Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 33 › Conversation 033-104

Nixon phone call with Ziegler on White House reorganization and Leaks

Sunday, November 19, 1972 · 9:14 AM–9:16 AM ET · White House Telephone · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.Conversation033-104 on Tape 33StartSunday, November 19, 1972 at 9:14 AMEndSunday, November 19, 1972 at 9:16 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 033-104 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Ronald Ziegler discussed the unauthorized leak of information regarding the administration's second-term reorganization plans, which had appeared in the press. Nixon ordered Ziegler to investigate the source of the leak and expressed his intent to maintain strict control over future communications on the matter. Additionally, the President voiced strong frustration regarding a recent press interview given by Henry Kissinger, characterizing Kissinger's public remarks about his diplomatic role as embarrassing and harmful.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I was wondering about a couple things.
You know that the story on the—apparently it must have been some sort of a background story or something with regard to the reorganization and so forth.
Is that something we put out?
No, absolutely not.
We haven't backgrounded on reorganization.
Well, you know the one I was referring to?
Well, there was a story that ran in Florida that you might be referring to.
No, there's a story in the paper this morning which said administration aid.
It's on the front page.
You haven't seen it yet?
No, I have not, sir.
But John Ehrlichman or nobody else has made any statement on it.
I want to control this, Ron, because I don't want this all to leak out.
This one simply says the president was going to reorganize up to the limit of the law and so forth and so on.
A study has been made in the OMB.
You see what I mean?
Of course, that's what we're going to do, but I want it properly explained rather than have people think we're going to try to... You're sure now that Ehrlichman hasn't talked to anybody?
I'm absolutely 100% sure.
There must be somebody down here.
Why don't you check the—it's either the Star or the Post.
Would you do that?
Yeah, I'll do it right away.
And call me back as to where the hell the source is, because we've got to get it controlled.
Of course, in that respect, somebody's really got to give Henry a keeper.
That interview with some Italian was the goddamnedest thing I ever saw.
It was sort of—apart from the personal stuff, but the part where
said that he did the China thing alone and all that sort of thing.
If this doesn't teach him a lesson, I don't know.
If this doesn't teach him a lesson, I don't know.
Does he give an impression that he sort of thinks that he's done everything himself?
Well, he stewed about that, worried about that yesterday.
It was unbelievable.
Does it teach him a lesson?
What happened?
Was it some girl he met at a party or something?
I don't know.
The Italian ambassador wanted to impress him.
But of course, it's an embarrassing thing for him, Ron.
Oh, absolutely.
It's humiliating to him.
Huh?
It's humiliating to him.
The quotes are terrible.
No one believes it.
That's number one.
I haven't seen it.
I'm sorry.
I just woke up.
I better get back and read the paper.
Well, let me know when you're fine.
Fine.
I'm going to Camp David at noon today.
Okay, sir.
Going back up with the family.
Okay.

NARA Description

On November 19, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 9:14 am to 9:16 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 033-104 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 33-104

Date: November 19, 1972
Time: 9:14 am - 9:16 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

       Second term reorganization
            -[Washington Star] story
                  -Source
                        -Possible backgrounder
                                            - 104 -

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

                                                            Conversation No. 33-114 (cont’d)

                        -Florida story
                        -John D. Ehrlichman
                        -Control of leaks
                        -Office of Management and Budget [OMB] study
                        -White House staff members
                              Ehrlichman
                        -Washington Star
                        -Washington Post

       Henry A. Kissinger
            -[Oriana Fallaci] interview, November 2 and 4, 1972
                  -Role in foreign policy
                        -People’s Republic of China [PRC] trip
                        -Impression of statements
                  -Kissinger’s concern
                  -Arrangements
                        -Italian ambassador
                  -Effect
                        -Quotes

       The President's schedule
            -Trip to Camp David
                  -The President’s family

Also recorded on November 19, 1972

  • 033-103 8:30 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:30 am and 9:14 am.
  • 033-105 9:16 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 9:16 am.
  • 033-106 9:16 AM · 13 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 9:16 am to 9:29 am.
  • 033-107 9:29 AM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:29 am and 9:35 am.
  • 033-108 9:35 AM · 1 hr 11 min — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone at 9:35 am.
  • 033-109 10:49 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 10:49 am to 10:51 am.
  • 033-110 10:51 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone from 10:51 am to 10:56 am.
  • 033-111 10:56 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 10:56 am.

All 45 conversations from November 19, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 033-104, November 19, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/033-104 (accessed October 12, 2026).