RICHARD NIXON TAPES: Mad at Barbara Walters (Pat Nixon/Ziegler)

Pat Nixon
Ron Ziegler
January 11, 1972
018-070 & 071/072
White House Telephone

President Richard Nixon briefly talks with his wife, First Lady Pat Nixon. National Archives censors beeped out the majority of the conversation as "personal returnable" (represented here by a 5 second beep). However, the following conversation would seem to shed light on what the Nixons likely discussed.

In the following conversation, Nixon talks with White House press secretary Ron Ziegler about an interview that Pat Nixon recently did with reporter Barbara Walters, following the First Lady's return from an official trip to Africa. Nixon is annoyed by one of the questions that Walters asked his wife. Nixon wants Ziegler to call Walters and ask her why she took "such a cheap shot." Nixon decides that in the future the White House should require editorial control for all television specials. (NARA censors beeped out 4 seconds of this conversation as "personal returnable.")

In a similar instance, you can hear Nixon angry at the press over one of his wife's interviews here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HInFNxIRRco

(Photo: Pat and Richard Nixon dancing at their daughter Tricia's wedding.)

Category:

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[ThePrimeDirective]

Pat & Richard Nixon were definitely one of the closer couples to occupy the White House.

[DevonSartori]

What is being bleeped out and who did it?

[MrWhadayaknow]

The tape didn't actually "change" these telephone conversations run on the same tape. What most likely took place is that Nixon got off the phone with his wife and directly called Ron Ziegler regarding what Pat told him. The bleeped portion was most likely Pat relating her concern over the interview.

[9162vb48]

Ron Ziegler -- no balls!

[WickedCrazzzeee]

@DevonSartori I think its actually a tape change.

[RomanSedlak]

nice people.