Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 46 › Conversation 046-155

Nixon phone call with Timmons on Watergate and Congressional relations

Tuesday, May 22, 1973 · 4:45 PM–4:46 PM ET · White House Telephone · 50 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Timmons, William E.Conversation046-155 on Tape 46StartTuesday, May 22, 1973 at 4:45 PMEndTuesday, May 22, 1973 at 4:46 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 046-155 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon directed William E. Timmons to mobilize congressional allies, specifically Representatives Samuel L. Devine and John B. Conlan, to support the White House position regarding the Watergate scandal. The discussion focused on leveraging these vocal defenders to shift the political narrative ahead of an upcoming meeting with congressional leaders. Nixon emphasized the urgency of the effort, instructing Timmons to ensure these representatives were prepared for action within a strict timeframe.

Audio

Download MP3 · 1.5 MB

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
Bill, you probably already thought of this, but it would be very helpful if you would activate Sam Devine and his group on this thing.
Has that occurred to you?
Yes, sir, it has.
I talked to Sam a little earlier, and we're trying to get his office to him.
fighter, you see.
Well, I wouldn't just get copies, you know, and say, God damn it, let's, you know, some of your boys.
The other one is Conlon, you know.
John Conlon.
John Conlon and his group, don't you think so?
I sure do.
Right.
I think that could be very helpful.
I have not called Conlon, but I've talked to Sam.
Yeah, that's the stuff.
Okay.
Okay, call me back when you get this.
Well, you're all set then.
It will be 6 o'clock.
It will be from 6 to 6.30.
Right.
Right, but they've got to know that because with this time limit, I don't want to
Just figure I'll be here at 6 and that's it.
Okay, all right.
Bye-bye.

NARA Description

On May 22, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and William E. Timmons talked on the telephone from 4:45 pm to 4:46 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 046-155 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 46-155

Date: May 22, 1973
Time: 4:45 pm - 4:46 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with William E. Timmons.

[See also Conversation No. 440-15]

     White House statement on Watergate
          -Samuel L. Devine
                -Conversation with Timmons
          -John B. Conlan

     President’s schedule
           -Congressional leaders

Also recorded on May 22, 1973

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 440-018 4:46 PM · 30 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:46 pm and 5:10 pm.
  • 440-019 4:46 PM · 20 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) 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 046-155, 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/046-155 (accessed October 12, 2026).