Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 45 › Conversation 045-187

Nixon phone call with Haig on Watergate and Earl Warren

Thursday, May 10, 1973 · 2:49 PM–2:51 PM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Conversation045-187 on Tape 45StartThursday, May 10, 1973 at 2:49 PMEndThursday, May 10, 1973 at 2:51 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 045-187 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander Haig discussed the status of a potential commission to address Watergate, focusing on William P. Rogers's effort to recruit Earl Warren for the role despite their adversarial relationship. They also reviewed news of indictments against Maurice Stans and John Mitchell regarding the Robert Vesco case, viewing the legal proceedings as a sign that the justice system was functioning. Additionally, Haig provided a brief status update on Elliot Richardson’s ongoing testimony and efforts to influence upcoming personnel appointments.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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?
Yes, Mr. President?
Hi, Al.
What's, uh, anything new?
Yes, I've talked to Bill, and he's contacting Warren.
He'll be right back to us.
Good.
I understand there's a news report that there's been indictments against, uh, from New York against Maury Stans and, uh, Mitchell.
On the Vesco?
Yes.
I, but not here.
I, that's what I, the indictment came through.
I thought they were moving here.
Well, I expected the Vesco and Vesco.
And that's all we have at the moment.
It's good to have that, though.
Yes, I think so.
It shows that the process is moving.
It's working and it's moving.
Anything further on Elliot?
No, sir.
He's still testifying.
You weren't able to get the word to him?
No, I have it to his man, who I'm very close to.
And he's got that right on top of the list.
He's got Hearn and even Urban up there.
Even Urban.
He thinks, like you do, that Urban is way outside.
He'd find no reason not to do it.
Yeah, the son of a bitch wants to be on television.
Hearn would be a good appointment.
Yeah.
Now Bill was quite enthusiastic about this commission thing.
I think Warren might do it, you know.
He says the last hurrah.
Yes, he says he just might do it, although he hates us.
Oh, he hates us.
Oh, I know that.
I know that.
But what the hell?
And he seems to know him well enough that he can talk to him to do it.
He can do it.
Bill's going to let us know when.
I told him to move right away.
He was placing the call.
This was 30 minutes ago.
So good.
I have to step out.
Good, sir.
Okay.
Anything else I have to know then right now?
No, sir.
I think everything else is moving fine.
All right.
Thank you.
Good, sir.

NARA Description

On May 10, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 2:49 pm to 2:51 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 045-187 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 45-187

Date: May 10, 1973
Time: 2:49 pm - 2:51 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

[See also Conversation No. 435-6]

     Watergate
          -Haig’s conversation with William P. Rogers
                -Rogers’s forthcoming conversation with Earl Warren
          -Indictments in New York
                -Robert L. Vesco case
                -Maurice H. Stans and John N. Mitchell
                -Effect
          -Elliot L. Richardson
                -[First name unknown] Hearn, Samuel J. Ervin, Jr.
          -Commission
                -Rogers and Warren
                                               -120-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Also recorded on May 10, 1973

  • 435-003 2:45 PM · 51 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 2:45 pm and 2:49 pm.
  • 435-004 2:45 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 2:45 pm and 2:49 pm.
  • 435-005 2:45 PM · 10 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 2:45 pm and 2:49 pm.
  • 435-006 2:49 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:49 pm to 2:51 pm.
  • 045-188 2:51 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:51 pm and 2:56 pm.
  • 435-007 2:51 PM · 10 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 2:51 pm and 2:56 pm.
  • 045-189 2:56 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 2:56 pm to 3:00 pm.
  • 435-008 2:56 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:56 pm to 3:00 pm.

All 86 conversations from May 10, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 045-187, May 10, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/045-187 (accessed October 1, 2026).