Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 46 › Conversation 046-142

Nixon phone call with Haig on Watergate and White House statements

Tuesday, May 22, 1973 · 11:36 AM–11:37 AM ET · White House Telephone · 42 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Conversation046-142 on Tape 46StartTuesday, May 22, 1973 at 11:36 AMEndTuesday, May 22, 1973 at 11:37 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 046-142 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consulted Alexander Haig regarding the specific language of a forthcoming White House statement concerning the Watergate scandal. The President reviewed a draft containing replacements for a sentence involving his authorization of "any means" and requested that the revised text be brought to him for final approval. This exchange ensured that the administration's official position on the matter was carefully vetted prior to public release.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Yes, Mr. President.
You know, with regard to this paper, there's no problem on the whole thing except for one sentence where we didn't quite, you know, where we roughed out two sentences to replace the one that I authorized the use of any means and so forth and so on.
Yes, sir.
I wondered if you would, Fred, would...
those two sentences down, and I should see that before it's in the final paper.
That won't slow you up, will it?
No, not a bit.
We're just doing that right now.
Fine.
Bring that over to me, if you would, or somebody.
All right.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On May 22, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 11:36 am to 11:37 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 046-142 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 46-142

Date: May 22, 1973
Time: 11:36 am - 11:37 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

[See also Conversation No. 438-31]
                                             -87-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

     Forthcoming White House statement on Watergate
           -Wording
                -Haig and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr.

Also recorded on May 22, 1973

  • 046-139 11:28 AM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:28 am and 11:34 am.
  • 438-028 11:28 AM · 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 11:28 am and 11:34 am.
  • 046-140 11:34 AM · 20 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull talked on the telephone from 11:34 am to 11:35 am.
  • 438-029 11:34 AM · 21 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 11:34 am to 11:35 am.
  • 046-141 11:35 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:35 am and 11:36 am.
  • 438-030 11:35 AM · 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 11:35 am and 11:36 am.
  • 438-031 11:36 AM · 38 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 11:36 am to 11:37 am.
  • 438-032 11:38 AM · 33 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Marjorie P. Acker, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and Rose Mary Woods met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 11:38 am and 12:27 pm.

All 80 conversations from May 22, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 046-142, May 22, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/046-142 (accessed October 12, 2026).