Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 946 › Conversation 946-021
Nixon, Buzhardt & Haig on Watergate and John W. Dean, III
Friday, June 22, 1973 · 3:52 PM–4:04 PM ET · Oval Office · 12 min
AI Summary
President Nixon met with J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. to coordinate the White House's defensive strategy regarding John Dean’s anticipated testimony before the Ervin Committee. The participants discussed strategies to undermine Dean’s credibility by focusing on his financial activities, his potential misuse of funds, and his failure to adhere to conflict-of-interest standards. They also reviewed concerns regarding leaked documents, the media’s handling of Watergate coverage, and the perceived lack of objectivity by certain journalists and senators, aiming to prepare a public response to mitigate political damage.
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
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NARA Description
On June 22, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr., unknown person(s), and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:52 pm to 4:04 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 946-021 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 946-21
Date: June 22, 1973
Time: 3:52 pm - 4:04 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr.
Watergate
-John W. Dean, III
-Handling of funds
-Sunday newspapers
-New York Times
-Forthcoming Ervin Committee testimony
-Statement
-Plumbers unit
-White House response
-Assignments from John D. Ehrlichman
-Handling of funds
-$350,000
-Frederick D. LaRue
-Finances
-Conflict of interest divestitures by White House staff
-Fred F. Fielding
-Forthcoming Ervin Committee testimony
-Purpose
-Internal Revenue Service [IRS]
-International Telephone and Telegraph [ITT]
-Files
-ITT
-30-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Conversation No. 946-21 (cont’d)
-Location
-News summaries with President’s comments
-Buzhardt’s examination
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman, Ehrlichman
-Forthcoming Ervin Committee testimony
-Statement
-Press coverage
-Cross-examination
-Duration
-Relationship with Lowell Weicker, Jr.
-Mary McCrory’s story
-Weicker and wife
-McCrory’s stories
An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 3:52 pm.
President’s schedule
The unknown man left at an unknown time before 4:04 pm.
Watergate
-Dean
-Relationship with Weicker
-Weicker
-Haldeman, Ehrlichman
-Howard H. Baker, Jr., Fred D. Thompson, Archibald Cox, minority staff
Alexander M. Haig, Jr. entered at an unknown time after 3:52 pm.
President’s schedule
-Diplomatic entrance
-Press coverage
-Haig
The President, Buzhardt, and Haig left at 4:04 pm.Also recorded on June 22, 1973
- 041-044 1:58 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:58 pm and 2:02 pm.
- 448-006 1:58 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:58 pm and 2:02 pm.
- 041-045 2:02 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 2:02 pm to 2:08 pm.
- 448-007 2:02 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:02 pm to 2:08 pm.
- 448-008 2:08 PM · 24 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 2:08 pm and 3:31 pm.
- 448-020 2:08 PM · 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 2:08 pm and 3:31 pm.
- 448-009 3:31 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Bruce A. Kehrli met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:31 pm to 3:33 pm.
- 946-020 3:48 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 3:48 pm and 3:49 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 946-021, June 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/946-021 (accessed October 10, 2026).