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Conversation 040-087

TapeTape 40StartWednesday, June 13, 1973 at 9:54 PMEndWednesday, June 13, 1973 at 9:57 PMParticipantsHaig, Alexander M., Jr.;  Nixon, Richard M. (President)Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

Alexander Haig updates President Nixon on the highly positive public and political reception to the President’s recent televised speech on the economy. Haig emphasizes that the positive feedback reflects a widespread desire for presidential leadership and a clear shift of public attention away from the Watergate scandal. The two discuss the political importance of appearing in control, agreeing to disregard the ongoing testimony of John Dean while prioritizing aggressive communication on economic and foreign policy.

Economic PolicyPublic OpinionWatergatePresidential LeadershipJohn W. Dean IIIVietnam Negotiations
AudioNARA Description

On June 13, 1973, Alexander M. Haig, Jr. and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone from 9:54 pm to 9:57 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 040-087 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 40-87
                                              -72-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                       (rev. March-2011)

Date: June 13, 1973
Time: 9:54 pm - 9:57 pm
Location: White House Telephone

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

     President’s speech on the economy
           -Responses
                 -Public
                       -White House operators
                             -Positive reaction to speech
                       -Content
                             -Perception of President
                 -Economists
                 -Pollsters
                 -Louis P. Harris
                       -Reaction to speech
                             -Labor unions
                             -Price freeze
                 -Albert E. Sindlinger
                       -Reaction to speech
                       -Flexibility
                 -Mayors
                 -John B. Connally
                       -Conversation with President
                 -Leadership
                 -Watergate
                       -John W. Dean, III
                 -White House response
                 -Negative responses
                       -Substance of speech
                 -Congressional response
                       -William E. Timmons
                       -Samuel L. Devine’s party
                             -Positive reaction to speech

     Press relations
           -Vietnam negotiations
                  -Paris
                                             -73-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                      (rev. March-2011)

           -President’s speech

     Watergate
          -Dean
               -President’s assessment
                     -J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr.’s meetings with President
                     -Significance
               -Reaction to President’s speech
Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

Yep.
General Haig.
There you are.
Hi, Al.
Mr. President?
Yeah.
I think you ought to know that the little gals out here that have been doing this job taking calls have said they've never had a better reaction than all the time they've been here.
Really?
And I think you ought to know I've been over hundreds of these things now.
I know.
And the main thing is you are in charge.
The president's back in control.
This is great.
He came across as a leader, the old Nixon.
And I tell you, that's the main thing.
Now, we've got all kinds of good stuff from the economists and Sittlinger and... Oh, really?
And Harris said it was absolutely superb.
Who did Harris say that to?
He called in here.
To you or...
No, the government was taking the... Yeah, and what did Harris say?
Harris was pleased, huh?
He said, right on, hit the pressure points.
The fact that labor has been reasonable and the prices were frozen, not... What did Senninger say?
Senninger said he was most impressed by your maintaining the flexibility to move in either direction when required.
He said he told...
I talked to him on the phone.
Oh, good.
And I...
But he thought it was the right move.
He thought it was the right move.
Mayor's...
from a number of cities have come in there.
I talked to Connolly.
He was very pleased.
Well, I think the best part of it is that it's not just the substance of the action, but more the fact who's in charge of this darn place.
Exactly right.
And the people said, so many have said, thank God no more Watergate.
And just any number of calls of that... That's what we've got to do, you know.
Regardless of what this asshole Dean says, we've just got to pay no attention to it.
Just give it the back of our hand.
Don't you agree?
I do, sir.
And these girls just keep running here.
They say they've never had it like this.
And we're getting a lot of people who don't like the substance.
You know, but have picked up the phone and are calling.
They don't like the substance, huh?
Well, a lot of people, yeah.
You know, there are a lot of nitpickers on didn't go far enough or didn't like control.
But what do they call then for?
Nothing.
Just called a bitch about that, huh?
Yeah, but the fact that they pick up their phone, these are all freebie calls, and we were getting tremendous reactions.
Overall, it's...
But if they don't like the substance, that would be then a lot of negative reaction, but oh well.
No, no, no, no, the girl said no.
It's interest.
It's non-Watergate.
It's presidential.
center of the stage.
And we're in charge.
And we've never had more congressional reaction, according to Bill.
They're just calling right and left here.
Are they really?
Yes, sir.
Good.
And they had a gang over there at Devine's tonight, a hell of a gang, partied for him, and they said it was roaring applause.
Where?
At what?
At Devine's.
And they all fought?
Yep.
Good.
Very strong.
Very strong.
Good.
Well, that's good.
Well, we, you know, we struck two blows today.
The thing over in Paris was not insignificant.
No, indeed.
And it made the evening shows.
We went with this tonight, and so it's just as well to give them a double jolt right at the moment, because the time that all of our enemies are going to trot out their little soft-headed dean, good God.
This thing is getting sickening, though.
I'm getting so tired of hearing Bazaar and the rest.
I mean, they have to bring it into me.
What's Dean going to say?
What the hell is the difference to make?
That's the amazing part of all these comments they all said.
We're sick of Watergate.
The president's back in charge.
This is the old Nixon.
The president has real reason to be proud.
He did an excellent job.
Firm, confident, seemed like the sensible man we've always had.
And that was a reference to Watergate.
It's a damn good, sir.
Well, okay.
Have a good sleep.
Fine.
Thanks, Al, for calling.
You don't want any more calls, do you?
Or would you like some more?
Well, if you get something, call me.
I'll be here for another hour.
Okay, sir.
Fine.
You may call me in another half hour, okay?
Okay, sir.
Fine.
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