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Conversation 045-054

TapeTape 45StartMonday, April 30, 1973 at 10:51 PMEndMonday, April 30, 1973 at 10:54 PMParticipantsShultz, George P.;  Nixon, Richard M. (President)Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

Secretary of the Treasury George Shultz called President Nixon to express personal support following the high-profile resignations of H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman amid the Watergate scandal. Shultz commended the President’s recent televised address and reaffirmed his commitment to the administration's continued governance. Nixon discussed his upcoming schedule, specifically confirming his intent to attend an upcoming Labor Management Advisory Board meeting and a Cabinet meeting to project stability and resolve.

Watergate scandalResignationsCabinet meetingH.R. HaldemanJohn EhrlichmanExecutive branch governance
AudioNARA Description

On April 30, 1973, George P. Shultz and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone from 10:51 pm to 10:54 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 045-054 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 45-54

Date: April 30, 1973
Time: 10:51 pm - 10:54 pm
Location: White House Telephone

George P. Shultz talked with the President.

     Watergate
          -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman and John D. Ehrlichman
                -Resignations
          -Shultz’s decency
          -Haldeman and Ehrlichman
          -President’s speech
                -Effectiveness
                -Shultz’s support

     President’s schedule
           -Labor Management Advisory Board meeting
                 -President’s participation
           -Cabinet meeting
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.
Secretary Schultz, sir.
Yeah.
There you are.
Hello, Mr. President.
Lord George Schultz speaking.
Mr. President, I know how terribly hard this must be to have John and Bob leave your side and all of us involved with you.
We'll miss them a great deal.
And I...
I...
I know, I know.
You're such a decent, kind man that you would feel that way, and most others don't give a damn, but you do, and that's to your great credit.
Well, they're great people, and they've done a wonderful job.
And I know it very well, and I— I know you already do.
Fine.
But I thought your speech tonight was
We all listened to it, including my children, and they all felt the same way.
It had to be said.
I think we—the thing is to go on and govern.
That's right.
Go on and do the job that has to be done for this country.
That's right, sir, and I will be standing with you in trying to do that.
You always have, George.
As I understand, we're having our meeting with the labor management group Wednesday, right?
Yes, sir.
They're going to be in here Wednesday.
Good.
I'll be there.
Yeah, that would be great.
Drop in hell.
I'll be there.
Well, okay.
You know that.
Wonderful.
We're going to have a cabinet meeting Wednesday, you know.
Well, you may not know, but I ordered it today.
We must have a cabinet meeting.
A very brief, undue staff meeting.
But by God, I'm going to stay in that labor management thing.
We're going to fight it out.
Good.
Okay.
All right, sir.
All right, George.
And it's so sweet of you to call.
Will.
Give my best to your lovely wife.
I sure will.
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