Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 45 › Conversation 045-161

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Ronald L. Ziegler

Tuesday, May 8, 1973 · 8:01 PM–8:19 PM ET · White House Telephone · 24 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation045-161 on Tape 45StartTuesday, May 8, 1973 at 8:01 PMEndTuesday, May 8, 1973 at 8:19 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 045-161 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate an urgent call with Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. The President directed the operator to follow up with Ziegler's assistant, Connie Gerard, to ensure Ziegler understood he was available to receive the call immediately. This exchange underscores the President's administrative efforts to maintain direct communication with his key staff during a period of ongoing crisis.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Yes, please.
Mr. Ziegler, unless he's in a meeting, please.
Mr. President, I left word with Connie Gerard, you know, to call it his convenience, and I haven't heard from her.
All right, fine.
Just check with her again.
Be sure that she knows he can reach me here now.
All right, sir.

NARA Description

On May 8, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:01 pm and 8:19 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 045-161 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 45-161

Date: May 8, 1973
Time: Unknown between 8:01 pm and 8:19 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House operator.

     Telephone call to Ronald L. Ziegler
          -Connie Gerard

Also recorded on May 9, 1973

  • 045-162 8:19 PM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 8:19 pm to 8:27 pm.
  • 045-163 8:27 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:27 pm and 10:38 pm.
  • 045-164 10:38 PM · 13 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 10:38 pm to 10:52 pm.
  • 045-166 7:38 AM · 18 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 7:38 am to 7:56 am.
  • 914-001 7:59 AM · 24 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:59 am and 8:37 am.
  • 914-002 7:59 AM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:59 am and 8:37 am.
  • 914-003 7:59 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:59 am and 8:37 am.
  • 914-009 7:59 AM · 22 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:59 am and 8:37 am.

All 62 conversations from May 9, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 045-161, May 9, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/045-161 (accessed October 5, 2026).