President Nixon directed Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler to leak information regarding the administration's surveillance of journalists to the press. Nixon emphasized that the leak should frame the disclosure as a response to mounting pressure from senators demanding the release of wiretap records. Ziegler was instructed to disseminate this information immediately to control the narrative surrounding the ongoing Watergate investigations.
On May 22, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 8:02 pm to 8:03 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 046-162 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 46-162
Date: May 22, 1973
Time: 8:02 pm - 8:03 pm
Location: White House Telephone
The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.
Watergate
-Release of wiretap information on newsmen
-Congressional pressure
-TimingThis transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.