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Conversation 036-046

TapeTape 36StartMonday, January 22, 1973 at 4:15 PMEndMonday, January 22, 1973 at 4:16 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ziegler, Ronald L.;  Nixon, Richard M. (President);  Ziegler, Ronald L.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon directs Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler to enforce a strict information blackout regarding a sensitive timing issue, specifically tasking Ziegler with instructing Alexander Haig to police the Pentagon's compliance. Nixon expresses frustration over perceived malicious leaks from the State Department and demands that Ziegler silence members of the Domestic Council, including staff under George Shultz. The conversation serves as a directive to centralize control over communications and neutralize internal dissent across key executive departments.

Information controlWhite House communicationsAlexander HaigState DepartmentDomestic CouncilLeak prevention
AudioNARA Description

On January 22, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 4:15 pm to 4:16 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 036-046 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 36-46

Date: January 22, 1973
Time: 4:15 pm - 4:16 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

[See also Conversation No. 400-11E]

       Time story
            -Communications from White House staff
                                              -33-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                        (rev. Jul-08)

                                                               Conversation No. 36-46 (cont’d)

                   -The President’s instructions
             -National Security Council [NSC]
             -Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
                   -Defense Department
             -State Department
                   -William P. Rogers
             -John D. Ehrlichman
                   -Domestic Council
                   -Roy L. Ash
                   -George P. Shultz
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Yeah.
Yes, sir.
Of course, it is particularly important to get this to the NSC crowd.
Right.
And I want you to call Haig and tell him I expect him to enforce it at the Pentagon.
Okay.
And then the... And then state, we can't do anything with them.
The other thing is that... Yeah, you can tell Rogers.
Tell Rogers.
I'll call Rogers.
Tell Rogers that I expect to be an absolute blackout on time because they have not...
and they did it with malice, I've found.
All right.
They had knowledge beforehand.
If you were to hit Erling, put him hard on it.
I will.
He used to take that whole goddamn domestic council, all the left-wingers in there, and shut their damn mouths.
None of them.
Everybody around here shults.
All right.
Is that clear?
Yes, sir.
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