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Conversation 038-133

TapeTape 38StartTuesday, April 24, 1973 at 9:19 PMEndTuesday, April 24, 1973 at 9:22 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ziegler, Ronald L.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discussed the potential publication of damaging press stories, specifically addressing a rumor involving Herbert Klein and Art Buchwald that was ultimately retracted. The conversation shifted to a Washington Star article concerning internal conflicts between John Ehrlichman and Clark MacGregor regarding the Committee to Re-elect the President's (CRP) investigation of itself. Nixon directed Ziegler to coordinate with Bryce Harlow to secure a briefing on the situation before the President's upcoming morning meeting.

WatergateMedia relationsJohn D. EhrlichmanClark MacGregorBryce N. HarlowCommittee to Re-elect the President
AudioNARA Description

On April 24, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 9:19 pm to 9:22 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 038-133 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 38-133

Date: April 24, 1973
Time: 9:19 pm - 9:22 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

     Art Buchwald’s conversation with Herbert G. Klein
          -Washington Post story

     Watergate
          -Washington Star story
               -John D. Ehrlichman’s conversation with Clark MacGregor
               -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman, Maurice H. Stans, and MacGregor, meeting
                     Roosevelt room
               -President’s meeting with Kakuei Tanaka in Hawaii
               -Committee to Re-elect the President [CRP] investigation
          -MacGregor’s disagreement with John D. Ehrlichman
          -Bryce N. Harlow
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

We got this straightened around.
It was one of those overheard conversations that never took place apparently.
Art Buchwald or something said it in a conversation with Klein up there.
They were having a peer in a Waldorf and a couple post lawyers overheard it and it went from there and Buchwald and Klein have straightened it all out and the story's not running.
Yeah, but he apparently—I talked to Herb and he said, well, Buckwold was sitting there kidding around, really, you know, the way Buckwold is.
And Herb said that he put him down.
He said, how do you know?
How do you know?
That type of thing.
And three lawyers who didn't know Klein apparently overheard it and it spread from there.
That's how those things happen sometimes.
What is the situation with regard to that?
I see something in the star, that Ehrlichman and... That's the only McGregor thing.
I discussed that with you yesterday, didn't I?
I don't recall.
That's the...
The thing I discussed with you yesterday was the Haldeman-McGregor stands meeting at Roosevelt Room.
This story in the star relates to the fact that at the time of the Tanaka meeting,
There was discussion for the— Tanaka?
When you went to Hawaii.
Not Tanaka.
Yes, Tanaka.
I guess that was it.
In Hawaii, yes, sir.
When was that?
Oh, boy.
I don't know.
That was December, January, I don't know.
No, it was in October, I think.
Oh, not before the election.
Well, maybe it was.
Okay.
what was supposed to happen then.
But Ehrlichman asked—apparently the story says Ehrlichman encouraged the committee to examine themselves as carefully as we could.
We had to examine ours here and then to put out a statement.
And apparently the story says it never went.
The story says that he never said that?
The story says that the statement was not put out apparently.
McGregor disagrees with what Ehrlichman said or what?
I think so.
I have not read the story as such.
I received a report, but I think there's some point of difference between John and McGregor in the story.
Well, at least John was asking the committee to... To move, yes.
To move, huh?
That's the thrust of the story, yes, sir.
Burdickman looks pretty good on that one, doesn't he?
Yes, he does.
Well, I'm going to...
Get together with Harlow at about 7.30 in the morning.
Good.
To get his view.
Is he available for that person?
Well, I have a call in to him now.
I'm sure he will be.
His line at home is busy.
Good.
He wanted to report on that before your 9.30 meeting, didn't you?
Fine.
If you could get it, yeah.
Yes, sir.
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