Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 919 › Conversation 919-009

Nixon & Buzhardt on National Security and Domestic Intelligence

Wednesday, May 16, 1973 · 9:48 AM–9:54 AM ET · Oval Office · 6 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Buzhardt, J. Fred, Jr.Conversation919-009 on Tape 919StartWednesday, May 16, 1973 at 9:48 AMEndWednesday, May 16, 1973 at 9:54 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 919-009 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and White House counsel J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. discuss the contents of a mysterious 43-page document to determine if it involves sensitive national security matters or potential political liabilities. They deliberate on whether the information relates to domestic intelligence gathering and if it is appropriate or necessary to disclose these materials to a judge. Nixon ultimately praises Buzhardt's investigative progress and instructs him to provide a follow-up report on the document's implications.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Still, uh, still don't know where he worked?
Yep.
Well, what the hell is this?
Oh, it's in the domestic area, so he thinks that's embarrassing.
That's not interesting.
What's that?
Huh?
It's not related to the water game?
You sure?
What in the name of God is this?
Well, why do you think he's played this game then?
I mean a copy of what, the 43-page, all the documents.
What have you found in this, a 43-pager?
What is it, is it something the president has done or something, or that is what it is?
There was this.
You mean this is in the United States?
This?
Yeah.
So this basically, though, is the U.S., is a domestic economy.
I remember there was a meeting held at one point where I sat in the NSA and all the rest, and Hoover was there.
Hoover and the rest, and I said, look, you've got to pull it all together and get this stuff.
Well, you know, but none of it's there.
Fred, God damn it, that's not improper.
Why shouldn't you give us this?
For Christ's sake, this is on the ground.
Are you sure this is on the ground?
But I don't know what the eight sub-metals are.
What kind of capability is gathering in the United States?
But the purpose was intelligence and want the national security area out of their zone.
Sure.
But if we haven't done it, we have been out of our minds.
That's it.
I don't, I don't.
Well, it's inconceivable.
Yeah.
It's inconceivable the judge would not turn it over.
Yeah, yeah.
Oh, boy.
Well, that's a good job, Brad.
That's a good job.
At least all of our concerns about the water heater, and I'd much rather have it be this water heater than you.
Yeah.
You want to come down?
You say almost certain it's this?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Can you report today?
I'll do it.
I'll do it.
I'll do it.
Or do you want to come down?
And you, because they're closing jobs.
You can come down to the Oval Office and take a seat here.

NARA Description

On May 16, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:48 am to 9:54 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 919-009 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 919-9

Date: May 16, 1973
Time: 9:48 am - 9:54 am
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr.

[See Conversation No. 46-75]
                                            -11-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Also recorded on May 16, 1973

  • 919-004 9:25 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:25 am and 9:30 am.
  • 919-005 9:25 AM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:25 am and 9:30 am.
  • 919-007 9:30 AM · 18 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:30 am to 9:48 am.
  • 046-074 9:48 AM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at 9:48 am.
  • 046-075 9:48 AM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. talked on the telephone from 9:48 am to 9:54 am.
  • 919-008 9:48 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 9:48 am.
  • 919-010 9:54 AM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at 9:54 am.
  • 919-011 9:54 AM · 24 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:54 am to 10:23 am.

All 73 conversations from May 16, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 919-009, May 16, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/919-009 (accessed October 1, 2026).