Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 10 › Conversation 010-076

Nixon phone call with Ziegler on West Coast Dock Strike and Taft-Hartley Act

Wednesday, October 6, 1971 · 11:36 AM–11:39 AM ET · White House Telephone ·3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ziegler, Ronald L.Conversation010-076 onTape 10 (tape position 02:32:57–02:35:59)StartWednesday, October 6, 1971 at 11:36 AMEndWednesday, October 6, 1971 at 11:39 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 010-076 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler coordinate the rollout of upcoming announcements, specifically focusing on the timing of a presidential speech and the handling of the West Coast dock strike via a Taft-Hartley injunction. They discuss the strategic sequencing of media briefings regarding legislative leader meetings, a cabinet meeting, and a press conference for Treasury Secretary John B. Connally. Nixon instructs Ziegler to keep the duration of his upcoming address vague to maintain the perception of a major, high-stakes statement.

Audio

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Mr. Ziegler, sir.
On the line.
Yes, sir.
Did you get off the announcement about the speech?
I'm going to do that at my briefing.
I haven't briefed.
I'm delaying just a slight time on this Taft-Hartley thing.
What I'm going to say is that you have the report under review, and you're reviewing it now.
You've been talking to the Secretary of Labor.
And then at about 2 o'clock, we're going to announce the move for an injunction.
But I am going to announce at 11.30 the 7.30 time.
For tomorrow night?
Yeah.
Well, you might as well announce to, if Haldeman has it, that we'll be a... We're going to have a 4.30 meeting for a briefing for legislative leaders.
On Thursday?
Yeah.
All right, sir.
Tomorrow.
And we're going to have a cabinet meeting Friday on the thing.
All right.
If you want to get a proper buildup.
And also, I think we ought to announce to Connolly...
When do you want to announce his press conference on Sunday?
I think we wait until Thursday on that, Mr. President.
Tomorrow, that is.
Yes, sir.
Well, maybe you can announce the legislative leaders then Thursday.
Right, I'll announce the... Yeah, announce all of that Thursday, then Thursday morning you can announce the legislative leaders.
Right.
You can announce the president will speak at what?
I'll announce the fact that you will speak today at 7.30.
Yeah, and just that, and then Thursday morning.
And hold the other for Thursday.
Right.
and that and that the press secretary of the treasury will have the president will speak at 7 30 and uh that there will be a secretary to have a press conference at 12 o'clock i want to try to get his press conference carried again i think they will because of its enormous importance particularly at that time 12 noon i'm sure they will sort of a dead time for them all right all right fine okay should i indicate the length of your uh address
Yeah, I think so.
Tell him that I will.
Or do you think we should?
Don't you think it may discount it some to say that it's going to be 15 minutes?
Well, you've normally...
I'll just say, I don't know at this time.
I'll just say, I don't know how long it'll be at this time.
He's still in the process of reviewing the materials and meetings today on the... Actually, it's going to be less than 15 minutes.
Yes.
It'll be between perhaps 12 to 15 minutes.
Right.
I think that's a good time.
But I don't know whether we want to say that.
I'm just wondering.
I don't think I should say that.
I'm just wondering.
I wonder if you want to say it even tomorrow.
For the reason that, as far as the listening audience is concerned, I think it's not so important if we're just going to say so little.
I think you're right.
There's no need for me to give them the life.
I just wouldn't give them the life.
All right.
Because let's let the people think it's going to be a major statement and let her go.
Okay?
Okay, sir.

NARA Description

On October 6, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 11:36 am to 11:39 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 010-076 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 10-76

Date: October 6, 1971
Time: 11:36 am - 11:39 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

[See Conversation No. 283-28]

     Press announcements
           -Speech
           -West Coast Dock Strike
                 -Taft-Hartley
                       -Secretary of Labor [James D. Hodgson]
                       -Injunction
           -Timing
           -Briefing for legislative leaders, October 7
                 -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
           -Cabinet meeting, October 8
           -John B. Connally press conference
                 -Coverage
           -Length of upcoming speech

Also recorded on October 6, 1971

  • 283-028 11:36 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 11:36 am to 11:39 am.
  • 010-077 11:39 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:39 am and 11:44 am.
  • 010-078 11:39 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:39 am and 11:44 am.
  • 283-029 11:39 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 11:39 am and 11:44 am.
  • 010-079 11:44 AM · 29 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and William L. Safire talked on the telephone from 11:44 am to 11:45 am.
  • 283-030 11:44 AM · 24 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and William L. Safire met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 11:44 am to 11:45 am.
  • 010-080 11:46 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Raymond K. Price, Jr. talked on the telephone from 11:46 am to 11:47 am.
  • 283-031 11:46 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Raymond K. Price, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 11:46 am to 11:47 am.

All 110 conversations from October 6, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 010-076, October 6, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/010-076 (accessed September 18, 2026).