Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 45 › Conversation 045-211

Nixon phone call with Cox on Watergate and John Mitchell

Thursday, May 10, 1973 · 5:23 PM–5:26 PM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Cox, Tricia NixonConversation045-211 on Tape 45StartThursday, May 10, 1973 at 5:23 PMEndThursday, May 10, 1973 at 5:26 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 045-211 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and his daughter, Tricia Nixon Cox, discussed the political climate surrounding the Watergate scandal, specifically referencing the recent indictments of John Mitchell and Maurice Stans. The President sought reassurance regarding public sentiment and expressed optimism that the scandal would fade from public consciousness within several months. They also touched upon the positive reception Nixon received at a recent Republican dinner, which served as a focal point for their mutual confidence in the remainder of his second term.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Well, I just want to tell you now, don't worry about, you know, the poor old Mitchell and Stan's got invited to the best cookies, but everything's going to come out all right.
Sure it will.
I know it will.
Don't you feel that way?
Daddy, I know it will.
I just know it will.
The people are for us.
Yes, I say really hard.
That's all I hear wherever I go.
What do you hear?
Just say, you know, what a shame, and we just, we love your father, and we just think he's doing such a great job, and
Right.
And even a couple people say it, don't let him get depressed.
Right, that's good.
And that's true, because you have to.
Well, you tell everybody that, my God, we're going to meet these people and, I mean, you know, do the right thing.
We had a tremendous ovation last night at the Republican dinner.
We read all about it.
It sounded fabulous.
And then let me see, who was, oh, Hope Lewis was talking to Daddy and just said it was a great reception, and that your speech was strong and so well received.
Who was he talking to?
Who, Hope Lewis?
He was talking to who?
I guess David, I don't know.
Oh, David, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah, it went fine.
Well, you know, all this will pass.
In four or five months, they won't remember what the hell Watergate was all about.
It'll take that long, though.
Of course it will.
Time is on our side because we have three and a half more years.
That's right.
And there's a lot to do in three and a half years.
That's right.
Okay, sweetie.
Okay.
Bye.
We love you, Daddy.
See you soon.
Bye.

NARA Description

On May 10, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Tricia Nixon Cox talked on the telephone from 5:23 pm to 5:26 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 045-211 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 45-211

Date: May 10, 1973
Time: 5:23 pm - 5:26 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Tricia Nixon Cox.

*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
                                                      -135-

                       NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                                           Conversation No. 45-211 (cont’d)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1A
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 38 s ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1A

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       Watergate
            -Indictments of John N. Mitchell and Maurice H. Stans
                  -Outcome
            -Popular reaction
                  -Support for President

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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1B
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 1 m 58 s ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1B

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

       Republican dinner
            -Ovation
                  -Hobart D. (“Hobe”) Lewis
                        -Reaction
                              -[Dwight] David Eisenhower, II
                  -Press reports

       Watergate
            -Outcome
                 -Advantage of time
                      -Rest of President’s second term
                                            -136-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                           Conversation No. 45-211 (cont’d)

[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************

Also recorded on May 10, 1973

  • 045-203 4:54 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 4:54 pm to 5:00 pm.
  • 045-204 5:00 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:00 pm and 5:01 pm.
  • 045-205 5:01 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William P. Rogers talked on the telephone from 5:01 pm to 5:04 pm.
  • 045-206 5:04 PM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:04 pm and 5:17 pm.
  • 045-207 5:04 PM · 13 sec — White House operator and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:04 pm and 5:17 pm.
  • 045-208 5:04 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:04 pm and 5:17 pm.
  • 045-209 5:17 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods talked on the telephone from 5:17 pm to 5:20 pm.
  • 045-210 5:20 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:20 pm and 5:23 pm.

All 86 conversations from May 10, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 045-211, 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/045-211 (accessed October 5, 2026).