John C. Whitaker began his service in the Nixon administration as Secretary to the Cabinet in January 1969 before transitioning to Deputy Assistant to the President for Domestic Affairs in November 1969. During the White House taping period (February 1971 – July 1973), he served on the Domestic Council coordinating environmental, energy, and natural resources policy, having previously helped establish the Environmental Protection Agency. In February 1973, Whitaker transitioned to the role of Under Secretary of the Interior, a position he held through the remainder of the Nixon administration in August 1974 and into the Ford presidency.
On February 19, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, George P. Shultz, John C. Whitaker and Stephen B. Bull and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:15 pm and 3:59 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 453-001 of the White House Tapes.
On February 20, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Peter M. Flanigan, Manolo Sanchez, White House operator, Alexander P. Butterfield, Robert C. Tyson, William P. Rogers, Henry A. Kissinger, Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, Rose Mary Woods, John D. Ehrlichman, John C. Whitaker, Elizabeth Bradley Whitaker, David Shriver, White House photographer, Charles W. Colson, and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:58 am to 2:42 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 454-009 of the White House Tapes.
On February 25, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Joe D. Waggonner, Jr., Juanita Morris Moody, John C. Whitaker, Richard K. Cook, White House photographer, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:07 pm to 4:34 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 458-007 of the White House Tapes.
On March 23, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and leaders of the dairy industry, including Clifford M. Hardin, J. Philip Campbell, Paul Affeldt, Paul Alagia, Melvin Besemer, John E. Butterbrodt, Bill Eckles, Don Gregg, W. R. Griffith, Carlyle Hansen, Marion Edwyn Harrison, Patrick J. Hillings, Wesley Johnson, John A. Moser, Harold S. Nelson, David L. Parr, Bill Powell, P. L. Robinson, Avery Vose, Frank White, Clarence D. Palmby, Richard E. Lyng, William E. Galbraith, George P. Shultz, John D. Ehrlichman, Donald B. Rice, Henry C. Cashen, II, and John C. Whitaker, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House from 10:35 am to 11:25 am. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 051-001 of the White House Tapes.
On March 23, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Clifford M. Hardin, J. Philip Campbell, George P. Shultz, John D. Ehrlichman, John C. Whitaker, Donald B. Rice, John B. Connally, and William Fitz-Patrick met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:05 pm to 5:38 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 472-021 of the White House Tapes.
On April 13, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, and members of the Cabinet, including John N. Irwin, II, Paul A. Volcker, Melvin R. Laird, Richard G. Kleindeinst, Winton M. ("Red") Blount, Hollis M. Dole, Clifford M. Hardin, Maurice H. Stans, James D. Hodgson, John G. Veneman, George W. Romney, John A. Volpe, David M. Kennedy, George P. Shultz, Robert H. Finch, Donald H. Rumsfeld, George H. W. Bush, John D. Ehrlichman, Clark MacGregor, Ronald L. Ziegler, Raymond K. Price, Jr., Dr. Edward E. David, Jr., Peter M. Flanigan, John C. Whitaker, William E. Kriegsman, Arthur J. Sohmer, Robert J. Brown, Paul W. McCracken, Gen. George A. Lincoln, S. David Freeman, Milton Shaw, Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg, Caspar W. ("Cap") Weinberger, Chet Holifield, John O. Pastore, Howard H. Baker, Jr., and John B. Anderson, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House from 8:04 am to 9:07 am. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 053-001 of the White House Tapes.
On April 21, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, George P. Shultz, Paul W. McCracken, Peter M. Flanigan, John C. Whitaker, and William E. Kriegsman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:14 pm to 3:51 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 485-002 of the White House Tapes.
On April 26, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, William J. Kuhfuss, Roger Fleming, Bryce N. Harlow, Charles W. Colson, John C. Whitaker, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:13 pm to 4:57 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 489-018 of the White House Tapes.
On April 27, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman, Edward L. Morgan, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Alexander P. Butterfield, Rogers C. B. Morton, William T. Pecora, and John C. Whitaker met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:25 pm to 4:40 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 251-017 of the White House Tapes.
On May 6, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Clifford M. Hardin, Norman E. Borlaug, and John C. Whitaker met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:08 am to 10:10 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 493-005 of the White House Tapes.
On May 7, 1971, during the signing of the Telephone Bank Bill [S. 70], President Richard M. Nixon, Robert J. Dole, Jack R. Miller, Herman E. Talmadge, Ancher Nelsen, Alvin E. O'Konski, William R. Poage, Robert D. Price, Garner Shriver, Vernon W. Thomson, Clifford M. Hardin, J. Philip Campbell, Thomas K. Cowden, William E. Galbraith, David A. Hamil, Everett C. Weitzell, James R. Wright, Harold C. Ebaugh, Warren B. French, Jr., Adm. William C. Mott, David C. Fullarton, Ross Heller, Eldon M. Snowden, Harold G. Payne, A. Harold Peterson, Hyde Murray, John C. Whitaker, Richard K. Cook, Max L. Friedersdorf, and press photographers met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 11:48 am and 11:56 am. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 056-003 of the White House Tapes.
On May 19, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, Alexander P. Butterfield, Ronald L. Ziegler, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Henry L. Bellmon, John G. Tower, Clifford M. Hardin, John C. Whitaker, Clark MacGregor, and Peter M. Flanigan met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:50 pm to 4:28 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 501-024 of the White House Tapes.
On May 28, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Luis A. Ferre, Rosario Benigno Trigo, and John C. Whitaker met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:04 am to 11:17 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 505-019 of the White House Tapes.
On June 8, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, Cabinet officers, and staffers, including John B. Connally, Melvin R. Laird, John N. Mitchell, Winton M. ("Red"), Blount, Jr., Rogers C. B. Morton, Clifford M. Hardin, Maurice H. Stans, James D. Hodgson, Elliot L. Richardson, George W. Romney, John A. Volpe, George P. Shultz, Robert H. Finch, Donald H. Rumsfeld, George H. W. Bush, John D. Ehrlichman, Clark MacGregor, Peter M. Flanigan, Peter G. Peterson, Herbert G. Klein, Dr. Edward E. David, Jr., Raymond K. Price, Jr., Ronald L. Ziegler, Robert J. Brown, Edward L. Morgan, Edwin L. Harper, John C. Whitaker, Neal Ball, Egil ("Bud") Krogh, Jr., Raymond J. Waldman, Leonard Garment, John F. Evans, Jr., Lewis A. Engman, Roy D. Morey, Peter Michel, Geoffrey C. Shepard, Martin C. ("Marty") Anderson, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Paul W. McCracken, Caspar W. ("Cap") Weinberger, Arnold R. Weber, and Arthur J. Sohmer, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 8:03 am and 10:31 am. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 060-001 of the White House Tapes.
On June 28, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, William E. Kriegsman, Stephen B. Bull, John C. Whitaker, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:52 pm to 4:54 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 531-010 of the White House Tapes.
On August 5, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, John C. Whitaker, Ruby Keeler, Bobby Van, and J. Willard Marriott met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:50 pm and 9:43 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 555-013 of the White House Tapes.
On August 6, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, John C. Whitaker, Russell E. Train, Robert Cahn, Gordon J. F. MacDonald, Alexander P. Butterfield, and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:06 pm to 12:13 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 556-009 of the White House Tapes.
On October 29, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, William D. Ruckelhaus, John D. Ehrlichman, John C. Whitaker and White House photographer, Glenn R. Davis, Clifford M. Hardin, Stephen B. Bull, Ronald L. Ziegler, William Harrison Fetridge, John W. Starr, Walter L. Lingle, Jr., Alden G. Barber, Tony Allen, Paul Grimes, Ivery Kevin, Dennis L. Spencer, Robert L. Avery, Robert Meek, Grant Soukup, Darry L. Bellard, Michael S. Jones, Kenneth Spann, John D. Ehrlichman, William F. Rhatican, Stephen B. Bull, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:33 am to 12:25 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 607-014 of the White House Tapes.
On October 29, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, White House operator, George P. Shultz, Manolo Sanchez, unknown person(s), and John C. Whitaker met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:20 pm to 5:16 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 302-018 of the White House Tapes.
On October 29, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and John C. Whitaker talked on the telephone from 4:55 pm to 4:56 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 013-040 of the White House Tapes.
On November 11, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, John C. Whitaker, and Earl L. Butz met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:26 am and 10:51 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 618-003 of the White House Tapes.
On November 11, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Clifford M. Hardin, Martha L. (Wood) Hardin, Earl L. Butz, Mary E. (Powell) Butz, John D. Ehrlichman, John C. Whitaker, Lawrence M. Higby, White House photographer, Stephen B. Bull, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:52 pm to 4:03 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 618-006 of the White House Tapes.
On November 23, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Rogers C. B. Morton, John D. Ehrlichman, John C. Whitaker, White House photographer, unknown person(s), Stephen B. Bull, Francis W. Sargent, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:10 pm to 4:33 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 623-019 of the White House Tapes.
On November 29, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, John C. Whitaker, and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone at 5:05 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 015-163 of the White House Tapes.
On December 2, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Earl L. Butz, Harry A. Blackmun, William P. Rogers, George D. Aiken, Lawton M. Chiles, Jr., Robert J. Dole, James O. Eastland, Robert P. Griffin, Jack R. Miller, Wiley Mayne, Graham Purcell, Martin Sorkin, J. Philip Campbell, Clarence D. Palmby, Richard E. Lyng, Thomas K. Cowden, Ned Bayley, Frank Elliott, Claude W. Gifford, Fritz Behren, James E. Smith, David A. Hamil, Ervin Peterson, Don Brock, Sally Bloom, Martha Lord, Frederic V. Malek, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Clark MacGregor, John E. Nidecker, William E. Timmons, John C. Whitaker, Alexander P. Butterfield, White House photographer, and members of the press met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:15 pm to 5:35 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 628-019 of the White House Tapes.
On January 12, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, George W. Romney, John D. Ehrlichman, John C. Whitaker, Manolo Sanchez, Stephen B. Bull, John N. Mitchell, Rose Mary Woods, and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:34 pm to 6:21 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 646-005 of the White House Tapes.
On March 27, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Rogers C. B. Morton, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., George P. Shultz, Peter M. Flanigan, and John C. Whitaker met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:08 pm to 4:57 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 694-003 of the White House Tapes.
On June 23, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Carlos D. Dixon, Mrs. Carlos D. Dixon, Stephen C. Dixon, Kimberley R. Dixon, Earl L. Butz, James V. Smith, John C. Whitaker, White House photographer, and Anita J. Dixon met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:44 pm to 12:50 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 741-005 of the White House Tapes.
On September 14, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, Nelson A. Rockefeller, Stephen B. Bull, Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon, Rogers C. B. Morton, John C. Whitaker, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:57 am to 11:23 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 776-008 of the White House Tapes.
On October 9, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Russell E. Train, John C. Whitaker, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:36 am to 11:56 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 794-003 of the White House Tapes.
On November 3, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Russell E. Train, Beatrice ("Bettie") Willard, John C. Whitaker, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:37 am and 10:41 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 812-007 of the White House Tapes.
On March 9, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, and Cabinet officers and staffers, including William P. Rogers, William E. Simon, Elliot L. Richardson, Richard G. Kleindienst, John C. Whitaker, Earl L. Butz, Frederick B. Dent, Caspar W. ("Cap") Weinberger, James T. Lynn, Claude S. Brinegar, Roy L. Ash, Anne L. Armstrong, John A. Scali, George H. W. Bush, Donald E. Johnson, William D. Ruckelshaus, Herbert Stein, Russell E. Train, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman, Peter M. Flanigan, William E. Timmons, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Herbert G. Klein, Leonard Garment, Ronald L. Ziegler, Richard A. Moore, Arthur J. Sohmer, Kenneth W. Clawson, William J. Baroody, Jr., David N. Parker, David R. Gergen, Stanley S. Scott, Franklin R. Gannon, John S. Guthrie, Jr., Tod R. Hullin, Patrick J. Buchanan, Lawrence M. Higby, Raymond K. Price, Jr., and Frederic V. Malek, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 10:00 am and 3:10 pm. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 117-007 of the White House Tapes.
On April 20, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Cabinet officers and staffers, including William J. Casey, George P. Shultz, William P. Clements, Jr., Richard G. Kleindienst, Joseph T. Sneed, John C. Whitaker, Stephen A. Wakefield, Earl L. Butz, J. Philip Campbell, Frederick B. Dent, William N. Letson, Peter J. Brennan, Richard F. Schubert, Caspar W. ("Cap") Weinberger, Frank C. Carlucci, James T. Lynn, Floyd H. Hyde, Claude S. Brinegar, Egil ("Bud") Krogh, Jr., Anne L. Armstrong, George H. W. Bush, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., David R. Gergen, John D. Ehrlichman, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Raymond K. Price, Jr., William E. Timmons, Herbert Stein, Kenneth W. Clawson, and the White House photographer, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House from 8:39 am to 10:35 am. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 123-002 of the White House Tapes.