{"conversationCode":"046-153","tapeNumber":46,"conversationNumber":153,"identifier":"37-wht-conversation-046-153","startDateTime":"1973-05-22T20:40:00.000Z","endDateTime":"1973-05-22T20:44:00.000Z","startDate":"22-May-1973","startTime":"4:40 PM","endDate":"22-May-1973","endTime":"4:44 PM","dateCertainty":"certain","timeCertainty":"certain","participants":"Nixon, Richard M. (President); Timmons, William E.;","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.","locationCode":"WHT","recordingDevice":"White House Telephone","latitudeEstimated":38.89767,"longitudeEstimated":-77.03655,"chronCode":"5.5","chronRelease":"Fifth Chronological Release: Part V","chronReleaseDate":"21-Aug-2013","aogpRelease":null,"aogpSegment":null,"lastModified":"2015-07-27T17:04:10.235Z","findingAid":"Conversation No. 46-153\n\nDate: May 22, 1973\n\f                                            -92-\n\n                  NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM\n\nTime: 4:40 pm - 4:44 pm\nLocation: White House Telephone\n\nThe President talked with William E. Timmons.\n\n[See also Conversation No. 440-13]\n\n     President’s schedule\n           -Meeting with Hugh Scott, Robert P. Griffin and Gerald R. Ford, Leslie C. Arends,\n                  and George H. W. Bush\n           -Conflict\n                  -Dinners\n                  -Vote\n                  -Republican Congressional leadership meetings\n                         -Breakfast\n                         -Earl L. Butz\n                               -Farm bill\n                         -Rogers C. B. Morton\n                         -Watergate\n                               -Support for President\n                               -Strategy\n                               -Statement\n           -Republican Congressional leadership meetings\n                  -Breakfast\n                  -Arends\n                         -Whips\n                         -Blair House\n           -Meeting with Scott, Griffin, Ford, Arends, and Bush\n                  -Senate vote\n                  -Cancellation\n           -Timing\n           -James O. Eastland’s committee meeting\n                  -Elliot L. Richardson\n                  -Scott\n                         -Judiciary Committee\n                         -Capitol Hill\n           -J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. and Bryce N. Harlow\n           -Alexander M. Haig, Jr.\n           -Executive Office Building [EOB]\n           -Sequoia\n\f                                                -93-\n\n                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM\n\n                 -President’s trip to Iceland","filename":["046-153.mp3"],"tapeStart":"","tapeEnd":"","participantsList":["Nixon, Richard M. (President)","Timmons, William E."],"prevCode":"046-152","nextCode":"046-154","transcript":[{"start":1.43,"end":1.75,"text":"Bill."},{"start":1.89,"end":2.23,"text":"Yes, sir."},{"start":2.67,"end":14.68,"text":"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."},{"start":15.89,"end":24.01,"text":"We have a leadership meeting in the morning at 8.30 with the four Republican leaders."},{"start":24.03,"end":24.75,"text":"Same thing, though."},{"start":24.81,"end":25.31,"text":"You see what I mean?"},{"start":26.82,"end":27.24,"text":"Mm-hmm."},{"start":27.26,"end":30.22,"text":"The four Republican leaders, but what is the point of that?"},{"start":31.04,"end":31.32,"text":"Wait a minute."},{"start":31.7,"end":32.71,"text":"Tomorrow morning?"},{"start":32.91,"end":34.81,"text":"Yes, sir."},{"start":35.29,"end":39.22,"text":"Butts is going to talk about the farm bill and... Well, let me just say this."},{"start":40.26,"end":44.48,"text":"I have a feeling that we're frankly trying to do this thing tonight."},{"start":45.37,"end":45.55,"text":"Okay."},{"start":45.57,"end":48.17,"text":"Is with them going to black tie dinner, three of them."},{"start":48.91,"end":49.81,"text":"It's not a good idea."},{"start":49.83,"end":54.76,"text":"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."},{"start":55.28,"end":58.69,"text":"Or have that, I mean, putting on a meeting."},{"start":58.71,"end":62.28,"text":"You see, it's the same group, you see."},{"start":62.3,"end":72.68,"text":"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."},{"start":72.93,"end":81.08,"text":"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."},{"start":81.18,"end":82.78,"text":"I don't want the full leadership in the morning."},{"start":83.24,"end":84.1,"text":"I'd just let it go."},{"start":84.24,"end":88.69,"text":"I'd, uh..."},{"start":88.71,"end":89.67,"text":"I see your problem there."},{"start":89.85,"end":91.33,"text":"In other words, this is the full leadership."},{"start":91.37,"end":92.63,"text":"You've already asked them."},{"start":92.65,"end":93.47,"text":"Yes, sir, we have."},{"start":93.59,"end":97.2,"text":"And, uh, Roger Morton's going to talk a little bit and Earl Butts."},{"start":97.56,"end":99.14,"text":"And that's kind of scheduled and laid on."},{"start":99.66,"end":101.92,"text":"All right, fine, fine, let it go."},{"start":102.26,"end":109.13,"text":"And they wanted to come down tonight briefly and express their support for you and talk a little bit about the strategy."},{"start":109.15,"end":113.48,"text":"Of course, that was really kind of laid on or at least it was requested before the statement today."},{"start":113.5,"end":118.09,"text":"I still think it would be helpful if you could put up with them for a half hour tonight."},{"start":118.13,"end":119.51,"text":"I don't mind putting up with them at all."},{"start":119.57,"end":122.38,"text":"I'm just trying to work it out."},{"start":122.93,"end":127.9,"text":"So there is a Republican leadership meeting tomorrow, and also a Republican meeting tomorrow night, too?"},{"start":127.92,"end":128.22,"text":"Yes, sir."},{"start":128.24,"end":129.76,"text":"That's with Les' whip group."},{"start":129.78,"end":133.66,"text":"It's kind of a stroke session to show support for all his whips."},{"start":135.19,"end":137.75,"text":"There's about 18 regional whips that do the work."},{"start":138.11,"end":141.33,"text":"They probably have to be done in Blair House because the White House is tied up."},{"start":141.47,"end":141.91,"text":"Right."},{"start":141.93,"end":144.9,"text":"What time can these fellows get here, then?"},{"start":145.14,"end":146.42,"text":"Do you have any idea?"},{"start":146.44,"end":147,"text":"5-6."},{"start":148.21,"end":148.93,"text":"You think they can?"},{"start":149.07,"end":149.43,"text":"Yes, sir."},{"start":150.18,"end":154.79,"text":"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."},{"start":154.83,"end":158.86,"text":"Now, Scott Griffin and Ford said that they'd be willing to cancel these other events."},{"start":158.92,"end":159.58,"text":"No, no, no."},{"start":159.6,"end":160.86,"text":"I don't want... No, no, God, no."},{"start":161.02,"end":161.74,"text":"I don't think so either."},{"start":161.76,"end":163.43,"text":"Canceling would be the worst thing I could think of."},{"start":163.45,"end":163.97,"text":"I know."},{"start":164.33,"end":164.77,"text":"No."},{"start":164.79,"end":165.17,"text":"No."},{"start":165.32,"end":168.13,"text":"They were most appreciative and thought it was a great idea."},{"start":168.15,"end":171.69,"text":"Tell them that we'll do it later, but tell them that we will make this meeting very brief."},{"start":171.89,"end":172.27,"text":"Tonight?"},{"start":172.29,"end":172.97,"text":"30 minutes."},{"start":173.09,"end":178.6,"text":"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."},{"start":178.62,"end":179.15,"text":"Right."},{"start":179.16,"end":179.67,"text":"See what I mean?"},{"start":179.69,"end":180.89,"text":"They have dinners, right?"},{"start":180.91,"end":181.37,"text":"That's right."},{"start":181.39,"end":187.54,"text":"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."},{"start":187.58,"end":188.26,"text":"He's got a dinner."},{"start":188.52,"end":189.64,"text":"He has a dinner."},{"start":190.13,"end":193.15,"text":"So we'll meet at 6, and we'll break up promptly at 6.30."},{"start":193.39,"end":193.69,"text":"Okay."},{"start":193.95,"end":195,"text":"And then we'll meet in the morning."},{"start":195.02,"end":195.14,"text":"Okay."},{"start":195.18,"end":199.96,"text":"Now, yeah, as a side issue, Eastland, I think, is going to keep his committee in tonight, trying to get Richardson out."},{"start":200.14,"end":208.1,"text":"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."},{"start":208.66,"end":211.54,"text":"Now, do you want Fred Bazzard and Harlow there tonight?"},{"start":211.98,"end":212.12,"text":"No."},{"start":212.94,"end":213.04,"text":"No?"},{"start":213.06,"end":217.77,"text":"I would have..."},{"start":219.25,"end":221.84,"text":"Well, it might not be a bad idea."},{"start":222.14,"end":222.76,"text":"What do you think?"},{"start":223.12,"end":228.05,"text":"Have Harlow maybe let Bryce because the other things are complicated."},{"start":228.07,"end":230.12,"text":"But I think it would be good if Haig could come."},{"start":230.18,"end":230.44,"text":"Right."},{"start":230.48,"end":234.93,"text":"Haig, Harlow will be there at 6 o'clock in your EOB office."},{"start":235.65,"end":237.61,"text":"Because we've got everything else all tied up tonight."},{"start":237.65,"end":238.07,"text":"Right."},{"start":238.63,"end":241.72,"text":"In 30 minutes, and then we'll go forward with the regular leadership in the morning."},{"start":241.96,"end":246.21,"text":"Tell them that's it, and that we'll have a rain check on the Sequoia."},{"start":246.23,"end":247.97,"text":"It'll have to be after I get back from Iceland."},{"start":248.03,"end":248.25,"text":"Right."},{"start":248.7,"end":249.3,"text":"All right, fine."},{"start":249.32,"end":250.98,"text":"Thank you."}],"aiSummary":{"text":"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.","topics":["Watergate","Republican Congressional Leadership","Scheduling","Political Strategy","Farm Bill"],"generatedAt":"2026-04-06T07:34:45.604Z"},"topicSlugs":["watergate","republican-congressional-leadership","scheduling","political-strategy","farm-bill"],"audioDurationSec":257,"audioFiles":[{"file":"046-153.mp3","bytes":8230912,"durationSec":257.12,"bitrate":256095,"missing":false}],"audioIsShared":false,"audioProbedAt":"2026-09-18T02:20:04.103Z","findingAidSource":"nixonlibrary.gov subject log (2024-05), reslice-v2","findingAidUpdatedAt":"2026-09-18T08:42:45.006Z","audio":["https://nixon.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/audio/046-153.mp3"],"url":"https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/046-153","nixonLibraryUrl":"https://www.nixonlibrary.gov/white-house-tapes/46/conversation-046-153","license":"Public domain (U.S. Government work). AI-generated fields (transcript, aiSummary) are provided as-is without warranty."}