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Conversation 040-090

TapeTape 40StartWednesday, June 13, 1973 at 10:01 PMEndWednesday, June 13, 1973 at 10:03 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ziegler, Ronald L.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discussed the press reaction to the President’s recent economic speech and its potential to shift media focus away from the Watergate scandal. While Nixon expressed concern that journalists remained obsessed with Watergate, Ziegler noted that the press was generally impressed by the President's display of leadership and control. The two concluded that the positive reception of the address had successfully mitigated negative media scrutiny.

WatergatePress relationsEconomic policyPublic relationsMedia coverage
AudioNARA Description

On June 13, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 10:01 pm to 10:03 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 040-090 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 40-90

Date: June 13, 1973
Time: 10:01 pm - 10:03 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

     Press relations
           -President’s speech on the economy
                  -Watergate
                  -Norm Kempster of United Press International [UPI]
                        -Ziegler’s description
                  -President’s leadership
           -Watergate
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Hello.
Mr. Ziegler.
Yes, sir.
Oh, Ron, I, uh, don't want to, you know, irritate you a little, but I just got a report from, uh, I have a couple of spies in the press room said that they've never seen them so infuriated because, uh, took attention off of Watergate.
Was that their attitude?
No.
No.
Okay, good.
These guys may just have been reaching for something.
I think they were.
They were a little put out, though, weren't they?
Well, they were surprised.
They didn't want it taken off Watergate.
Well, no, I didn't sense that, Mr. President.
Really?
No, no, not at all.
There are a couple who float around, but nothing was said.
I think the main reaction in the press over the last, really the last...
Five days has been that they're starting to think about something else.
Even guys like Norm Kempster of UPI, who's basically a shallow, liberal eunuch, said that he felt that the president took the right step.
The main thing in all of this, it was a great presentation.
The American people saw the president.
in control taking so therefore the press is a hell of a time writing it otherwise don't that's that's right but well i just thought i could pass this on for you there was no there was no discussion even of watergate good good good good okay bye okay sir
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