Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 39 › Conversation 039-109

Nixon phone call with Buzhardt on Watergate and Archibald Cox

Wednesday, June 6, 1973 · 2:35 PM–2:36 PM ET · White House Telephone · 1 min

ParticipantsWhite House operator; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Buzhardt, J. Fred, Jr.Conversation039-109 on Tape 39StartWednesday, June 6, 1973 at 2:35 PMEndWednesday, June 6, 1973 at 2:36 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 039-109 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consults with J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. regarding his upcoming meeting with Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox to gauge the potential for a hostile confrontation. The President expresses concern that Cox might intentionally provoke a conflict to justify a resignation, prompting the two to strategize on how to manage the interaction. They conclude by scheduling a follow-up briefing to occur after the President finishes a concurrent meeting with Congressional leadership.

Audio

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NARA Description

On June 6, 1973, White House operator, President Richard M. Nixon, and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. talked on the telephone from 2:35 pm to 2:36 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 039-109 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 39-109

Date: June 6, 1973
Time: 2:35 pm - 2:36 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The White House operator talked with the President.

       Incoming telephone call

The President talked with J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr.

[See also Conversation No. 443-11]

       Watergate
             -Buzhardt’s forthcoming meeting with Archibald Cox [?]
                   -Timing
                   -Objectives
                            -Possible resignation
                   -Forthcoming conversation with President

       President’s schedule
              -Bipartisan Congressional leadership meeting

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).

Yeah.

Mr. Bazzard, sir.

Hello.

Yes, Mr. President.

You're meeting with this fellow at 3 o'clock, are you?

3.30.

Oh, I see.

How long do you think it'll take you?

It depends on, you know, what his... What he wants to discuss.

What he wants, Mr. President.

Fine, fine.

You know, we've discussed the various things, what might be his objectives.

Right.

Okay.

If he's looking for a confrontation to give him a basis to resign, I presume it might be a fairly short meeting.

If he has other motives, as is probably the case, I think then we will discuss and talk a while, see what he wants to tell us.

So it'll be, you know, depends on the circumstances.

Okay, well then...

You might give me a call when you return.

I certainly will.

See, I have a meeting with the Congressman at 5.

You might not be back by then.

No, we might not.

That's only an hour and a half, including travel time.

I will be around.

I'll wait.

I'll call around after I get finished with the Congressman.

Thank you, sir.

Also recorded on June 6, 1973

039-108 2:34 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:34 pm and 2:35 pm.
443-009 2:34 PM · 40 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 2:34 pm and 2:36 pm.
443-010 2:34 PM · 9 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 2:34 pm and 2:36 pm.
443-011 2:35 PM · 53 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:35 pm to 2:36 pm.
039-110 2:36 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:36 pm and 3:21 pm.
443-012 2:36 PM · 12 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 2:36 pm and 3:21 pm.
039-111 3:21 PM · 29 sec — White House operator, President Richard M. Nixon, and Stephen B. Bull talked on the telephone from 3:21 pm to 3:22 pm.
443-013 3:21 PM · 37 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:21 pm to 3:22 pm.

All 85 conversations from June 6, 1973 →

Nixon & Buzhardt on Watergate scandal and Senate Watergate Committee June 21, 1973 · 1 hr 41 min
Nixon phone call with Richardson on Senate confirmation and Watergate May 23, 1973 · 4 min
Nixon, Haig & Bull on Watergate and Special Prosecutor July 10, 1973 · 14 min
Nixon phone call with Ziegler on Watergate scandal and Archibald Cox June 4, 1973 · 4 min
Nixon, Haig & Bull on Watergate and John Dean June 4, 1973 · 7 min
Nixon & Haig on Watergate Committee and Executive privilege July 12, 1973 · 32 min

Cite this conversation

Conversation 039-109, June 6, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/039-109 (accessed November 12, 2026).