Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 046-149
Date: Tuesday, May 22, 1973 at 2:52 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/046-149

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Ron, I don't want to take you away from anything that's getting us out of it, but as soon as you have maybe five minutes, you know, that you can come over, I want to just run over two or three things with you in terms of how we implement this son of a bitch.
[0:14] Okay, we're preparing for the briefing now.
[0:16] Do you want to see me before we brief her after?
[0:18] Oh, you're going to brief what?
[0:20] Well, we're going to hand this out, and then we're going to go out and just, you know, handle it in a positive way.
[0:24] You're going to brief the press?
[0:25] Yes, sir.
[0:26] Oh, the hell with it.
[0:27] No, no, no, no, no.
[0:28] When do you brief the press?
[0:29] Well, we're getting ready.
[0:30] We're doing the mechanics and getting it all organized.
[0:31] Are you going to brief it, or who's going to brief it?
[0:33] No, Garment and Lozart and I are going out.
[0:35] Just to show a relaxed, you know, positive tone.
[0:38] Good, good, good.
[0:39] I won't bother you about it.
[0:40] What time will you finish?
[0:41] I'll be over at about 0415.
[0:43] Is that okay, sir?
[0:44] I'll come over now if you'd like, but I just wanted to... No, no, no, no.
[0:47] Prepare for the briefing.
[0:50] Right, right.
[0:50] But remember, Joe, I mean, lend spirit as good as it...
[0:54] best, quite frankly.
[0:55] And Mozart's up for it.
[0:58] Yes, sir.
[0:58] He's worked his ass off, all of you have.
[1:01] And the main thing that the three of you have got to know is that, by God, this is the truth.
[1:06] You know, I mean, I don't care what... And you and I have got to understand this, because you've got to go out there and brief, and you've gotten a lot of crap from people, you know, but...
[1:16] There's no question about it.
[1:17] As you well know, this is...
[1:20] that I know about this.
[1:21] Yes, sir.
[1:21] I know that.
[1:22] In fact, even more than I really ought to admit.
[1:25] I've done it.
[1:27] Well, I know that better than anyone does.
[1:31] Yes, sir.
[1:31] All right.
[1:32] Fine.
[1:32] Well, then come over at 4.30.
[1:34] Okay.
[1:34] Good, sir.