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Conversation 045-087

TapeTape 45StartTuesday, May 1, 1973 at 1:23 PMEndTuesday, May 1, 1973 at 1:24 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  White House operator;  Ford, Gerald R.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon initiated this call to thank Representative Gerald Ford for a supportive note following the difficult resignations of top aides H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman. Nixon urged Ford to rally congressional Republicans to counterattack against political critics, specifically disparaging Senator Charles Percy’s call for a special prosecutor. Ford assured the President that he was actively encouraging his colleagues to speak out in defense of the administration, noting that several members had already pledged their public support.

Watergate scandalGerald FordH.R. HaldemanJohn EhrlichmanCongressional relationsCharles PercyPolitical strategy
AudioNARA Description

On May 1, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Gerald R. Ford talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:23 pm and 1:24 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 045-087 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 45-87

Date: May 1, 1973
Time: Unknown between 1:23 pm and 1:24 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House operator.

     Request for telephone call
          -William J. Baroody, Jr.

     President’s telephone call to Gerald R. Ford

The President talked with Ford between 1:24 pm - 1:26 pm.

[See also Conversation No. 433-19]

     Watergate
          -Ford’s note
          -Need for Republican counterattack
          -President’s speech
          -President’s Congressional supporters
          -Resignations of John D. Ehrlichman and H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
          -Need for Republican counterattack
                -Charles H. Percy, Jr.
                      -Special Prosecutor
                            -Elliot L. Richardson
                      -Hamilton Fish, Jr.’s conversation with Ford
                                                       -61-

                       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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Rudy.
Rudy, thank you.
Sir, I have Congressman Ford for you.
Fine, I'll take him first.
You are.
Hello.
Just wanted to express my appreciation for your note.
I know you had to keep the faith and tell the guys, God damn it, to get off their ass and start fighting back.
Well, we're going to, Mr. President, and you did a hell of a job last night, and, uh...
It wasn't any other way I could express it this morning, but we've got a hell of a lot of friends up here, both Republican and Democrat, and don't worry about anybody being Sunshine Soldiers or Summer Patriots.
Never, Jerry Ford.
Well— Okay, boy, just wanted you to know that I deeply appreciated the little note, and I saw it, and I was most moved by it.
Well, any time you want me to do anything,
under any circumstances, you give me a call.
See, I had to do what I did.
It was the most painful thing I've ever done to take two totally innocent men and sack them, but they had to be sacked.
Well, it just made me sit there and damn near cry because I knew the problem it was.
I think both of them have done a good job, despite one of these damn critics.
But they had to be done, and they should have done themselves, but then I had to do it myself.
Yeah, well, we'll stand by you.
But if you could get a few of the Congressmen and Senators to speak up and say a word, for Christ's sakes.
I mean, you got Percy out saying a special prosecutor, the asshole, he's running for president.
Sure.
Good God.
Elliot Richardson is a special prosecutor.
You know that.
That's right.
Can't you get a few, Jerry?
We had about four fellows, Mr. President, who came to me on the floor of the House during the speeches and said that they were going to speak up.
And I said, you go ahead and speak up or put it in the record any way you want it.
Just get a press release out.
And I assumed— That's right.
Ham Fish was one, and that pleased me.
Uh, forgotten who the other two were, but there'll be a record and, uh... All right, boy.
Well, you stand firm, old boy.
Don't worry.
All right, thank you.
Mr. President.
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