Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 403 › Conversation 403-015

Nixon & Brennan on Watergate scandal and Public relations

Wednesday, January 31, 1973 · 10:04 AM–10:06 AM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 4 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Brennan, Peter J.Conversation403-015 on Tape 403StartWednesday, January 31, 1973 at 10:04 AMEndWednesday, January 31, 1973 at 10:06 AMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 403-015 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consults with Patrick J. Buchanan to strategize responses to potential media inquiries regarding the ongoing Watergate scandal. The discussion focuses on maintaining a consistent public stance, specifically distancing the administration from the burglary while reinforcing confidence in the internal investigation conducted by John Dean. Nixon emphasizes the need for a restrained, unified messaging approach when addressing questions from the press or Congress.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 1 minute of this recording (about 29% of it) is represented by only a few words. Listen to the audio rather than relying on the text below; a corrected transcript is queued.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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.
I, uh, was trying to reach Irwin, and, uh, my name's in the U.S. and the world, of course.
So, uh, you'll probably have to, sort of, dig out something.
I don't know.
I don't know.
Uh, the Watergate thing, I really want to comment and so forth, but I'm not sure that we have a general idea.
I mean, I've got this global rule that I'm not going to be able to do anything about it.
Let me say this first, in regard to the Watergate, generally,
Oh, I think in my position that I don't... Oh, I've already stated that I don't approve of S.P.N.I.
for burglary and all that sort of stuff.
Yeah, that's right.
But my point is that they're, what they were trying to say, well, now, what about higher options?
I think the court, the proceedings were added, but so forth and so on.
I don't know if there's any comment upon that, so it's perhaps the right thing to do.
Well, anyway, the other point is, check that out to see what kind of answers you need.
Well, for example, he'll say, what about Spencer Mitchell?
Do you think the courts have adequately handled this problem?
Do you favor the return of the delegation, for example?
And then, do you favor the, what do they call White House people, including the most justified people?
But anyway, and uh...
Oh, the other one was regarding the chaperone.
Of course, the granny is all wound up in her well, isn't there?
Right.
But what is the, you're, you're, you would talk to the FBI and say, for example, let's say, look, what if Mr. Chaperone follows the granny's way?
I mean, are you going to follow that?
I, of course, actually, I'm going to say it.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Well, can't we say that?
That's my point.
Well, in other words, there's Dean...
The dean investigates it very well as well as I do.
That's my point.
That's the very good point.
How do you find that out?
That's what I am saying.
You say that he hasn't investigated it.
That's what I'm saying.
I just go to Congress and stand in the middle and I say that to you.
All right.
Okay.
You can see what I want.
Get me just one, please.
Not too much.
Not too much.
I don't want to answer that.
It's a great church.
That's what I prefer.

NARA Description

On January 31, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Peter J. Brennan met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 10:04 am to 10:06 am. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 403-015 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 403-15

Date: January 31, 1973
Time: 10:04 am – 10:06 am
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Patrick J. Buchanan.

[See Conversation No. 43-4]
                                                -10-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Also recorded on January 31, 1973

  • 043-002 10:02 AM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 10:02 am.
  • 043-003 10:02 AM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 10:02 am.
  • 403-012 10:02 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 10:02 am.
  • 403-013 10:02 AM · 22 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 10:02 am and 10:04 am.
  • 403-014 10:02 AM · 11 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 10:02 am and 10:04 am.
  • 043-212 10:03 AM · 22 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 10:03 am.
  • 043-004 10:04 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Peter J. Brennan talked on the telephone from 10:04 am to 10:06 am.
  • 043-005 10:06 AM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:06 am and 10:10 am.

All 86 conversations from January 31, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 403-015, January 31, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/403-015 (accessed October 1, 2026).