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Conversation 036-044

TapeTape 36StartMonday, January 22, 1973 at 4:13 PMEndMonday, January 22, 1973 at 4:14 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ziegler, Ronald L.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon instructed Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler to implement an immediate ban on all communication between White House staff and Time magazine. This directive was prompted by a negative story regarding Charles W. Colson and John N. Mitchell. Nixon ordered that any staff member, including National Security Council personnel, found violating this policy—specifically mentioning Jerold L. Schecter—must have their resignation submitted within one minute.

Time magazineWhite House press policyInternal communicationsCharles W. ColsonJohn N. MitchellJerold L. Schecter
AudioNARA Description

On January 22, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 4:13 pm to 4:14 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 036-044 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 36-44

Date: January 22, 1973
Time: 4:13 pm - 4:14 pm
Location: White House Telephone
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                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                        (rev. Jul-08)

                                                            Conversation No. 36-44 (cont’d)

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

[See also Conversation No. 400-11C]

       Time story
            -White House staff
                  -Charles W. Colson and John N. Mitchell
                  -The President’s instructions
                  -Jerold L. Schecter
                  -National Security Council [NSC] staff
                  -No calls to and from Time
Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

Hello.
Yes, sir.
I'm sure you need to, but in view of times using that story on Mitchell and Coulson, anybody in the White House talks to anybody from time.
His resignation must be on my desk within one minute.
Is that clear?
Yes, sir.
You get that order around the statute.
All right.
And you are to enforce it.
And that means Schecter
everybody else, you tell the NSC crowd, no calls at all are to be taken or returned from Time magazine unless I approve them in the future.
Is that clear?
Yes, sir.
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