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Conversation 903-016

TapeTape 903StartFriday, April 20, 1973 at 12:04 PMEndFriday, April 20, 1973 at 12:07 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Brennan, Peter J.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and Secretary of Labor Peter J. Brennan met briefly to discuss the administration's ongoing struggle with the intensifying Watergate scandal and the negative impact of unauthorized leaks. Nixon emphasized the necessity of surviving the political crisis and outlined the need for a more coherent public relations strategy to protect innocent staff members from unfair allegations. The two men also confirmed that Brennan had submitted his policy recommendations for upcoming initiatives.

Watergate scandalPublic relationsLeaked informationLabor DepartmentPolitical strategyAdministration morale
AudioNARA Description

On April 20, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Peter J. Brennan met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:04 pm to 12:07 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 903-016 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 903-16

Date: April 20, 1973
Time: 12:04 pm - 12:07 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with Patrick J. Buchanan.

[See Conversation No. 38-131; one item has been withdrawn.]
Transcript (AI-Generated)

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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

I saw Shelly Grayton yesterday, and she said you had a good time.
How was the weather?
Pretty good?
Yeah.
Good, good, good.
Well, we had a very rough time since you, I guess we call that a week hell weekend.
Yeah.
And I, but what we've got to do is just survive the damn thing, and I think we will.
Oh, you did?
Fine.
He'll be on the plane.
Fine.
You've got your recommendations in there.
Oh, good.
I just wanted to see that if you passed them on to him.
Fine.
You approved of what I, my statement on Tuesday, I assume, or whatever it was.
Yeah.
That happened.
Yeah.
But I'll say there's a problem with the leaks and everything coming out.
You really need a PR program, don't you?
But all above my head, when I say PR, not for the purpose of telling things that they aren't, but for the purpose of having a line, you know, so that every time somebody, you know, pops off with something in charge of this or that, that you don't get innocent people hurt.
You have to deal with it right and justice, which is what we're trying to do.
And it's too bad that time has shown the system.
It's poor, it's not a good system.
It's too bad, it's too bad.
It's up there today.
But if you've got any thoughts that I'm going to share
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