Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 433 › Conversation 433-061

Nixon & Richardson on Watergate scandal and Special Prosecutor

Tuesday, May 1, 1973 · 7:24 PM–7:32 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 4 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Richardson, Elliot L.Conversation433-061 on Tape 433StartTuesday, May 1, 1973 at 7:24 PMEndTuesday, May 1, 1973 at 7:32 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 433-061 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Elliot Richardson discuss the ongoing Watergate investigations and the political challenges surrounding the nomination of a new special prosecutor. Nixon emphasizes that as Attorney General, Richardson holds absolute authority over the investigation and suggests replacing Henry Petersen to alleviate public pressure. The two men agree on the importance of Richardson maintaining control while navigating the expectations of the Senate.

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 30% 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello?
Hello?
Will I see you tonight?
Yeah, I got to change up myself.
Yeah, what I was going to say is that on this sense of the Senate thing, it seems to me, I've just been thinking a bit about it myself, is that basically, of course,
and appointing you, Ryan, of course, to name the individual impeccable, impeachable, impeccable, impeccable, impeccable, impeccable, impeccable, impeccable, impeccable, impeccable, impeccable, impeccable, impeccable, impeccable,
That's right.
So you can do, but what I mean is, as I said in my talk, and with you, if you want to name somebody, that's your variety.
The thing is, if you just had the man, you got the man.
True.
Well, you can't just, and you can't just, it's
If you look to the Attorney General, you are basically the man who is responsible.
You are the Attorney General.
I do think that the replacement of Peterson would make sense.
You know what I mean?
But the point is, one way you might anesthetize me would be to find your man there and say, you do this, you do that, you will have the responsibility of reporting directly to you.
I think what they're really talking about basically is the Peterson problem.
He is the man in charge.
That would be another way out.
I'm not trying to tell you how to do it, but let me say that you have absolute authority to do that, and I would tell them that you have every intention of providing some money.
You don't have a responsibility, but you do assume that you're turning out on the primary responsibility.
Exactly.
Well, wash it off.
Basically, there isn't any question about having somebody who will take the responsibility, I mean, for, you know, conducting the, doing it, but under your direction.
I mean, under, I mean, you are the Attorney General.
That's the point.
That's the point.
Well, anyway, I just wanted you to know that I thought about it.
I haven't got any good answer, but it's part of the battle, and the...
You might get Bill Rogers talking, him getting his dues on it.
He's probably got some business, but he thinks that I'm sure that he can get back to him.
I know that you, as Attorney General, should, you have the responsibility, as he said.
I see.
You'll work on that tomorrow, will you?
Good deal, good deal.

NARA Description

On May 1, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Elliot L. Richardson met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 7:24 pm to 7:32 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 433-061 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 433-61
                                              -36-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Date: May 1, 1973
Time: 7:24 pm - 7:32 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Elliot L. Richardson.

[See Conversation No. 45-121]

Also recorded on May 1, 1973

  • 045-115 7:15 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at 7:15 pm.
  • 045-116 7:15 PM · 18 sec — White House operator and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:15 pm and 7:19 pm.
  • 045-117 7:15 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:15 pm and 7:19 pm.
  • 045-119 7:19 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William P. Rogers talked on the telephone from 7:19 pm to 7:22 pm.
  • 433-059 7:19 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William P. Rogers met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 7:19 pm to 7:22 pm.
  • 045-120 7:22 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:22 pm and 7:24 pm.
  • 433-060 7:22 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 7:22 pm and 7:24 pm.
  • 045-121 7:24 PM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Elliot L. Richardson talked on the telephone from 7:24 pm to 7:32 pm.

All 181 conversations from May 1, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 433-061, 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/433-061 (accessed October 5, 2026).