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Conversation 045-044

TapeTape 45StartMonday, April 30, 1973 at 10:20 PMEndMonday, April 30, 1973 at 10:32 PMParticipantsRogers, William P.;  Nixon, Richard M. (President);  Cox, Tricia NixonRecording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

Secretary of State William P. Rogers calls President Nixon to offer praise and support following the President's televised address regarding the Watergate scandal. The two discuss the effective delivery and tone of the speech, as well as the difficult resignations of H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman. Additionally, Rogers updates the President on positive feedback from congressional leaders regarding a potential role for David Packard and expresses his commitment to supporting the administration. Tricia Nixon Cox also joins the call to reiterate the family's appreciation for Rogers's loyalty during the crisis.

WatergateResignationsPublic RelationsDavid PackardWilliam P. Rogers
AudioNARA Description

On April 30, 1973, William P. Rogers, President Richard M. Nixon, and Tricia Nixon Cox talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:20 pm and 10:32 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 045-044 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 45-44

Date: April 30, 1973
Time: Unknown between 10:20 pm and 10:32 pm
Location: White House Telephone

William P. Rogers talked with the President.

     Watergate
          -President speech
                -President’s emotions

     Instructions to switchboard
           -Rose Mary Woods, Stephen B. Bull, David N. Parker
           -Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger

     Watergate
          -President’s speech
                -Delivery
                -Closing
                -Possible public reaction
                -Tone
                -Adele Rogers’s opinion
          -Sherman Adams’s memoirs
          -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s and John D. Ehrlichman’s resignations
          -President’s speech

     President’s schedule
           -Cabinet meeting

     David M. Packard
          -Rogers’s conversations
                                             -29-

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                     (rev. October-2012)

                                                            Conversation No. 45-44 (cont’d)

                 -John C. Stennis, Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield, George H. Mahon

     President’s previous speech

*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]

     Tricia Nixon Cox

Tricia Nixon Cox talked with Rogers at an unknown time between 10:20 pm and 10:32 pm.

     Rogers’s call

     President’s speech
           -Quality
           -Impact
           -Delivery
           -Contents
           -Rogers’s call
           -Camp David Trip

[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
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.

Who's on now?
Okay.
Hello.
Here you are.
Hello.
Hi, Miss Ferguson.
Hi, Bill.
See, that was terrific.
Really superb.
Don't give me that shit, you know, you know.
No, I really mean it.
You know, I've been through it.
It was kind of rough, you know.
Afterwards, I...
But, you know, I thanked the operators and the rest.
All of a sudden I sort of broke down a bit.
I don't do that, you know.
I'm not that kind of a man.
Oh, hell.
I tried to get you right away, but your damn system there is tough to get through.
I finally got through to Parker, but— We have been trying to get through to you all day.
any candidate officers to get through from the minute after this speech.
And I've only one I've heard from is Weinberger.
So I wonder what the hell's happened to everybody else.
I don't know what the goddamn system is.
Anyway, I call.
I try to get Barker.
I try to get Bull.
I finally got Barker.
Anyway, I thought it was superb.
I don't see how you could have done any better.
I think the best delivery I've ever seen you give, I thought the delivery— What parts of it did you like, Bill?
I liked all of it.
I just thought it was great.
You didn't mind the God Bless America.
That was my intuition at the last.
You should have felt that way.
No, I thought it was great.
I suppose some of the editorial writers may not like it, but the public is going to love it.
That's what counts.
And I thought the whole tone couldn't have been better.
I didn't think it had any rough spots in it.
I didn't think it had any sackcloth and ashes or anything of that kind.
I thought it was superb.
I couldn't improve on it.
I just thought it was great.
What did Del think?
She thought the same thing.
She's a smart woman.
She's critical.
You married a smarter wife than you are, you know, like I did.
That's right.
Now, how'd you think it went?
I don't know anything about it, you know.
I've gotten, you know, I've been through a hell of an experience, you know.
I was just reading Adams' memoirs.
And Adams, you know, for his credit, did come in and say, look, I'll resign.
But Holloman Erdogan didn't.
Until then, they had to resign.
That was a goddamn son of a bitch, you know.
You made a lot of improvements on the speech.
I thought it was pretty good last night, but it was a hell of a lot better tonight.
You must have done a lot of work on it today.
Worked all day on it, yeah.
Well, I just think you ought to be very happy with the speech.
I don't know.
They were printing out Thursday, but I haven't told Steve.
They went to Wednesday.
I think we ought to get it over quickly.
I think it's probably better.
Is that all right with you?
Right, right.
Because you're the year of the cabinet now, boy.
No, no.
Oh, I'm not kidding.
No, I'm not kidding.
You can't do bullshit.
You know that.
Incidentally, I think things look pretty good for Packard.
If you still want him, I think you ought to give him a call.
I talked to
I think I'll wait until tomorrow, though.
I don't want you to do it tonight.
I talked to Stennis, I talked to Mansfield, I talked to Ava, to George Mahon.
What'd they say?
They thought he'd be great.
They thought he'd be good.
And they waved the— Oh, we'll figure out something to do about that.
That's right.
That's right.
Got all that money.
Good of you to call, Bill.
You've been a— That was a great speech.
Get some sleep.
Great soldier.
And here's Pritchett to say hello.
His little child.
Okay.
He's been so great with it all.
Right.
His little blonde child who loves you like— Well, you know, it's mutual.
It's mutual.
Mr. Secretary?
Oh, we're just here in the Lincoln sitting room, and you were so great to call, and I know how much your support has meant to Daddy in these times.
Well, I thought he was great, didn't you?
I really thought it was a great stage.
It took great courage.
It had great, tremendous impact, I think.
I'm sure, I'm just sure it will.
I think it was the best delivered speech he's ever made.
Do you really?
Yeah.
Yeah, well, it was so sincere, and he put the whole thing in perspective, and looking to the future, and all those little references was just...
Everything fit in.
I really thought it was great.
You don't.
I called earlier.
I think you're great, too.
I couldn't get through to him that there's so many people calling.
I know.
Anyway, I called immediately, but I thought it was terrific.
Well, he appreciates that.
He really does.
He really appreciates all the support you gave me.
I was so pleased you came up to Camp David.
Oh, right.
He said you were coming.
I know he was looking forward to that.
Yeah.
Well, see you soon.
I hope so.
Bye-bye.
Give my best to everybody in your family.
Thanks very much.
Bye.
Bye.
Thank you.
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