Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 43 › Conversation 043-190

Nixon phone call with Hébert on John D. Ehrlichman and Appropriations

Friday, February 23, 1973 · 3:26 PM–3:28 PM ET · White House Telephone · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Hébert, F. EdwardConversation043-190 on Tape 43StartFriday, February 23, 1973 at 3:26 PMEndFriday, February 23, 1973 at 3:28 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 043-190 ↗ · National Archives Catalog, NAID 417195083 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon calls Representative F. Edward Hébert to confirm that a personal request regarding appropriations has been resolved through the efforts of John Ehrlichman. Hébert expresses his gratitude for the President's intervention in clearing the bureaucratic hurdle. The pair concludes the brief conversation with Hébert praising a recent presidential speech and reaffirming their shared hardline stance on using military force to achieve diplomatic goals.

Audio

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NARA Description

On February 23, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and F. Edward Hébert talked on the telephone from 3:26 pm to 3:28 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 043-190 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 43-190

Date: February 23, 1973
Time: 3:26 pm - 3:28 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with F. Edward Hebert.

[See Conversation No. 413-12]

       Favor for Hebert
            -John D. Ehrlichman
            -Appropriations

       The President's speech
            -Hebert’s view

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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No.
Congressman Hebert, sir.
Yes, sir.
That matter you talked to me about has worked out.
You are a man of continued action.
Well, actually, I told Erlichman, told me he had, but I just want you to be sure to know that he, incidentally, to his credit, had already been on top of it because I had written him a memorandum some time ago saying that this was a personal matter and that I had a commitment.
I knew you didn't know anything about it.
And what had happened is, I think it's just some boy in the woodwork.
I don't know that...
There's something in the woodwork.
But it wouldn't have... Let me say, if it had ever gotten to me, we would have stirred it up.
Well, I know it would have.
I didn't want to go to you.
But let me say, it's all done now.
I'll point to people, and off we go.
And off we go, and then get the money for the planning and all, which has already been appropriated.
Great.
But let me tell you, last night you were magnificent.
You're very kind.
No, really, your word was terrific.
I thought it was a good idea.
I hope we didn't hurt the feelings of people who weren't there.
Well, hell, if any feelings were hurt, they'd ask for it.
And we'll have them when they help.
Bomb them back to the table.
That's my theme.
Okay, boy.
Thank you so much.
I do appreciate it a lot.
Bye-bye.

Also recorded on February 23, 1973

  • 043-188 3:18 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 3:18 pm.
  • 043-189 3:18 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:18 pm and 3:26 pm.
  • 413-012 3:26 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and F. Edward Hébert met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:26 pm to 3:27 pm.
  • 043-191 3:29 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and George H. W. Bush talked on the telephone from 3:29 pm to 3:32 pm.
  • 413-013 3:29 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and George H. W. Bush met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:29 pm to 3:32 pm.
  • 043-192 3:32 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:32 pm and 3:38 pm.
  • 043-193 3:32 PM · 26 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:32 pm and 3:38 pm.
  • 413-014 3:32 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:32 pm and 3:35 pm.

All 94 conversations from February 23, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 043-190, February 23, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives (NAID 417195083). Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/043-190 (accessed November 15, 2026).