About this recording
435-023a
- President Richard M. Nixon
- Ronald L. Ziegler
- Manolo Sanchez
- White House operator
- Alexander M. Haig
May 14, 1973
Conversation No. 435-23
Date: May 15, 1973
Time: 1:38 pm-2:45 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler.
Press relations
-Ziegler’s press briefings
-Watergate
-White House investigation
-President’s statement, August 1972
-John W. Dean, III
-Statements by Samuel J. Ervin, Jr. and Howard H. Baker, Jr.
-Ziegler’s conversation with Robert H. Abplanalp
-Frank DeMarco, Jr.
-Possible press conference
-Television [TV]
-Possible commentary that President’s hiding
Watergate
-Ziegler’s previous press briefing
-William D. Ruckelshaus
-Files
-Daniel Ellsberg break-in
-William M. Byrne, Jr.
-Tone
Press relations
-Ziegler’s press briefings
-Symbolism
-Herbert G. Klein
-Ziegler’s forthcoming conversation with John B. Connally
-Openness by White House
-12-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 435-23 (cont’d)
-Ziegler’s handling of press briefings
-Dean
-Grand jury’s actions
-President’s appearance
-Ziegler’s handling of press briefings
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-Raymond K. Price, Jr.
-David R. Gergen
-Gerald L. Warren
-Frequency of press briefings
-Ziegler, Warren
-Press criticism
-Ziegler’s dismissal
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Seymour M. Hersch’s story
-James B. (“Scotty”) Reston
-Wiretaps
-Political motivations
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Connally’s possible view
-Frequency and handling of press briefings
-Warren
-Cabinet officers
-Watergate questions
-Warren
-Tone
-President, Ziegler
Watergate
-Documents
-Ehrlichman, President, and William H. Sullivan
-President’s knowledge
-Sullivan
-Wiretap [?]
-Presidential appointments
-Haig’s view
-13-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 435-23 (cont’d)
-Disappointment
-Ruckelshaus
-Judgment
-Loyalty
-Sullivan
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Ziegler’s views
-Richardson
-Challenge to Ziegler
-Disappointment
-Richardson, Ruckelshaus
-Independent prosecutor
-Richardson
-Criticism
-White House recommendations
-White House cooperation
-Ruckelshaus’s criticism
-Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]
-Sullivan
Press briefing
-President’s home
-Statement
-Nixon Foundation
-Trust
-Abplanalp and Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo
-DeMarco
-Relationship
-Government contracts
-Business ownership
-Securities and Exchange Commission [SEC]
-Auditing
-Private trust
-Difficulties
-Tone
-News
-Previous focus on President’s involvement
-14-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 435-23 (cont’d)
-Central Intelligence Agency [CIA] and FBI stories
-Ziegler’s handling
Watergate
-Dean
-Documents
-Ziegler’s conversation with Haig
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman and Ehrlichman
-FBI
-Egil (“Bud”) Krogh operation
-J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr.
-Lyndon B. Johnson’s wiretaps
-J. Edgar Hoover
-United States Secret Service [USSS]
-Wiretaps
-Ehrlichman’s comments
-E. Howard Hunt, Jr.’s files [?]
-President’s involvement
-Haldeman, Ehrlichman
-Public impressions
-Sullivan
-Hunt, G[eorge] Gordon Liddy, and Charles W. Colson
-Haldeman and Ehrlichman
-Concerns
-FBI
-Lt. Gen. Vernon A. Walters
-CIA
-Presidential files
-Public impressions
-Executive privilege
-Documents and conversations
-Haldeman’s and Ehrlichman’s meeting with Walters
-CIA involvement
-President’s conversation with Henry E. Petersen
-Liddy’s pictures
-Justice Department
-Ellsberg break-in
-15-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 435-23 (cont’d)
-Ehrlichman and Dean
-Krogh
-Dean
-Meeting with President, March 21
-Guilt
-Jeb Stuart Magruder and John N. Mitchell
-Haldeman, Erhlichman
-Indictments
-Convictions
-President’s conversation with Petersen, May 15
-Press briefings
-Frequency and brevity
-Topics
-Ervin Committee
-Haldeman and Ehrlichman
-Dean
-Animosity
-Lawrence M. Higby
-President
-Ehrlichman
-Haldeman
-Ehrlichman
-Interview in Washington Star
-Presidency
-Haldeman and Ehrlichman
-Beliefs regarding role in Watergate
Refreshment
President’s schedule
Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time afer 1:38 pm.
Refreshment
-Dubonnet
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 2:10 pm.
-16-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 435-23 (cont’d)
Watergate
-Haig
-Buzhardt
Congressional relations
-President’s previous meeting with Congressional leaders
-Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield [?]
Watergate
-Attitude toward President
-Mansfield
-Carl B. Albert
-W[illiam] Stuart Symington
-Dean
-Possible motives
-Documents in possession
The President left at an unknown time before 2:10 pm.
Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 1:38 pm.
Press button [?]
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 2:10 pm.
The President entered at an unknown time after 1:38 pm.
Watergate
-Buzhardt
-James W. McCord, Jr., Hunt, and Dean
-Effect on President
The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 1:38 pm and
2:10 pm.
[Conversation No. 435-23A]
-17-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 435-23 (cont’d)
[Begin telephone conversation]
[See Conversation No. 46-56]
[End telephone conversation]
Watergate
-Samuel Dash’s conversation with Garment
-Press
The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr. between 2:10 pm and 2:15 pm.
[Conversation No. 435-23B]
[Begin telephone conversation]
[See Conversation No. 46-57]
[End telephone conversation]
Watergate
-President’ previous conversation with Haig
-Ehrlichman’s notes
-Clark MacGregor
-L[ouis] Patrick Gray
-Conversation with President
-President’s reaction to break-in
-CIA
-Magruder
-Haldeman and Ehrlichman
-Colson
-Ziegler’s reaction to break-in
-Magruder
-Mitchell
-Possible testimony regarding President’s role
-Buzhardt
-18-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 435-23 (cont’d)
-Conflicts
-Magruder, McCord, Mitchell, Dean, Ehrlichman
-Walters and Richard M. Helms
-Colson
-Statement to President
-Veracity
-Role in White House
-New Majority
-MacGregor’s visit to San Clemente in summer 1972
-President’s and Ziegler’s recollections of meeting
-Dennis Haliday [?]
-Concern
-Committee to Re-elect the President [CRP] [?]
-Possible statement by President
-Walters
-Conversation with Haig
-Testimony
-Memoranda of conversations [memcons]
-Conversation with Haldeman, Ehrlichman
-Classified information
-White House
-Colson, Dean
-CIA
-Ehrlichman, Haldeman, Colson, and Mitchell
-Contrasted with Dean
-Washington Star interview
-Ehrlichman
-Walters
-Release of documents
-Executive privilege
-Answer to possible press questions
-Haig
-Classified information
-Helms and Walters
-Executive privilege
-Public statements
-Ziegler
-19-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 435-23 (cont’d)
-President
-Gray [?]
-Haldeman
-President
-Address at Republican fundraising event
-Haldeman, Mitchell
Press relations
-Ziegler’s forthcoming briefings
-“Under siege”
-President’s schedule
-Camp David
-Conversation with Stephen B. Bull
Watergate
-Possible statement by President, summer 1972
-MacGregor
-Haig
-San Clemente [?]
-MacGregor’s role
-Magruder
-Frederick C. LaRue
-White House cooperation in investigation
-Magruder
-Mitchell and Dean
-Mitchell
-Motives of participants
-1972 presidential campaign
-Press
-Duration
-Indictments
-Possible comment by President
-Format
-Content
-Perceptions of embarrassment
-Television [TV]
-Harassment
-20-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 435-23 (cont’d)
-Compared to Vietnam, bombing
-Questions
-Indictments
-Timing
-Haig
-MacGregor
-Gray
-Hijack
-FBI investigation of break-in
-Press conference
-Grand jury
-MacGregor
Ziegler left at 2:45 pm.
Date: May 15, 1973
Time: 1:38 pm-2:45 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler.
Press relations
-Ziegler’s press briefings
-Watergate
-White House investigation
-President’s statement, August 1972
-John W. Dean, III
-Statements by Samuel J. Ervin, Jr. and Howard H. Baker, Jr.
-Ziegler’s conversation with Robert H. Abplanalp
-Frank DeMarco, Jr.
-Possible press conference
-Television [TV]
-Possible commentary that President’s hiding
Watergate
-Ziegler’s previous press briefing
-William D. Ruckelshaus
-Files
-Daniel Ellsberg break-in
-William M. Byrne, Jr.
-Tone
Press relations
-Ziegler’s press briefings
-Symbolism
-Herbert G. Klein
-Ziegler’s forthcoming conversation with John B. Connally
-Openness by White House
-12-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 435-23 (cont’d)
-Ziegler’s handling of press briefings
-Dean
-Grand jury’s actions
-President’s appearance
-Ziegler’s handling of press briefings
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-Raymond K. Price, Jr.
-David R. Gergen
-Gerald L. Warren
-Frequency of press briefings
-Ziegler, Warren
-Press criticism
-Ziegler’s dismissal
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Seymour M. Hersch’s story
-James B. (“Scotty”) Reston
-Wiretaps
-Political motivations
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Connally’s possible view
-Frequency and handling of press briefings
-Warren
-Cabinet officers
-Watergate questions
-Warren
-Tone
-President, Ziegler
Watergate
-Documents
-Ehrlichman, President, and William H. Sullivan
-President’s knowledge
-Sullivan
-Wiretap [?]
-Presidential appointments
-Haig’s view
-13-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 435-23 (cont’d)
-Disappointment
-Ruckelshaus
-Judgment
-Loyalty
-Sullivan
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Ziegler’s views
-Richardson
-Challenge to Ziegler
-Disappointment
-Richardson, Ruckelshaus
-Independent prosecutor
-Richardson
-Criticism
-White House recommendations
-White House cooperation
-Ruckelshaus’s criticism
-Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]
-Sullivan
Press briefing
-President’s home
-Statement
-Nixon Foundation
-Trust
-Abplanalp and Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo
-DeMarco
-Relationship
-Government contracts
-Business ownership
-Securities and Exchange Commission [SEC]
-Auditing
-Private trust
-Difficulties
-Tone
-News
-Previous focus on President’s involvement
-14-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 435-23 (cont’d)
-Central Intelligence Agency [CIA] and FBI stories
-Ziegler’s handling
Watergate
-Dean
-Documents
-Ziegler’s conversation with Haig
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman and Ehrlichman
-FBI
-Egil (“Bud”) Krogh operation
-J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr.
-Lyndon B. Johnson’s wiretaps
-J. Edgar Hoover
-United States Secret Service [USSS]
-Wiretaps
-Ehrlichman’s comments
-E. Howard Hunt, Jr.’s files [?]
-President’s involvement
-Haldeman, Ehrlichman
-Public impressions
-Sullivan
-Hunt, G[eorge] Gordon Liddy, and Charles W. Colson
-Haldeman and Ehrlichman
-Concerns
-FBI
-Lt. Gen. Vernon A. Walters
-CIA
-Presidential files
-Public impressions
-Executive privilege
-Documents and conversations
-Haldeman’s and Ehrlichman’s meeting with Walters
-CIA involvement
-President’s conversation with Henry E. Petersen
-Liddy’s pictures
-Justice Department
-Ellsberg break-in
-15-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 435-23 (cont’d)
-Ehrlichman and Dean
-Krogh
-Dean
-Meeting with President, March 21
-Guilt
-Jeb Stuart Magruder and John N. Mitchell
-Haldeman, Erhlichman
-Indictments
-Convictions
-President’s conversation with Petersen, May 15
-Press briefings
-Frequency and brevity
-Topics
-Ervin Committee
-Haldeman and Ehrlichman
-Dean
-Animosity
-Lawrence M. Higby
-President
-Ehrlichman
-Haldeman
-Ehrlichman
-Interview in Washington Star
-Presidency
-Haldeman and Ehrlichman
-Beliefs regarding role in Watergate
Refreshment
President’s schedule
Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time afer 1:38 pm.
Refreshment
-Dubonnet
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 2:10 pm.
-16-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 435-23 (cont’d)
Watergate
-Haig
-Buzhardt
Congressional relations
-President’s previous meeting with Congressional leaders
-Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield [?]
Watergate
-Attitude toward President
-Mansfield
-Carl B. Albert
-W[illiam] Stuart Symington
-Dean
-Possible motives
-Documents in possession
The President left at an unknown time before 2:10 pm.
Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 1:38 pm.
Press button [?]
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 2:10 pm.
The President entered at an unknown time after 1:38 pm.
Watergate
-Buzhardt
-James W. McCord, Jr., Hunt, and Dean
-Effect on President
The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 1:38 pm and
2:10 pm.
[Conversation No. 435-23A]
-17-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 435-23 (cont’d)
[Begin telephone conversation]
[See Conversation No. 46-56]
[End telephone conversation]
Watergate
-Samuel Dash’s conversation with Garment
-Press
The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr. between 2:10 pm and 2:15 pm.
[Conversation No. 435-23B]
[Begin telephone conversation]
[See Conversation No. 46-57]
[End telephone conversation]
Watergate
-President’ previous conversation with Haig
-Ehrlichman’s notes
-Clark MacGregor
-L[ouis] Patrick Gray
-Conversation with President
-President’s reaction to break-in
-CIA
-Magruder
-Haldeman and Ehrlichman
-Colson
-Ziegler’s reaction to break-in
-Magruder
-Mitchell
-Possible testimony regarding President’s role
-Buzhardt
-18-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 435-23 (cont’d)
-Conflicts
-Magruder, McCord, Mitchell, Dean, Ehrlichman
-Walters and Richard M. Helms
-Colson
-Statement to President
-Veracity
-Role in White House
-New Majority
-MacGregor’s visit to San Clemente in summer 1972
-President’s and Ziegler’s recollections of meeting
-Dennis Haliday [?]
-Concern
-Committee to Re-elect the President [CRP] [?]
-Possible statement by President
-Walters
-Conversation with Haig
-Testimony
-Memoranda of conversations [memcons]
-Conversation with Haldeman, Ehrlichman
-Classified information
-White House
-Colson, Dean
-CIA
-Ehrlichman, Haldeman, Colson, and Mitchell
-Contrasted with Dean
-Washington Star interview
-Ehrlichman
-Walters
-Release of documents
-Executive privilege
-Answer to possible press questions
-Haig
-Classified information
-Helms and Walters
-Executive privilege
-Public statements
-Ziegler
-19-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 435-23 (cont’d)
-President
-Gray [?]
-Haldeman
-President
-Address at Republican fundraising event
-Haldeman, Mitchell
Press relations
-Ziegler’s forthcoming briefings
-“Under siege”
-President’s schedule
-Camp David
-Conversation with Stephen B. Bull
Watergate
-Possible statement by President, summer 1972
-MacGregor
-Haig
-San Clemente [?]
-MacGregor’s role
-Magruder
-Frederick C. LaRue
-White House cooperation in investigation
-Magruder
-Mitchell and Dean
-Mitchell
-Motives of participants
-1972 presidential campaign
-Press
-Duration
-Indictments
-Possible comment by President
-Format
-Content
-Perceptions of embarrassment
-Television [TV]
-Harassment
-20-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. October-2012)
Conversation No. 435-23 (cont’d)
-Compared to Vietnam, bombing
-Questions
-Indictments
-Timing
-Haig
-MacGregor
-Gray
-Hijack
-FBI investigation of break-in
-Press conference
-Grand jury
-MacGregor
Ziegler left at 2:45 pm.