Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 433 › Conversation 433-033

Nixon & Haig on Watergate scandal and Presidential address

Tuesday, May 1, 1973 · 5:43 PM–5:44 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 55 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Conversation433-033 on Tape 433StartTuesday, May 1, 1973 at 5:43 PMEndTuesday, May 1, 1973 at 5:44 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 433-033 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander Haig held a brief check-in to gauge the public and internal reaction to Nixon’s televised address regarding the Watergate scandal delivered the previous night. Haig confirmed that the reaction was positive, reassuring the President that the decision to give the speech remained sound despite the political pressure. The exchange concluded with Nixon emphasizing the need for his staff to maintain morale and focus on official business.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello?
Still surviving today?
Right, right.
How's the reaction to the thing last night?
Good.
You think it was the right thing to do, huh?
Remember we talked last night, but you still feel cold, clear in the day?
That's your morale good, huh, Al?
Okay, well, let's get on with the business, boys.
Everybody, chins up.
Right.
That's right, boys.

NARA Description

On May 1, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 5:43 pm to 5:44 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 433-033 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 433-33

Date: May 1, 1973
Time: 5:43 pm - 5:44 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

[See Conversation Mo. 45-98]

Also recorded on May 1, 1973

  • 045-097 5:40 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:40 pm and 5:43 pm.
  • 433-032 5:40 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 5:40 pm and 5:43 pm.
  • 045-098 5:43 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 5:43 pm to 5:44 pm.
  • 045-099 5:44 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:44 pm and 5:53 pm.
  • 045-100 5:44 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:44 pm and 5:53 pm.
  • 433-034 5:44 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 5:44 pm and 5:53 pm.
  • 433-035 5:44 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 5:44 pm and 5:53 pm.
  • 433-036 5:44 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 5:44 pm and 5:53 pm.

All 181 conversations from May 1, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 433-033, May 1, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/433-033 (accessed October 5, 2026).