Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 164 › Conversation 164-040

Nixon phone call with Rebozo on Watergate scandal and Resignations

Monday, April 30, 1973 · 9:15 AM–9:17 AM ET · Camp David Study Table · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Rebozo, Charles G. ("Bebe")Conversation164-040 on Tape 164StartMonday, April 30, 1973 at 9:15 AMEndMonday, April 30, 1973 at 9:17 AMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 164-040 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and close confidant Bebe Rebozo discuss the President's intense personal distress following the resignations of top aides H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman amid the Watergate scandal. The two men reflect on the overwhelming public support Nixon has received, while the President contemplates the emotional toll of the situation and his upcoming televised address. To cope with the crisis, Nixon plans a brief retreat to Florida, arranging for Rebozo to join him after the broadcast to provide personal support.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello.
Mr. President?
Hello, yeah.
Hello, Mr. President.
Hi, baby, how are you?
Fine, how are you feeling?
Fine, fine.
Good, good.
I've had, uh, I don't know, you just don't know how many great supporters you've got.
Well, it's been fantastic.
Thank you.
Really fantastic.
Thank you.
Beautiful, just beautiful.
Well, I've had a very hard day yesterday.
I know.
bite the bullet and a few things, and now I'm trying to work out a damn speech, and if I survive it, I don't know.
I just thought last night, I was thinking maybe the one that should resign should be me.
I should just get... Oh, God.
...check out.
Christ, what the hell.
No, I know it.
Go down and sit around in Florida in that nice sun.
Yeah, I know it.
I know you, though.
I wouldn't have gone the second go-around, but you're in it.
You're going to blow it out, but you'll be... You've hit the very bottom since you've done it before.
But I tell you, just some of the comments and calls I've had just make me want to weep with joy.
It's just wonderful how many real friends and supporters you've got among even people that you don't even know.
It's really, really heartwarming.
Well, that's good, baby.
He called last night, too, and he just wasn't home.
Yeah, good for him.
He said, you know what?
I'm going to go do this television tonight and try to get my work done so that I can come to Florida for maybe Friday or Thursday night.
And I'm going to spend that.
I have to spend three or four days because it's sort of torn me up, as you know.
Not because of myself, but basically because of John and Bob.
I know.
Others in the East, I've had a whole bunch in there.
And, you know, when you've got a problem like this, you've got to rip it all out.
Yeah.
It tears them up, tears me up.
Yeah.
I know it won't do much good what I say, but what the hell, the assholes will still keep attacking and that's fine.
Well, they're going to do that anyway.
But anyway, I appreciate your call and we'll keep the faith and by gosh, let's try to, this time I don't give a damn what's going on, we're going to rest.
Yeah.
You'll be there, will you?
Yes, sir.
You have no problems yet to talk to me about?
No, no, you don't, do you want me to stay tonight or...
I think if you would, it'd be nice.
Yeah, stay at the tap, if you would, and have dinner with them, and I'll see you after the broadcast at 9.30.
Okay.
All right, sir.

NARA Description

On April 30, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo talked on the telephone at Camp David from 9:15 am to 9:17 am. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 164-040 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 164-40

Date: April 30, 1973
Time: 9:15 am - 9:17 a.m.
Location: Camp David Study Table

The President talked with Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo.

      President’s activities
            -Support for President
            -Speech

      Watergate
           -Possible resignation by President
                 -Retirement in Florida
                       -President’s comebacks
                 -Support for President
           -Telephone call from Hobart D. (“Hobe”) Lewis
                 President’s schedule
                       -Florida vacation
           -President’s mood
                                             -30-

                  NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                           Conversation No. 164-39 (cont’d)

                 -John D. Ehrlichman, H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman, Richard G. Kleindienst

     President’s schedule
           -Florida vacation

     Rebozo’s schedule
          -Dinner with Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
          -President’s forthcoming speech

Also recorded on April 30, 1973

  • 164-041 9:17 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 9:17 am and 10:20 am.
  • 164-042 10:20 AM · 26 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods talked on the telephone at Camp David from 10:20 am to 10:21 am.
  • 164-043 10:21 AM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:21 am and 10:22 am.
  • 164-044 10:22 AM · 13 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:22 am and 10:36 am.
  • 164-045 10:36 AM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:36 am and 10:37 am.
  • 164-046 10:37 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull talked on the telephone at Camp David from 10:37 am to 10:39 am.
  • 164-047 10:39 AM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:39 am and 10:42 am.
  • 164-048 10:42 AM · 10 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Raymond K. Price, Jr. talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:42 am and 10:52 am.

All 22 conversations from April 30, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 164-040, April 30, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/164-040 (accessed October 12, 2026).