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Conversation 046-135

TapeTape 46StartMonday, May 21, 1973 at 8:30 PMEndMonday, May 21, 1973 at 8:32 PMParticipantsHaig, Alexander M., Jr.;  Nixon, Richard M. (President)Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander Haig coordinate the release of a forthcoming White House statement intended to leverage recent leaks from the Ervin Committee regarding national security concerns. The pair decides to delay the statement until the following morning to ensure the draft emphasizes the committee’s unanimous recommendations and to allow for further legislative consultations. Haig confirms that key personnel, including Bryce Harlow, J. Fred Buzhardt, and himself, will manage outreach to congressional leaders like Hugh Scott, John Stennis, and Henry Jackson to bolster their political position. Additionally, they agree that Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler should avoid a morning briefing to build anticipation for the President's scheduled afternoon statement.

WatergateErvin CommitteeNational securityWhite House communicationsCongressional relationsPublic relations strategy
AudioNARA Description

On May 21, 1973, Alexander M. Haig, Jr. and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone from 8:30 pm to 8:32 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 046-135 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 46-135

Date: May 21, 1973
Time: 8:30 pm - 8:32 pm
Location: White House Telephone

Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked with the President.

[See also Conversation No. 439-30]

      Watergate
           -Forthcoming White House statement
                 -Timing of release
           -Ervin Committee
                 -Leak
           -Forthcoming White House statement
                 -Wording
                 -Review
                 -Contact with congressional leaders
                       -Bryce N. Harlow and Hugh Scott
                       -J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. and John C. Stennis
                       -Haig and Henry M. (“Scoop”) Jackson
                 -National security
                       -Ervin Committee leak
                 -Ronald L. Ziegler’s possible press briefing
                                              -84-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                      (rev. January-2011)
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.

Mr. President, General Haig calling.
Hello.
Ready?
Hello, Mr. President.
Yeah.
Sir, I think it'd be worth your time to wait until tomorrow morning on this thing.
All right.
We've got some modifications to make based on our taking it around the horn here to grass, and then we'll have it all set first thing in the morning, and that way there can be less of a...
Whatever you want.
Fine, sir.
There have been some leakies out of the committee on the national security plan.
That's all right.
And that's great.
That just sets the stage for us to move fast and hard tomorrow.
And they've played right into our hands.
That's a good one to leak.
Yes, sir.
Absolutely.
So we'll have a good draft here for you to look at in the morning.
I wonder in that draft, one thing, it should appear that that was a unanimous recommendation of that committee.
Unanimous recommendation, that's right.
It did not appear in the draft that I should or it will be.
And you think it would be well for me then not to see it?
Shall we say 9 o'clock tomorrow then?
9 o'clock in the morning I think is the best time and we can all get together then and...
What about the clearances with the leaders?
Do they start that yet, or are they going to do that tomorrow?
I think Bryce has probably started.
I have to check.
I haven't checked.
I'm just on Scott and the two.
And somebody else, Bazzard, will do Stennis, and you'll do Jackson, maybe, huh?
Right, sir.
I think this is going to turn right on national security.
For better or worse, then we can win on that.
I'm just very confident of it now.
You know, this is what our strategy was.
I thought they would.
They couldn't hold that one.
And they're playing right the way we want them to.
You don't think so, huh?
Yes, I do.
It was bizarre.
Yes, sir.
So we're going to be with our strongest suit.
And Iran should not brief tomorrow morning.
In my opinion, I think he should simply say that, and he should go in the night, that there be a presidential statement at 4 o'clock he will not brief.
Good.
That'll keep them.
Good.
Excellent.
Okay.
Very good, sir.
Yes, sir.
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