Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 39 › Conversation 039-083
Nixon phone call with Haldeman on Watergate and Political strategy
Monday, June 4, 1973 · 10:21 PM–10:22 PM ET · White House Telephone ·49 sec
AI Summary
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss the strategic need to preempt an upcoming event or disclosure scheduled for the 21st. The participants express mutual interest in controlling the narrative to gain a tactical advantage, with Haldeman noting he has developed potential plans that he intends to refine further. Their brief exchange emphasizes a desire to neutralize a perceived political threat.
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
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NARA Description
On June 4, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 10:21 pm to 10:22 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 039-083 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 39-83
Date: June 4, 1973
Time: 10:21 pm - 10:22 pm
Location: White House Telephone
The President talked with the White House operator.
Incoming telephone call
The President talked with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
[A transcript of the following portion of this conversation was initially prepared for the
Watergate Special Prosecution Force (WSPF) and can be found in Record Group (RG) 460, Box
175, page 1. The Nixon Presidential Materials Staff reviewed the transcript and made changes
as necessary. This transcript has been reviewed under the provisions of the Presidential
Recordings and Materials Preservation Act of 1974 (PRMPA). The National Archives does not
guarantee its accuracy.]
[Begin transcribed portion]
[End of transcribed portion]Also recorded on June 5, 1973
- 442-068 9:48 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:48 pm and 9:54 pm.
- 442-069 9:48 PM · 24 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:48 pm and 9:54 pm.
- 039-080 9:54 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:54 pm and 10:04 pm.
- 039-081 10:05 PM · 15 min — White House operator, President Richard M. Nixon, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 10:05 pm to 10:20 pm.
- 039-082 10:20 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:20 pm and 10:21 pm.
- 039-084 10:22 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:22 pm and 10:50 pm.
- 039-085 10:50 PM · 4 min — White House operator, President Richard M. Nixon, and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 10:50 pm to 10:53 pm.
- 039-086 10:53 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:53 pm and 11:16 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 039-083, June 5, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/039-083 (accessed September 18, 2026).