the tapes without her knowledge. Either outcome meant her story of how the tape was erased was false. The results turn even more members of the government against the White House.

The Watergate grand jury requests a meeting with the President, but St. Clair rejects it.

St. Clair declares the President has given enough material and will not release any more.

St. Clair asks Doar to define what the committee considers an impeachable offense.

The prosecutors discuss ways they can ensure Nixon is included on any indictment. If he is not indicted, his portions of conversations may not make it into public records. They decide to include him as an unindicted co-conspirator, keeping his name secret for the time being.

Mark Felt is interviewed by someone in the special prosecutor’s office as they build their case against Gray.

Nixon holds his first press conference of the year. When questioned, he says he does not expect to be impeached, and he will cooperate with the House.

Acting on Jaworski’s advice, the grand jury votes 19-0 to indict the President’s men with conspiracy to obstruct justice. Those indicted are Haldeman, Ehrlichman, Colson, Mitchell, Strachan, Mardian, and Kenneth Parkinson. Nixon is also secretly name as an unindicted co-conspirator.

The Post and others report that the grand jury would have indicted Nixon if asked.

The White House gives the House Judiciary Committee any information previously given to the special prosecutor.

Haldeman, Ehrlichman, Colson, Mitchell, Strachan, Mardian, and Kenneth Parkinson all plead not guilty to the charges in Sirica’s court.

James Buckley, Republican Senator from New York, calls for Nixon to resign.

The White House announces that ten of the forty-two tapes requested by the House committee do not exist.