Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 791 › Conversation 791-014

Nixon, Ziegler & Haldeman on Walter Cronkite and Press relations

Tuesday, October 3, 1972 · 4:26 PM–4:28 PM ET · Oval Office ·3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation791-014 onTape 791StartTuesday, October 3, 1972 at 4:26 PMEndTuesday, October 3, 1972 at 4:28 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 791-014 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consults with Ronald Ziegler and H.R. Haldeman regarding a recent, ostensibly personal telephone call from journalist Walter Cronkite. Nixon clarifies his willingness to speak with Cronkite only if the matter is non-journalistic in nature. The brief discussion also touches upon logistical updates regarding operations at Camp David and the status of staff members.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I don't know.

They called for me.

Well, if it's not news, I'll talk to him.

Well, apparently it isn't.

His secretary said it was mine.

He said when I was calling, you were rushing out to hand take it.

He said it was an emergency.

It was a personal matter, a personal call.

Is that right?

Well, if it's not news, I'll talk to him.

I'll talk to him personally.

If it shows personally.

Well, that's the word.

That's what he said.

Okay.

I don't know what you're talking about.

I'd like to say that I'm here tonight because I just can't wait for him to come out.

Early's down there.

He's got all he needs to do.

Early's up here.

Early's there.

Early's one of the mental counsels.

NARA Description

On October 3, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:26 pm to 4:28 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 791-014 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 791-14

Date: October 3, 1972
Time: 4:26 pm – 4:28 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler.

        The President's schedule
            -Walter L. Cronkite, Jr. recent telephone call to the President
                -Purpose
                     -Personal matter
                          -News
                          -Cronkite’s secretary’s conversation with Zeigler’s secretary
                          -Camp David
                -Possible return call
                     -New York

H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman entered at an unknown time after 4:26 pm.

             -Camp David
                 -John D. Ehrlichman, Raymond K. Price, Jr.
             -Ehrlichman
                 -Domestic Council
                     -Abraham A. Ribicoff

Ziegler and Haldeman left at 4:28 pm.

Also recorded on October 3, 1972

791-009 3:25 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at 3:25 pm.
791-010 3:25 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:25 pm to 3:32 pm.
791-011 3:32 PM · 47 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Elliot L. Richardson, David C. Hoopes, John D. Ehrlichman, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Stephen B. Bull, unknown person(s), Robert P. Griffin, William E. Timmons, Mark I. Goode, Robert Johnson, and John Marshall Gordon met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:32 pm to 4:16 pm.
791-012 4:16 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 4:16 pm and 4:24 pm.
791-013 4:24 PM · 56 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, Robert P. Griffin, and William E. Timmons met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:24 pm to 4:25 pm.
791-015 4:30 PM · 53 sec — United States Secret Service agents and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House on an unknown date, sometime between 4:30 pm on October 3, 1972 and 11:05 am on October 5, 1972.
146-001 6:00 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 6:00 pm and 7:19 pm.
215-001 6:00 PM · 9 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 6:00 pm and 7:19 pm.

All 64 conversations from October 3, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 791-014, October 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/791-014 (accessed September 18, 2026).