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Conversation 038-107

TapeTape 38StartThursday, April 19, 1973 at 12:29 PMEndThursday, April 19, 1973 at 12:48 PMParticipantsZiegler, Ronald L.;  Dean, John W., IIIRecording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler and White House Counsel John Dean coordinate their messaging regarding the unfolding Watergate scandal. Ziegler informs Dean of his intent to adhere to a consistent public posture, emphasizing that the administration's goal is to uncover the truth and cooperate with the grand jury rather than seeking a scapegoat. The pair discusses the necessity of maintaining this unified narrative during upcoming press briefings.

Watergate scandalPublic relationsGrand juryJohn DeanRonald ZieglerWhite House messaging
AudioNARA Description

On April 19, 1973, Ronald L. Ziegler and John W. Dean, III talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:29 pm and 12:48 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 038-107 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 38-107

Date: April 19, 1973
Time: Unknown between 12:29 pm and 12:48 pm
Location: White House Telephone

Ronald L. Ziegler talked with John W. Dean, III.

[See Conversation No. 902-5B]

     Watergate
          -Dean’s statement
          -Ziegler’s forthcoming press briefing
                -Questions
                                               -63-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                      (rev. January-2011)
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Hi, John.
Hi, Ron.
Saw your statement.
Any problem with it?
No, I don't think so.
I'm going to...
I just think you're in a position where you can't issue anything.
I asked it to be phoned over to you as it was going out.
I got it.
And thank you for doing that.
I'm going to, as we discussed before, take the same position that I took yesterday.
One thing, if they ask me about the scapegoat thing...
I'm going to say, and I've talked to the President about this, and he's authorized me to do it, is to say that our objective, based on the President's statement the other day, is not to find a scapegoat.
It's to find the truth, and we're going to fully cooperate with the grand jury process.
And then go on to, you know, hold the position I did before.
Have you briefed yet?
No.
The President's been in a meeting with Jewish leaders.
Okay.
All right.
Are you at home?
No, I'm here in the office.
Okay.
Good job.
Bye-bye.
Bye.
Thank you.
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