Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 46 › Conversation 046-173
Nixon phone call with Ziegler on Watergate and Congressional relations
Wednesday, May 23, 1973 · 3:58 PM–4:01 PM ET · White House Telephone · 3 min
AI Summary
President Nixon and Ronald Ziegler discussed upcoming public relations strategies, including managing the press during the President's scheduled meeting with Congressional leaders at Blair House. They reviewed recent political successes, specifically the sustainment of a presidential veto and the confirmation progress of Elliot Richardson. Additionally, Ziegler briefed the President on Gerald Alch’s testimony before the Ervin Committee, which challenged the credibility of James McCord’s Watergate-related accounts. Nixon concluded the call by announcing his intention to travel to Camp David with Brent Scowcroft to prepare for a press briefing and secure some rest.
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NARA Description
On May 23, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 3:58 pm to 4:01 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 046-173 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 46-173
-102-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Date: May 23, 1973
Time: 3:58 pm - 4:01 pm
Location: White House Telephone
The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.
[See also Conversation No. 439-46]
President’s schedule
-Congressional leaders’ meeting
-Press coverage
Congressional relations
-Sustaining veto
-Elliot L. Richardson’s confirmation
Watergate
-Gerald Alch testimony before Ervin Committee
-Relationship with James W. McCord, Jr.
-Statement on McCord’s testimony
-Ervin Committee hearings
-Statement on McCord’s testimony
-McCord’s activities
-Compared with John W. Dean, III
President’s schedule
-Camp David
-Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft
-President’s forthcoming press briefing
-Press’s possible reaction
-President’s moodAlso recorded on May 23, 1973
- 439-044 3:36 PM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Nellie L. Yates, and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:36 pm and 3:58 pm.
- 046-172 3:39 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:39 pm and 3:58 pm.
- 439-045 3:39 PM · 10 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 3:39 pm and 3:58 pm.
- 439-046 3:58 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:58 pm to 4:01 pm.
- 046-174 4:01 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:01 pm and 4:05 pm.
- 046-175 4:04 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Elliot L. Richardson talked on the telephone from 4:04 pm to 4:08 pm.
- 439-047 4:05 PM · 47 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., White House operator, Elliot L. Richardson, and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:05 pm to 4:58 pm.
- 046-176 4:08 PM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:08 pm and 4:24 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 046-173, 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/046-173 (accessed October 12, 2026).