During the Nixon White House taping period, John N. Irwin, II served as a high-level diplomat. He began as Under Secretary of State in September 1970 and continued in that role until July 1972. At that point, his title changed to Deputy Secretary of State, a position he held until February 1973, effectively becoming the first person to hold that office. Shortly after, in March 1973, he transitioned to become the U.S. Ambassador to France, a post he held for the remainder of the Nixon administration.
On February 28, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, William P. Rogers, Melvin R. Laird, Richard M. Helms, Adm. Thomas H. Moorer, John N. Irwin, II, Henry A. Kissinger, George H. W. Bush, U. Alexis Johnson, Frank J. Shakespeare, Joseph J. Sisco, Alfred L. Atherton, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., John H. Holdridge, Harold H. Saunders, Col. Richard T. Kennedy, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 10:00 am and 12:35 pm. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 048-004 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 27, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, and members of the Cabinet, including John N. Irwin, II, John B. Connally, Melvin R. Laird, John N. Mitchell, Winton M. ("Red") Blount, Jr., Rogers C. B. Morton, Clifford M. Hardin, James T. Lynn, James D. Hodgson, Elliot L. Richardson, George W. Romney, John A. Volpe, George P. Shultz, George H. W. Bush, John D. Ehrlichman, Clark MacGregor, Dr. Edward E. David, Jr., Raymond K. Price, Jr., Ronald L. Ziegler, Alexander P. Butterfield, Robert J. Brown, Robert J. Dole, Arthur J. Sohmer, Donald E. Johnson, and Malcolm R. Lovell, Jr., met in the Cabinet Room of the White House from 8:04 am to 9:43 am. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 055-003 of the White House Tapes.
On May 4, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Spiro T. Agnew, and Republican Congressional leaders, including John N. Irwin, II, John B. Connally, Melvin R. Laird, Hugh Scott, Robert P. Griffin, Margaret Chase Smith, Gordon L. Allott, Norris Cotton, Milton R. Young, John G. Tower, Gerald R. Ford, Leslie C. Arends, John B. Anderson, John J. Rhodes, Richard H. Poff, Robert C. ("Bob") Wilson, Barber B. Conable, Jr., Robert T. Stafford, H. Allen Smith, Frank T. Bow, William B. Widnall, George P. Shultz, John D. Ehrlichman, Clark MacGregor, Kenneth R. BeLieu, Herbert G. Klein, Ronald L. Ziegler, Patrick J. Buchanan, and Bryce N. Harlow, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House from 8:04 am to 10:04 am. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 055-004 of the White House Tapes.
On June 14, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, State Department representatives, and other officials, including William P. Rogers, John N. Irwin, II, U. Alexis Johnson, Nathanial Samuels, William B. Macomber, Jr., Richard F. Pedersen, William I. Cargo, Marshall Green, Rodger P. Davies, Martin J. Hillebrand, Martin F. Herz, Charles A. Meyer, Harvey R. Wellman, Maurice J. Williams, David M. Ashbire, John N. Mitchell, Elliot R. Richardson, John B. Connally, Roger T. Kelley, Leonard Unger, Robert H. McBride, Arthur K. Watson, Kingdon Goud, Jr., William J. Handley, Ellsworth F. Bunker, George H. W. Bush, John D. Ehrlichman, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Ronald L. Ziegler, Donald H. Rumsfield, Egil ("Bud") Krogh, Jr., John E. ("Jack") Ingersoll, and Richard M. Helms, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 8:30 am and 4:34 pm. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 061-001 of the White House Tapes.
On June 17, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and members of the National Security Council, including Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, William P. Rogers, Melvin R. Laird, John B. Connally, Gen. George A. Lincoln, John N. Mitchell, David Packard, Richard M. Helms, Adm. Thomas H. Moorer, Gerard C. Smith, Philip J. Farley, John N. Irwin, II, Martin J. Hillenbrand, Henry A. Kissinger, Dr. K. Wayne Smith, Helmut ("Hal") Sonnenfeldt, and William Newton, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 9:48 am and 11:59 pm. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 062-002 of the White House Tapes.
On August 11, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, Adm. Thomas H. Moorer, Gen. Robert W., Jr. Cushman, Jr., John N. Irwin, II, Maurice J. Williams, Joseph J. Sisco, and Armistead I. Selden, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:12 pm to 3:45 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 272-013 of the White House Tapes.
On August 13, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and members of the National Security Council, including Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, John N. Irwin, II, Melvin R. Laird, Gen. George A. Lincoln, John N. Mitchell, Richard M. Helms, Adm. Thomas H. Moorer, George P. Shultz, Ronald I. Spiers, David Packard, Henry A. Kissinger, Col. Richard T. Kennedy, Dr. [First name unknown] Weinsmith, Caspar W. ("Cap") Weinberger, and Kenneth W. Dam, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 10:08 am and 11:57 am. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 069-001 of the White House Tapes.
On August 16, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Vice President Spiro Agnew, and Cabinet officers, including William P. Rogers, John B. Connally, David Packard, John N. Mitchell, William T. Pecora, Clifford M. Hardin, Maurice H. Stans, James D. Hodgson, John G. Veneman, George W. Romney, David M. Kennedy, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, George P. Shultz, George H. W. Bush, John N. Irwin, II, Charls E. Walker, J. Philip Campbell, James M. Beggs, James T. Lynn, Laurence H. Silberman, Richard C. Van Dusen, Peter G. Peterson, Herbert G. Klein, Dr. Edward E. David, Jr., Raymond K. Price, Jr., Ronald L. Ziegler, Alexander P. Butterfield, Robert J. Brown, Paul W. McCracken, Caspar W. ("Cap") Weinberger, Arthur F. Burns, General George A. Lincoln, Herbert Stein, General Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Frank J. Shakespeare, and Stephen B. Bull, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House from 10:10 am to 11:27 am. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 069-002 of the White House Tapes.
On September 20, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and members of the National Security Council, including Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, William P. Rogers, Melvin R. Laird, John B. Connally, Gen George A. Lincoln, John N. Mitchell, Richard M. Helms, Adm. Thomas H. Moorer, David Packard, John N. Irwin, II, Henry A. Kissinger, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Col. Richard T. Kennedy, John H. Holdridge, and [Name withdrawn], met in the Cabinet Room of the White House from 3:01 pm to 4:40 pm. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 076-004 of the White House Tapes.
On September 24, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, and Cabinet officers and staffers, including William P. Rogers met with John B. Connally, David Packard, John N. Mitchell, Rogers C. B. Morton, Clifford M. Hardin, Maurice H. Stans, Laurence H. Silberman, Elliot L. Richardson, George W. Romney, James M. Beggs, David M. Kennedy, George P. Shultz, Robert H. Finch, George H. W. Bush, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman, Peter M. Flanigan, Peter G. Peterson, Herbert G. Klein, Arnold R. Weber, Raymond K. Price, Jr., Gerald L. Warren, Alexander P. Butterfield, Colonel Richard T. Kennedy, John N. Irwin, II, U. Alexis Johnson, Nathanial Samuels, Paul A. Volcker, Arthur F. Burns, Paul W. McCracken, Ezra Solomon, Caspar W. ("Cap") Weinberger, and unknown person(s), met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 8:13 am and 11:03 am. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 077-002 of the White House Tapes.
On November 12, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and members of the National Security Council, including Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, William P. Rogers, Melvin R. Laird, Gen. George A. Lincoln, John N. Mitchell, John N. Irwin, II, Richard M. Helms, [Name withdrawn], Gen. John D. Ryan, Ronald I. Spiers, Gerard C. Smith, Philip J. Farley, Spurgeon M. Keeny, Jr., John J. McCloy, Gen. Royal B. Allison, J. Graham Parsons, Paul H. Nitze, Col. Richard T. Kennedy, Dr. K. Wayne Smith, Helmut ("Hal") Sonnenfedlt, Henry A. Kissinger, Gen. Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and Gardiner L. Tucker, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 5:03 pm and 11:59 pm. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 082-002 of the White House Tapes.
On December 1, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and members of the National Security Council, including William P. Rogers, Melvin R. Laird, Gen. George A. Lincoln, John N. Mitchell, Richard M. Helms, Adm. Thomas H. Moorer, John N. Irwin, II, Martin J. Hillenbrand, David Packard, Philip J. Farley, Henry A. Kissinger, Col. Richard T. Kennedy, Philip A. Odeen, Helmut ("Hal") Sonnenfeldt, Gen. Alexander M. Haig, Jr., William G. Hyland, and Lt. Col. Walter B. Ratliffe, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 9:57 am and 11:59 pm. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 084-015 of the White House Tapes.
On December 9, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, John N. Irwin, II, David Packard, Richard M. Helms, Adm. Thomas H. Moorer, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 4:41 pm and 4:56 pm. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 086-001 of the White House Tapes.
On March 8, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and John N. Irwin, II talked on the telephone from 2:39 pm to 2:40 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 021-038 of the White House Tapes.
On March 9, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and John N. Irwin, II met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:39 pm to 2:40 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 322-038 of the White House Tapes.
On March 17, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and members of the National Security Council, including Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, William P. Rogers, Melvin R. Laird, Gen. George A. Lincoln, John B. Connally, John N. Irwin, II, Richard M. Helms, Adm. Thomas H. Moorer, Ronald I. Spiers, David M. Kennedy, Gerard C. Smith, Philip J. Farley, Spurgeon M. Keeny, Jr., [Name withdrawn], Gen. Royal B. Allison, Paul H. Nitze, Henry A. Kissinger, Col. Richard T. Kennedy, Philip A. Odeen, Helmut ("Hal") Sonnenfeldt, and Gardiner L. Tucker, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 10:13 am and 11:54 am. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 095-002 of the White House Tapes.
On May 16, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Cabinet officers and staffers, including John N. Irwin, II, John B. Connally, [David] Kenneth Rush, Richard G. Kleindienst, Rogers C. B. Morton, Earl L. Butz, Peter G. Peterson, James D. Hodgson, Elliot L. Richardson, George W. Romney, John A. Volpe, George P. Shultz, Donald H. Rumsfeld, George H. W. Bush, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman, Henry A. Kissinger, Peter M. Flanigan, Clark MacGregor, Dr. Edward E. David, Jr., John A. Scali, Herbert G. Klein, Raymond K. Price, Jr., Ronald L. Ziegler, Alexander P. Butterfield, Charles W. Colson, Frederic V. Malek, Robert J. Brown, Caspar W. ("Cap") Weinberger, Ezra Solomon, and Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 11:03 am and 11:59 pm. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 101-009 of the White House Tapes.
On March 9, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft, and John N. Irwin, II met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:43 pm and 12:56 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 874-012 of the White House Tapes.