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Conversation 045-113

TapeTape 45StartTuesday, May 1, 1973 at 7:04 PMEndTuesday, May 1, 1973 at 7:06 PMParticipantsRebozo, Charles G. ("Bebe");  Nixon, Richard M. (President)Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon consulted his close confidant Bebe Rebozo regarding public and staff reactions to his recent television address concerning the Watergate scandal. Rebozo reported a significant, positive shift in morale and public sentiment, emphasizing that the address successfully portrayed the President as uninvolved and proactive. The two also coordinated plans for the President’s upcoming trip to Florida and the island residence of Robert Abplanalp.

WatergatePublic OpinionWhite House MoralePresidential TravelBebe Rebozo
AudioNARA Description

On May 1, 1973, Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone from 7:04 pm to 7:06 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 045-113 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 45-113

Date: May 1, 1973
Time: 7:04 pm - 7:06 pm
Location: White House Telephone

Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo talked with the President.

[See also Conversation No. 433-52]

     Weather in Florida

     President’s trip to Florida
           -Robert H. Abplanalp

     Watergate
          -President’s speech
                -Reactions
                      -Abplanalp’s conversations
                -Impact
                      -Staff morale
          -Lack of President’s involvement
Transcript (AI-Generated)

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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Bozo, returning your call.
Oh, yeah.
Bebe?
Hello, Mr. President.
How's the weather going to be this weekend?
Well, it's sure beautiful right now.
Good, good.
Just got in.
Yeah, well, we'll be down, I hope to get down Thursday afternoon.
Great.
Stay with you a little while, then maybe go over to the island for a day, you know, the usual thing.
Very good.
Very good.
Fine, fine, fine.
I look forward to seeing you.
Right, right, right.
Your reaction to the speech is still the day is the same in the coal-lighted day as it was last night?
Oh, my God, it's even better.
Absolutely even better.
Have you talked to anybody?
Yes, sir.
I've talked to a lot of people, and Bob talked to a lot of people, got a lot of people.
They say?
Well, the reaction seems to be that the whole picture is totally reversed.
totally reversed.
I really believe from—you know I'm prejudiced, so sometimes what I say may not carry the weight that it might otherwise, but the fact of the matter is that people feel that you have totally reversed the direction.
And I even noticed an air of
of optimism around staff people and all, for that matter.
Whereas just yesterday, they were sort of gloomy and all that.
Very, very noticeable change, President.
Very noticeable.
And everybody feels that way.
They knew that you had nothing to do with it, but they just needed something said and something done, and they know now that it's an open book.
And we've begun to fight.
Yes, sir.
I know I think that now...
Check around with the folks down in Florida and see what the average people feel, and I'll give you a ring tomorrow.
All right, sir.
Fine.
You bet.
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