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Conversation 203-022

TapeTape 203StartThursday, August 17, 1972 at 3:06 PMEndThursday, August 17, 1972 at 3:21 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ziegler, Ronald L.Recording deviceCamp David Hard Wire
AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discuss media management and political strategy regarding the administration's public image. They exchange views on the inherent bias of the press corps and evaluate the tactical advantages of allowing certain political opponents to be perceived as confused or ineffective. The conversation concludes with Nixon affirming Ziegler’s recent performance and strategic approach to managing current political narratives.

Media relationsPublic relations strategyPolitical maneuveringPress corpsAdministration messaging
AudioNARA Description

On August 17, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 3:06 pm to 3:21 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 203-022 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 203-22

Date: August 17, 1972
Time: 3:06 pm - 3:21 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

[See Conversation No. 140-27; two items have been withdrawn]
Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

Good.
Ira, how are you?
Hi.
Good.
Sure.
Right.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
.
.
.
Got it.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
I would think the press guys would, I don't know if there's any fairness in them at all, they would see that this is a bad thing for the country.
I mean, maybe we're not...
No, no, that's what you're doing.
Not your dick on our White House staff.
We have the hatchet in heaven.
All right, I'm glad you did this thing.
And if you'll pass it on to Julie.
She's the chairman of Washington.
And just, just, yeah.
All right, let's just, I mean, we just know you should let them get ground.
Wow.
We can always change our mind later.
I just don't believe we're walking into one.
We may find somebody better.
We may get a better offer.
Who knows?
We'll have an offer for him.
Don't worry.
Particularly after he makes another trip.
That's it.
Right.
And all of his trips, of course.
What the hell?
One thing about this, though, was so interesting.
Clark...
We're setting them up to blame them when things don't come off.
Do you agree?
Do you think so?
No.
I don't know.
Of course, the negative side is that people don't say, well, we shouldn't have a war to talk about and so forth.
But I suppose that the other side of that, though, is that if they weren't talking about it in a confused way, they would be attacking us in other ways.
I mean, the issue is there.
They're going to make it.
Well, you did the right thing.
I think you did the right thing.
You've done exactly what you should.
Okay.
Thanks.
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