Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 164 › Conversation 164-055
Nixon phone call with Ziegler on Watergate and John W. Dean III
Monday, April 30, 1973 · 5:50 PM–5:51 PM ET · Camp David Study Table · 1 min
AI Summary
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discuss the political fallout of the Watergate scandal and the emerging legislative reaction on Capitol Hill. Ziegler reports on positive outreach efforts with Senator James O. Eastland and confirms there have been no new developments regarding John W. Dean III, whom the President dismissively labels as a concern only until his future intentions are clear. The exchange concludes with Nixon requesting verification of the date of his most recent press conference.
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
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NARA Description
On April 30, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone at Camp David from 5:50 pm to 5:51 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 164-055 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 164-55
Date: April 30, 1973
Time: 5:50 pm - 5:51 pm
Location: Camp David Study Table
The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.
Congressional reaction
Ziegler’s conversation with Elliot L. Richardson
-James O. Eastland
-Support for President
Watergate
-John W. Dean, III
-Dean’s strategy
President’s previous press conferenceAlso recorded on April 30, 1973
- 164-052 4:20 PM · 44 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 4:20 pm.
- 164-054 5:49 PM · 32 sec — Camp David operator and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at Camp David at 5:49 pm.
- 164-056 5:52 PM · 20 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods talked on the telephone at Camp David from 5:52 pm to 5:53 pm.
- 164-057 5:54 PM · 24 sec — Ronald L. Ziegler and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at Camp David from 5:54 pm to 5:55 pm.
- 164-058 6:04 PM · 13 sec — Rose Mary Woods and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at Camp David from 6:04 pm to 6:05 pm.
- 164-059 6:11 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 6:11 pm.
- 164-060 6:11 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 6:11 pm and 6:50 pm.
- 164-061 6:50 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull talked on the telephone at Camp David from 6:50 pm to 6:51 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 164-055, 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/164-055 (accessed October 12, 2026).