Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 40 › Conversation 040-106

Nixon, Haig & Armstrong on William W. Scranton and Bryce Harlow

Thursday, June 14, 1973 · 12:18 PM–12:21 PM ET · White House Telephone · 3 min

ParticipantsHaig, Alexander M., Jr.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Armstrong, Anne L.Conversation040-106 on Tape 40StartThursday, June 14, 1973 at 12:18 PMEndThursday, June 14, 1973 at 12:21 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 040-106 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon, Alexander Haig, and Anne Armstrong discuss the recruitment of William Scranton for a high-level position, emphasizing the importance of securing his agreement despite his wife's influence. They also finalize administrative announcements, including the appointment of Bryce Harlow and a change in title and salary for Rose Mary Woods. Haig confirms that Scranton is prepared to travel to Florida to finalize the arrangement, and the President requests a photograph with Harlow to coincide with the public announcement.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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Hello?

Mr. President, General Hague.

Hello.

Mr. President?

Yeah.

You know, we have him.

He's going to do this.

You never know.

Come in.

All right, sir.

No, no, I'm sorry.

Come on in.

Yeah, well, you can't tell.

You know, he is such a, you know, this always saying, oh, I've got to talk to Mary.

And, you know, Mary wears the pants in that family.

Oh, I know that.

I know that.

And that's why I said I'd call her, but I don't want to because she is a rough customer.

But he sort of, I mean, I've been through so much of it with him.

All right, fine.

I talked to Scott.

Well, I got him on high on the mountaintop there today.

And that's what he ought to do.

He could go to Europe and get involved in some of these other things.

Yes, sir.

Now, one other thing.

We're going to announce Bryce today.

Oh.

You know, I've...

I okayed, and I didn't check with you, and I probably should have a little raise for Rose, which is long overdue.

And I'd like to announce her a little change in her title today, too.

Oh?

What do you want to make her?

Executive Assistant and Personal Secretary.

Good.

All right.

Very nice.

That kind of therapy doesn't cost a thing.

No, it doesn't.

Now, you ought to talk, though, but on...

I know Mary Scranton, and she has really kept Bill from doing things that he ought to have done for so often that I don't know.

This is a real property, but if we can get him, but you think he's going to do it?

Yes, I do.

I really do.

Have you told him the drill about coming to Florida?

Yes, I've been through the whole scenario.

And he'd be willing to do that?

He'll fly down.

We have to fly him right back because he's got a... All right, fine.

All right.

Fine.

Well, that's good.

That's good.

And then the statement will be ready then, too.

Yes, everything will be all set, and he'll just hit the highlights he can bring to Bona with him to answer questions in front of us.

Right, right, right, right, right, right.

Well, that's good, Al.

That's a good achievement.

It's a hell of an achievement, and the more I thought of it, the more wise.

What time are you going to have Bryce announced?

Because I think I ought to get him in for a picture.

Okay, sir.

They were going to do it here in a few minutes.

Okay, is he around?

I can sure get him in a hurry.

Yeah, well, tell him that I want a picture because Brown is not briefing.

Okay.

They should have just a picture here in the office.

Okay, thank you.

Fine, sir.

NARA Description

On June 14, 1973, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., President Richard M. Nixon, and Anne L. Armstrong talked on the telephone from 12:18 pm to 12:21 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 040-106 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 40-106
                                               -86-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Date: June 14, 1973
Time: 12:18 pm - 12:21 pm
Location: White House Telephone

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

[See also Conversation No. 940-15]

     William W. Scranton
           -Agreement to take position

Anne L. Armstrong entered at 12:18 pm.

           -Mary Scranton
                 -Consultation
                 -President’s telephone call
           -Hugh Scott
           -Meeting with President, June 14
           -Duties
                 -European meetings

     Bryce Harlow
          -Announcement of appointment

     Rose Mary Woods
          -Salary and title
                -Announcement of new title

     Scranton
          -Mary Scranton
               -Consultation
          -Conversation with Haig
               -Trip to Florida
          -Schedule
          -Announcement of appointment
          -Charles J. DiBona

     Harlow
          -Timing of announcement, picture
          -President’s schedule
                                             -87-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                -Photograph with President
           -Ronald L. Ziegler’s briefing

Also recorded on June 14, 1973

940-009 11:29 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:29 am and 11:31 am.
040-104 12:11 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:11 pm and 12:16 pm.
940-011 12:11 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:11 pm and 12:16 pm.
940-012 12:11 PM · 42 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:11 pm and 12:16 pm.
040-105 12:16 PM · 24 sec — White House operator and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at 12:16 pm.
940-013 12:16 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:16 pm and 12:18 pm.
940-014 12:16 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:16 pm and 12:18 pm.
940-015 12:18 PM · 1 hr 58 min — Alexander M. Haig, Jr., President Richard M. Nixon, Anne L. Armstrong, unknown person(s), Bryce N. Harlow, Ronald L. Ziegler, and members of the press met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:18 pm to 1:35 pm.

All 74 conversations from June 14, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 040-106, June 14, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/040-106 (accessed October 12, 2026).