Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 45 › Conversation 045-032

Nixon phone call with Haldeman on Watergate scandal and Daniel Ellsberg case

Thursday, April 26, 1973 · 10:07 PM–10:09 PM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation045-032 on Tape 45StartThursday, April 26, 1973 at 10:07 PMEndThursday, April 26, 1973 at 10:09 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 045-032 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss potential high-level personnel changes to navigate the escalating political pressures of the Watergate scandal and the Daniel Ellsberg case. They explore the possibility of appointing William D. Ruckelshaus as permanent FBI Director and weigh the viability of John Connally as a replacement for Attorney General. Haldeman is tasked with gauging Connally's interest in the position and assessing the likelihood of his Senate confirmation.

Audio

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello.
Yes, sir.
One thing I'd like for you and John to talk about is in terms of possibly moving—basically because this whole damned Ellsberg thing probably is going to be very difficult for the judge and all that sort of thing—that maybe moving if we could—I don't know whether we could get him to do it—to get Ruckelshaus and that thing, you know.
I don't know what you think of that idea.
Permanently?
Yes, sir.
We've thought of that, you know?
Yeah, I know it.
Okay, I'll talk to him.
All right.
The other thing... What about Conley for Attorney General?
I don't think he'd take it, but I think he'd be fine.
Well, it says he'll do anything.
Do you think he'd get approved?
Probably.
Yeah, they could— Sure.
You know what I mean?
He's a lawyer and so forth and so on.
You don't think he'd take it, Bill?
Well, I didn't say— On the other hand, here he is writing that.
You know, that's part of the bold move.
Yep.
Well, rumble that around a little.
Okay.
He'd be a guy I'd sure trust in the job.
Yeah.
Okay?
Yep.
Bye.
Did you get the message?
I couldn't.

NARA Description

On April 26, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 10:07 pm to 10:09 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 045-032 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 45-32

Date: April 26, 1973
Time: 10:07 pm - 10:09 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

     Watergate
          -Haldeman’s telephone call to John B. Connally
                -Daniel Ellsberg case
          -William D. Ruckelshaus
                -Appointment as Director of Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]
          -Connally
          -Appointment as Attorney General
                -Confirmation

     Message for President

Also recorded on April 27, 1973

  • 045-025 7:12 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry E. Petersen talked on the telephone from 7:12 pm to 7:14 pm.
  • 045-026 7:14 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:14 pm and 7:44 pm.
  • 045-027 7:44 PM · 18 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Richard G. Kleindienst, and Henry E. Petersen talked on the telephone from 7:44 pm to 8:02 pm.
  • 431-010 9:03 PM · 43 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:03 pm and 9:47 pm.
  • 045-028 9:47 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:47 pm and 9:57 pm.
  • 045-029 9:57 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 9:57 pm to 9:59 pm.
  • 045-030 10:02 PM · 15 sec — White House operator and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at 10:02 pm.
  • 045-031 10:02 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:02 pm and 10:07 pm.

All 42 conversations from April 27, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 045-032, April 27, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/045-032 (accessed October 5, 2026).