← 036-059036-061 →

Conversation 036-060

TapeTape 36StartMonday, January 22, 1973 at 8:03 PMEndMonday, January 22, 1973 at 8:05 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ziegler, Ronald L.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discuss the drafting of a formal statement regarding the death of former President Lyndon B. Johnson. They deliberate on the specific phrasing of the tribute, ultimately deciding to remove a sentence about achieving peace to avoid potential controversy or distraction during upcoming media coverage. Nixon directs Ziegler to finalize the statement, noting that its release should be timed strategically alongside public announcements.

Lyndon B. JohnsonPress relationsPublic statementsWhite House communicationsPresidential rhetoric
AudioNARA Description

On January 22, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 8:03 pm to 8:05 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 036-060 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 36-60

Date: January 22, 1973
Time: 8:03 pm - 8:05 pm
Location: White House Telephone

Ronald L. Ziegler talked with the President.

       Lyndon B. Johnson’s death
            -The President’s statement
                  -Wording
            -Ziegler’s conversation with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Mr. President, I have Mr. Ziegler calling you.
All right.
There you are.
Mr. President, I'm sorry to bother you, sir.
In reading this last paragraph, Mr. President, I had the reaction that by saying he was so profoundly dedicated and which we shall soon achieve, I had a feeling that that
would be focused on the lead and almost at its peace.
I checked it with Haig to get his view just before...
I would just strike out, soon achieve.
Well, there are two ways to do it.
One would be to say, I am confident we will soon achieve, which is more a prediction than it is a flat statement of fact.
Why don't you just leave it out?
Al's feeling is, and I tend to agree with him, is that... Just leave it out.
I don't think you need it.
This paragraph would be better to say perhaps at the time of the speech...
because tomorrow night there's going to be, you know, a lot of rundown on LBJ and so forth.
And then we can – and there will be probably a little criticism on his role and so forth.
But then at the time of the announcement, particularly if there's a 24-hour slip, then we could hit him with a statement like this.
Okay, fine.
So I'll leave it out.
Fine, sir.
← 036-059036-061 →