Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 721 › Conversation 721-004

Nixon & Ziegler on Press briefings and National Security Council

Monday, May 8, 1972 · 8:54 AM–8:56 AM ET · Oval Office · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.Conversation721-004 on Tape 721 (tape position 00:17:18–00:18:48)StartMonday, May 8, 1972 at 8:54 AMEndMonday, May 8, 1972 at 8:56 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 721-004 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler to coordinate administrative messaging and press strategy regarding upcoming national security matters. They discussed Ziegler's inclusion in a National Security Council meeting and the timing for an imminent presidential speech. The brief exchange served to align the White House communications team on the disclosure of sensitive policy details.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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at this point but uh uh the nfc's nine with an outstatement at nine sure according to henry um sorry if you want to sit in that uh sure follow it from the beginning okay

I haven't discussed any of this with anyone.

I have a problem with that.

I had purposely just stayed away from the Queen on this person, but I thought I'd be sorry if you'd like to start picking up on it this morning.

I agree with another.

I won't have to raise it with you again.

Yes, we have.

We decided that.

So, yes, sir.

And no reason for our answer.

Yes, sir.

We all know he hasn't time and we haven't decided yet.

You see, we're not going to ask for it.

I don't know.

Okay.

I haven't gotten into those details.

I'm going to go about it again, but I'll proceed on that basis.

Good.

Okay, sir.

NARA Description

On May 8, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:54 am to 8:56 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 721-004 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 721-4

Date: May 8, 1972
Time: 8:54 am - 8:56 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler.

     Press briefings
          -National Security Council [NSC] meeting
                 -Time
                 -Henry A. Kissinger
                 -Ziegler's presence
          -Forthcoming speech
                 -Text
                       -Timing

Ziegler left at 8:56 am.

Also recorded on May 8, 1972

721-001 8:36 AM · 42 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:36 am and 8:38 am.
024-001 8:38 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman talked on the telephone from 8:38 am to 8:43 am.
721-002 8:38 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:38 am to 8:43 am.
721-003 8:43 AM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:43 am and 8:54 am.
721-005 8:56 AM · 31 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:56 am and 8:59 am.
721-006 8:59 AM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:59 am to 9:06 am.
721-007 9:07 AM · 28 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:07 am to 9:08 am.
024-169 10:45 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:45 am and 10:47 am.

All 94 conversations from May 8, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 721-004, May 8, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/721-004 (accessed October 9, 2026).