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Conversation 046-149

TapeTape 46StartTuesday, May 22, 1973 at 2:52 PMEndTuesday, May 22, 1973 at 2:53 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ziegler, Ronald L.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler coordinate the rollout of an upcoming White House statement regarding the Watergate scandal. The discussion focuses on the strategy for a press briefing, which will include Leonard Garment and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr., intended to project a relaxed and positive image. Nixon emphasizes that the staff must maintain a firm conviction in the truthfulness of the forthcoming statement before scheduling a follow-up meeting to finalize implementation details.

Watergate scandalPress relationsPublic relations strategyLeonard GarmentJ. Fred Buzhardt Jr.White House statement
AudioNARA Description

On May 22, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 2:52 pm to 2:53 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 046-149 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 46-149

Date: May 22, 1973
Time: 2:52 pm - 2:53 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

[See also Conversation No. 440-7]

     Watergate
          -Ziegler’s schedule
                -President
                -Press briefing
                      -Leonard Garment and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr.
                -Forthcoming White House statement on Watergate
                      -President’s veracity
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Ron, I don't want to take you away from anything that's getting us out of it, but as soon as you have maybe five minutes, you know, that you can come over, I want to just run over two or three things with you in terms of how we implement this son of a bitch.
Okay, we're preparing for the briefing now.
Do you want to see me before we brief her after?
Oh, you're going to brief what?
Well, we're going to hand this out, and then we're going to go out and just, you know, handle it in a positive way.
You're going to brief the press?
Yes, sir.
Oh, the hell with it.
No, no, no, no, no.
When do you brief the press?
Well, we're getting ready.
We're doing the mechanics and getting it all organized.
Are you going to brief it, or who's going to brief it?
No, Garment and Lozart and I are going out.
Just to show a relaxed, you know, positive tone.
Good, good, good.
I won't bother you about it.
What time will you finish?
I'll be over at about 0415.
Is that okay, sir?
I'll come over now if you'd like, but I just wanted to... No, no, no, no.
Prepare for the briefing.
Right, right.
But remember, Joe, I mean, lend spirit as good as it...
best, quite frankly.
And Mozart's up for it.
Yes, sir.
He's worked his ass off, all of you have.
And the main thing that the three of you have got to know is that, by God, this is the truth.
You know, I mean, I don't care what... And you and I have got to understand this, because you've got to go out there and brief, and you've gotten a lot of crap from people, you know, but...
There's no question about it.
As you well know, this is...
that I know about this.
Yes, sir.
I know that.
In fact, even more than I really ought to admit.
I've done it.
Well, I know that better than anyone does.
Yes, sir.
All right.
Fine.
Well, then come over at 4.30.
Okay.
Good, sir.
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