Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 038-109
Date: Thursday, April 19, 1973 at 1:39 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/038-109

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Yeah.
[0:01] What'd you say, sir?
[0:02] Ron?
[0:02] Yes, sir.
[0:03] You're going to Florida, aren't you?
[0:04] Yes, sir.
[0:05] Good.
[0:05] We're going to leave at 12.30 tomorrow.
[0:07] Okay.
[0:08] Tell the boys.
[0:08] All right.
[0:09] They can all get set.
[0:10] Did you survive the day?
[0:11] Yes, sir.
[0:12] Would you like me to come over a moment?
[0:14] That's all right.
[0:14] I'll see you.
[0:15] I'll tell you, I just need to do a little later.
[0:17] Okay, fine.
[0:18] I'm just going to eat a little lunch now.
[0:19] Yes, sir.
[0:19] Well, did you...
[0:21] I said I won't characterize my comment in any way other than the fact that I make this observation because of the
[0:37] the fact that the word is appearing in news reports, and I wanted to have included my observation regarding the intent of the president's statement the other day.
[0:46] He had to get the truth.
[0:47] He had to get the truth.
[0:48] Now, how to interpret that, I don't know.
[0:49] And they said, well, were you aware of his statement in advance?
[0:53] I said, we were not, but I talked to John afterwards and indicated to him what I was going to say, and he understood that.
[0:58] If I said that in a briefing, it's true.
[1:02] So we followed that line.
[1:05] I indicated they said that you met with Peterson again, and I said you had met with Mr. Peterson on a regular basis, receiving reports and passing information to him.
[1:16] And then I qualified my use of the word reports.
[1:18] I said I'm not familiar with what they're discussing, so I can't characterize it in any way.
[1:22] No, not grand jury reports.
[1:25] Of course, Jack Anderson has them verbatim.
[1:29] That makes sense.
[1:30] clear this grand jury.
[1:31] But they said, well, as the president receiving reports in a grand jury, I said, ladies and gentlemen, I can only tell you that he is meeting with the assistant attorney general.
[1:39] I do not know the scope of those discussions.
[1:42] If they get that up again, I think you should say the president does know that I do not
[1:53] I'm not getting reports from inside the Grand Jury.
[1:56] That is, I refuse to take that.
[1:57] I often get reports from Peterson or their investigations.
[2:02] You see, the Grand Jury reports shouldn't have been given to me, in my opinion.
[2:06] No, sir.
[2:08] Reports from their investigations?
[2:09] Reports of their interrogatories.
[2:11] They conduct very extensive interrogatories, but the president...
[2:14] specifically does not receive reports from the grand jury.
[2:19] I'll go tell them that right now.
[2:20] Yeah, you've got to clear that up.
[2:22] Call Peterson and tell him that we're...
[2:23] I have a call in to him now.
[2:24] Yeah.
[2:25] Bye.
[2:25] Okay, sir.
[2:25] Bye.
[2:26] Bye.