President Nixon met with Raymond Price, Alexander Haig, and J. Fred Buzhardt to strategize the content and presentation of a White House White Paper regarding the Watergate scandal. The group focused on drafting a cover statement that addressed specific controversies, including the funding of defendants, the Ellsberg break-in, and the involvement of key aides like H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman. They also discussed plans to brief influential Congressional leaders, such as Henry Jackson and Barry Goldwater, to ensure consistent messaging regarding prior statements and wiretaps.
On May 22, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Raymond K. Price, Jr., Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:31 pm to 2:44 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 440-003 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 440-3
Date: May 22, 1973
Time: 2:31pm - 2:44 pm
Location: Old Executive Office Building
The President met with Raymond K. Price, Jr., Alexander M. Haig, Jr. and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr.
Watergate
-White House response
-Forthcoming White Paper [Statements about Watergate, May 22, 1973]
-Cover statement
-2-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 440-3 (cont’d)
-Content and phraseology
- President’s knowledge
-Funds for defendants
-Cubans
-Daniel Ellsberg break-in
-John D. Ehrlichman
-E. Howard Hunt, Jr.
-Richard G. Kleindienst
-Timing
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-John W. Dean III
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Ehrlichman
-Herbert W. Kalmbach’s activities
-Use
-Briefing of Congressional leaders
-Henry M. (“Scoop”) Jackson
-Barry M. Goldwater
-Bryce N. Harlow
-John B. Connally
-John C. Stennis
-Price’s contributions
-Previous statements on Watergate
-Wiretaps
-Consistency
Price et al. left at 2:44 pm.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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.