During the Nixon administration, Dr. James R. Schlesinger held a series of high-level positions. He began as the assistant director of the Bureau of the Budget in 1969. In August 1971, President Nixon appointed him Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, a role he held until January 1973. Following this, he had a brief but impactful tenure as Director of Central Intelligence from February to July 1973, before being appointed Secretary of Defense in July 1973, a position he continued to hold into the Ford administration.
On April 20, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, and Republican Congressional leaders, including Hugh Scott, Robert P. Griffin, Margaret Chase Smith, Norris Cotton, Gordon L. Allott, Peter H. Dominick, Gerald R. Ford, Leslie C. Arends, Barber B. Conable, Jr., Richard H. Poff, Robert C. ("Bob") Wilson, Robert T. Stafford, Robert J. Dole, George P. Shultz, Peter G. Peterson, Peter M. Flanigan, Dr. James R. Schlesinger, Clark MacGregor, William E. Timmons, Kenneth E. BeLieu, Patrick J. Buchanan, Ernest Stern, C. Fred Bergsten, Jonathan C. Rose, Bryce N. Harlow, Herbert G. Klein, Ronald L. Ziegler, White House photographer, and members of the press, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 8:06 am and 9:44 am. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 054-003 of the White House Tapes.
On June 4, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and members of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, including Adm. George W. Anderson, Nelson A. Rockefeller, Dr. William O. Baker, Gordon Gray, Dr. Edwin H. Land, Franklin B. Lincoln, Jr., Dr. Franklin D. Murphy, Frank Pace, Jr., Henry A. Kissinger, and Dr. James R. Schlesinger, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House from 3:35 pm to 4:44 pm. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 059-003 of the White House Tapes.
On August 17, 1971, Stephen B. Bull, Roger Robb, Dr. James R. Schlesinger, Cora Schlesinger, Charles Schlesinger, Ann Schlesinger, William Schlesinger, Emily Schlesinger, Thomas Schlesinger, Clara Schlesinger, Laura Martin, William O. Doub, Joseph Doub, Albert Doub, Albert A. Doub, Mrs. Albert A. Doub, Mrs. George M. Radcliffe, George M. Radcliffe, President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, Gerald R. Ford, and Robert P. Griffin met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:55 pm to 1:10 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 566-002 of the White House Tapes.
On September 13, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon met with Cabinet officers and their wives, including William P. Rogers, Adele (Langston) Rogers, John B. Connally, Idanell ("Nellie") (Brill) (Connally), Melvin R. Laird, John N. Mitchell, Martha (Beall) Mitchell, Rogers C. B. Morton, Clifford M. Hardin, Martha L. (Wood) Hardin, Maurice H. Stans, Kathleen Stans, James D. Hodgson, Maria (Denend) Hodgson, Elliot L. Richardson, Anne Richardson, George W. Romney, Lenore L. Romney, John A. Volpe, Jennie (Benedetto) Volpe, David M. Kennedy, Lenora (Bingham) Kennedy, George P. Shultz, Helena M. ("Obie") Shultz, Robert H. Finch, Carol (Crothers) Finch, Joyce (Pierson) Rumsfeld, George H. W. Bush, Barbara (Pierce) Bush, Robert J. Dole, Dr. Arthur A. Fletcher, Robert E. Hampton, Dr. John A. Hannah, Thomas S. Kleppe, Virginia H. Knauer, Robert L. Kunzig, Gen. George A. Lincoln, Dr. James R. Schlesinger, Frank J. Shakespeare, Paul W. McCracken, Arnold R. Weber, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman, Clark MacGregor, William E. Timmons, Peter M. Flanigan, Peter G. Peterson, Herbert G. Klein, Raymond K. Price, Jr., Ronald L. Ziegler, Herbert Stein, and Alexander P. Butterfield, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 8:01 am and 3:07 pm. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 073-005 of the White House Tapes.
On January 31, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Dr. James R. Schlesinger, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:13 pm to 3:51 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 661-002 of the White House Tapes.
On May 30, 1972, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Robert J. McCloskey, Charles N. Brower, Reggie Thompson, Joseph Hancock, Ralph T. Smith, William L. Gifford, Charles D. Ablard, Thomas C. Korologos, Fred F. Fielding, Dr. James R. Schlesinger, and unknown person(s) met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 12:01 am and 8:01 am. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 102-001 of the White House Tapes.
On July 21, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, and Cabinet officers and staffers, including William P. Rogers, George P. Shultz, Melvin R. Laird, Ralph E. Erickson, Rogers C. B. Morton, Earl L. Butz, James D. Hodgson, John G. Veneman, George W. Romney, John A. Volpe, David M. Kennedy, Caspar W. ("Cap") Weinberger, Robert H. Finch, Donald H. Rumsfeld, George H. W. Bush, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman, Peter M. Flanigan, Dr. Edward E. David, Jr., Raymond K. Price, Jr., Alexander P. Butterfield, Robert J. Brown, Charles W. Colson, Dr. James R. Schlesinger, James C. Fletcher, Donald E. Johnson, Frank J. Shakespeare, Dr. John A. Hannah, Arthur F. Sampson, Frank C. Carlucci, Clark MacGregor, Robert J. Dole, Herbert Stein, Arthur J. Sohmer, and Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 10:16 am and 10:57 pm. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 104-009 of the White House Tapes.
On August 8, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Dixy Lee Ray, Dr. James R. Schlesinger, James Raney, Clarence Larson, William Doub, Dewitt S. Hyde, Marion Reid, Barbara H. Franklin, Dr. Edward E. David, Jr., and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:31 am and 10:45 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 765-006 of the White House Tapes.
On March 8, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and members of the National Security Council, including Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, William P. Rogers, Elliot L. Richardson, Adm. Thomas H. Moorer, Dr. James R. Schlesinger, Philip J. Farley, U. Alexis Johnson, [David] Kenneth Rush, William P. Clements, Jr., Carl Duckett, Henry A. Kissinger, Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft, Helmut ("Hal") Sonnenfeldt, Philip A. Odeen, Ronald I. Spiers, and Paul H. Nitze, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 10:09 am and 12:05 pm. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 117-002 of the White House Tapes.
On April 12, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and members of the National Security Council, including William P. Rogers, Elliot L. Richardson, Adm. Thomas H. Moorer, Dr. James R. Schlesinger, Philip J. Farley, Donald H. Rumsfeld, [David] Kenneth Rush, Ronald I. Spiers, Bruce Clarke, Henry A. Kissinger, Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft, Helmut ("Hal") Sonnenfeldt, Philip A. Odeen, James Keogh, White House photographer, Jim [Last name unknown], met in the Cabinet Room of the White House from 10:03 am to 11:27 am. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 122-002 of the White House Tapes.
On May 10, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, and Cabinet officers, including William P. Rogers, George P. Shultz, Elliot L. Richardson, Rogers C. B. Morton, Earl L. Butz, Frederick B. Dent, Peter J. Brennan, Caspar W. ("Cap) Weinberger, James T. Lynn, Claude S. Brinegar, Roy L. Ash, Anne L. Armstrong, John A. Scali, John B. Connally, George H. W. Bush, Dr. James R. Schlesinger, William E. Colby, Herbert Stein, General Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Peter M. Flanigan, William E. Timmons, Ronald L. Ziegler, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., and the White House photographer, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 7:58 am and 9:17 pm. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 120-003 of the White House Tapes.
On May 18, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, and Cabinet officers and staffers, including [David] Kenneth Rush, William E. Simon, Elliot L. Richardson, Rogers C. B. Morton, Earl L. Butz, Frederick B. Dent, Richard F. Schubert, Frank C. Carlucci, James T. Lynn, John W. Barnum, Roy L. Ash, John A. Scali, Anne L. Armstrong, George H. W. Bush, Dr. James R. Schlesinger, Arthur J. Sohmer, General Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Peter M. Flanigan, William E. Timmons, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Leonard Garment, Raymond K. Price, Jr., General Brent G. Scowcroft, Frederic V. Malek, David N. Parker, Herbert G. Klein, and the White House photographer, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 8:38 am and 11:59 pm. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 121-002 of the White House Tapes.
On May 25, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, and Cabinet officers and staffers, including [David] Kenneth Rush, George P. Shultz, Elliot L. Richardson, Rogers C. B. Morton, Earl L. Butz, Frederick B. Dent, Peter J. Brennan, Caspar W. ("Cap") Weinberger, James T. Lynn, Claude S. Brinegar, Roy L. Ash, Anne L. Armstrong, John A. Scali, Dr. James R. Schlesinger, George H. W. Bush, Herbert Stein, John B. Connally, Gen. Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Henry A. Kissinger, Peter M. Flanigan, William E. Timmons, Herbert G. Klein, Ronald L. Ziegler, Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft, Leonard Garment, Raymond K. Price, Jr., David R. Gergen, David N. Parker, Frederic V. Malek, and the White House photographer, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 9:41 am and 11:59 pm. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 124-002 of the White House Tapes.
On May 29, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, William P. Rogers, Dr. James R. Schlesinger, and bipartisan Congressional leaders, including Hugh Scott, J. William Fulbright, Strom Thurmond, Milton R. Young, W[illiam] Stuart Symington, John L. McClellan, Robert C. Byrd, Carl B. Albert, Gerald R. Ford, Leslie C. Arends, Dr. Thomas E. ("Doc") Morgan, William S. Mailliard, F. Edward Hébert, George H. Mahon, Elford A. Cederberg, Henry A. Kissinger, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., William E. Timmons, Thomas C. Korologos, and Max L. Friedersdorf, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House from 11:06 am to 12:05 pm. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 124-003 of the White House Tapes.
On June 13, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, and Cabinet officers and staffers, including [David] Kenneth Rush, George P. Shultz, Dr. James R. Schlesinger, Elliot L. Richardson, J. Philip Campbell, Frederick B. Dent, Richard F. Schubert, Caspar W. ("Cap") Weinberger, James T. Lynn, John W. Barnum, Roy L. Ash, Anne L. Armstrong, George H. W. Bush, Herbert Stein, John T. Dunlop, Rogers C. B. Morton, General Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Peter M. Flanigan, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., William E. Timmons, Ronald L. Ziegler, General Brent G. Scowcroft, Raymond K. Price, Jr., Virginia H. Knauer, David R. Gergen, David N. Parker, Frederic V. Malek, and Arthur J. Sohmer, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 4:32 pm and 5:42 pm. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 126-001 of the White House Tapes.
On July 11, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, and Cabinet officers and staffers, including William P. Rogers, George P. Shultz, Dr. James R Schlesinger, Elliot L. Richardson, Rogers C. B. Morton, Earl L. Butz, Frederick B. Dent, Peter J. Brennan, Caspar W. ("Cap") Weinberger, James T. Lynn, Claude S. Brinegar, Roy L. Ash, Anne L. Armstrong, Melvin R. Laird, Bryce N Harlow, John B Connally, George H. W. Bush, Herbert Stein, John T. Dunlop, General Alexander M. Haig, Jr., John A. Love, Ronald L Ziegler, Peter M. Flanigan, Raymond K. Price, Jr., William E. Timmons, Frederic V. Malek, Arthur J. Sohmer, David R. Gergen, and David N. Parker, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 8:39 am and 10:32 am. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 128-003 of the White House Tapes.