Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 39 › Conversation 039-133

Nixon phone call with Warren on Clarence M. Kelly and FBI

Thursday, June 7, 1973 · 1:43 PM–1:46 PM ET · White House Telephone · 3 min

ParticipantsWhite House operator; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Warren, Gerald L.Conversation039-133 on Tape 39StartThursday, June 7, 1973 at 1:43 PMEndThursday, June 7, 1973 at 1:46 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 039-133 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Deputy Press Secretary Gerald L. Warren discussed the positive reception of Clarence M. Kelly following his introduction as the nominee for FBI Director. Warren briefed the President on his interactions with the press, noting that Kelly’s emphasis on local cooperation and a balanced "war on crime" provided a welcome distraction from Watergate coverage. The pair also coordinated messaging regarding the wholesale price index and Alexander M. Haig Jr.’s contributions, aiming to shift public and media attention toward the administration's economic and domestic policy efforts.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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They played the chief.
They played it very well.
He was very strong and very forthright.
He had a very positive attitude out there.
I know he would.
He told the reporters he was unable to discuss his plans or philosophy prior to testifying at confirmation hearings.
He said he would be instrumental in furthering strong cooperation between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in a concerted attack against crime.
Good.
War on crime should be conducted with a recognition of human rights and dignity.
And he was very strong on local cooperation.
Right.
And I think he made a very good impression on them.
Richardson was there with him and told him about your exhaustive search for a strong independent leader.
He said that Kelly had the precise qualities needed to run the FBI.
And so I think he's going to play very well.
Right.
Right.
Well, it ought to be a good story.
I think so.
I think so.
You made a good impression.
What else is running today?
Well, I gave a little rundown on the cabinet meeting, and I had to take a question on the wholesale price index.
Oh, boy.
Boy, that's right.
And I said that the president was
was moving ahead on the economy with the meetings and asked the cabinet officers for their views.
Sure, sure, sure.
And would take action when it was required.
Right.
And I didn't let them speculate on anything this weekend.
That's right.
Okay.
There'll be nothing this weekend.
Right.
Right.
And I told the cabinet meeting the references you made again to the personal sacrifices of Al Haig.
Right.
Because that's important for them to understand.
Yep.
Because he's quite a guy.
He sure is.
He's quite a guy.
Yeah.
And so that's playing.
I think Kelly will probably be the top story again.
Could be.
Uh-huh.
Well, we have many of these, but at least we get a little play other than Watergate.
That's true.
That's true, and we do need it.
Yeah, that's right.
Well, these people here, the press people and the media people are so obsessed with Watergate, they think that's the only story in town.
That's right.
And the country's getting a little bit tired of it, I think.
That's right.
Because, you know what I mean, they get tired of it and make it whatever story it is, but after a while they want to hear something else.
Mm-hmm.
rather than the depressing business about these clowns going on and saying, he told me that, and I told you this.
Hell, everybody knows it was a mess, and that was that.
That's right.
That's right.
Okay.
Okay, sir.

NARA Description

On June 7, 1973, White House operator, President Richard M. Nixon, and Gerald L. Warren talked on the telephone from 1:43 pm to 1:46 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 039-133 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 39-133

Date: June 7, 1973
Time: 1:43 pm - 1:46 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The White House operator talked with the President.

       Incoming telephone call

The President talked with Gerald L. Warren.

[See also Conversation No. 441-27]

       Clarence M. Kelly’s appointment to Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]
              -Press briefing, June 7
                      -Confirmation hearings
                              -Testimony
                      -“War on crime,” human rights
                      -Local cooperation
                      -Press reaction
                      -Elliot L. Richardson’s comments

       News leads
             -Cabinet meeting
             -National economy
                    -Wholesale Price Index
             -Cabinet
                    -Alexander M. Haig, Jr.’s personal sacrifice
             -Kelly
             -Watergate
                    -Popular opinion
                           -Contrasted with press focus
                                             -110-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Also recorded on June 7, 1973

  • 039-131 1:35 PM · 13 sec — White House operator and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at 1:35 pm.
  • 039-132 1:35 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:35 pm and 1:43 pm.
  • 441-025 1:35 PM · 12 sec — White House operator and President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 1:35 pm.
  • 441-026 1:35 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 1:35 pm and 1:43 pm.
  • 441-027 1:43 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Gerald L. Warren met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 1:43 pm to 1:46 pm.
  • 441-028 1:48 PM · 3 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 1:48 pm and 1:52 pm.
  • 039-134 1:52 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:52 pm and 1:57 pm.
  • 441-029 1:52 PM · 20 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:52 pm and 1:57 pm.

All 50 conversations from June 7, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 039-133, June 7, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/039-133 (accessed October 12, 2026).