Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 033-104
Date: Sunday, November 19, 1972 at 9:14 AM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/033-104

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] I was wondering about a couple things.
[0:08] 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.
[0:21] Is that something we put out?
[0:23] No, absolutely not.
[0:26] We haven't backgrounded on reorganization.
[0:28] Well, you know the one I was referring to?
[0:30] Well, there was a story that ran in Florida that you might be referring to.
[0:34] No, there's a story in the paper this morning which said administration aid.
[0:39] It's on the front page.
[0:40] You haven't seen it yet?
[0:41] No, I have not, sir.
[0:43] But John Ehrlichman or nobody else has made any statement on it.
[0:47] I want to control this, Ron, because I don't want this all to leak out.
[0:51] This one simply says the president was going to reorganize up to the limit of the law and so forth and so on.
[0:56] A study has been made in the OMB.
[0:59] You see what I mean?
[0:59] 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?
[1:08] I'm absolutely 100% sure.
[1:13] There must be somebody down here.
[1:16] Why don't you check the—it's either the Star or the Post.
[1:20] Would you do that?
[1:21] Yeah, I'll do it right away.
[1:22] And call me back as to where the hell the source is, because we've got to get it controlled.
[1:27] Of course, in that respect, somebody's really got to give Henry a keeper.
[1:33] That interview with some Italian was the goddamnedest thing I ever saw.
[1:39] It was sort of—apart from the personal stuff, but the part where
[1:42] said that he did the China thing alone and all that sort of thing.
[1:45] If this doesn't teach him a lesson, I don't know.
[1:48] If this doesn't teach him a lesson, I don't know.
[1:50] Does he give an impression that he sort of thinks that he's done everything himself?
[1:54] Well, he stewed about that, worried about that yesterday.
[1:57] It was unbelievable.
[2:00] Does it teach him a lesson?
[2:02] What happened?
[2:02] Was it some girl he met at a party or something?
[2:05] I don't know.
[2:06] The Italian ambassador wanted to impress him.
[2:09] But of course, it's an embarrassing thing for him, Ron.
[2:11] Oh, absolutely.
[2:12] It's humiliating to him.
[2:14] Huh?
[2:14] It's humiliating to him.
[2:16] The quotes are terrible.
[2:17] No one believes it.
[2:18] That's number one.
[2:19] I haven't seen it.
[2:19] I'm sorry.
[2:20] I just woke up.
[2:21] I better get back and read the paper.
[2:22] Well, let me know when you're fine.
[2:24] Fine.
[2:24] I'm going to Camp David at noon today.
[2:26] Okay, sir.
[2:27] Going back up with the family.
[2:30] Okay.