Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 906 › Conversation 906-020

Nixon & Haldeman on Watergate and Public relations

Friday, April 27, 1973 · 5:43 PM–6:04 PM ET · Oval Office · 40 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation906-020 on Tape 906StartFriday, April 27, 1973 at 5:43 PMEndFriday, April 27, 1973 at 6:04 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 906-020 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman convened in the Oval Office to discuss the President's public right to provide an explanation regarding the escalating Watergate crisis. The conversation centered on strategies for managing executive communication and public perception as the administration faced mounting legal and political pressure. This discussion highlights the ongoing efforts by the President and his chief of staff to formulate a defense against the unfolding scandal.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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NARA Description

On April 27, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 5:43 pm and 6:04 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 906-020 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 906-20

Date: April 27, 1973
Time: Unknown between 5:43 pm and 6:04 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

     President’s right to explanation

Haldeman left at an unknown time before 6:04 pm.

Also recorded on April 27, 1973

  • 906-013 5:00 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 5:00 pm and 5:37 pm.
  • 906-014 5:00 PM · 23 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 5:00 pm and 5:37 pm.
  • 906-017 5:37 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry E. Petersen met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:37 pm to 5:43 pm.
  • 906-018 5:43 PM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 5:43 pm and 6:04 pm.
  • 906-019 5:43 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 5:43 pm and 6:04 pm.
  • 906-021 5:43 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 5:43 pm and 6:04 pm.
  • 906-022 5:43 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 5:43 pm and 6:04 pm.
  • 906-023 6:04 PM · 43 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry E. Petersen, Stephen B. Bull, Ronald L. Ziegler, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 6:04 pm to 6:48 pm.

All 42 conversations from April 27, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 906-020, April 27, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/906-020 (accessed October 5, 2026).