Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 434 › Conversation 434-030

Nixon & Haig on Watergate and White House leaks

Friday, May 11, 1973 · 3:21 PM–3:22 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Conversation434-030 on Tape 434StartFriday, May 11, 1973 at 3:21 PMEndFriday, May 11, 1973 at 3:22 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 434-030 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander Haig coordinate the preemptive release of a sensitive document to control the narrative amid concerns over unauthorized leaks. Nixon emphasizes that the current climate has become a public relations struggle and directs Haig to locate the material before it can be leaked by political opponents. The discussion reflects the administration's defensive strategy to manage information flow and prevent unfavorable press coverage.

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 61% 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
Al, if somebody should find that document, I want you to bring it over and I will look at it.
Do you have a copy yet?
God damn it, there's some place in this house.
There's a hole in the book, there's a lock, there's a key someplace.
I'm going to get in touch with the home.
Rose, I should go to find it.
I think they want to leak it today.
Let me tell you the whole game here now.
It's all PR now.
Instead of setting it up and then judging, let me sit on it for a week.
I've got to put it out.
No, but I mean, I'm not at the same time.
Get it out before he gets it.
You're goddamn right.
That's right.
It leaks and then he gets it.
Okay.

NARA Description

On May 11, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:21 pm to 3:22 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 434-030 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 434-30

Date: May 11, 1973
Time: 3:21 pm - 3:22 pm
Location: Old Executive Office Building

The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

[See Conversation No. 46-17]

Also recorded on May 11, 1973

  • 046-015 3:07 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 3:07 pm to 3:08 pm.
  • 434-028 3:07 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:07 pm to 3:08 pm.
  • 046-016 3:08 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:08 pm and 3:15 pm.
  • 434-029 3:08 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 3:08 pm and 3:21 pm.
  • 046-017 3:21 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 3:21 pm to 3:22 pm.
  • 434-031 3:22 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:22 pm and 3:35 pm.
  • 434-032 3:22 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, unknown person(s), Earl L. Butz, Dana G. Mead, William W. Erwin, David A. Hamil, Stephen B. Bull, Thomas Hart, and White House photographer met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:22 pm and 3:40 pm.
  • 046-018 3:40 PM · 44 sec — Alexander M. Haig, Jr. and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone from 3:40 pm to 3:41 pm.

All 78 conversations from May 11, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 434-030, May 11, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/434-030 (accessed October 1, 2026).