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Conversation 908-005

TapeTape 908StartTuesday, May 1, 1973 at 8:18 AMEndTuesday, May 1, 1973 at 8:30 AMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  [Unknown person(s)];  Cole, Kenneth R., Jr.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon met with Kenneth R. Cole, Jr. to discuss the restructuring of domestic policy operations following the departure of John D. Ehrlichman. Nixon instructed Cole to streamline the administrative process by requiring staff to formalize recommendations into position papers before seeking presidential review. The two also discussed the political aftermath of the Watergate scandal, with Cole commending Nixon's April 30th address as a necessary step toward refocusing the administration on national governance.

Domestic PolicyWhite House StaffingWatergateJohn D. EhrlichmanAdministrative Restructuring
AudioNARA Description

On May 1, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, unknown person(s), and Kenneth R. Cole, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:18 am and 8:30 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 908-005 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 908-005

Date: May 1, 1973

Time: Unknown between 8:18 am and 8:30 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with an unknown man.

       Ronald L. Ziegler’s schedule

Kenneth R. Cole, Jr. entered and the unknown man left at 8:26 am.

       Cole
               -Role on White House staff
                      -John D. Ehrlichman’s position
                      -Domestic issues
                             -Position papers
                             -Recommendations
               -Staff

       Watergate
             -Democrats
             -Public support
             -President’s Watergate speech, April 30

       Roy L. Ash’s role on White House staff
              -Broker
              -Appointments
                     -Frederic V. Malek

       Cole
               -Age
                        -President and Alger Hiss case

Cole left at 8:30 am.
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

You're gonna have quite a load in a while.
And, uh, I'm gonna check right in.
Where'd he be?
I was looking for John.
Hadn't been doing it anyway.
And, uh, I want you to, uh, uh, you know, sort of work out the problems between the various, uh, domestic people and put in shelves and guys.
And, uh, whenever it has to be brought in to me, and there'll be more occasions in the preview for you to bring it in, otherwise force them to get it into a position paper and bring it in.
All right.
Your recommendations I will accept.
I have, and they recognize that.
I think they will be, sir.
I thought your speech last night was very good, and I thought it was something that people can rally behind now.
I think that's, I think that's the first step.
They've got a little blood, but we have to eat a little crow.
But by God, we laid it out there, and that's it.
Mark Watergate, son of a bitching thing, has done now.
People should have spent that much time on it.
We've got to get on with the work of this country.
This is what I told my staff.
I think they are...
pulling together very well.
They're a great group of people, and I know that they will serve you well.
All right.
Yes, sir.
I think he's very good.
Roy and I are beginning to develop a pretty good working relationship.
There is a problem of various things.
And I think there you've got, not a good man, but very rough edges.
So it's the way that I would send you to work on that.
I don't know how to help you do that.
Maybe push it to the edge.
That, frankly, I'd talk to the edge and say, look, we've got to work on these dams and pipelines.
You know, people are fighting.
We've got to talk to the edge.
All right, fine.
All right.
Thank you.
Good work.
Well, I appreciate your confidence.
And I know that I've got some very big shoes to fill.
And you know, you do the best you can.
Thank you very much.
I'll hold you.
3-5.
Yeah.
See you.
Well, I had a lot of energy.
I have that to spend.
All right, brother.
I'm on 3-5.
I'll go over to your skates.
Thank you, brother.
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