Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 920 › Conversation 920-004

Nixon & Haig on Watergate and H.R. Haldeman

Wednesday, May 16, 1973 · 5:22 PM–5:25 PM ET · Oval Office · 55 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Conversation920-004 on Tape 920StartWednesday, May 16, 1973 at 5:22 PMEndWednesday, May 16, 1973 at 5:25 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 920-004 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon directed Alexander Haig to contact H.R. Haldeman regarding his recent meeting with Richard Helms, Vernon Walters, and John Ehrlichman. Nixon expressed frustration over the perception of a cover-up and instructed Haig to reassure Haldeman that their actions were based on presidential directives to investigate the matter. The discussion highlights Nixon’s effort to manage the fallout of the Watergate scandal by ensuring his staff remained firm in their defense against the ongoing investigation.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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before we go i wish i wish to give bob a call again and say god damn it you're just talking to me and i'm enraged by this and i just wish we could help some but that will they are absolutely right to take the position that i directed that we check out because we
It appeared that they liked me at all, and that the purpose was not to make out my point, too, that if we wasn't, there could be a cover-up.
Why the hell would we have Hells there?
You know?
But put that point to him, so that if he didn't, because he needs a little encouragement.
It's a tough thing right now.
And they can win on this thing.
After all, they're hearing only one side of it at the moment.
Everybody buttering up his own ass.
Correct.
Okay.

NARA Description

On May 16, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 5:22 pm and 5:25 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 920-004 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 920-4

Date: May 16, 1973
Time: Unknown between 5:22 pm and 5:25 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

       Watergate
              -Haig’s possible call to H. R. Haldeman
                     -Haldeman’s meeting with Lt. Gen. Vernon A. Walters, Richard M. Helms
and John D. Ehrlichman
                                               -8-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                            Conversation No. 920-13 (cont’d)

Also recorded on May 16, 1973

  • 920-003 4:55 PM · 31 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Manolo Sanchez, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:55 pm to 5:22 pm.
  • 046-086 4:57 PM · 12 min — J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr., White House operator, and Robert C. Mardian talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:57 pm and 9:33 pm.
  • 920-005 5:22 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 5:22 pm and 5:25 pm.
  • 920-006 5:25 PM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:25 pm to 5:31 pm.
  • 920-007 5:31 PM · 45 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 5:31 pm and 5:39 pm.
  • 920-008 5:31 PM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 5:31 pm and 5:39 pm.
  • 920-009 5:39 PM · 12 min — President Richard M. Nixon and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 5:39 pm and 5:53 pm.
  • 920-010 5:39 PM · 37 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 5:39 pm and 5:53 pm.

All 73 conversations from May 16, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 920-004, 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/920-004 (accessed October 12, 2026).