Following an initial social segment with Pat Nixon and guests regarding White House events and gifts, the President met with Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler to discuss administration strategy. They analyzed the political landscape surrounding rising food prices, focusing on shifting the narrative to emphasize farmer cooperation in increasing production. The conversation also shifted to Watergate, where Nixon and Ziegler assessed the impact of recent press conferences on cooling Senate investigations and discussed Henry Kissinger’s problematic press relations as highlighted in a recent book by Henry Brandon.
On March 17, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, unknown person(s), Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft, William Warnack, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:28 pm to 12:47 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 882-010 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 882-10
Date: March 17, 1973
Time: 12:28 pm - 12:47 pm
Location: Oval Office
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
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Conversation No. 882-10 (cont’d)
The President met with Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon.
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[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
Weather
Arrivals
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Tricia Nixon Cox
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[Duration: 11s]
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Oval Office
-Backscratcher from fifth century BC
-Rose Garden
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An unknown man and Woods entered at an unknown time after 12:28 pm.
Gifts
-Ashtray
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
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Conversation No. 882-10 (cont’d)
The unknown man left at an unknown time before 12:30 pm.
Memento
-Box
Telephone call
-Registration
Invitation
-[Unintelligible name]
Mr. and Mrs. William Warnock and Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft entered and Woods left at 12:30
pm. The White House photographer and members of the press were present at the beginning of
the meeting.
Mrs. Nixon’s birthday
Gifts [?]
Photograph session
Gifts
-Presentation
-Placement of gift to President
Weather
Warnock’s trip
-New York
-Washington, DC
-Philadelphia
Evening at the White House
-Entertainment
-Congress
Eamon de Valera's son
-Rory de Valera
-Georgetown University
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
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Conversation No. 882-10 (cont’d)
Gift to president
Birthdays
-Photograph
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower, Tricia Nixon Cox
Dinner
Ireland [?]
-New government
Warnock and Scowcroft left; Ronald L. Ziegler entered at 12:37 pm.
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[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
Gift
-Strawberry bowl
Mrs. Nixon’s purse
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
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Mrs. Nixon left at 12:37 pm.
Cambodia
-B-52s
John A. Scali's handling of United Nations [UN] post
Ziegler's press briefing
-Virginia H. Knauer
-Administration's policies on food prices
-Issues
-Prices
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
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Conversation No. 882-10 (cont’d)
-Watergate
-Prices
-Decline of issue
-Surplus
-Tariffs
-Stockpiles
Watergate
-Senate committee
-Separation of powers
-Executive privilege
-Richard G. Kleindienst
-Washington Post story
-Compromise
-President’s view
-John W. Dean, III
Railroad strike settlement
-Peter J. Brennan's statement
-Wages
-Press relations
Earl L. Butz
-Need for shift of focus from farmer to consumer
-Food prices
-Use of television [TV] time
-Farmers
-Productivity
-Increases in supply
-Impact on prices
Watergate
-Attention to issue
-Last Presidential press conference
-Impact on Press and Senate
-President's cooperation with Congress
-Press reports
-Positive tone
-Senate hearings
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
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Conversation No. 882-10 (cont’d)
-Press coverage
-Problems
-Campaign finances
-Democratic abuses
Henry Brandon's book
-William L. Safire's analysis
-Comments on Henry A. Kissinger, William P. Rogers, Melvin R. Laird
-Problems
-Kissinger
-Press relations
-Negative comments on Rogers, Laird
-Doubleday promotion of book
-Kissinger’s press relations
-Historical context
-Emotional reaction
-Conversations with Brandon
Ziegler left at 12:47 pm.This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.