Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 718 › Conversation 718-003

Nixon & Ehrlichman on J. Edgar Hoover and Ronald Ziegler

Wednesday, May 3, 1972 · 10:19 AM–10:20 AM ET · Oval Office · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ehrlichman, John D.Conversation718-003 on Tape 718 (tape position 00:28:39–00:30:16)StartWednesday, May 3, 1972 at 10:19 AMEndWednesday, May 3, 1972 at 10:20 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 718-003 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and John Ehrlichman discuss the messaging strategy for Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler regarding upcoming political appointments and the selection of an Acting FBI Director following J. Edgar Hoover’s recent death. They emphasize the need to distinguish between permanent Supreme Court appointments and temporary political assignments to deflect public criticism. The pair concludes by coordinating the logistics for an afternoon meeting with a prospective candidate.

Audio

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Position in tape: 00:28:39 – 00:30:16

part A, 0:55

718a.mp3
718b.mp3

NARA Description

On May 3, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:19 am and 10:20 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 718-003 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 718-3

Date: May 3, 1972
Time: Unknown between 10:19 am and 10:20 am
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with John D. Ehrlichman.

     J. Edgar Hoover

             -Robert P. Griffin
                  -Abe Fortas

     Ronald L. Ziegler briefing
         -Supreme Court appointments
               -Career compared with political
         -Ziegler's forthcoming announcement on L[ouis] Patrick Gray, III
         -Time
         -Appearance by Richard G. Kleindienst
               -Time
         -George D. Aiken
         -Appointment

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I think it's very distinguishable, but I do not.
Because the Supreme Court is a permanent appointment.
The other is a political appointment, I mean a non-permanent appointment.
But I think that has to be very strongly made by Ziegler, basically.
If we decide to do it, I understand it's true now.
Because they couldn't get plenty of stuff and plenty of shit come out beforehand.
And I told these folks to hold it to 11 so I can probably leave.
That's how I put it.
No.
Yeah.
That's right.
That's right.
But I didn't give them the name so that at least would be the new one.
Yeah, you just, well, I think he could see from that that he should cover the distinction.
That's it.
And incidentally, you know, that wise old owl, George Aitken, put his finger on it, didn't he?
He said, you want to deny us that chance, but I think we're doing exactly the right thing.
And if we take a little flack, we'll take it.
Yeah.
Yeah.
that I'm not trying to grab disappointment, you know, and so forth.
Yeah.
Yeah.
All right, John.
Good job, buddy.
I'll give you a hand.
Here's a good one.
There, there.
There.
He's gone back to Albany and Mitchell says they just were hauling him in for the same thing.

Also recorded on May 3, 1972

  • 718-002 10:06 AM · 15 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:06 am to 10:19 am.
  • 718-004 10:20 AM · 29 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:20 am to 10:50 am.
  • 718-005 10:50 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:50 am and 10:54 am.
  • 718-006 10:54 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:54 am to 10:56 am.
  • 718-007 10:56 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:56 am and 10:59 am.
  • 718-008 10:56 AM · 42 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:56 am and 10:59 am.
  • 718-009 10:59 AM · 1 hr 12 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:59 am to 12:11 pm.
  • 718-010 12:14 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:14 pm and 12:18 pm.

All 59 conversations from May 3, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 718-003, May 3, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/718-003 (accessed November 2, 2026).