Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 046-041
Date: Monday, May 14, 1973 at 9:01 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/046-041

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:01] Yes, sir.
[0:01] Nothing further from the committee.
[0:03] They've still taken their dog in the manger attitude.
[0:06] Yes, sir.
[0:06] I've talked to Herb Klein, and he's moving on the Gallagher thing, and very tough.
[0:11] Now, look, we've got to understand that it's not to our interest, really, to have Irvin and Baker, who are both pusillanimous assholes, you know, repudiate this thing.
[0:23] Tomorrow at
[0:24] However, when you go on for your briefing at 10.30, forget this goddamn thing we're going to do tomorrow with the leaders.
[0:30] You go out there at 10.30 with a camera, right?
[0:33] You understand?
[0:34] Yes, sir.
[0:34] And, Ron, take down what I've told you.
[0:36] You've got it down.
[0:37] Yes, sir.
[0:38] That means that the committee will have indicted itself.
[0:40] This committee has indicted itself.
[0:42] Tomorrow is the time to start the attack on the committee.
[0:46] Okay.
[0:46] Yes, sir.
[0:47] You understand?
[0:48] Because they will not have acted.
[0:50] You understand?
[0:50] They will not have acted by the time you go on, Ron.
[0:52] That's right.
[0:53] They never will have acted.
[0:54] That'll force them to act later in the day.
[0:58] I would say this committee, don't put it in any nice terms, but I put it very tough.
[1:04] They have, by their favor, to allow this story for two days.
[1:09] That time will be two days.
[1:10] You understand?
[1:11] You understand?
[1:12] Yes.
[1:12] Two days.
[1:13] They have allowed it.
[1:14] allowed it to lie there without repudiating it, without doing it.
[1:19] First, they have indicted themselves for irresponsibility.
[1:22] Second, we demand an apology from the committee and a retraction.
[1:26] Third, we demand an immediate investigation to the committee staff who was responsible and a discharge of that person.
[1:32] Have you got all that or not?
[1:34] I'm just writing it down, sir.
[1:36] I'm just sorry to do that, but we've got to do this.
[1:38] Then don't let Len get you off of this.
[1:41] I don't think he will want you to.
[1:42] He won't, no.
[1:44] Because basically, we've got to hit that.
[1:46] Now, there may be a half-assed statement by Irvin, you know, tonight or late tonight or so forth.
[1:51] They haven't found him yet, though, have they?
[1:53] No, he's issued a, as you refer to it, a half-assed statement.
[1:56] What did he say?
[1:57] Well, just that he didn't have any information that would support that story.
[2:02] But what we need is a formal statement.
[2:04] All right.
[2:04] No, we want to demand a formal retraction by the full committee.
[2:09] That's right.
[2:10] Because the Santa Ana Register says that they stand by their story.
[2:16] Well, that just supports it more.
[2:18] All right.
[2:18] Now, a formal retraction for the full committee is required.
[2:22] You lay it right out there and fight Irvin and fight the rest.
[2:25] I agree.
[2:26] All right.
[2:26] Okay.
[2:27] Good.
[2:27] Yes.