Richard M. Nixon
Richard M. Nixon served as the 37th President of the United States from January 1969 until his resignation in August 1974. In February 1971, he ordered the installation of a secret voice-activated taping system in the White House to preserve a historical record of his administration. Until the system's existence was revealed and dismantled in July 1973, the tapes captured Nixon directing major foreign policy initiatives, such as the opening to China, as well as his central role in the Watergate cover-up.
What Nixon talks about on the tapes
White House operations 4,654Presidential scheduling 4,037Presidential communication 2,299Public relations 1,746Vietnam War 1,719Logistics 1,631Manolo Sanchez 1,592White House communications 1,427White House administration 1,358Henry Kissinger 1,313Foreign Policy 1,160Camp David 1,101
Conversations (21,010)
— Page 211 of 211President Nixon and his daughter, Tricia Nixon Cox, discuss managing the public narrative surrounding his recent health concerns. The President expresses a clear desire to avoid drawing excessive attention to his condition, rejecting a proposed five-day precautionary measure to prevent the situation from appearing larger than it is. The conversation concludes with a mutual agreement to keep the matter low-profile.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discussed managing the optics of the President’s recent hospitalization and the scheduling of his upcoming public appearances, including the announcement of Phase IV economic policies. They also touched upon the political challenges posed by the Ervin Committee's Watergate investigations and requests for access to White House files. The two agreed on a strategy to maintain a dignified public image while controlling the narrative surrounding the President's health and staff activities.
President Nixon met with Henry Kissinger, Alexander Haig, and Ronald Ziegler to coordinate the public response to his health issues and the subsequent adjustments to his official schedule, including the potential cancellation of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s state visit. The participants discussed how to manage the optics of these changes to avoid political embarrassment while navigating the ongoing pressures of the Watergate investigation. Nixon and his advisors also weighed the implications of the Ervin Committee's proceedings and potential witness testimony on the administration's stability.
On July 12, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:22 pm and 8:44 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 949-015 of the White House Tapes.
On July 12, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:22 pm and 8:44 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 949-016 of the White House Tapes.
On July 12, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at 8:33 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 041-068 of the White House Tapes.
On July 12, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:33 pm and 8:44 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 041-069 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon calls his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to personally inform her of his diagnosis of viral pneumonia and his impending week-long hospitalization at Bethesda. The two discuss his frustration regarding forced rest and the President's instructions to Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler concerning the public announcement of his condition. Nixon expresses cynical amusement at the prospect of the White House press corps applauding the news of his illness.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, discuss the logistical process of transferring materials. The brief exchange concerns the coordination of file management or record handling. No major policy decisions are reached during this short interaction.
President Nixon and Ronald Ziegler briefly discussed the planned announcement regarding the President's health. They confirmed that Gerald L. Warren and Dr. Walter R. Tkach were involved in making the announcement, with Ziegler expressing a preference for Warren to handle it. The conversation touched upon the potential reaction of the press to this news.