Conversation 433-018

TapeTape 433StartTuesday, May 1, 1973 at 1:22 PMEndTuesday, May 1, 1973 at 1:23 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Timmons, William E.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building

President Nixon rebukes William E. Timmons for his perceived passivity and negative attitude regarding legislative affairs. Nixon explicitly commands Timmons to abandon his lethargy and proactively mobilize supporters to publicly counter negative narratives. This directive reflects the President's urgent need to bolster political messaging amidst the growing pressures of the Watergate scandal.

WatergatePolitical StrategyLegislative RelationsPublic RelationsWilliam Timmons

On May 1, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and William E. Timmons met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 1:22 pm to 1:23 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 433-018 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 433-18

Date: May 1, 1973
Time: 1:22 pm - 1:23 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with William E. Timmons.

[See Conversation No. 45-86]

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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Well, I don't want you to have the negative attitude you had this morning.
I want you to get off your ass and just talk to Aaron and the rest, and by God, you don't simulate anything, but there's a lot of people that are for us.
Now, you get off your ass and get up and get them to say negative things.
Is that clear?
He talked a lot.
I think he was complaining about the fact that you weren't doing his job.
That makes you get off your ass and do something.
All right.