Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 438 › Conversation 438-012
Nixon & Ziegler on Watergate scandal and Press relations
Thursday, May 17, 1973 · 3:05 PM–3:06 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 1 min
AI Summary
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler briefly discussed the status of ongoing investigative inquiries regarding specific individuals, including someone referred to as Frank. Nixon emphasized the importance of maintaining discretion and instructed Ziegler to ensure that these individuals remain detached from further communication. The exchange highlights the administration's heightened sensitivity to leaks and unauthorized contacts during the escalating Watergate crisis.
- Watergate scandal
- Press relations
- Information control
- White House operations
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data
Each line starts with a timestamp button; press it to play the audio from that point.
NARA Description
On May 17, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:05 pm to 3:06 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 438-012 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 438-12 Date: May 17, 1973 Time: 3:05 pm - 3:06 pm Location: Old Executive Office Building The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler. [See Conversation No. 46-96]
Also recorded on May 17, 1973
- 046-096 3:05 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 3:05 pm to 3:06 pm.
- 046-097 3:06 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:06 pm and 3:11 pm.
- 438-013 3:06 PM · 3 min — 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 3:06 pm and 3:11 pm.
- 438-014 3:06 PM · 10 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 3:06 pm and 3:11 pm.
- 046-098 3:11 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon, J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr., and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 3:11 pm to 3:16 pm.
- 438-015 3:11 PM · 29 min — President Richard M. Nixon, J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr., and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:11 pm to 3:43 pm.
- 046-099 3:43 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:43 pm and 3:53 pm.
- 438-016 3:43 PM · 55 sec — 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 3:43 pm and 3:53 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 438-012, May 17, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/438-012 (accessed October 12, 2026).