Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 283 › Conversation 283-028

Nixon & Ziegler on Public Relations and Legislative Strategy

Wednesday, October 6, 1971 · 11:36 AM–11:39 AM ET · Old Executive Office Building ·1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.Conversation283-028 onTape 283 (tape position 02:17:37–02:19:17)StartWednesday, October 6, 1971 at 11:36 AMEndWednesday, October 6, 1971 at 11:39 AMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 283-028 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler coordinate the timing and messaging for an upcoming public speech and legislative announcement. The discussion focuses on managing media expectations and the strategic impact of the announcement on the viewing audience. Ultimately, the President expresses caution regarding the potential public reception and the timing of the release.

Audio

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Yeah.

Did you get off the announcement about the speech?

Oh, I see.

I see.

Might as well announce to the two of us, to all of you.

Announce the legislation that Thursday morning.

Announce the legislation.

I don't know.

I'm just afraid it's going to change his life.

I get this press conference carried in my mind.

And you think that I will... And you think that maybe this kind of song will save this time in 15 minutes.

But anyway, this is going to be in less than 15 minutes.

I don't want to say that.

I'm just wondering.

I wonder if you want to say it even tomorrow.

For the reason that, uh, as far as the listening audience is concerned, they...

I just wouldn't get in the line.

Uh...

NARA Description

On October 6, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 11:36 am to 11:39 am. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 283-028 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 283-028
Date: October 6, 1971
Time: 11:36 am - 11:39 am
Location: Executive Office Building
The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.
[See Conversation No. 10-76]

Also recorded on October 6, 1971

010-076 11:36 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 11:36 am to 11:39 am.
010-077 11:39 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:39 am and 11:44 am.
010-078 11:39 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:39 am and 11:44 am.
283-029 11:39 AM · 10 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 11:39 am and 11:44 am.
010-079 11:44 AM · 29 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and William L. Safire talked on the telephone from 11:44 am to 11:45 am.
283-030 11:44 AM · 24 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and William L. Safire met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 11:44 am to 11:45 am.
010-080 11:46 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Raymond K. Price, Jr. talked on the telephone from 11:46 am to 11:47 am.
283-031 11:46 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Raymond K. Price, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 11:46 am to 11:47 am.

All 110 conversations from October 6, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 283-028, October 6, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/283-028 (accessed September 18, 2026).