After his resignation, Nixon said to a TV audience during a speech, "I am not a crook." What is the artist trying to say about Nixon and the missing portions of the recordings?

Cartoon of Richard Nixon suspended between a broken roll of audio tape with print on it that reads 'I am' on one edge, 'not' on a piece of tape over Nixon's mouth, and 'a crook' on the other edge of tape.
Public Domain

The artist is saying that Nixon held on to the recordings long after they were requested because he knew they were his only hope to be found innocent.
The artist is saying that because the recordings did match up if they were listened to carefully, the public should not be so negative toward the president.
The artist is saying that because portions of the recordings were missing, the president clearly knew about the burglary and tried to cover up the evidence.
The artist is saying that Nixon was trying to find the missing parts of the recordings and it was only by accident that any recordings were erased.