Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 46 › Conversation 046-078

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Ronald L. Ziegler

Wednesday, May 16, 1973 · 2:00 PM–2:44 PM ET · White House Telephone · 10 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); White House operatorConversation046-078 on Tape 46StartWednesday, May 16, 1973 at 2:00 PMEndWednesday, May 16, 1973 at 2:44 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 046-078 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon initiates a brief request for the White House operator to connect him to his Press Secretary, Ronald L. Ziegler. The conversation serves strictly as a logistical administrative step to facilitate a direct communication line between the President and his key communications aide. No substantive policy matters or further details were discussed during this brief exchange.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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

Ron Zegler, please.
Yes, sir.

NARA Description

On May 16, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:00 pm and 2:44 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 046-078 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 46-78

Date: May 16, 1973
Time: Unknown between 2:00 pm and 2:44 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House operator.

[See also Conversation No. 437-6]

     Telephone call to Ronald L. Ziegler

Also recorded on May 16, 1973

  • 437-001 1:25 PM · 20 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 1:25 pm and 1:40 pm.
  • 437-002 1:25 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 1:25 pm and 1:40 pm.
  • 919-028 1:25 PM · 38 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Nellie L. Yates met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:25 pm and 3:02 pm.
  • 919-029 1:25 PM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:25 pm and 3:02 pm.
  • 437-003 1:40 PM · 33 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 1:40 pm to 2:00 pm.
  • 437-004 2:00 PM · 8 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 2:00 pm and 2:44 pm.
  • 437-005 2:00 PM · 22 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 2:00 pm and 2:44 pm.
  • 437-006 2:00 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 2:00 pm and 2:44 pm.

All 73 conversations from May 16, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 046-078, 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/046-078 (accessed October 1, 2026).