Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 467 › Conversation 467-004

Nixon & Ziegler on Media Relations and Today Show

Friday, March 12, 1971 · 8:19 AM–8:20 AM ET · Oval Office · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.Conversation467-004 on Tape 467 (tape position 00:02:39–00:04:36)StartFriday, March 12, 1971 at 8:19 AMEndFriday, March 12, 1971 at 8:20 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 467-004 ↗ · National Archives Catalog, NAID 417176101 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon directed Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler to strictly control the broadcast usage of his recent interview on the 'Today' show. Nixon issued explicit orders that the footage was to be aired only in its entirety during the morning program and prohibited the media from using any excerpts for promotional spots, news segments, or Q&A clips. Ziegler was tasked with immediately communicating these non-negotiable requirements to the network to ensure compliance.

Audio

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NARA Description

On March 12, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:19 am to 8:20 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 467-004 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 467-004

Date: March 12, 1971
Time: 8:19 am - 8:20 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler

     President’s “Today” show interview
           -Use
                -President’s instructions
                      -Howard K. Smith
                      -Excerpts
                -Promotional spots
                -President’s instructions
                      -News shows
                      -Ziegler

Ziegler left at 8:20 am

Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 1 minute of this recording (about 38% 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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).

Say one thing I want to say.
They can only use that in their morning show.
Do you understand that?
If they don't understand it, they better.
Because I don't want them to come harsh on me.
That's an order.
That's not a request.
They can only use it in total?
Yes, sir.
They're not exerted?
That is clear.
They can only use it in their morning?
That is clear.
Is that understood?
Yes, sir.
Well, they are going to use promotion and so forth.
They're going to promote this very big for the morning today.
They cannot use any of the excerpts on the promotion.
I will not have anything to do that to.
He gets the first crack.
We did that deliberately wrong.
Yes, sir.
Give him the first crack.
I don't want them to use anything.
I don't want them on the news shows or anything like that.
I don't want to be in the Q&A.
They are not to use any of the Q&A on their news shows.
Is that understood?
That's an order.
Yes, sir.
Call right away.
I don't care about that.
I do not allow it.
You understand the obligation.
I do not allow it to be used under no circumstances.
That's an order.

Also recorded on March 12, 1971

  • 467-001 8:15 AM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 8:15 am.
  • 467-002 8:15 AM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at 8:15 am.
  • 467-003 8:15 AM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:15 am and 8:18 am.
  • 467-005 8:20 AM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon, unknown person(s), and John W. Vogt, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:20 am and 8:32 am.
  • 467-006 8:45 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at 8:45 am.
  • 467-007 8:46 AM · 30 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:46 am to 8:47 am.
  • 467-008 8:47 AM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 8:47 am.
  • 467-009 8:48 AM · 25 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at 8:48 am.

All 11 conversations from March 12, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 467-004, March 12, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives (NAID 417176101). Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/467-004 (accessed November 2, 2026).