Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 854 › Conversation 854-008
Nixon & Ziegler on Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson
Tuesday, February 13, 1973 · 9:00 AM–9:15 AM ET · Oval Office · 6 min
AI Summary
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler reviewed news coverage, specifically discussing journalistic criticism directed toward the administration. The conversation pivoted to the logistics of ending the official mourning period for the late President Lyndon B. Johnson, incorporating feedback from Lady Bird Johnson regarding flag protocols. They ultimately decided to issue a formal public statement that would simultaneously serve as a tribute to the former president and acknowledge the return of prisoners of war.
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
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NARA Description
On February 13, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:00 am to 9:15 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 854-008 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 854-8
Date: February 13, 1973
Time: 9:00 am - 9:15 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler.
News summary
-Lyndon K. ("Mort") Allin
-Martin Schram
-Opposition to President
-Editor’s influence
President's telephone call with Claudia A. (“Lady Bird”) Johnson
-Flying flag
-Claudia Johnson's opinion
-End of mourning period
-Reminder to public
-Thirty day period
-Ziegler's opinion
-Emotional impact
-4-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Conversation No. 854-8 (cont’d)
-Announcement
-Tribute to Lyndon B. Johnson and prisoners of war [POWs]
-Richard A. Moore's opinion
-Announcement
-Television [TV]
-Statement by the President
Ziegler left at 9:15 am.Also recorded on February 13, 1973
- 043-060 8:47 AM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Claudia A. Johnson talked on the telephone from 8:47 am to 8:54 am.
- 854-006 8:47 AM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Claudia A. Johnson met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:47 am to 8:54 am.
- 043-061 8:54 AM · 25 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:54 am and 9:34 am.
- 854-007 8:54 AM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:54 am and 9:00 am.
- 854-009 9:15 AM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:15 am and 9:34 am.
- 854-010 9:15 AM · 26 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:15 am and 9:34 am.
- 854-011 9:15 AM · 41 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:15 am and 9:34 am.
- 854-012 9:15 AM · 45 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:15 am and 9:34 am.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 854-008, February 13, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/854-008 (accessed October 2, 2026).