Conversation: 165-031
Prev:  165-030 Next: 165-032Start Date: 12-May-1973 5:17 PM
End Date: 12-May-1973 5:47 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.; Ziegler, Ronald L.; Recording Device: Camp David Study Table
NARA Description:
On May 12, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone at Camp David from 5:17 pm to 5:47 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 165-031 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 165-31 Date: May 12, 1973 Time: 5:17 pm - 5:47 pm Location: Camp David Study Table The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr. Watergate -Wiretaps -Henry A. Kissinger -L[ouis] Patrick Gray, III -White House attempts to contact -Ronald L. Ziegler’s previous press briefing -President’s role in investigation -Lt. Gen. Vernon A. Walters -Possible Grand Jury testimony -Possible leak -White House response -J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. -Plans -Southeast Asia -Wages and prices -Energy -John B. Connally -Popular mood -Possible indictments -Jeb Stuart Magruder and John N. Mitchell -Special Prosecutor -Elliot L. Richardson -Warren E. Hearnes -Arthur Goldberg -Walters -Memoranda of conversation [Memcons] -Conversation with Buzhardt -Memcons -33- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. February-2012) Conversation No. 165-31 (cont’d) -Possible copies -Access -Richard M. Helms -Possible testimony of William E. Colby and Dr. James R. Schlesinger -Files -Possible testimony -Memcons -Storage location -National security matters -John W. Dean III -Memcons -Conversation with Buzhardt -Memcons -Henry E. Petersen -National security -Contacts with Dean -Memcons -Meetings with Gray -Dean -John D. Ehrlichman -Helms -Meeting in White House -Central Intelligence Agency [CIA] involvement -Instructions to Walters -CIA involvement -Walters’s verification -Gray’s Grand Jury Senate testimony -Memcons -President’s call to Gray -Gray’s contacts with Walters -President’s instructions -Gray’s contacts with Walters -Ehrlichman and H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman -President’s motives -July 12, 1972 memcon -Wording -34- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. February-2012) Conversation No. 165-31 (cont’d) -Contacts with Dean -Meetings with Gray ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 [Statute] [Duration: 36 s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 ***************************************************************** Watergate -Walters -Memcons -National security -White House reaction to possible release -President’s motives -Conversation with Haldeman -President’s subsequent call to Gray -President’s motives -President’s call to Gray regarding investigation -Meeting with Gray -Possible charge of cover-up -Helms -Conversation with the President regarding CIA involvement -Possible memcons -Possible statement -Walters’s role in investigation -Conversation with the President regarding CIA involvement -Gray -Conversation with the President -President’s instructions regarding investigation -35- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. February-2012) Conversation No. 165-31 (cont’d) -Gray’s statement -Walters -Memcons -Gray -Statement -Press coverage -Grand Jury testimony Ziegler Watergate -President’s belief regarding CIA involvement -Dean President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler at an unknown time before 5:47 pm. Watergate -Ziegler’s previous press briefing -Gray -Conversation with the President -Electoral Reform Commission -Public interest -Gray -Conversation with the President -Investigation -Dean -Conversation with the President -Ziegler’s morale -Case -Dean -President’s efforts -Dean -Motives -36- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. February-2012)