Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 46 › Conversation 046-074

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr.

Wednesday, May 16, 1973 · 9:48 AM ET · White House Telephone · 12 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation046-074 on Tape 46StartWednesday, May 16, 1973 at 9:48 AMEndWednesday, May 16, 1973 at 9:48 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 046-074 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon directs the White House operator to place an urgent telephone call to J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr., his special counsel handling legal matters related to the Watergate investigation. The brief exchange serves as a logistical bridge to facilitate direct communication with Buzhardt regarding ongoing legal defense strategies. No substantive discussion occurs during this initial connection request, as the President is merely establishing the line.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

Please?
Mr. Buzard, please.
Fred Buzard?
Yes, sir.

NARA Description

On May 16, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at 9:48 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 046-074 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 46-74

Date: May 16, 1973
Time: 9:48 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House operator.

[See also Conversation No. 919-8]

      Telephone call to J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr.

Also recorded on May 16, 1973

  • 919-004 9:25 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:25 am and 9:30 am.
  • 919-005 9:25 AM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:25 am and 9:30 am.
  • 919-007 9:30 AM · 18 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:30 am to 9:48 am.
  • 046-075 9:48 AM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. talked on the telephone from 9:48 am to 9:54 am.
  • 919-008 9:48 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 9:48 am.
  • 919-009 9:48 AM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:48 am to 9:54 am.
  • 919-010 9:54 AM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at 9:54 am.
  • 919-011 9:54 AM · 24 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:54 am to 10:23 am.

All 73 conversations from May 16, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 046-074, May 16, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/046-074 (accessed October 1, 2026).