Ask the Scholar

On May 25, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 9:15 pm to 9:20 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 003-123 of the White House Tapes. Topics include: The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler. President's Alabama trip - Television news coverage - Motorcade - Mobile, Birmingham crowds - Dedication of Tennessee - Tombigbee Waterway - Mobile, Birmingham crowds - Lyndon K. ("Mort") Allin - Length - National Broadcasting Corporation [NBC], Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS], American Broadcasting Company [ABC] - Press response - Crowds - Birmingham Chief of Police Ed Moore - Crowd estimate compared with unidentified astronauts' crowd - George C. Wallace - President's remarks - President's briefing for Southern regional media - Press pool coverage - Bill Tice and Douglas B. Cornell - Eugene Risher - Requests for transcript - Transcript compared with tape - Tone - Statements regarding South - Arms reduction - Response - Peter Lisagor - Courtney Sheldon of Christian Science Monitor - Bill Matoney [sp?] of NBC - Comment to Ziegler - Blacks - Response to President - President's response - President's references to unity - President's remarks - Future coverage President's schedule - A May 28, 1971 or June 1, 1971 press conference - Possible alternative dates - May 27, 1971 - Kennedy Center event - Television viewing on weekends - Week's news - West Point - A May 28, 1971 or June 1, 1971 press conference - Haldeman, John A. Scali [Previous archivists categorized this section as unintelligible. It has been rereviewed and released 10/25/2017.] [Unintelligible] [003-123- W001] [Duration: 29s] Timeframe for decision President's spoiled weekend President's schedule - Meeting later in week. Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.