Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 45 › Conversation 045-062

Nixon, Bush & Cox on Watergate and H.R. Haldeman

Monday, April 30, 1973 · 11:15 PM–11:18 PM ET · White House Telephone · 3 min

ParticipantsWhite House operator; Cox, Tricia Nixon; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Bush, George H. W.Conversation045-062 on Tape 45StartMonday, April 30, 1973 at 11:15 PMEndMonday, April 30, 1973 at 11:18 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 045-062 ↗

AI Summary

George H. W. Bush called President Nixon to express support following the President's televised address regarding the Watergate scandal, specifically acknowledging the difficulty of the President's decision to part with aides H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman. Bush conveyed optimism about the speech's reception among the public despite criticism from media commentators, citing his recent travels as evidence of grassroots political backing. Nixon reaffirmed his perseverance and pledged a close working relationship with Bush as his administration navigated the ongoing crisis.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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

Mr. George Bush calling the president.

Oh, yes, and then there was also Don Hughes on the phone.

There was a Don Hughes on the phone from Thailand via satellite, and George Bush is on the phone.

Hello?

Hello, President?

George, how are you?

I'm fine.

And I heard that speech with great pride.

I tried to call in there, but the switchboard's been lit up, I guess.

I told them to let anybody through, but they wouldn't— Well, I couldn't even get the operator there, but I— I've been on the phone, George, all night.

I'll bet you have.

But we watched it.

We just had attended a Republican leadership conference here, and I—

I really was proud of you and, my golly, I know it was tough.

I just wanted to tell you that.

To me it came through clearly and forcefully and it conveyed the deep depth of feeling that I know you must have had agonizing over John and Bob and stuff.

I just wanted to tell you that before I went to sleep.

Good for you, George.

You had nothing to do with this goddamn thing.

No.

We're gonna go on.

Is the May 8th dinner going on?

Well, it's going, yeah, and it's... No, this may help us.

This may help us.

And if it does, I'll come by and they all gotta cheer.

You understand?

They're no problem on that.

They will.

The people in the political thing have wanted something.

But they really are with you.

And I know, I feel it strongly tonight.

And I've been in many states in the last 10 days.

South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas.

No, but it's, when you tell them this and get it in the focus is exactly...

I appreciate what you've suggested.

You do anything and...

I may call on you, but I'm not sure about what you're doing, the most important thing you can do.

But in any event, you and I are going to be very close.

You understand that?

Well, best of luck.

And holler on anything.

Tough ones, anything.

I know that, George.

It seems to be great.

And I don't...

I sit here... Barbara and I were sitting listening to these guys.

Barbara, my best.

What?

The commentators?

Giving it out?

Well, Rowan and the arrogant bastards that don't really... You know, and they don't...

The thing that burns me up is the feeling that you had and that came through.

There's a little credit for that, but I think the people...

The folks may understand it.

The folks didn't understand the checker speech, but the people did.

I mean, the commentators didn't.

And the commentators didn't understand Cambodia, but the people did.

And the commentators didn't understand May 8th, but the people did.

The hell with the commentators.

The hell with them.

This is going to come through good.

Okay, boy.

A lot of people are rooting for you.

All right, boy.

Okay, sir.

How good of you to call.

Not at all.

I'm just doing my best to barber.

I will, sir.

Goodbye.

NARA Description

On April 30, 1973, White House operator, Tricia Nixon Cox, President Richard M. Nixon, and George H. W. Bush talked on the telephone from 11:15 pm to 11:18 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 045-062 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 45-62

Date: April 30, 1973
Time: 11:15 pm - 11:18 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The White House operator talked with Tricia Nixon Cox. The President can be heard in the
background.

     Telephone call from George H. W. Bush

     Telephone call from Maj. Gen. James D. (“Don”) Hughes
          -Transmission from Thailand

Tricia Nixon Cox conferred with the President.

[Begin conferral]

     Telephone call from Bush

[End conferral]

The President talked with Bush.

     Watergate
          -President’s speech
                -Volume of telephone calls to President
                -Republican Leadership Conference
                -Emotional tone
                -John D. Ehrlichman, H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
          -Bush’s lack of involvement
          -President’s perseverance
          -President’s schedule
                -May 8, 1973 dinner
                      -Support for President
          -Republican politicians
          -Bush’s travels
                                              -46-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                            Conversation No. 45-62 (cont’d)

                 -Support for President
                       -South Carolina
                       -Pennsylvania
                       -Texas
                       -Missouri [?]
           -President’s relationship with Bush
           -Barbara Bush
           -Commentators
                 -Carl T. Rowan
           -President’s speech
                 -“Checkers” speech
                 -Cambodia
                 -May 8, 1972 decision
                 -Popular reaction

Also recorded on May 1, 1973

045-057 11:04 PM · 2 min — White House operator, Tricia Nixon Cox, President Richard M. Nixon, and Hobart D. Lewis talked on the telephone from 11:04 pm to 11:06 pm.
045-058 11:07 PM · 2 min — White House operator, President Richard M. Nixon, [Dwight] David Eisenhower, II, and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:07 pm and 11:08 pm.
045-059 11:09 PM · 1 min — James T. Lynn and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone from 11:09 pm to 11:13 pm.
045-060 11:13 PM · 2 min — Tricia Nixon Cox, President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, [Dwight] David Eisenhower, II, and Rose Mary Woods talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:13 pm and 11:14 pm.
045-061 11:14 PM · 1 min — White House operator, Tricia Nixon Cox, President Richard M. Nixon, and Anne L. Armstrong talked on the telephone from 11:14 pm to 11:15 pm.
045-063 11:21 PM · 55 sec — White House operator, Tricia Nixon Cox, and Claude S. Brinegar talked on the telephone from 11:21 pm to 11:23 pm.
045-064 11:23 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:23 pm and 11:24 pm.
045-065 11:24 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, unknown person(s), and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 11:24 pm to 11:28 pm.

All 181 conversations from May 1, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 045-062, May 1, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/045-062 (accessed October 5, 2026).