Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 717 › Conversation 717-007

Nixon & Ziegler on J. Edgar Hoover and Public relations

Tuesday, May 2, 1972 · 11:10 AM–11:11 AM ET · Oval Office · 25 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.Conversation717-007 on Tape 717 (tape position 00:16:39–00:20:49)StartTuesday, May 2, 1972 at 11:10 AMEndTuesday, May 2, 1972 at 11:11 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 717-007 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler held a brief meeting to coordinate the official public response following the death of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. The two reviewed the administration's messaging and finalized the President's planned public statement regarding Hoover's passing. This discussion ensured that the White House's public stance was prepared immediately following the news of the Director's death.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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All set?
Yes, sir.

NARA Description

On May 2, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:10 am to 11:11 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 717-007 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 717-7

Date: May 2, 1972
Time: 11:10-11:11 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler.

     J. Edgar Hoover
          -President's statement
                -Public appearance

The President and Ziegler left at 11:11 am.

Also recorded on May 2, 1972

  • 023-108 11:04 AM · 21 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 11:04 am.
  • 717-005 11:04 AM · 24 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:04 am.
  • 717-006 11:04 AM · 35 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:04 am and 11:10 am.
  • 023-109 11:16 AM · 56 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Lyndon B. Johnson talked on the telephone from 11:16 am to 11:17 am.
  • 717-008 11:16 AM · 57 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Lyndon B. Johnson met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:16 am to 11:17 am.
  • 023-110 11:17 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:17 am and 11:27 am.
  • 717-009 11:17 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:17 am and 11:19 am.
  • 717-010 11:19 AM · 21 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Alexander P. Butterfield, unknown person(s), and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:19 am to 11:40 am.

All 67 conversations from May 2, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 717-007, May 2, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/717-007 (accessed October 10, 2026).