Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 45 › Conversation 045-160

Nixon phone call with Haig on Watergate and H. R. Haldeman

Tuesday, May 8, 1973 · 7:41 PM–7:42 PM ET · White House Telephone · 55 sec

ParticipantsHaig, Alexander M., Jr.; Nixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation045-160 on Tape 45StartTuesday, May 8, 1973 at 7:41 PMEndTuesday, May 8, 1973 at 7:42 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 045-160 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon instructed Alexander Haig to ensure H. R. Haldeman testified fully before the Grand Jury regarding his upcoming appearance. Fearing an appearance of obstruction, Nixon explicitly directed Haig to communicate that Haldeman should not cite executive privilege to withhold details about conversations in the Oval Office. The conversation served to emphasize the need for transparency to prevent the perception of a cover-up.

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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General Haig, sir?

Yes, sir.

I understand that you said that Bob was going to be before the Grand Jury tomorrow.

That's right.

That's my understanding.

It's very important that he is forthcoming as possible with regard to any conversations that occurred, like if they asked about, you know,

He doesn't just say, well, that occurred in the Office of the President, and I will not testify on that.

You understand what I mean?

I understand exactly.

And be sure he understands that, that he should be as forthcoming as possible without saying, well, I can't go on to do that, but I want to tell you this, that, blah, blah, blah.

You know what I mean?

Exactly.

So that he doesn't appear to be covering up.

Right.

Okay.

I understand.

All right.

NARA Description

On May 8, 1973, Alexander M. Haig, Jr. and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone from 7:41 pm to 7:42 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 045-160 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 45-160

Date: May 8, 1973
Time: 7:41 pm - 7:42 pm
Location: White House Telephone

Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked with the President.
                                               -101-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                            Conversation No. 45-160 (cont’d)

[See also Conversation No. 433-76]

     Watergate
          -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
                -Forthcoming Grand Jury appearance
                      -Need for full disclosure

Also recorded on May 8, 1973

433-073 6:59 PM · 28 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Manolo Sanchez, and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 6:59 pm to 7:37 pm.
433-074 7:37 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 7:37 pm and 7:41 pm.
433-075 7:37 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 7:37 pm and 7:41 pm.
913-009 7:37 PM · 42 sec — unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:37 pm and 11:59 pm.
433-076 7:41 PM · 54 sec — Alexander M. Haig, Jr. and President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 7:41 pm to 7:42 pm.
433-077 7:42 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 7:42 pm and 8:01 pm.
433-078 7:42 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 7:42 pm and 8:01 pm.
433-079 7:42 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 7:42 pm and 8:01 pm.

All 51 conversations from May 8, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 045-160, May 8, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/045-160 (accessed October 5, 2026).