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Conversation 045-130

TapeTape 45StartTuesday, May 1, 1973 at 11:50 PMEndTuesday, May 1, 1973 at 11:52 PMParticipantsKissinger, Henry A.;  Nixon, Richard M. (President)Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

Henry Kissinger calls President Nixon to offer praise for a recent toast and to discuss the political fallout from the Watergate scandal. The two reflect on the necessity of the President’s recent televised address and the resignation of top aides H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman. Nixon expresses resolve to shift focus back to national governance, while Kissinger encourages the President to maintain personal support for his outgoing staff.

Watergate scandalH. R. HaldemanJohn D. EhrlichmanElliot L. RichardsonSpecial ProsecutorPublic relations
AudioNARA Description

On May 1, 1973, Henry A. Kissinger and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone from 11:50 pm to 11:52 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 045-130 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 45-130

Date: May 1, 1973
Time: 11:50 pm - 11:52 pm
Location: White House Telephone

Henry A. Kissinger talked with the President.
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                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                         (rev. October-2012)

                                                               Conversation No. 45-130 (cont’d)

     President’s toast at state dinner
           -Reaction

     Watergate
          -Special Prosecutor
                -Senate
                -Elliot L. Richardson
          -Target of opponents
                -John D. Ehrlichman, H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
                -President
          -President’s previous speech
                -Reaction in nation
                -Ehrlichman and Haldeman
                -Audience
                      -Number
          -President’s activity
          -Kissinger’s conversations with Haldeman and Ehrlichman
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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. President, Dr. Kistrick calling.
Yes, sir.
All right.
Thank you.
Go ahead, please.
Hello.
Mr. President.
Hello, Henry.
I thought that was a very touching toast you made.
Oh, thank you.
Thank you.
It was really, it showed great strength.
Well?
Well, everyone at my table was tremendously moved.
Well, that's fine.
And
Just keep the faith, Henry.
I mean, all this yakking about the Senate and the special prosecutor.
Hell, Richardson's got that power.
It's what he's going to do.
Mr. President.
And they're all they want.
They're not after home.
Erdogan, I suppose, and they're after me.
Oh, no, they're after you.
But that's all right.
We made the right move, though, didn't we?
No, you had to do it.
It was unbelievably painful and tragic.
But it had to be done.
We've had a very good reaction from the country in the speech, if you don't mind.
And it wouldn't have done any good to delay it, because it would have destroyed John and Bob even more.
I agree.
And so you did the right thing by them and the right thing by the country.
And going on television was very important, because we had 70 million people, and that's the important thing.
You know, we ought to be over the heads of the press that way.
Well, the press will scream for another few days.
That's right.
If there aren't any more major things coming out, I think that we'll do it.
Oh, there may be, but what the hell.
There's much more left in me.
But the thing now is to get on with the business of this country.
Exactly.
And that's what we're doing.
The way you put it today was really beautifully done.
Also the manner.
Very relaxed, very confident.
Good, Henry.
What's good of you to call?
Not at all.
Be sure you let Bob and John know you're still behind them.
I called them every day, and I called their wives.
Right, Mr. Smith.
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