Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 46 › Conversation 046-094

Nixon phone call with Ziegler on Thomas F. Eagleton and Political research

Thursday, May 17, 1973 · 1:46 PM–1:47 PM ET · White House Telephone · 47 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.Conversation046-094 on Tape 46StartThursday, May 17, 1973 at 1:46 PMEndThursday, May 17, 1973 at 1:47 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 046-094 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon directed Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler to expedite research into the medical history of Senator Thomas F. Eagleton, specifically regarding potential psychiatric treatment in New York. Expressing frustration with the pace of the investigation, Nixon questioned the staffing of the research operation and insisted on immediate verification of the facts. Ziegler confirmed that the Allin group was currently handling the assignment.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Yeah.
Yes, sir.
With all of that, research staff with yours is too busy.
Perhaps the Broody staff maybe could even check to see whether this fellow Eagleton was ever treated in New York.
I think we're doing that right now.
It's just as soon as you get a quote.
I'm confident that he was not.
I mean, what I meant is confident from my own recollection of news stories, which I followed closely at the time.
But God damn it, Ron, we ought to have that kind of information in five minutes.
Now, who have you got working on it?
A girl or a man or three men?
No, we've got the Allen shop doing it.
Okay.
Martin, he'll find it.
Yes, sir.
Fine.

NARA Description

On May 17, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 1:46 pm to 1:47 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 046-094 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 46-94

Date: May 17, 1973
Time: 1:46 pm - 1:47 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

[See also Conversation No. 438-6]

     Research
          -William J. Baroody, Jr.’s staff
          -Thomas F. Eagleton’s medical history
                -New York
          -Lyndon K. (“Mort”) Allin

Also recorded on May 17, 1973

  • 046-093 1:33 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:33 pm and 1:46 pm.
  • 438-006 1:46 PM · 47 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 1:46 pm to 1:47 pm.
  • 046-095 1:47 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:47 pm and 3:05 pm.
  • 438-007 1:47 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:47 pm and 3:05 pm.
  • 438-008 1:47 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:47 pm and 3:05 pm.
  • 438-009 1:47 PM · 29 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 1:47 pm and 3:05 pm.
  • 438-010 1:47 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 1:47 pm and 3:05 pm.
  • 438-011 1:47 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 1:47 pm and 3:05 pm.

All 70 conversations from May 17, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 046-094, May 17, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/046-094 (accessed October 12, 2026).