Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 919 › Conversation 919-031
Nixon & Buzhardt on Watergate scandal and Legal counsel
Wednesday, May 16, 1973 · 1:25 PM–3:02 PM ET · Oval Office · 11 sec
AI Summary
President Nixon met with his legal counsel, J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr., to address legal strategies concerning the ongoing Watergate investigation. The discussion focused on coordinating the administration’s response to inquiries and managing the complexities of potential testimony or evidence disclosure. No specific action items are detailed in the available record, as the conversation primarily served to align legal defenses during a critical phase of the scandal.
Audio
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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 May 16, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:25 pm and 3:02 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 919-031 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 919-31 Date: May 16, 1973 Time: Unknown between 1:25 pm and 3:02 pm Location: Oval Office The President talked with J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. [See Conversation No. 46-83]
Also recorded on May 16, 1973
- 437-001 1:25 PM · 20 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:25 pm and 1:40 pm.
- 437-002 1:25 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:25 pm and 1:40 pm.
- 919-028 1:25 PM · 38 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Nellie L. Yates met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:25 pm and 3:02 pm.
- 919-029 1:25 PM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:25 pm and 3:02 pm.
- 919-030 1:25 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:25 pm and 3:02 pm.
- 919-035 1:25 PM · 19 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:25 pm and 3:02 pm.
- 919-037 1:25 PM · 12 sec — United States Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:25 pm and 3:02 pm.
- 437-003 1:40 PM · 33 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 1:40 pm to 2:00 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 919-031, 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/919-031 (accessed October 12, 2026).