Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 46 › Conversation 046-079

Nixon phone call with Ziegler on Watergate and CIA

Wednesday, May 16, 1973 · 2:44 PM–2:46 PM ET · White House Telephone · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.Conversation046-079 on Tape 46StartWednesday, May 16, 1973 at 2:44 PMEndWednesday, May 16, 1973 at 2:46 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 046-079 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discuss a strategy to address potential inquiries regarding the administration's involvement in the Watergate break-in investigation. Nixon instructs Ziegler to maintain that he directed a comprehensive inquiry into the involvement of various agencies, specifically to determine if the CIA played a role. Additionally, Nixon directs Ziegler to gather data on John W. Dean III's past access to FBI reports and staff briefings to serve as a defensive counter-narrative.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Oh, yes, sir.
Ron, I was going to say, with regard to any question, if it does come up, I don't know whether it does at Bob's or John's testimony at the grand jury or any other statement that they make, whether or not the president was aware or directed that they talked to the Helms and so forth.
The answer should be yes, that I directed a full investigation of all agencies that might have been involved.
Do you agree?
Yes, sir.
Because that's their line, as I understand it, isn't it?
That they were trying to find out whether the CIA was involved.
I think so, yes, sir.
Right, okay.
Okay, good.
Any other developments since I talked to you?
No.
Briefing's moving on the Dean report.
Incidentally, on the Dean report or the investigation, I think if you could find out how many... break it down before August and so forth...
how many FBI reports he had received or how many staff things he'd sent in before that time.
That would sort of buttress it a bit.
Okay.
As of that day, he had already sent in on so many briefings or so forth.
You know what I mean?
Yes, sir.
Okay, good.
I will.
All right, Ron.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On May 16, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 2:44 pm to 2:46 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 046-079 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 46-79

Date: May 16, 1973
Time: 2:44 pm - 2:46 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

[See also Conversation No. 437-7]

     Watergate
          -Response to possible press inquiries
               -John D. Ehrlichman’s and H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s contact with Richard M.
               Helms regarding break-in
                                                  -48-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

            -John W. Dean III
                  -Report
                  -Access to Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] reports
                  -Attendance at meetings

Also recorded on May 16, 1973

  • 437-007 2:44 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:44 pm to 2:46 pm.
  • 046-080 2:46 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:46 pm and 2:51 pm.
  • 437-008 2:46 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 2:46 pm and 2:51 pm.
  • 046-081 2:51 PM · 35 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. talked on the telephone from 2:51 pm to 2:52 pm.
  • 437-009 2:51 PM · 35 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:51 pm to 2:52 pm.
  • 046-082 2:52 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:52 pm and 2:58 pm.
  • 046-083 2:57 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. talked on the telephone from 2:57 pm to 2:58 pm.
  • 919-032 3:02 PM · 1 hr 31 min — President Richard M. Nixon, J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr., Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:02 pm to 4:08 pm.

All 73 conversations from May 16, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 046-079, 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/046-079 (accessed October 1, 2026).