Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 39 › Conversation 039-045

Nixon phone call with Ziegler on Watergate and John W. Dean III

Sunday, June 3, 1973 · 7:06 PM–7:09 PM ET · White House Telephone ·3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ziegler, Ronald L.Conversation039-045 onTape 39StartSunday, June 3, 1973 at 7:06 PMEndSunday, June 3, 1973 at 7:09 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 039-045 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Ronald Ziegler discussed concerns regarding John W. Dean’s unauthorized access to and potential copying of sensitive presidential files. Nixon directed Ziegler to secure copies of all of Dean’s files and notes pertaining to their meetings from February 27, 1973, onward. Emphasizing his ownership of the documents, the President insisted that these materials be provided directly to him to prevent them from reaching other staffers like J. Fred Buzhardt or Leonard Garment.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello?
Yes, sir.
One thing I would like you to check with Bazzard is that the story, as you know, does indicate that Dean says he Xeroxed his personal files.
They didn't allow Haldeman or Ehrlichman to do that, you know.
I want you to ask Bazzard, did Dean do it, and what happened to the other two, and call me back, okay?
No, I know that.
I've already checked.
what he said.
Dean was not permitted to Xerox any files.
Had he done them earlier then?
Because he said this in the story indicates that he did Xerox's files.
If he Xeroxed files, it was while he was still here as counsel during the April period, and he did it without anyone's knowledge.
But they probably did that.
Well, but as Fred says, there's no way to really know that.
But we do know, and it is a fact, that any time where Fred
You know, where Dean has had access to his files on an equal basis with Bob and John.
He has not been permitted to make any note.
He's not been permitted to Xerox.
He's not been permitted to write anything down.
The same basis as Rob and John.
Well, the thing tomorrow, though, is to get from me, and you tell them I want it.
Yes, sir.
First thing in the morning, I want a Xerox of all of Dean's files.
It's not negative for everybody, but I want his files from February 27th on.
Okay.
Yes, sir.
February 27th on, and that's what we said.
From February 27th, but only with the president.
I don't want to hear what he said to the other people, right now.
Notes from the presidential meetings.
Anything he had with the president.
I want to see rocks of them.
Now understand, if they come to me, there's no problem.
They're getting out, you see.
That's right.
But I want to see rocks because I don't want them to go to Fred.
I don't want them to go to Lynn.
I don't want them to go to anybody else.
But I must have them myself, see?
Right.
Yes, I will, and I'll have a meeting with him in the morning on the notes of all the things we've talked about.
But I do know that they were—and I talked to Bob just a short time ago, and he raised this, too.
And I said, Bob, the point—you know, he was not permitted to Xerox any files.
He was not given anything.
He was not permitted to write anything.
Unless he'd done it earlier.
Unless he did it, you know, in March or February.
He may be just shooting things across the bow.
in terms of, well, maybe he has something from an earlier period and all of his business about recording telephone calls.
So it doesn't worry me.
I have no telephone calls that I'm concerned about.
That's right.
But he's playing a much bigger bluff here than we think, you know.
I think he is.
I really think he is.
That's right.
but I want to see these things, and that's an order.
Yes, sir, I understand.
I want the dot, and I want them, and what the hell, these are my files.
That's right.
And I don't want any crapping around, and if they say, why are we getting Deans?
I'm getting all of those articles, too, and Coulson's, okay?
That's right, yes, sir.
But I only want Deans tomorrow from the 28th on, anything with the president, okay?
Yes, sir.
Bye.

NARA Description

On June 3, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 7:06 pm to 7:09 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 039-045 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 39-45

Date: June 3, 1973
Time: 7:06 pm - 7:09 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

       Watergate
             -John W. Dean, III
                    -Access to files
                           -Copying
                           -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman and John D. Ehrlichman
                           -Ziegler’s conversation with J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr.
                                             -38-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                     (rev. February-2011)

                                                              Conversation No. 39-45 (cont’d)

                            -Procedures
                     -Notes on conversations with President
                            -Restricted access
                                    -Leonard Garment, Buzhardt
                     -Ziegler’s conversation with Haldeman, June 3
                            -Access to files
                     -Telephone calls
                     -Notes on conversations with President
                            -Presidential papers
                            -Haldeman, Ehrlichman, and Charles W. Colson

Also recorded on June 3, 1973

  • 039-039 6:40 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 6:40 pm to 6:41 pm.
  • 039-040 6:41 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:41 pm and 6:47 pm.
  • 039-041 6:47 PM · 19 sec — White House operator and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at 6:47 pm.
  • 039-042 6:47 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:47 pm and 6:48 pm.
  • 039-043 6:48 PM · 12 sec — White House operator and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at 6:48 pm.
  • 039-044 6:48 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:48 pm and 7:06 pm.
  • 039-046 7:09 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:09 pm and 7:30 pm.
  • 039-047 7:30 PM · 5 min — White House operator, President Richard M. Nixon, and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 7:30 pm to 7:34 pm.

All 29 conversations from June 3, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 039-045, June 3, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/039-045 (accessed September 18, 2026).