Conversation 639-004

TapeTape 639StartSaturday, December 18, 1971 at 12:42 PMEndSaturday, December 18, 1971 at 12:43 PMTape start time00:04:23Tape end time00:05:12ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.Recording deviceOval Office

AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler coordinated the public messaging for an upcoming courtesy call to ensure the event remained low-key. Nixon explicitly instructed Ziegler to manage media expectations by limiting press coverage and declining requests for official photographs to prevent a build-up of publicity. The two agreed on a strategy to control the narrative by providing specific talking points to the press.

Public relationsMedia managementPress strategyWhite House communicationsNixon administration

Audio

NARA Description

On December 18, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:42 pm to 12:43 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 639-004 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 639-4

Date: December 18, 1971
Time: 12:42 pm - 12:43 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

[See Conversation No. 16-107]

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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Yeah.

If you would announce the press picture.

Yeah.

I think this is going to be a low-key situation.

I mean, you know, it's one of those things where you're just making a brief courtesy call.

And he's got... Well, there'll be a problem.

I'm not having a picture.

I'll take one.

They ask for it, and you say, here's what you want.

You see what I mean?

So they're even not kind of covered, but they just don't have it.

Go ahead and get on with it.

I don't want them to build it up.

So we'll tell all of you, and we'll cut a page, and we'll tell you what to say, OK?

It's a lot of things.

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