Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 36 › Conversation 036-116

Nixon phone call with Ziegler on Economic Report and Herbert Stein

Tuesday, January 30, 1973 · 1:18 PM–1:20 PM ET · White House Telephone · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.Conversation036-116 on Tape 36StartTuesday, January 30, 1973 at 1:18 PMEndTuesday, January 30, 1973 at 1:20 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 036-116 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consulted Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler about delaying the release of Herbert Stein’s economic report to avoid competition with other news cycles. Despite Ziegler's concerns regarding legal requirements and legislative constraints, Nixon insisted on shifting the briefing to an AM release schedule. The President directed Ziegler to prioritize this change, dismissing potential congressional backlash.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello.
Ron.
Yes, sir.
I wonder if you could check to see whether Stein could slip that economic report one day.
I think it's supposed to go tomorrow, but the problem we have here is that this other story is just going to top it beyond belief.
The British thing isn't going to mean a goddamn thing.
I mean, there's nothing there.
That's just a pure pageantry, but do you know whether it can be done or not?
Well, it's locked by law, the economic report.
I mean, well, he just can't delay it a day.
I'm sure he can't.
Let me check, Mr. President.
But as I recall, we requested a delay, and they fixed a date in the legislation for the economic report to go up.
We're briefing this afternoon at 3 o'clock on the economic report, see?
Well, when is it going to?
For release?
For noon release tomorrow, say.
Yeah.
How about, why don't you brief it at 3 o'clock for AM release?
I really believe you should.
From the standpoint of... Screw the Congress.
Don't worry about that, Rod.
I'll worry about the Congress.
Put it out for AM release.
Now, that's an order.
Get it done, okay?

NARA Description

On January 30, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 1:18 pm to 1:20 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 036-116 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 36-116

Date: January 30, 1973
Time: 1:18 pm - 1:20 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

[Conversation No. 406-8]

       Herbert Stein's economic report
            -Timing of release
            -Congress
            -Briefing
                   -Timing

Also recorded on January 30, 1973

  • 406-008 1:18 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 1:18 pm to 1:20 pm.
  • 036-117 1:20 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:20 pm and 1:22 pm.
  • 406-009 1:20 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:20 pm and 1:22 pm.
  • 036-118 1:22 PM · 42 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Peter J. Brennan talked on the telephone from 1:22 pm to 1:23 pm.
  • 406-010 1:22 PM · 41 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Peter J. Brennan met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:22 pm and 1:23 pm.
  • 036-119 1:23 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:23 pm and 6:50 pm.
  • 406-011 1:23 PM · 27 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:23 pm and 5:30 pm.
  • 406-012 1:23 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:23 pm and 5:30 pm.

All 51 conversations from January 30, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 036-116, January 30, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/036-116 (accessed October 5, 2026).