Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 439 › Conversation 439-026

Nixon & Ziegler on Public relations and Media management

Monday, May 21, 1973 · 5:28 PM–5:29 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.Conversation439-026 on Tape 439StartMonday, May 21, 1973 at 5:28 PMEndMonday, May 21, 1973 at 5:29 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 439-026 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discuss the management of public perceptions and media narratives regarding ongoing investigations. The President emphasizes the importance of controlling the framing of allegations to avoid political vulnerability. This brief exchange reflects the administration's strategic focus on shaping the press response to minimize further scrutiny.

Audio

Download MP3 · 1.8 MB

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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

So, Tyron, on your editing, there's one other point that's related on your first agent.
The other side, I said, Charlie, you get the answer.
And I think it's very important that the first sentence always was a change.
I just like to think allegations are on the rise and have to escalate.
I don't even hear the proof.
I think allegations are on the ground, but I believe the president should stick with the whole matter and not require things like that.
You see, the point, the moment, if there's, you know, I don't know if there's a move to camp, but I don't know if there's a move to pick out, and I don't want them to pick out things like that to say, it's like Henry's comment, you know, that he spoke to the editors out there, that he

NARA Description

On May 21, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 5:28 pm to 5:29 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 439-026 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 439-26

Date: May 21, 1973
Time: 5:28 pm - 5:29 pm
Location: Old Executive Office Building

President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

[See Conversation No. 46-132]

Also recorded on May 21, 1973

  • 046-129 5:25 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at 5:25 pm.
  • 046-130 5:25 PM · 23 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon talked on the telephone at 5:25 pm.
  • 046-131 5:25 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:25 pm and 5:28 pm.
  • 439-023 5:25 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 5:25 pm.
  • 439-024 5:25 PM · 22 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 5:25 pm.
  • 046-132 5:28 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 5:28 pm to 5:29 pm.
  • 046-133 5:29 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:29 pm and 5:34 pm.
  • 439-027 5:29 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 5:29 pm and 5:34 pm.

All 47 conversations from May 21, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 439-026, May 21, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/439-026 (accessed October 12, 2026).