Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 45 › Conversation 045-179

Haig & Buzhardt on Watergate scandal and H.R. Haldeman

Wednesday, May 9, 1973 · 6:55 PM–7:55 PM ET · White House Telephone · 1 min

ParticipantsHaig, Alexander M., Jr.; White House operator; Buzhardt, J. Fred, Jr.Conversation045-179 on Tape 45StartWednesday, May 9, 1973 at 6:55 PMEndWednesday, May 9, 1973 at 7:55 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 045-179 ↗

AI Summary

Alexander Haig and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. discuss the legal implications surrounding H.R. Haldeman’s possession of White House documents. The participants aim to clarify whether Haldeman improperly removed materials from the building, as Buzhardt expresses concern over a conflicting report from Haldeman’s lawyer. Haig emphasizes the necessity for caution regarding the defense's access to these records following his recent consultation with the President.

Audio

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NARA Description

On May 9, 1973, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., White House operator, and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:55 pm and 7:55 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 045-179 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 45-179

Date: May 9, 1973
Time: Unknown between 6:55 pm and 7:55 pm
Location: White House Telephone

Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked with the White House operator.

[See also Conversation No. 434-9C]

     Telephone call to J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr.
          -Location
                -Leonard Garment’s office

Haig conferred with the President at an unknown time.

[Begin conferral]

     Problem

[End conferral]

Haig talked with Buzhardt at an unknown time between 6:35 pm and 7:55 pm.

[See also Conversation No. 434-9D]

     Watergate
          -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s notes
                -Possessors of copies
                -Extracts
                -Haldeman’s lawyer’s statement to Buzhardt
                      -Document in Haldeman’s possession
                                            -115-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).

Yes, please.
Fred Bazzard, please.
He's in the garments office.
Hello?
Fred?
Say Fred, you people got the wrong reading apparently on these documents.
I ought to talk to you as soon as I leave the President's office, but Bob does not have anything out of the building.
He has nothing out of the building?
He does not and has never had other than three pages of extracts of notes he made on his notes.
and uh you know god damn we've got to be careful now i gathered his lawyer told you this that's what his lawyer told me he described one full page when he looked at he said we no longer have the defense of no access you know so i got a judgment problem there i think uh when i get back home yet when i walk to you when i wait i'll wait i'm fine

Also recorded on May 9, 1973

  • 434-005 6:17 PM · 37 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 6:17 pm and 6:35 pm.
  • 045-177 6:35 PM · 13 sec — Alexander M. Haig, Jr. and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:35 pm and 7:55 pm.
  • 045-178 6:35 PM · 6 min — Alexander M. Haig, Jr. and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:35 pm and 7:55 pm.
  • 434-009 6:35 PM · 1 hr 55 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Manolo Sanchez, White House operator, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 6:35 pm to 8:26 pm.
  • 045-180 6:55 PM · 12 sec — Alexander M. Haig, Jr. and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:55 pm and 7:55 pm.
  • 045-181 6:55 PM · 5 min — Alexander M. Haig, Jr., H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:55 pm and 7:55 pm.
  • 045-182 6:55 PM · 14 sec — Alexander M. Haig, Jr. and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:55 pm and 7:55 pm.
  • 045-183 6:55 PM · 19 sec — Alexander M. Haig, Jr. and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:55 pm and 7:55 pm.

All 60 conversations from May 9, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 045-179, 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/045-179 (accessed November 2, 2026).