Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 46 › Conversation 046-166

Nixon phone call with Ziegler on Watergate and Wiretapping

Tuesday, May 22, 1973 · 8:28 PM–8:30 PM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.Conversation046-166 on Tape 46StartTuesday, May 22, 1973 at 8:28 PMEndTuesday, May 22, 1973 at 8:30 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 046-166 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon directs Ronald Ziegler to coordinate a strategy involving Senate Minority Leader Hugh Scott to demand the release of Kennedy and Johnson-era wiretap records. Nixon orders the immediate public disclosure of information regarding the Daniel Ellsberg break-in, insisting it be handled decisively despite potential political fallout. Additionally, Nixon instructs Ziegler to signal to Richard Helms that he intends to declassify sensitive materials related to the Bay of Pigs and the assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem, pressuring Helms to prepare for the imminent release of these records.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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Yeah, sir, this should be an easy assignment to get to Scott, that he should put out the fact that he urged the president release the fact that he records with regard to the use of wiretapping during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations.
You understand?
Yes.
Now, let me start you on the Ellsberg thing.
That's a command.
That's nothing else.
You know, I've told this to Al.
He didn't want to get it out, but God damn it, I want it out.
You understand?
I do.
Yes, sir.
And it must get out.
And I don't give a shit if we even get blamed for it, but we'll just say that it was, you know, there's plenty of reason for it.
There are people up there that want to hear it, don't they?
Yes, we'll do that.
It's being demanded.
Demanded.
You see the point?
Right.
And...
This other thing is very important.
I want the word out around the hill that Scott is insisting that the records of the Kennedy and Johnson wiretaps be put out.
And the president is considering releasing not only the records, but
the content of all wire caps over the past 10 years.
You understand?
Yes, I do.
The other point is, which will float back to Helms, and I wanted to get to him.
I don't know how you can do it.
Here's this.
That I have decided to declassify the Bay of Pigs, including information he's furnished to me and the murder.
You understand that?
Right.
That's what we're moving, but I'll do it.
I want that to get to him.
The president decided it'll be done probably this weekend.
I just want him to be prepared, including the material that he gave to me in private.
All right.
Is that clear?
Yes, sir.
All right.
Good.

NARA Description

On May 22, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 8:28 pm to 8:30 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 046-166 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 46-166

Date: May 22, 1973
Time: 8:28 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

     Watergate
          -Ziegler’s forthcoming conversation with Hugh Scott
                -Release of wiretap information on newsmen
                       -John F. Kennedy, Jr. and Lyndon B. Johnson
          -Daniel Ellsberg break-in
                -White House statement
          -Release of wiretap information on newsmen
          -Declassification
                -Bay of Pigs
                       -Richard M. Helms’s material
                -Ngo Dinh Diem
                                             -98-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Also recorded on May 23, 1973

  • 046-162 8:02 PM · 50 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 8:02 pm to 8:03 pm.
  • 046-163 8:03 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:03 pm and 8:08 pm.
  • 046-164 8:08 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 8:08 pm to 8:09 pm.
  • 046-165 8:09 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:09 pm and 8:28 pm.
  • 046-167 8:30 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:30 pm and 8:39 pm.
  • 046-168 8:39 PM · 15 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Bryce N. Harlow talked on the telephone from 8:39 pm to 8:54 pm.
  • 124-001 12:00 AM · 22 sec — a White House tour group met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 12:00 am and 9:41 am.
  • 926-001 8:04 AM · 35 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:04 am and 8:23 am.

All 56 conversations from May 23, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 046-166, May 23, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/046-166 (accessed October 12, 2026).