Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 406 › Conversation 406-008

Nixon & Ziegler on Press relations and Public communications

Tuesday, January 30, 1973 · 1:18 PM–1:20 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.Conversation406-008 on Tape 406StartTuesday, January 30, 1973 at 1:18 PMEndTuesday, January 30, 1973 at 1:20 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 406-008 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon directed Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler to release a sensitive announcement to the press by 3:00 p.m. for the next morning's news cycle. Despite potential political friction, Nixon explicitly instructed Ziegler to disregard congressional concerns regarding the timing. This directive was intended to prioritize the public release strategy as a critical component of a larger administration initiative.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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So, Ron, I wondered if you could check to see whether the signs were slipped up or not, or if they were supposed to be modeled.
The problem we have here is that it's short, and it comes from a very sensitive topic.
Do you know whether we have
Ah, why don't you break it at 3 o'clock for AM release?
Really, I really believe you should.
Screw the Congress.
Don't worry about that, Ron.
I'll worry about the Congress.
Put it out for AM release.
Now that's part of the big deal.
Okay?

NARA Description

On January 30, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 1:18 pm to 1:20 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 406-008 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 406-8

Date: January 30, 1973
Time: 1:18 pm - 1:20 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

[See Conversation No. 36-116]

Also recorded on January 30, 1973

  • 036-116 1:18 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 1:18 pm to 1:20 pm.
  • 036-117 1:20 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:20 pm and 1:22 pm.
  • 406-009 1:20 PM · 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 1:20 pm and 1:22 pm.
  • 036-118 1:22 PM · 42 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Peter J. Brennan talked on the telephone from 1:22 pm to 1:23 pm.
  • 406-010 1:22 PM · 41 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Peter J. Brennan met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:22 pm and 1:23 pm.
  • 036-119 1:23 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:23 pm and 6:50 pm.
  • 406-011 1:23 PM · 27 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:23 pm and 5:30 pm.
  • 406-012 1:23 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:23 pm and 5:30 pm.

All 51 conversations from January 30, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 406-008, January 30, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/406-008 (accessed October 6, 2026).