Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 45 › Conversation 045-098

Nixon phone call with Haig on Watergate and Presidential address

Tuesday, May 1, 1973 · 5:43 PM–5:44 PM ET · White House Telephone · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Conversation045-098 on Tape 45StartTuesday, May 1, 1973 at 5:43 PMEndTuesday, May 1, 1973 at 5:44 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 045-098 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander Haig discuss the public reception and internal morale following the President's televised address regarding the Watergate scandal on the previous evening. Haig expresses strong approval of the President's actions, characterizing the speech as a necessary move to clear the air and refocus the administration on its official duties. The conversation concludes with a mutual agreement to maintain high morale and return to standard government business.

Audio

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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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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?
General Haag.
Yes, Mr. President.
Still surviving today?
They're in good shape, sir.
Right.
Right.
How's the reaction to the thing last night?
I think it's excellent.
I haven't...
I think everyone here feels that...
It's the right thing, huh?
We've blown the tubes clean, and let's get on with the business.
Good.
You think it was the right thing to do, huh?
We talked last night, but do you still feel so in the cold glare of the day?
Yes, sir, I do, and it wasn't an easy...
It's an easy thing to take, but I think it's essential.
All right.
Morale is good, huh, Al?
Oh, yes, sir.
Okay.
Well, let's get on with the business, boy.
Right, sir.
Everybody, chins up.
Well, we're all with you, sir, and God damn it, it's too much going for us.
That's right, boy.
Thank you.
Good, sir.

NARA Description

On May 1, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 5:43 pm to 5:44 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 045-098 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 45-98

Date: May 1, 1973
Time: 5:43 pm - 5:44 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

[See also Conversation No. 433-33]

     Watergate
          -President’s speech
                -Reaction
          -President’s conversation with Haig, April 30, 1973
          -Morale

Also recorded on May 1, 1973

  • 045-097 5:40 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:40 pm and 5:43 pm.
  • 433-032 5:40 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 5:40 pm and 5:43 pm.
  • 433-033 5:43 PM · 55 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 5:43 pm to 5:44 pm.
  • 045-099 5:44 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:44 pm and 5:53 pm.
  • 045-100 5:44 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:44 pm and 5:53 pm.
  • 433-034 5:44 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 5:44 pm and 5:53 pm.
  • 433-035 5:44 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 5:44 pm and 5:53 pm.
  • 433-036 5:44 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 5:44 pm and 5:53 pm.

All 181 conversations from May 1, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 045-098, 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/045-098 (accessed October 5, 2026).