Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 900 › Conversation 900-001

Nixon & Ziegler on Watergate scandal and H.R. Haldeman

Wednesday, April 18, 1973 · 7:58 AM–8:11 AM ET · Oval Office ·4 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.Conversation900-001 onTape 900StartWednesday, April 18, 1973 at 7:58 AMEndWednesday, April 18, 1973 at 8:11 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 900-001 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler strategized on the public narrative regarding the Watergate scandal, focusing on the President’s recent discovery of new facts and his subsequent collaboration with Assistant Attorney General Henry Petersen. They discussed drafting a formal statement to address the potential involvement of H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman while emphasizing the need for full disclosure. The meeting also included logistical planning for upcoming consultations with staff members and legal counsel regarding the President's handling of the ongoing investigation.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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This has been an issue that has been drug out for too long, dragged out for too long.

You've become aware of information based upon the breaking press reports, the grand jury testimony, and the graveyard.

Information was not calling to your attention.

You initiated on your own a very intensive pressing of the staff or however it's called.

You have found out certain facts.

These facts led you to call the Attorney General over

led you to take the action of Peterson.

You have long felt, as you have, and stated, that the grand jury procedure, the rights of individuals, the fairness to individuals, is something that must be maintained in the system and throw the weight to the grand jury.

However, Mr. Peterson, in the course of the readouts from the grand jury testimony, has drawn certain conclusions in relation to men in the White House

in addition to what you found out.

And now it's the need in action.

Then indicate that in your discussions with your staff members, members of your staff, they feel that... And then you move into the... No, that's right.

There must be no question of any involvement, whatever, in anybody else, in any activities at this site.

Therefore, is that what you mean?

Well, I mean, that's one thing that we can say.

Now, depending on the legality of the third option there, and this is not early so much as it would be Bob, following this disclosure would be a total statement

in other words, total disclosure, and based upon Haldeman's role in history, role in this unique position of responsibility, finding new facts which you... Oh, you know me?

Yes.

You didn't want to see him.

No, I didn't want to see this fall first, but

Well, Bob and John wanted me to... That's very, very helpful.

I'm going to listen, and then we need to raise this.

Very helpful.

I'll get it.

I'll see you later.

I'll talk to Dermot and tell him to cut his suggestions down to about five minutes.

Well, frankly, why don't you tell him that I'm way ahead of him?

I will.

Yes, I will.

So far ahead.

I'm surprised he wants to see you in 10 minutes.

Well, I'm way ahead of him.

He wants to present to him that I should.

What time do you want to see him?

I need to get that one done at 4.30.

Well, can you tell him that you have presented this to all of us?

Yes, sir.

I'm going to tell him.

I've got it.

And I said, well, that's fair.

I have exactly that in mind.

NARA Description

On April 18, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:58 am and 8:11 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 900-001 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 900-1

Date: April 18, 1973
Time: Unknown between 7:58 am and 8:11 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler. This recording began at an unknown time while the
meeting was in progress.

     Watergate
          -President’s statement
                -President’s knowledge
                -President’s investigation
                      -Henry E. Petersen
                -President’s feelings concerning grand jury
                -Petersen
                -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman and John D. Ehrlichman
          -Possible statement by Haldeman

An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 7:58 am.

     President’s schedule
           -Meeting with Petersen

The unknown man left at an unknown time before 8:11 am.

     Watergate
          -Haldeman, Ehrlichman
          -Ziegler meeting with Leonard Garment
                -President’s knowledge
                -President’s schedule
                      -William P. Rogers

Ziegler left at an unknown time before 8:11 am.
                                              -2-

                  NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                      (rev. July-2012)

Also recorded on April 18, 1973

122-003 7:58 AM · 1 hr 44 min — Vice President Spiro T. Agnew and bipartisan Congressional leaders, including George P. Shultz, William E. Simon, Michael J. ("Mike") Mansfield, Hugh Scott, Robert C. Byrd, Henry M. ("Scoop") Jackson, Paul J. Fannin, Warren G. ("Maggie") Magnuson, Norris Cotton, John O. Pastore, George D. Aiken, James L. Buckley, Ted Stevens, Carl B. Albert, Thomas P. ("Tip") O'Neill, Jr., Gerald R. Ford, John J. McFall, Leslie C. Arends, Harley O. Staggers, Samuel L. Devine, Melvin Price, Craig Hosmer, Chet Holifield, Roger H. Zion, Marvin L. Esch, John P. Saylor, John D. Ehrlichman, Charles J. DiBona, Henry A. Kissinger, William E. Timmons, Roy L. Ash, Ronald L. Ziegler, Richard K. Cook, Thomas C. Korologos, Richard M. Fairbanks, III, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Peter M. Flanigan, and the White House photographer, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 7:58 am and 10:17 am.
900-002 7:58 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:58 am and 8:11 am.
900-003 7:58 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 7:58 am and 8:11 am.
900-030 7:58 AM · 48 sec — United States Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:58 am and 8:11 am.
900-004 8:11 AM · 36 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Stephen B. Bull, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:11 am to 8:38 am.
900-005 8:38 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at 8:38 am.
900-006 11:16 AM · 46 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:16 am and 11:22 am.
900-007 11:16 AM · 49 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:16 am and 11:22 am.

All 48 conversations from April 18, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 900-001, April 18, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/900-001 (accessed September 18, 2026).