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Conversation 948-003

TapeTape 948StartWednesday, July 11, 1973 at 8:33 AMEndWednesday, July 11, 1973 at 8:38 AMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ziegler, Ronald L.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discuss media coverage of the Watergate Ervin Committee hearings, specifically focusing on John N. Mitchell's testimony and the framing of his loyalty to the President. They evaluate the effectiveness of the White House’s response strategy and assess the positive reception of a recent BBC interview featuring Julie Nixon Eisenhower and David Eisenhower. The conversation also briefly touches upon current news leads regarding Soviet relations and Federal Reserve credit policy.

WatergateErvin CommitteeJohn N. MitchellMedia RelationsJulie Nixon EisenhowerDavid EisenhowerPublic Relations
AudioNARA Description

On July 11, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:33 am to 8:38 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 948-003 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 948-3

Date: July 11, 1973
Time: 8:33 am - 8:38 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler.

       Watergate
             -Ervin Committee hearings
                    -John N. Mitchell’s testimony
                           -News summary
                           -Networks’ commentary
                                   -John W. Chancellor
                                   -Overriding theme
                                   -Reaction to Mitchell
                           -Effect on John W. Dean, III’s testimony
                           -Lack of informing President
                                   -Motives
                                           -Committee to Re-elect the President [CRP] [?]
                           -Chancellor, New York Times
                           -Jules Witcover’s coverage
                                   -Contrasted with granted immunity
                                   -Motives
                                           -George McGovern
                                   -Witcover’s prose
                                           -President’s appreciation
             -White House response
                    -Kenneth W. Clawson, William J. Baroody, Jr.
                    -Dean
                           -Financial arrangements
             -Gordon C. Strachan
                                             -5-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                     (rev. November-2012)

                                                             Conversation No. 948-3 (cont’d)

       Julie Nixon Eisenhower, [Dwight] David Eisenhower, II
              -British Broadcasting Corporation [BBC] interview
                      -Networks’ coverage
                             -American Broadcasting Company [ABC]
                             -National Broadcasting Company [NBC]
                             -Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
              -Watergate
                      -President’s reaction
                      -President’s offer for assistance
                      -Reception
                      -President’s assessment of Julie Nixon Eisenhower and [Dwight] David
                       Eisenhower, II
                             -Compared to Cabinet officers

       News leads
             -Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]’s reaction to US troop movements
             -Federal Reserve credit increases

The President and Ziegler left at 8:38 am.
Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

I rather anticipate that the three networks, Chancellor, of course, leading the pack, really were leading Ron, the commentary voice, almost predicting what was really horrifying, making him say, you know, the president being considered the president of the three elections, or nine of our eight.
Was it that theme?
Was that the overriding theme?
No, the overriding theme, as I understand, is what I gave to you last night, but I...
As I made reference last night, they couldn't resist getting those types of digs into Mitchell, which they had not done on previous... No, sir, it's not.
No, sir, it is not.
You understand.
You're right.
I mean, I understand why he did it and so forth.
I just wonder how these people, how they chose to carry what they were doing.
They got their problems at this all because...
The theme is not that Mitchell kept the matter from you and therefore the election in some way, you know, was distorted or changed.
That's not the theme.
No, that's what I mean.
And that's the thing we should be concerned about.
There's none of that.
The theme is that Mitchell, because he, you know, had faith in you and so forth, did not tell you about it.
And he did that from his standpoint, as he said, not to embarrass the committee and so forth.
Now, there's a little of that Chancellor Dig type of thing.
The New York Times crowd will do it a little bit, but there's nothing building in any direction.
The reviews of the sidebar pieces are very good.
Whit Cobra writes a sidebar, and he said a story about Mitchell's performance.
He said, in contrast to the others, whose tonsils had been lubricated by a sweet tonic of immunity,
prosecution for their Senate testimony.
In contrast, Mitchell sang a sad, slow song pulled from him to feed him.
What's the saying?
Loyalty.
Said he did what he did for the country because he thought the worst fate of all would be George McGovern.
So see, you can see that.
Wow, that's great.
That, you know, whose tonsils had been lubricated by the sweet... You loved everything.
Boston Crowder, Rudy Crowder, whatever crap we've got now, are not getting out of the idea that the only man of all who made the money, now that's inspiration for all three.
Yes, sir.
We'll keep pushing it.
The only man of the many who made the money is John Deacon.
Yes, sir.
Okay.
What's the situation with regard to the straw and the money there?
Nothing new on Son.
Good.
Julie and David were carried heavily this morning.
Really great.
Julie and David were not out there.
No, it's Julie and David on the BBC interview.
ABC carried it.
NBC carried 12 minutes of it and CBS 7 minutes of it.
BBC, but they don't fire me again.
Those kids are going to go to the market.
If anything else, I'm sorry.
They do well.
This was a pre-tape thing.
They may help.
They may help.
But is it positive, this gentleman, or not?
No, it's very positive.
Why don't we have to be catapults?
You know, as smart as they are.
Just as smart.
Yeah.
I certainly hope he holds up.
Yes, sir.
On the other hand, this is pretty rough.
Russia's been playing a position in the United States of America for almost three years in Western Europe.
The Federal Reserve announced an increase of 118% by the end of the year.
It's rough.
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