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Conversation 434-019

TapeTape 434StartFriday, May 11, 1973 at 2:51 PMEndFriday, May 11, 1973 at 2:53 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon instructed Alexander Haig to manage the morale of staff members—specifically referencing Bob [Haldeman] and John [Ehrlichman]—by discouraging apocalyptic rhetoric regarding impeachment or legal jeopardy. Nixon directed Haig to reassure these individuals that the administration remains supportive and committed to their defense to prevent them from losing confidence. The primary objective was to ensure that distressed associates felt the White House was actively fighting on their behalf rather than conceding to the growing pressures of the Watergate scandal.

WatergateH.R. HaldemanJohn EhrlichmanStaff moraleImpeachmentLegal defense
AudioNARA 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 2:51 pm to 2:53 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 434-019 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 434-19

Date: May 11, 1973
Time: 2:51 pm - 2:53 pm
Location: Old Executive Office Building

The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

[See Conversation No. 46-9]

[There is no Conversation No. 434-20]
                                             -31-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                    (rev. September-2012)

                                                            Conversation No. 434-9 (cont’d)
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

I wanted to say one thing that people would advise the bus drivers to do.
It's very important that you not talk to Bob and John and parents in a melodramatic, apocalyptic terms and get, you know, union capabilities and talk about impeachment and more science and all that crap.
And also, you must not talk in terms of this could indict you or the rest, because that will
get them to lose confidence in themselves, you've got to be, make it clear when he thinks this is all a bad act of God.
You understand?
And you tell him, by God, you still follow that out, whether you're lying or otherwise, it's not for the purpose of just leaving him, but for the purpose of gaining their confidence, because that's one of his problems.
Lent is scared to the death.
We don't trust him, because the buzzards have got to be their friends.
Right.
You can just say, by God, we're fighting their battle, and this has worked out, and we're doing our very best, and so forth.
I agree.
I just want to say that the president feels terrible to take this sacrifice, but he does appreciate it.
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