I absolutely reject the legitimacy of laws like those of California or Maryland (invoked in the Linda Tripp / Monica Lewinsky matter) that prohibit a person from recording conversations they’re participating in.
You can certainly record conversations in those two states. You just can't do so secretly. I once had a tyrannical boss who was well-known for abusive language and behavior in “private” personnel meetings. The only way to get him to behave in those meetings was to inform him that the conversation would be recorded.