Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 588 › Conversation 588-016

Nixon & Ziegler on Press relations and Oval Office photography

Tuesday, October 12, 1971 · 1:43 PM–1:55 PM ET · Oval Office · 25 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.Conversation588-016 on Tape 588 (tape position 03:44:09–03:44:47)StartTuesday, October 12, 1971 at 1:43 PMEndTuesday, October 12, 1971 at 1:55 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 588-016 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler coordinated the scheduling and logistical movement of press personnel for an upcoming photo opportunity. They discussed the arrangements for a meeting involving George P. Shultz and the efficient management of film crews in the Oval Office. The conversation concluded with Nixon expressing satisfaction regarding the frequency and presentation of the media access.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Mr. President, we have until 10 after 2.
Would that be all right?
Because we have to get them back to each other.
Well, that's better.
Well, they're all going to their offices, you see, to the right.
And so we're getting them back in, particularly the camera guys.
They've been taking another film of them.
This is great.
Twice a day, this is perfect.
Perfect.

NARA Description

On October 12, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:43 pm and 1:55 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 588-016 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 588-16

Date: October 12, 1971
Time: Unknown between 1:43 pm and 1:55 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler.

     The President's schedule
          -George P. Shultz
          -Film

Ziegler left at an unknown time before 1:55 pm.

Also recorded on October 12, 1971

  • 011-062 1:32 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and George Meany talked on the telephone from 1:32 pm to 1:34 pm.
  • 011-063 1:34 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:34 pm and 1:55 pm.
  • 588-013 1:43 PM · 23 sec — Rose Mary Woods and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:43 pm and 1:55 pm.
  • 588-014 1:43 PM · 30 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:43 pm and 1:55 pm.
  • 588-015 1:43 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:43 pm and 1:55 pm.
  • 588-017 1:43 PM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:43 pm and 1:55 pm.
  • 011-064 1:55 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 1:55 pm to 1:59 pm.
  • 588-018 1:55 PM · 25 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, Henry A. Kissinger, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:55 pm to 1:59 pm.

All 71 conversations from October 12, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 588-016, October 12, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/588-016 (accessed September 28, 2026).