Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 21 › Conversation 021-036

Nixon phone call with Ziegler on Busing and Press relations

Wednesday, March 8, 1972 · 1:57 PM–1:58 PM ET · White House Telephone · 25 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.Conversation021-036 on Tape 21 (tape position 01:19:11–01:19:36)StartWednesday, March 8, 1972 at 1:57 PMEndWednesday, March 8, 1972 at 1:58 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 021-036 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler coordinated a meeting at the Executive Office Building to discuss strategy ahead of an upcoming press briefing. Nixon specifically sought to outline his position on the contentious issue of busing before the following Tuesday. They agreed to confer shortly to ensure Ziegler was prepared to handle potential media inquiries on the subject.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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ron mr ziggler sir i'm in the eob uh when you want to come over to get anything before the briefing yes sir and uh i got a couple of thoughts on busing that i want to get out before the uh before next tuesday so i you'll probably get some question on the one chair will you well i could arrange to fine i'll be over anytime in about 15 no hurry no hurry okay sir

NARA Description

On March 8, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 1:57 pm to 1:58 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 021-036 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 21-36

Date: March 9, 1972
Time: 1:57 pm - 1:58 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler..

[See Conversation No. 322-35]

     The President’s schedule
          -Executive Office Building [EOB]
               -Forthcoming meeting with Ziegler
                      -Forthcoming press briefing
                           -Busing
                                -Potential question
                      -Timing

Also recorded on March 8, 1972

  • 021-033 12:59 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:59 pm and 1:48 pm.
  • 021-034 1:48 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Tricia Nixon Cox talked on the telephone from 1:48 pm to 1:51 pm.
  • 021-035 1:51 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:51 pm and 1:57 pm.
  • 021-037 1:58 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:58 pm and 2:39 pm.
  • 321-021 2:15 PM · 27 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:15 pm to 2:45 pm.
  • 021-038 2:39 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John N. Irwin, II talked on the telephone from 2:39 pm to 2:40 pm.
  • 321-022 2:45 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:45 pm and 3:55 pm.
  • 321-023 2:45 PM · 5 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 2:45 pm and 3:55 pm.

All 36 conversations from March 8, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 021-036, March 8, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/021-036 (accessed October 3, 2026).