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Conversation 044-043

TapeTape 44StartWednesday, March 28, 1973 at 12:28 PMEndWednesday, March 28, 1973 at 12:30 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ziegler, Ronald L.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler coordinate the scheduling and strategy for an upcoming presidential address. Ziegler advises postponing the announcement until the following morning to avoid unnecessary press speculation regarding potential topics like the economy or the Watergate scandal. The two agree to request a 9:00 a.m. time slot for the briefing, with Ziegler tasked to manage the logistics.

Press relationsPublic addressStrategic communicationWatergateEconomic policy
AudioNARA Description

On March 28, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:28 pm and 12:30 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 044-043 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 44-043
Date: March 28, 1973
Time: Unknown between 12:28 pm and 12:30 pm
Location: White House Telephone
The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.
[See also Conversation No. 425-5]
Press relations
-Announcement of President’s March 29 speech
-Briefing
-Gerald L. Warren
Page | 31
White House Tapes of the Nixon Administration, 1971-1973
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
-Drugs
-Cambodia
-Watergate
-Economy
-Warren
-Price controls
-President’s public statement
-Troop withdrawal
-Vietnam
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.
Sir, Ron, what is your advice now?
I'd prefer to wait until tomorrow.
I see.
You had a pretty rough time today?
No, no, it wasn't rough at all.
As a matter of fact, Jerry briefed because we had the drug law enforcement thing going.
They asked a little more about Cambodia, but there was no problem on that.
What do you think, waiting until tomorrow is a little...
I think it's better.
Otherwise, you build up the idea that maybe you're going to talk about the other thing.
Is that your point?
Well, no, not so much.
That's not really about Watergate.
It goes more to, I think, then we start a whole series of speculation about the second part of what you might say in terms of the economy and so forth.
I think you're right.
Okay, then you'll...
They asked today whether or not...
They asked Jerry, and that's one reason I had him... You want to freeze?
No.
No, ask if you were going to have a statement, a public statement at the end of the withdrawal, and Jerry said he'd have to check.
So they're sort of up for it.
All right, do it tomorrow, Ron.
That's fine.
Yes, sir.
We'll do it first thing in the morning.
And you work out the time and everything?
Yes, sir.
Is that what we're going for?
Yes, sir.
We're going to request 9 o'clock.
Good.
Okay.
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