1.
GV Ziegler at rostrum
0.05

2.
MV Ziegler speaks (3 shots)
0.50

3.
SV Watergate Senate committee
0.58

4.
CU Senator Baker speaks
1.31


ZIEGLER: "I'm not prepared to discuss the subject beyond what was told about it yesterday. We will be prepared as we said tin the statement yesterday that it's important int eh near future."



DASH: But surely you can tell us whether these taps or the transcripts of the tapes are considered Presidential documents.



ZIEGLER: Well, they are not the transcripts...you mean the tapes themselves?



DASH: Yes.



ZIEGLER: Well of course they would be....certainly



DASH: Ron, were you aware that these recording devices and monitoring devices were in existence?



ZIEGLER: At the risk of being repetitive, I've already indicted to you that we addressed this yesterday. I'm not prepared to talk about this subject beyond what I've said."



BAKER: It is in a spirit of conciliation that we are now despatching a letter that we have now authorised to the President , Last me read the requests.



One - who is the custodian of the taspes?



Two - who has had access to the tapes?



And Three - how do we go about ???ving that information and the tapes as they relate to the ???ful inquiry of this committee?




Initials SGM/0350 SGM/0357



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: United States Presidential Press Secretary Ron Ziegler and Senator Rewards Baker went before the televised Senate Watergate hearings in Washington on Tuesday (17 July) to discuss the allegations of bugging in the White House.

Replying to questions from Investigating committee chairman Sam Desh, Mr. Ziegler did not elaborate much beyond what he'd already told the hearings on Monday (16 July), but he did say that the tapes would be regarded as 'Presidential documents'
Senator Baker said that the Senate Watergate committee had sent a???letter to Mr. Nixon in what he called 'The Spirit of conciliation' to ask specific questions about the tapes
On Wednesday (18 July), president Nixon, replied to the requests for the tapes, stating that the Watergate Commission could not hear them. He also barred all member s to the Secret Service from giving evidence before the nearing.

The following is a transcription of the proceeding s involving Senator Baker and Mr. Ziegler.