Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 168-022
Date: Saturday, June 2, 1973 at 1:58 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.
Recording device: Camp David Study Table
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/168-022

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] We talked about the matter of these wiretap records, and all of us feel that it's such
[0:14] We should get all of the information to know what's there before we rush out with the figures.
[0:19] I agree.
[0:19] Because we can, you know, whether or not it goes Sunday or Monday, it really doesn't mean as much if we should be stronger in our strategy.
[0:27] As a matter of fact, if you find that you haven't got newsmen, you'll still put the figures out.
[0:31] Oh, yes, sir.
[0:32] But I mean...
[0:33] If you find that you've got maybe a newsman or a senator... Then we have a lot more...
[0:39] to work with, and Scott does, and others who would use on a follow-up, just knowing what the information is.
[0:46] Al's really shaken them up, which I'm sure he'll tell you this afternoon, and we're getting these other details that we need just in our own minds, really.
[0:55] In other words, to know what the names are.
[0:57] That's correct.
[1:00] In other words, if Bobby Kennedy was topping senators and newsmen and political foes, we don't have to give the names, but we can sure make a hell of a point, you see.
[1:09] Yeah, if he did.
[1:10] If not.
[1:10] That's right.
[1:11] But if he did, we should know that before we move the story.
[1:14] Good point.
[1:15] Good point.
[1:16] We'll find a way to move it if it's good enough.
[1:18] Good.
[1:19] Well, we'll move it in any event.
[1:20] Yeah, yeah.
[1:21] If it's a good story, even with what we have now.
[1:23] Yeah, that's right.
[1:24] But if we can get more, then we have even more to work with.
[1:29] Good.
[1:30] So we're talking about the first of the week sometime, but it's more or less of getting the other data in before we determine precisely what our strategy would be.
[1:38] That's right.
[1:39] That's right.
[1:39] Good.
[1:40] Good.
[1:42] Everybody, how's the... Did you get some other things decided?
[1:45] You...
[1:46] where you've been most of the time on this.
[1:47] No, we talked some about the whole, you know, schedule for next week, which I was prepared to go over with you.
[1:53] It looks pretty good with the, you know, possibly some things on the economy reorganization, the Kissinger activity, the Friday activity, and so forth.
[2:02] Friday is, are they, no, planning to go to Florida?
[2:05] Yes, sir.
[2:07] But Al has all that to go over with you, and we can simply kick that around.
[2:10] Some reorganization matters, and Al will be prepared to discuss all of that with you.
[2:16] It looks pretty, it looks excellent to me.
[2:18] Fine, fine, fine.
[2:19] And it's consistent with our strategy.
[2:22] Yeah, I think it is.
[2:24] We just continue with our relatively, you know, not necessarily low, but moderate profile.
[2:36] just doing the job, and if they want to report it, fine.
[2:39] If they don't, that's another thing.
[2:42] Well, they'll report it.
[2:43] They'll report some of it.
[2:43] Sure, they will.
[2:45] And they can all wallow in the other thing, too, which is all right.
[2:50] I mean, we have no control over that.
[2:52] Right.
[2:53] Well, we have some control over it, on how we conduct ourselves, how we respond.
[2:57] That's right, and we shouldn't be nitpicked to death by all these sore stories.
[3:01] Yeah, yeah.
[3:04] Got any thoughts on how to handle them?
[3:06] I just don't know yet.
[3:07] Well, yes, I think, you mean the various source stories?
[3:11] Yeah.
[3:12] I think basically we let them run their own tide for a while and simply rest our position.
[3:19] And we talked about this in the meeting.
[3:20] rest our position on what we've previously said.
[3:23] Our paper.
[3:23] The May 22nd paper and previous denials on the part of the White House.
[3:29] Sure.
[3:29] And not simply keep repeating and repeating and repeating denials when the story comes from here or the story comes from there.
[3:36] That's right.
[3:36] Just say this has all been answered.
[3:38] That's right.
[3:38] And we're not going to be driven to constant responses to stories.
[3:42] On specifics.
[3:43] Either leaks from the prosecutors or leaks from the investigators or self-serving those who leak stories for their own self-interest.
[3:51] We stand on the record on the statements we've issued, and what kind of stuff do you have to combat today, for example?
[3:57] Any new ones?
[3:58] Well, nothing in any specific terms at this point.
[4:02] We were just talking about the overall strategy.
[4:05] Yeah, sure.
[4:05] That's right.
[4:07] That's right.
[4:08] But this whole business of theirs, you know, pretty shocking, isn't it?
[4:13] The leaking out of the grand jury, leaking out of the committee, and then, of course, the various individuals...
[4:19] you know, doing something and the papers drawing from stuff and innuendo and so forth and so on.
[4:24] But again, again, I can't emphasize too strong.
[4:27] I hope we can get a few surrogates to hit some of that.
[4:29] Great.
[4:29] We talked about that.
[4:31] And because they should, shouldn't they?
[4:35] Yes, sir.
[4:37] Get a little of that on the way.
[4:39] That'll help us too.
[4:40] And we're getting that.
[4:42] Scott's been all right, I know.
[4:43] Scott Agnew's been out.
[4:45] He already said some good things.
[4:49] I think Gurney might in the long run be our hold card here, really.
[4:55] He's kind of a gutsy guy.
[4:58] And Len told me this afternoon that we have indications that there's a division beginning to set in on the committee itself between Dash and Thompson and, you know, different thoughts
[5:15] by guys like Gurney and Baker.
[5:17] I don't know how much credence we can put in that at this point.
[5:23] But, incidentally, on the press conference thing, I don't think this is the week to do it.
[5:29] Absolutely not.
[5:30] Don't you agree?
[5:30] Totally.
[5:32] I mean, we just got to play that one out.
[5:35] Everyone agrees.
[5:37] Play it out, just play the string out a bit more.
[5:40] And because this week would simply be a
[5:44] Oh, crappy stuff.
[5:45] Don't you agree?
[5:46] Yes, sir.
[5:46] Everyone agrees.
[5:47] We talked about that, too.
[5:49] We have to realize, too, that the press conference will be useful to us sometime.
[5:52] But when it isn't useful, just to come to it and let them squeal about it.
[5:56] That's all.
[5:58] We'll do it on the homely side.
[6:00] It's the right time.
[6:01] I agree.
[6:03] We may have to wait until after Bresnik to do it.
[6:06] Who knows?
[6:07] Well, certainly.
[6:07] I think we assess it week by week.
[6:09] Every week is not the week.
[6:11] Right.
[6:11] Okay.
[6:12] Okay, sir.