Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 277 › Conversation 277-003

Nixon & Ziegler on Attica prison riot and Nelson Rockefeller

Wednesday, September 15, 1971 · 11:05 AM–11:15 AM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 6 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.Conversation277-003 on Tape 277 (tape position 00:03:57–00:10:24)StartWednesday, September 15, 1971 at 11:05 AMEndWednesday, September 15, 1971 at 11:15 AMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 277-003 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler strategized the administration's public relations response to the violent Attica prison riot and its aftermath. Nixon directed Ziegler to maintain a supportive stance toward Governor Nelson Rockefeller, emphasizing that Rockefeller faced a difficult decision under pressure from radical outside influences. Additionally, the pair discussed potential responses to upcoming press questions regarding George McGovern’s overseas travel and personal security concerns.

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Position in tape: 00:03:57 – 00:10:24

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I probably would be questioning this.
Apparently he has, according to John's conversation with the governor this morning, apparently the governor feels that there's an outside influence on the actions of the inmates.
Oh, the person in order to bring a confrontation.
That's a very good line to take.
Don't let your little left-wingers out there liberals make you think it isn't.
It's kind of like the more occurring...
I don't think there's a question about it.
No.
What I want you to do is to simply say that the president is a dominant public official.
He had a very hard decision, and the president doesn't believe him.
I'm not going to discuss details, this is not the White House.
We don't know to what degree the situation was deteriorating.
The governor stayed in New York and was on the scene.
The governor called and reported to us.
After the morning call, I had a person I said, I didn't call her.
After the action, I said, if we can play that game, we'll do it.
Well, we don't do it.
We don't do it.
That's a statement.
Okay, I want you to get your... Let's see, I'll just stay right on it, please.
One other question.
I don't see whether I can say it.
I'll ask a question.
I don't want to say that, and I'm going to do everything not to say that, but the question may come in such a way by, you know, a guy who's not going to say this, but he travels abroad and runs into this situation.
It's a galvanized crew function.
Oh, of course.
It's described in Latin America, Peru, and Burma.
I'm trying to move around a lot this program.
I noticed the Time magazine name.
I think that the idea that the president is a man who has to make a part of the city, right?
Yes.

NARA Description

On September 15, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 11:05 am to 11:15 am. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 277-003 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 277-3

Date: September 15, 1971
Time: 11:05 am - 11:15 am
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler.

     Attica prison riot
           -Ziegler’s conversation with John D. Ehrlichman
           -Ehrlichman’s conversation with Nelson A. Rockefeller
                 -Time
                 -Autopsies on hostages
                 -Advice
                       -Low profile stance of administration
                       -Support by the administration of Rockefeller
           -The administration’s response
                 -Possible press conference statements
                       -Decision-making process by the administration
                       -The administration’s relationship with Rockefeller
           -Events concerning Attica riot
                 -Possible outside influence
                       -Action of inmates
                       -Confrontation between guards and inmates
                 -Stance
                       -The left-wing and radicals
                            -Comparison to anti-Vietnam War moratoriums
                       -Public statement by the administration
                            -Decision by Rockefeller
                                   -Position of responsibility
                            -Administration’s position on situation
                            -Rockefeller
                                   -Action
                                   -Telephone call to Ehrlichman
                                         -Timing
                 -Possible public statements
                 -May Day demonstrators

     Forthcoming press conference
          -Possible question
               -George S. McGovern
                     -Trip to Vietnam

                            -Security problem
                            -The President’s travels abroad
                                 -Latin America, Peru, Burma, Pakistan
                            -Possible response
                                 -Details
                                 -Comments
                                        -Ambassador
                            -McGovern’s security

     Edmund S. Muskie
         -Time magazine story

     Attica
           -Decision
                -The President’s position

Ziegler left at 11:15 am.

Also recorded on September 15, 1971

  • 009-014 10:19 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:19 am and 11:59 am.
  • 277-004 11:15 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 11:15 am and 11:59 am.
  • 009-015 11:59 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 11:59 am to 12:01 pm.
  • 277-005 11:59 AM · 59 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 11:59 am to 12:01 pm.
  • 009-016 12:01 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:01 pm and 12:18 pm.
  • 277-033 12:01 PM · 11 sec — Taft Schreiber met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 12:01 pm and 12:18 pm.
  • 009-017 12:18 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 12:18 pm to 12:20 pm.
  • 277-006 12:18 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 12:18 pm to 12:20 pm.

All 57 conversations from September 15, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 277-003, September 15, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/277-003 (accessed October 9, 2026).