Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 40 › Conversation 040-073

Nixon phone call with Ziegler on Henry Kissinger and Press relations

Wednesday, June 13, 1973 · 1:48 PM–1:50 PM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.Conversation040-073 on Tape 40StartWednesday, June 13, 1973 at 1:48 PMEndWednesday, June 13, 1973 at 1:50 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 040-073 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discussed the positive media reception of Henry Kissinger’s recent Paris briefing and logistics regarding the President’s upcoming economic address. Nixon emphasized the importance of securing favorable press coverage and instructed Ziegler to coordinate photo opportunities with the Cabinet and Congressional leaders. To prevent premature media leaks, Nixon strictly ordered that the text of his economic speech be withheld from Cabinet members and legislators until 7:00 p.m., shortly before the address.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Yeah.
Yes, Mr. Roosevelt.
How are you doing in getting out Henry's story, or is that falling on its face?
No, it's not.
It's playing very well.
You sure?
Yes.
He had a good briefing over in Paris, and we have that transcript coming in.
It's moving well on the wires and very positively.
It's very important, Ron, to see that that is played extremely well.
I don't know.
You probably can't do anything about it, but do your best.
Well, we don't have to do anything about it.
It is moving well.
and we're underpinning it, as I talked to you about this morning.
Right.
You know, with your backgrounders and all that kind of thing.
Right, right, right.
And the announcement about tonight is moving well, too.
I would think it would.
8.30 tonight, you've announced that now.
Yes, sir.
The meeting with the leaders you've announced.
Yes, the cabinet.
Right.
I think we should do a quick press picture with the cabinet and with the leadership.
Fine.
Okay.
so that they have that to use tomorrow and the 4.30 thing they could have even for tonight.
Now, I talked to Ray Price and also talked later on this subject, and I think it's very important that we not give the text out to the Cabinet
Or to the leaders.
Right.
Because it'll leak.
But say that the text will be available at 7 o'clock so that it doesn't break the news shows, which it must not.
Right.
I've talked to Ray about that and to Schultz about it, and Timmons understands that, too.
Right.
And so they must all understand that, that they will be delivered to them at 7 o'clock.
7 o'clock.
Right.
Fine.
Okay, sir.
Right.

NARA Description

On June 13, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 1:48 pm to 1:50 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 040-073 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 40-73

Date: June 13, 1973
Time: 1:48 pm - 1:50 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

[See also Conversation No. 445-13]

     Henry A. Kissinger’s briefing in Paris
          -Press coverage
                -Wire services
                -Transcript

     President’s schedule
           -Forthcoming speech on economy
                 -Time
           -Cabinet meeting
                 -Picture
           -Congressmen meeting
                 -Picture

     President’s forthcoming speech on economy
           -President’s conversation with Raymond K. Price, Jr.
           -Distribution of text
                 -Cabinet, Congressional leaders
                       -Leaks
                 -Time
                 -Ziegler’s conversations with Price, George P. Shultz and William E. Timmons
                 -Reasons

Also recorded on June 13, 1973

  • 040-071 1:41 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 1:41 pm to 1:46 pm.
  • 445-011 1:41 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 1:41 pm to 1:46 pm.
  • 040-072 1:46 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:46 pm and 1:48 pm.
  • 445-012 1:46 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 1:46 pm and 1:48 pm.
  • 445-013 1:48 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 1:48 pm to 1:50 pm.
  • 445-014 1:50 PM · 16 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 1:50 pm and 1:55 pm.
  • 040-074 1:55 PM · 2 min — George P. Shultz and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone from 1:55 pm to 1:57 pm.
  • 445-015 1:55 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and George P. Shultz met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 1:55 pm to 1:57 pm.

All 95 conversations from June 13, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 040-073, June 13, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/040-073 (accessed October 9, 2026).