Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 438 › Conversation 438-020

Nixon & Haig on Speechwriting and Public messaging

Thursday, May 17, 1973 · 4:01 PM–4:02 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 55 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Conversation438-020 on Tape 438StartThursday, May 17, 1973 at 4:01 PMEndThursday, May 17, 1973 at 4:02 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 438-020 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander Haig briefly confer to coordinate a forthcoming speech and review a report. The discussion focuses on the administration's messaging strategy, with Nixon seeking Haig's input on the substance of his planned public remarks. The exchange serves as a preliminary touchpoint to prepare for the President's immediate agenda.

Audio

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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So, Al, I was thinking of going out to see .
I saw the report here.
If you've got a moment, I'd like to run over with you a little about this speech.

NARA Description

On May 17, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:01 pm to 4:02 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 438-020 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 438-20

Date: May 17, 1973
Time: 4:01 pm - 4:02 pm
Location: Old Executive Office Building

The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

[See Conversation No. 46-102]
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                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Also recorded on May 17, 1973

  • 046-100 3:53 PM · 37 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon talked on the telephone from 3:53 pm to 3:54 pm.
  • 438-018 3:53 PM · 36 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:53 pm to 3:54 pm.
  • 046-101 3:54 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:54 pm and 4:01 pm.
  • 438-019 3:54 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 3:54 pm and 4:01 pm.
  • 046-102 4:01 PM · 55 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 4:01 pm to 4:02 pm.
  • 438-021 4:02 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:02 pm and 4:08 pm.
  • 046-103 4:08 PM · 26 sec — Rose Mary Woods and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone from 4:08 pm to 4:09 pm.
  • 438-022 4:08 PM · 25 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and Rose Mary Woods met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:08 pm to 4:34 pm.

All 70 conversations from May 17, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 438-020, 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/438-020 (accessed October 12, 2026).