Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 46 › Conversation 046-153

Nixon phone call with Timmons on Watergate

Tuesday, May 22, 1973 · 4:40 PM–4:44 PM ET · White House Telephone · 4 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Timmons, William E.Conversation046-153 on Tape 46StartTuesday, May 22, 1973 at 4:40 PMEndTuesday, May 22, 1973 at 4:44 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 046-153 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and William E. Timmons coordinated a brief, 30-minute meeting with Republican Congressional leadership to discuss Watergate strategy and express mutual support. Despite scheduling conflicts with evening dinners and a Senate vote, Nixon insisted on maintaining the upcoming morning leadership meeting regarding the farm bill while keeping the evening session focused and time-constrained. The President ultimately decided that Alexander Haig and Bryce Harlow should attend the evening session to assist with the complex political discussions.

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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Bill.
Yes, sir.
It occurred to me that in view of these dinners and this vote and everything tonight that we're in a very tight situation and I don't want it to be that way, why don't you make a quick check around to see if these fellows would be willing to come to breakfast at 8.30.
We have a leadership meeting in the morning at 8.30 with the four Republican leaders.
Same thing, though.
You see what I mean?
Mm-hmm.
The four Republican leaders, but what is the point of that?
Wait a minute.
Tomorrow morning?
Yes, sir.
Butts is going to talk about the farm bill and... Well, let me just say this.
I have a feeling that we're frankly trying to do this thing tonight.
Okay.
Is with them going to black tie dinner, three of them.
It's not a good idea.
Tell them that if they'd like to come to dinner and held out, we'll talk about this and let's forget the goddamn farm bill.
Or have that, I mean, putting on a meeting.
You see, it's the same group, you see.
For us, for me to go out to meet them at six o'clock tonight and then have a leadership in the meeting in the morning with what's discussed in the forum bill, I don't think makes a hell of a lot of sense.
Um, no, they would prefer to meet with you privately on Watergate rather than the full leadership meeting because they don't... No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
I don't want the full leadership in the morning.
I'd just let it go.
I'd, uh...
I see your problem there.
In other words, this is the full leadership.
You've already asked them.
Yes, sir, we have.
And, uh, Roger Morton's going to talk a little bit and Earl Butts.
And that's kind of scheduled and laid on.
All right, fine, fine, let it go.
And they wanted to come down tonight briefly and express their support for you and talk a little bit about the strategy.
Of course, that was really kind of laid on or at least it was requested before the statement today.
I still think it would be helpful if you could put up with them for a half hour tonight.
I don't mind putting up with them at all.
I'm just trying to work it out.
So there is a Republican leadership meeting tomorrow, and also a Republican meeting tomorrow night, too?
Yes, sir.
That's with Les' whip group.
It's kind of a stroke session to show support for all his whips.
There's about 18 regional whips that do the work.
They probably have to be done in Blair House because the White House is tied up.
Right.
What time can these fellows get here, then?
Do you have any idea?
5-6.
You think they can?
Yes, sir.
The Senate vote should be at 5 o'clock and be over at 5.30, and I think they can get on here at 6 o'clock.
Now, Scott Griffin and Ford said that they'd be willing to cancel these other events.
No, no, no.
I don't want... No, no, God, no.
I don't think so either.
Canceling would be the worst thing I could think of.
I know.
No.
No.
They were most appreciative and thought it was a great idea.
Tell them that we'll do it later, but tell them that we will make this meeting very brief.
Tonight?
30 minutes.
Tell them it's a 30-minute meeting tonight just for themselves so that they don't expect to sit down and have a long hassle.
Right.
See what I mean?
They have dinners, right?
That's right.
Tell them to be sure you call each and every one and say, some of them, you know, and always blame it on the other.
He's got a dinner.
He has a dinner.
So we'll meet at 6, and we'll break up promptly at 6.30.
Okay.
And then we'll meet in the morning.
Okay.
Now, yeah, as a side issue, Eastland, I think, is going to keep his committee in tonight, trying to get Richardson out.
And Scott's on the Judiciary Committee, so as it turns out, he may have to cancel anyway his black-tie dinner back up to the Hill, if that's something important.
Now, do you want Fred Bazzard and Harlow there tonight?
No.
No?
I would have...
Well, it might not be a bad idea.
What do you think?
Have Harlow maybe let Bryce because the other things are complicated.
But I think it would be good if Haig could come.
Right.
Haig, Harlow will be there at 6 o'clock in your EOB office.
Because we've got everything else all tied up tonight.
Right.
In 30 minutes, and then we'll go forward with the regular leadership in the morning.
Tell them that's it, and that we'll have a rain check on the Sequoia.
It'll have to be after I get back from Iceland.
Right.
All right, fine.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On May 22, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and William E. Timmons talked on the telephone from 4:40 pm to 4:44 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 046-153 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 46-153

Date: May 22, 1973
                                            -92-

                  NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Time: 4:40 pm - 4:44 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with William E. Timmons.

[See also Conversation No. 440-13]

     President’s schedule
           -Meeting with Hugh Scott, Robert P. Griffin and Gerald R. Ford, Leslie C. Arends,
                  and George H. W. Bush
           -Conflict
                  -Dinners
                  -Vote
                  -Republican Congressional leadership meetings
                         -Breakfast
                         -Earl L. Butz
                               -Farm bill
                         -Rogers C. B. Morton
                         -Watergate
                               -Support for President
                               -Strategy
                               -Statement
           -Republican Congressional leadership meetings
                  -Breakfast
                  -Arends
                         -Whips
                         -Blair House
           -Meeting with Scott, Griffin, Ford, Arends, and Bush
                  -Senate vote
                  -Cancellation
           -Timing
           -James O. Eastland’s committee meeting
                  -Elliot L. Richardson
                  -Scott
                         -Judiciary Committee
                         -Capitol Hill
           -J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. and Bryce N. Harlow
           -Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
           -Executive Office Building [EOB]
           -Sequoia
                                                -93-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                 -President’s trip to Iceland

Also recorded on May 22, 1973

  • 440-013 4:40 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William E. Timmons met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:40 pm to 4:44 pm.
  • 046-154 4:44 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:44 pm and 4:45 pm.
  • 440-014 4:44 PM · 8 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 4:44 pm and 4:45 pm.
  • 046-155 4:45 PM · 50 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and William E. Timmons talked on the telephone from 4:45 pm to 4:46 pm.
  • 440-015 4:45 PM · 56 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and William E. Timmons met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:45 pm to 4:46 pm.
  • 046-156 4:46 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:46 pm and 5:10 pm.
  • 440-016 4:46 PM · 8 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 4:46 pm and 5:10 pm.
  • 440-017 4:46 PM · 22 sec — 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 4:46 pm and 5:10 pm.

All 80 conversations from May 22, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 046-153, 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/046-153 (accessed October 12, 2026).