Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 38 › Conversation 038-039

Nixon phone call with Ziegler on White House Correspondents' Dinner

Sunday, April 15, 1973 · 1:01 AM–1:09 AM ET · White House Telephone ·4 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ziegler, Ronald L.Conversation038-039 onTape 38StartSunday, April 15, 1973 at 1:01 AMEndSunday, April 15, 1973 at 1:09 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 038-039 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discussed the positive reception of the President's recent remarks at the White House correspondents' dinner, specifically noting the emotional impact on attendees regarding the POWs and the substance of the speech. While Ziegler reported that the event was largely free of Watergate-related tension, Nixon expressed anxiety that the upcoming indictment of John Mitchell would escalate the scandal. The conversation concluded with Nixon emphasizing the importance of maintaining his public stance against critics despite the impending legal pressures.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Mr. Ziegler on the line, sir.
Thank you.
Yes, sir.
Why do you think it was worth going?
That was a great evening, Mr. President.
You really felt that?
Yes, sir.
Did you stay at any of the after parties?
Oh, yes, sir.
I went to them all.
I have a cold, so if I sound a little deep voice, that's because I have a cold.
The reaction was very good, and those traditional enemies and moderates and friends as a whole were very complimentary of each other.
It was a great evening.
That's good.
What did they like about it?
Well, the feelings.
The serious part or the humorous part or both?
Oh, both.
So I think everyone was moved by it.
It was a good evening.
Very, very good feeling.
That's good.
I think it was good to do, and I thought Nat handled himself very well.
I think he did.
I think he did.
It wasn't as bitter as the cigars.
He did it with grace.
One thing I noticed was the fact that when Woodland
awards, there wasn't a big applause and so forth.
Did you notice I congratulated them?
That's right.
But there was when, you know, the POWs and all of them.
And they responded rather well when we finished, too.
Yes, sir.
Well, what the hell is probably worth doing?
You know, you've got to do these things.
These guys are human beings and they're touched by any sense of emotion.
The poor bastards, they want peace.
That's right.
As much as I do.
Sure, Knapp was very touched.
Porter, of course, was in tears.
What did he say?
Well, he was just, you know, overwhelmed by it.
Good, good.
Lissagor even felt it went well.
He did.
Oh, sure.
Good.
The reaction and then the feeling.
I heard that it
Somebody sat by Stuart Hensley and said that he was very, very high on the damn thing.
I don't know why.
He saw the substance of it, you see.
Oh, yes, sir.
You know, in that 10-minute speech, there was a lot of substance.
Absolutely.
Well, no, not a hell of a lot, but, you know, some.
The feeling was there, I think.
Very definitely.
It was a good evening, and you can tell it afterwards.
You're all worried about Watergate, but what the hell?
Seriously, these guys know that goddamnit, Watergate will pass, and I know goddamnit, it had nothing to do with it.
There was very little discussion tonight about Watergate, Mr. President.
Yeah, well, there will be later, if you know, because when they indict Mitchell, Mitchell will break loose.
Perhaps so, but there was very little discussion.
Well, good, good.
I'm glad we met.
Yes, sir, and I appreciate the comments tonight, Mr. President.
Oh, well, what the hell.
I stick in the tunnel a little, you know.
I understand that.
Bastards.
Yes, sir.
And they deserve it.
Well, when I say, you know, what the hell, I want to take that on background.
That's right.
That was very good.
Yes, sir.
Okay, Ron, get a rest.
Okay, thank you.

NARA Description

On April 15, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 1:01 am to 1:09 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 038-039 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 38-39

Date: April 15, 1973
Time: 1:01am - 1:04 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

     White House correspondents’ dinner
          -Reaction to President’s remarks
          -Ted Knap
                -Peter Lisagor
          -Robert M. (“Bob”) Woodward and Carl Bernstein
                -Awards
          -President’s remarks
                -POW’s
                -Knap
                -Garnet D. (“Jack”) Horner’s reaction
                -Lisagor’s reaction
                -Stewart Hinsley’s reaction

     -Watergate
          -Aftermath
          -John N. Mitchell
          -Press Relations

Also recorded on April 15, 1973

  • 038-033 10:28 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:28 pm and 11:02 pm.
  • 038-034 11:02 PM · 14 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 11:02 pm to 11:16 pm.
  • 038-035 11:16 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:16 pm and 11:22 pm.
  • 038-036 11:16 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:16 pm and 11:22 pm.
  • 038-037 11:22 PM · 31 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman talked on the telephone from 11:22 pm to 11:53 pm.
  • 038-038 12:45 AM · 17 sec — White House operator and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:45 am and 1:01 am.
  • 896-006 10:35 AM · 1 hr 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, Manolo Sanchez, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:35 am to 11:15 am.
  • 038-040 1:12 PM · 26 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Richard G. Kleindienst talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:12 pm and 2:22 pm.

All 20 conversations from April 15, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 038-039, April 15, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/038-039 (accessed September 18, 2026).