Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 39 › Conversation 039-055

Nixon, Haig & Bull on Watergate and John W. Dean III

Monday, June 4, 1973 · 8:53 AM–9:04 AM ET · White House Telephone · 1 min

ParticipantsHaig, Alexander M., Jr.; White House operator; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.Conversation039-055 on Tape 39StartMonday, June 4, 1973 at 8:53 AMEndMonday, June 4, 1973 at 9:04 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 039-055 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander Haig coordinated efforts to manage internal documentation related to the Watergate scandal, specifically focusing on John W. Dean III’s files. Nixon instructed Haig to ensure J. Fred Buzhardt provided access to the original documents to facilitate a comprehensive review of the ongoing investigation. The conversation concluded with Haig arranging a follow-up meeting with Stephen B. Bull to further address these administrative requirements.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
This way we'll have a comprehensive picture, and you can just make your own notes.
I'll tell Bizarre what I want to know.
What do you want him to know?
I want to know about the crash.
He's got his file, too.
Well, we're doing that, and Bizarre's doing it.
He is.
Is he going to bring it out so I can see it?
Yes, sir.
Just going to take it.
Yes.
Just bring the original.
Well, he got that.
He doesn't know.
None of us know what the... Paul?
Steve?
Yes.
Steve, I'll be over and you come into my office right away.
I want to see you about something.
All right.

NARA Description

On June 4, 1973, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., White House operator, President Richard M. Nixon, and Stephen B. Bull talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:53 am and 9:04 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 039-055 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 39-55

Date: June 4, 1973
Time: Unknown between 8:53 am and 9:04 am
Location: White House Telephone

Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked with the White House operator. The President can be heard in the
background.
                                              -45-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                             Conversation No. 39-55 (cont’d)

[See also Conversation No. 441-2A]

Alexander M. Haig, Jr. conferred with the President.

[Begin conferral]

[See Conversation No. 441-2]

       Request for list

       Request for telephone call to Stephen B. Bull

[End conferral]

       Request for telephone call to Bull

Haig conferred with the President.

[Begin conferral]

[See Conversation No. 441-2]

       Watergate
             -John W. Dean, III’s file
                    -J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr.
                            -Access to originals

[End conferral]

The White House operator talked with Haig.

       Incoming telephone call

Haig talked with Bull at an unknown time. The President can be heard in the background.

       Forthcoming meeting in Haig’s office
                                             -46-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Also recorded on June 4, 1973

  • 039-054 8:51 AM · 19 sec — White House operator, President Richard M. Nixon, and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 8:51 am to 8:52 am.
  • 441-001 8:51 AM · 18 sec — Alexander M. Haig, Jr. and President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 8:51 am to 8:52 am.
  • 441-002 8:53 AM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 8:53 am to 9:05 am.
  • 039-056 9:05 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:05 am and 9:11 am.
  • 441-003 9:05 AM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:05 am and 9:11 am.
  • 039-057 9:11 AM · 39 sec — White House operator, President Richard M. Nixon, and Stephen B. Bull talked on the telephone from 9:11 am to 9:12 am.
  • 441-004 9:11 AM · 37 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 9:11 am to 9:12 am.
  • 039-058 9:12 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:12 am and 9:38 am.

All 103 conversations from June 4, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 039-055, June 4, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/039-055 (accessed October 12, 2026).