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Conversation 436-003

TapeTape 436StartMonday, May 14, 1973 at 12:59 PMEndMonday, May 14, 1973 at 1:15 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AudioNARA Description

On May 14, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 12:59 pm and 1:15 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 436-003 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 436-3

Date: May 14, 1973
Time: Unknown between 12:59 pm and 1:15 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

     Watergate
          -William D. Ruckelshaus
          -Wiretaps
                            -Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson
                 administrations
                -Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] records
                -Haig’s forthcoming conversation with Ruckelshaus
                -Robert F. Kennedy
                     -FBI records
                            -Retention and disposal
          -Ruckelshaus’s statment
          -White House statement
          -John W. Dean, III
                -Documents
                     -Judge John J. Sirica’s actions
                     -Disposition
                     -Availability to Ervin Committee, grand jury
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

One thing I do feel after running through this, but I want to do is have him correct me.
He wants to study me of all kinds of other types of mechanics.
Now, we're not going to let them.
I don't mean to concentrate.
Now, we can't let them get away with this idea of his crap hat.
And now, we've done so little of it.
And when they say they're uncertain about it, that's bullshit.
They've got the files over there.
If they burned those files, where are those files?
And why isn't he as eager as to get after those as ours?
What's the crisis matter with him?
All right, now, how do you want to do it?
I don't want to do it by presidential order if I can evolve it.
But God damn it, tell Ruckelshaus that it's his job to look at it.
You know, ooh, somebody gave me a figure for a news conference of 112.
All right, well, yeah, I know, but my...
All right.
The point is, but Kennedy stopped that.
Go back and get it.
I want the FBI files on tabs that could go back and look at all of them.
If they've been destroyed in the past, you know, then it shows we haven't destroyed them.
You get my point?
Now, Ruckelshaus has got to get off his ass and get at something.
And I know this is hard for him, but you know what I mean?
Like that statement of his is so serving of the FBI.
Would you be able to get that one sentence in?
All right.
Okay, well, what about this?
Trying to get our papers convened.
In fact, I don't give much of a shit.
I don't give a fuck.
Oh, oh, I see.
Come.
What is it?
Tell me what I... Oh my God.
Well, he can't put that sort of thing down.
How do we know that?
That's what he said.
That's what Dean has told me.
Well, Sharika's seen the papers now.
And what does he say about it?
Well, all right.
I'm not going to worry about it.
Because basically, I don't know.
So Rico's going to play that game.
He doesn't trust the president getting papers of this sort.
Goddamn, we're not going to burn anything.
You know what I mean.
And my guess is the other 43 pages.
So basically, our present understanding is the judge has read the papers, right?
And
and decided to turn them over to the Senate and to the grand jury.
Let's keep right at it.
It's a matter of principle.
They'll all get out anyway, but it's a matter of principle.
Okay, good.
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