Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 46 › Conversation 046-132

Nixon phone call with Ziegler on Watergate and White House press strategy

Monday, May 21, 1973 · 5:28 PM–5:29 PM ET · White House Telephone · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.Conversation046-132 on Tape 46StartMonday, May 21, 1973 at 5:28 PMEndMonday, May 21, 1973 at 5:29 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 046-132 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler coordinate the precise wording of an upcoming White House statement regarding the Watergate scandal. Nixon emphasizes the need to avoid phrasing that could be exploited by the press, specifically instructing Ziegler and Patrick Buchanan to ensure the language does not imply that Watergate is damaging his foreign policy initiatives. This directive follows concerns over recent negative media coverage sparked by remarks made by Henry Kissinger.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
Thank you, sir.
Yes, sir.
Ron, you're editing just one other point that's related on your first page.
Uh-huh.
You noticed I had said these charges are if unanswered.
Yes, sir.
And I think it's very important that the first sentence also be changed.
Everything on mine, you see, allegations surrounding the rioting event have so escalated recently as to impugn the dignity of the president.
I don't think we should ever, I think allegations surrounding the rioting event have so escalated
I believe a presidential statement on the whole matter is now required or something like that.
Okay, yes, I agree.
You see the point.
The moment, you know enough, and you and Buchanan have got to look at this, about what the newsies pick out, and I don't want them to pick out things like that to say, like Henry's comment, you know, when he spoke to the editors up there, they made the big lead.
Watergate impairs our foreign policy or something like that.
Great.
Okay, fine.
All right.

NARA Description

On May 21, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 5:28 pm to 5:29 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 046-132 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 46-132

Date: May 21, 1973
Time: 5:28 pm - 5:29 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

[See also Conversation No. 439-26]

     Watergate
          -Forthcoming White House statement
                -Wording
                     -Patrick J. Buchanan
                -Henry A. Kissinger’s comment to editors

Also recorded on May 21, 1973

  • 046-129 5:25 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at 5:25 pm.
  • 046-130 5:25 PM · 23 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon talked on the telephone at 5:25 pm.
  • 046-131 5:25 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:25 pm and 5:28 pm.
  • 439-023 5:25 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 5:25 pm.
  • 439-024 5:25 PM · 22 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 5:25 pm.
  • 439-026 5:28 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 5:28 pm to 5:29 pm.
  • 046-133 5:29 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:29 pm and 5:34 pm.
  • 439-027 5:29 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 5:29 pm and 5:34 pm.

All 47 conversations from May 21, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 046-132, May 21, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/046-132 (accessed October 12, 2026).