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Conversation 432-019

TapeTape 432StartWednesday, May 2, 1973 at 2:22 PMEndWednesday, May 2, 1973 at 2:24 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ziegler, Ronald L.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler met briefly to coordinate their response to intensifying scrutiny regarding the Watergate break-in. They discussed allegations that Nixon withheld information during a recent speech, with the President explicitly denying prior knowledge of the criminal activity. The pair prepared for upcoming inquiries and set a schedule for further discussion later that afternoon.

Watergate scandalPublic relationsPress strategyCriminal investigationPresidential speech
AudioNARA Description

On May 2, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:22 pm and 2:24 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 432-019 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 432-19

Date: May 2, 1973
Time: Unknown between 2:22 pm and 2:24 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

[See Conversation No. 45-146]
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Hello.
Survived your conference?
Yeah.
Okay.
Anything new come up that I should know about?
Right.
Yeah.
I think that's the only thing to do on that one, Chief.
The President ordered the break-in.
Uh-huh.
Right, right.
Well, they want to see whether or not I said something in the speech that I should have revealed, whether it was a damn thing.
Well, that's what I mean.
They want to know whether or not in the speech I knew something that I did not reveal.
That's right.
Which, of course, I didn't know anything about.
I knew about the break-in, but I didn't know anything about the, you know, I mentioned the activities, you know what I mean?
Okay.
Okay, fine.
That's right, that's right.
Right, face right through.
Yeah, if you get out here, you're gonna have a good day.
Four o'clock today is fine.
They were mad at me.
All right, fine.
Fine.
All right, fine, Ron.
Thank you.
Fine.
See you later.
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