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Conversation 045-072

TapeTape 45StartMonday, April 30, 1973 at 11:50 PMEndMonday, April 30, 1973 at 11:53 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discuss the immediate public and political reception to Nixon's televised address regarding the Watergate scandal. They review feedback from congressional members, Democratic governors, the press, and Henry Kissinger, noting that while media criticism persists, the speech was well-received by lawmakers and potentially the general public. The conversation concludes with a brief reflection on Nixon's impromptu visit to the press room, which was viewed as a positive move by CBS.

WatergatePublic RelationsNixon AddressMedia CoverageCongressional Relations
AudioNARA Description

On April 30, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:50 pm and 11:53 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 045-072 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 45-72

Date: April 30, 1973
Time: Between 11:50 pm and 11:53 pm
Location: White House Telephone

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

     Watergate
          -President’s speech
                -Congressional reaction
                -Press reaction
                      -Carl T. Rowan
                -Congressional reaction
                      -Jacob K. Javits, Howard H. Baker, Jr.
                -Democratic governors’ reaction
                      -Resignations
                -Henry A. Kissinger’s reaction
                -Press coverage
                -[Dwight] David Eisenhower, II’s view
                      -Press reaction
                      -Popular reaction
          -President’s visit to press room
                -Press reaction
                -Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
                                             -53-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                     (rev. October-2012)
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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?
Mr. Holloman's on the line, sir.
Yeah.
Yes, sir.
Well, I guess we've got all the reports, so they go to bed.
So what have you?
Well, that could come out very well.
It's a good reaction on the radio from the congressional guys.
Press, press pissing on it, but that's all right.
No, they're not.
They're making a big thing out of the... Rowan and all the rest pissing on it, but that's all right.
I don't care.
None that I've heard.
Really?
No.
And the congressional guys you got good reaction on.
Blackcomb.
Both the good guys and the bad guys.
Javits and Baker.
I was at several of them.
Good.
The Democratic governors didn't like it, but they aren't going to like anything.
I guess they weren't talking about the speech.
They had them on reacting to the speech.
They said that wasn't enough.
Well, we knew that.
Which is, of course, that's the next bounce now.
I told you that.
Yes, sure, we know that.
Some more.
But no, I think certainly what they're carrying on the news wrap-up now is good.
It's very good.
Henry's reaction is rather typical.
He's sort of waiting.
But we expect that, don't we?
Yes, pro-Henry.
This isn't an effort that's designed for the Henry types anyway.
No, you're right.
The main thing David was just saying is he didn't give a shit what all the press does.
He says, you got to the folks.
Well, that's the whole point.
We may have gotten to the folks.
I don't know.
You got to the press afterwards.
about your drop-by in the press room or whatever it was, where you made a comment about, you know— You can be hell when I'm wrong.
Yeah, but something about you hope you merit their confidence or their trust or something.
And they picked that up.
CBS, particularly, for some reason, thought that was very impressive.
I'll keep the pay though, boy.
Right.
Always.
Don't give up.
Never.
Goodbye.
Okay.
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