Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 46 › Conversation 046-015

Nixon phone call with Haig on Watergate and FBI files

Friday, May 11, 1973 · 3:07 PM–3:08 PM ET · White House Telephone · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Conversation046-015 on Tape 46StartFriday, May 11, 1973 at 3:07 PMEndFriday, May 11, 1973 at 3:08 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 046-015 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander Haig discuss the urgent search for specific FBI files and a sensitive memorandum previously handled by John Ehrlichman. Nixon expresses concern over the potential inclusion of damaging material regarding Henry Kissinger within these documents, insisting that the damaging memo be retrieved to facilitate a proactive political offensive. Additionally, Haig confirms he will provide Fred Buzhardt with instructions for upcoming interviews with H.R. Haldeman, Ehrlichman, and Charles Colson.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
General Hague, sir.
Yes, Mr. President.
Well, Rose said she couldn't find those damn things, and I don't know where the hell they are, but I've got Larry looking right away, and he has to check with Holland to find out, well, where John put them.
Yeah, John said he delivered them to a safe someplace in the building, so I know they're here.
Right.
Well, we're now the second point.
The reason I wanted you to take a quick scan of them, even before Buzzard, is that
Might be some stuff on Henry in there that's not very good.
Exactly.
You know what I mean?
Exactly.
And I don't want even him to see that.
You understand?
Absolutely.
But on the other hand, get that one memorandum out and get it out.
Yes, sir.
Because I think we've got to take the offensive on this and take it on very fast.
That's what I'm so concerned about, trying to find the damn thing.
Well, find that goddamn memo and call me back because it's got to be around here someplace.
Now, the other thing, would you be sure to...
getting Buzzard his guidelines that he will see tomorrow, Alderman Ehrlichman and Coulson.
Right.
Will do.
You have confidence in him, do you?
I have the most confidence.
Okay, boy.
All right, sir.
Good.

NARA Description

On May 11, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 3:07 pm to 3:08 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 046-015 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 46-15

Date: May 11, 1973
Time: 3:07 pm - 3:08 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

[See also Conversation No. 434-28]

     Watergate
          -President’s telephone call to Rose Mary Woods
                -Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] files
          -FBI files
                -Lawrence M. Higby
                      -Tod R. Hullin
                      -John D. Ehrlichman
                -Content
                      -Henry A. Kissinger
                -Memorandum
                      -Distribution
                -Location
          -Buzhardt’s schedule
                -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman, Ehrlichman and Charles W. Colson

Also recorded on May 11, 1973

  • 046-013 3:00 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull talked on the telephone from 3:00 pm to 3:01 pm.
  • 434-025 3:00 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:00 pm to 3:01 pm.
  • 046-014 3:01 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:01 pm and 3:07 pm.
  • 434-026 3:01 PM · 11 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 3:01 pm and 3:07 pm.
  • 434-027 3:01 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 3:01 pm and 3:07 pm.
  • 434-028 3:07 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:07 pm to 3:08 pm.
  • 046-016 3:08 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:08 pm and 3:15 pm.
  • 434-029 3:08 PM · 9 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 3:08 pm and 3:21 pm.

All 78 conversations from May 11, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 046-015, May 11, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/046-015 (accessed October 1, 2026).