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Conversation 041-003

TapeTape 41StartMonday, June 18, 1973 at 4:27 PMEndMonday, June 18, 1973 at 4:29 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander Haig discuss strategies to counter negative press and potential political maneuvering by the Ervin Committee regarding the ongoing Watergate investigation. Nixon expresses concern that the committee and the media are timing leaks of John Dean’s testimony to undermine his upcoming Soviet summit. He directs Haig to coordinate with White House staff to aggressively push back against the committee’s narrative and specifically orders an investigation into allegations that Leonard Garment may be leaking information to the Washington Post.

Watergate scandalErvin CommitteeJohn W. Dean IIIMedia leaksSoviet summitWhite House communications strategy
AudioNARA Description

On June 18, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 4:27 pm to 4:29 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 041-003 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 41-3

Date: June 18, 1973
Time: 4:27 pm - 4:29 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

[See also Conversation No. 447-5]

     Watergate
          -Ervin Committee hearings
                -Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield
                -Ronald L. Ziegler
                -J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. Fred D. Thompson
                -John W. Dean, III’s forthcoming statement
                -David R. Gergen, Leonard Garment
          -Garment
                -John Wilson’s view
                       -Leaks
                            -Washington Post
                -President, Ronald L. Zeigler
          -Ervin Committee hearings
                -Schedule
                                             -3-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                    (rev. November-2012)

                                                             Conversation No. 41-3 (cont’d)

                       -Forthcoming summit meeting with Soviets
                       -White House response
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Yeah.
Yeah.
Mr. President?
Yeah.
I just wanted to be sure that, uh, that, uh, which of course, uh, nobody but a PR sense would understand
Can't let Mansfield and the committee at all get away with this without badgering them a little about this, you know what I mean?
No, I agree.
I agree.
I don't, probably Bazaar and the rest haven't thought of this, but maybe Ziegler, you know, if he can get away, tear himself away from this summit thing, could think a little about that, sir.
I've got the word over right now.
You see what I mean?
Yes, sir.
Because basically, the other thing is, is to scrape some way out.
Now, Bazaar ought to be able to do this, or Thompson or the rest get Dean's statement.
You know the statement is out there, Al.
Somebody's got it.
They must have it.
They've got it.
The Post has got it, or somebody.
Now, put Gargan on if he can tear himself away from his baby long enough, or Garment.
And be damn sure you've checked this Garment thing out thoroughly, because, you know, Wilson is a smart old devil.
And he utterly believes that Garment has been leaking to the Post.
He may be wrong.
He may be wrong.
I don't believe so, because I know him so well personally.
Ziegler doesn't, but you know what I mean.
Yes, sir.
I just think we've got to check everything out.
Don't you think so?
Absolutely.
We do.
Well, in any event, what do you have in mind on this thing?
You can bring them over.
I mean, we ought to make something out of this at the committee.
You see, the thing that I'm concerned about is if they're going to let this goddamn thing hang over us and build it up for a week in order to poison the summit.
That's what they're trying to do here.
Don't you agree?
Yes, although I must say I think that, as I told you last week, there was a
a sense of self-consciousness developing on this thing that the monkeys just couldn't hold up under.
Their own people were taking it on.
Well, somebody, though, ought to say that they backed down and that, goddammit, the White House didn't ask them to.
You know, try to get our little boys together and see if they can think of something, will you?
Exactly.
Okay.
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