Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 443 › Conversation 443-003

Nixon & Buzhardt on Watergate scandal and Legal strategy

Wednesday, June 6, 1973 · 1:00 PM–1:04 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 4 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Buzhardt, J. Fred, Jr.Conversation443-003 on Tape 443StartWednesday, June 6, 1973 at 1:00 PMEndWednesday, June 6, 1973 at 1:04 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 443-003 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with his legal counsel, J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr., to discuss the administration's ongoing cooperation with investigations and to coordinate a defensive strategy. Nixon commended Buzhardt’s recent legal work and emphasized that the White House would maintain a cooperative stance while remaining prepared for a political confrontation. The President firmly asserted his innocence regarding the matters under scrutiny and instructed Buzhardt to rebuff any attempts to obstruct their legal position.

Watergate scandal
Legal strategy
J. Fred Buzhardt
Presidential cooperation
Political defense

Audio

Download MP3 · 7.3 MB

NARA Description

On June 6, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 1:00 pm to 1:04 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 443-003 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 443-3

Date: June 6, 1973
Time: 1:00 pm - 1:04 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr.
                                              -2-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                           Conversation No. 443-3 (cont’d)

[See Conversation No. 39-104]

Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 1 minute of this recording (about 20% of it) is represented by only a few words. Listen to the audio rather than relying on the text below; a corrected transcript is queued.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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

Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).

So, Fred, with regard to your heat and cost, I know that you have a lot of work to do.

You spent a lot of time on this stuff.

You did a lot of work.

You did a very good job.

I know that from him and what he's up to and what it has to do with him.

So, now, as far as the typing, I would say it's a great one for me.

Now, the other thing is that we are cooperating all the way.

Now, I want you to say, quite candidly,

That is the case.

I think we should say that.

Yeah.

But that's the break over that we're on.

You know what I'm saying?

But if they make this a political dogfight, we're ready for it.

We are prepared to fight.

I lay it right on the line.

Yes, that's right.

Let me just say that I've got to say this.

You've got to know because yesterday I faced a lot of arguments.

There have been a number of call-outs that are currently coming from some of the junior members of his staff.

They have said it.

That's what you're trying to do.

We want you to know we're ready for the fight.

You're not going to get it.

Because that's wrong.

The president's cooperating.

He's getting him in this thing.

And he said the president is totally innocent.

And everybody knows it, including me.

He's testimony under Oathful of Souls.

And don't let him block you with anything.

That's a lie.

All right.

Play the health game.

Also recorded on June 6, 1973

039-103 12:56 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:56 pm and 1:00 pm.
443-001 12:56 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 12:56 pm and 1:00 pm.
443-002 12:56 PM · 28 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 12:56 pm and 1:00 pm.
039-104 1:00 PM · 4 min — White House operator, President Richard M. Nixon, and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. talked on the telephone from 1:00 pm to 1:04 pm.
039-105 1:04 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:04 pm and 1:09 pm.
443-004 1:04 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 1:04 pm and 1:05 pm.
443-005 1:04 PM · 18 sec — White House operator and President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:04 pm and 1:05 pm.
443-006 1:05 PM · 14 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and Charles W. Colson met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:05 pm and 1:38 pm.

All 85 conversations from June 6, 1973 →

Nixon & Ehrlichman on Watergate and Legal Strategy April 9, 1973 · 1 min
Nixon, Haig & Haldeman on Watergate scandal and Executive privilege May 9, 1973 · 5 min
Nixon phone call with Haig on Watergate and Legal strategy May 11, 1973 · 2 min
Nixon & Buzhardt on Watergate investigation and Legal strategy June 12, 1973 · 7 min
Nixon phone call with Colson on Edward Bennett Williams and Watergate January 4, 1973 · 2 min
Nixon, Haldeman & Ehrlichman on Watergate and Chuck Colson April 13, 1973 · 3 min

Cite this conversation

Conversation 443-003, June 6, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/443-003 (accessed November 12, 2026).