Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 925 › Conversation 925-005

Nixon & Burger on Watergate and Judiciary

Tuesday, May 22, 1973 · 9:27 AM–9:30 AM ET · Oval Office · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Burger, Warren E.Conversation925-005 on Tape 925StartTuesday, May 22, 1973 at 9:27 AMEndTuesday, May 22, 1973 at 9:30 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 925-005 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with Chief Justice Warren E. Burger for a brief exchange regarding the ongoing Watergate-related legal proceedings. Nixon expressed his concerns about the fairness of public trials, specifically referencing the impact of hearsay and the treatment of individuals like John Mitchell. The President also reflected on his administrative oversight, noting that he would have acted more decisively against overzealous subordinates had he been less focused on his presidential duties.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Oh.
Well, I just wanted to thank you for your call, which I got the number from this morning, and the way she will in her next four years.
You see, we didn't have to run for it.
Right.
Right, right.
Yeah.
That's very thoughtful.
That's very thoughtful.
And let me just say, I know you, as a great jurist, probably, and as a politician, are actually concerned about the, oh, that it will pass and I will survive.
I just want you to know that.
You know, this thing is, though, without a person getting too into it, but as a lawyer, as a judge, it must just shock you to see this whole trial in the public, you know.
I'm better than leaving out John Mitchell and calling him a nerd.
But even the trial of the president, you know, today.
Well, no, I think they were right to whack him.
But, you know, I didn't see how these guys could get a fair trial, you know.
They're all about getting evicted.
You know, the hearsay and all that.
Some days, somebody doesn't have to have one of those problems.
You know, you get to see, oh my God, you see all these, everybody, we bring you to the chamber.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Well, let me say that the main thing is, the main thing is that we'll pass.
My heart goes out to those people who, with the best of intentions, are overzealous.
But as I'm sure you know, I'll tell you, if I could have spent a little more time being a politician last year, and one less time being president, I would have kicked their butts out.
But I didn't know where we were going.
There we go.

NARA Description

On May 22, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Warren E. Burger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:27 am to 9:30 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 925-005 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 925-5

Date: May 22, 1973
Time: 9:27 am - 9:30 am
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with Warren E. Burger.

[See Conversation No. 46-138]

Also recorded on May 22, 1973

  • 046-137 9:06 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:06 am and 9:27 am.
  • 046-138 9:27 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Warren E. Burger talked on the telephone from 9:27 am to 9:30 am.
  • 925-006 9:30 AM · 3 min — United States Secret Service agents and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:30 am and 9:34 am.
  • 438-023 9:34 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:34 am and 9:55 am.
  • 438-024 9:34 AM · 9 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:34 am and 9:55 am.
  • 438-025 9:34 AM · 25 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:34 am and 9:55 am.
  • 438-026 9:34 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:34 am and 9:55 am.
  • 438-038 9:34 AM · 20 sec — unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:34 am and 9:55 am.

All 80 conversations from May 22, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 925-005, May 22, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/925-005 (accessed October 12, 2026).