Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 167
Nixon White House Tape 167 (May 19, 1973 – May 20, 1973)
31 conversations · Camp David Study Table · about 1 hr 43 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Haig, Haldeman, Ziegler, Cox
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to request a telephone connection with his Chief of Staff, Alexander M. Haig, Jr. The call served as a brief administrative bridge to facilitate direct communication between the President and his top aide. No further substantive discussion occurred during this interaction.
President Nixon communicated with the Camp David operator to determine the whereabouts of General Alexander M. Haig, Jr. The President requested that Haig be informed of his availability to receive a return call upon the General's arrival at his residence. This brief administrative exchange functioned to facilitate direct coordination between the President and his Chief of Staff during a period of high-level White House activity.
President Nixon initiated a brief telephone request to connect with his Press Secretary, Ronald L. Ziegler. The conversation served strictly as a logistical bridge to facilitate communication between the President and a key member of his inner circle. No substantive policy discussions or political developments occurred during this brief interaction.
President Nixon and Ronald Ziegler discussed the progress of a White House strategy team, led by Alexander Haig and others, which was drafting a comprehensive White Paper to counter Watergate-related allegations. Nixon emphasized the necessity of preparing damaging counter-information regarding John Dean, specifically citing Dean's alleged subornation of perjury and his potential involvement with John Mitchell in the Robert Vesco case. The participants affirmed that they have sufficient information to discredit Dean if he continues to implicate the President or his top staff.
President Nixon initiates a brief telephonic request to be connected with Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. The call serves as a logistical bridge to facilitate direct communication with his primary spokesperson. No substantive policy matters or further developments occur during this brief administrative interaction.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler consulted at Camp David to coordinate the administration's public relations strategy regarding the Watergate scandal and upcoming press engagements. They discussed the timing for releasing a White House 'White Paper' and potential meetings with congressional leaders, specifically noting the need to reassure members of the Armed Services Committee. Nixon emphasized his desire to travel more frequently to shift public perception away from the 'embattled' narrative of the White House, while the two agreed that despite the unprecedented, sustained media attacks, the administration remained resilient.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig met to discuss managing the ongoing Watergate crisis, focusing on the need for a non-defensive, proactive White House response through a forthcoming White Paper. They reviewed the political and economic implications of potential new wage and price controls, with Nixon stressing the need for decisive action to restore public confidence despite resistance from his economic advisors. Additionally, the two discussed the status of a potential Vietnam ceasefire communiqué and coordinated the release timing to align with POW developments.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to place a telephone call to H.R. Haldeman. Upon learning that Haldeman was likely attending church services, the President requested to be notified upon his return so that he could reconnect. This brief exchange served as a logistical coordination for the President to reach his former Chief of Staff.
President Nixon consulted with the Camp David operator regarding the expected arrival time of H.R. Haldeman. The brief exchange served to coordinate logistics for a scheduled meeting or arrival at the retreat. No substantive policy matters were discussed during this operational communication.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman coordinated the development of a White House 'White Paper' intended to publicly clarify the administration's role in the Watergate scandal. The discussion focused on establishing a firm, unified defense by emphasizing that the 'Plumbers' unit and related activities were strictly motivated by legitimate national security concerns regarding government leaks, rather than a criminal cover-up. Nixon directed Haldeman to verify specific recollections with John Ehrlichman, particularly regarding the timing of knowledge surrounding the Daniel Ellsberg break-in and discussions of executive clemency. The President underscored his resolve to remain on the offensive, citing recent positive public support and insisting that the administration's actions regarding the CIA and FBI were necessary security measures.
President Nixon placed a call through the Camp David operator to request a telephone connection with H. R. Haldeman. This brief interaction served as a logistical step to facilitate direct communication between the President and his former chief of staff. No substantive policy matters were discussed during this request.
President Nixon instructed the Camp David operator to attempt a telephone connection with H. R. Haldeman after an initial call to his residence went unanswered. The President requested that the operator persist in reaching Haldeman and check back in approximately thirty minutes. This brief exchange highlights the President's ongoing communication efforts with his former Chief of Staff during the period following Haldeman's resignation.
President Nixon utilized the Camp David operator to facilitate a personal telephone call to his daughter, Tricia Nixon Cox. This brief communication served a private, familial purpose rather than addressing matters of state or official policy. No significant political developments or administrative decisions were documented during this brief exchange.
President Nixon and his daughter, Tricia Nixon Cox, engage in a brief personal check-in while the President is staying at Camp David. The conversation touches upon the President's recent positive reception in Norfolk, Virginia, and the upcoming Prisoners of War reception. Additionally, Nixon dismisses the ongoing Watergate Ervin Committee hearings as a "sham," characterizing the participating senators as ridiculous figures seeking attention.
President Nixon instructed the Camp David operator to place a telephone call to White House Chief of Staff Alexander M. Haig, Jr. The brief exchange focused on establishing a specific communication line, identified as Channel 8, for the President's use. This interaction was a procedural step to facilitate a private discussion between the President and his top aide.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discussed the preparation of a White House 'White Paper' intended to frame the administration's past actions—including wiretaps and security measures—around the necessity of national security rather than Watergate-related controversies. The two assessed the political landscape, emphasizing the need to maintain support among key Congressional leaders like John Stennis and Barry Goldwater to resist pressures for resignation or impeachment. They also touched on economic policy strategy, including potential wage and price controls, and agreed to position John Connally to lead on energy policy to avoid political risks associated with other potential appointees.
President Nixon utilized the Camp David switchboard to place a personal telephone call to his daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower. This brief interaction served solely to facilitate communication between the President and his family member. No official policy matters or administrative decisions were addressed during this connection.
President Nixon and his daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, held a brief telephone conversation to discuss his recent, well-received public appearance in Norfolk, Virginia. Their dialogue quickly shifted to the political climate, where they addressed the ongoing Watergate crisis and the erratic public behavior of Martha Mitchell. Julie encouraged her father to remain resolute in his political survival, and the President affirmed his determination to overcome the scandal for the sake of the country and the world.
President Nixon requested that the Camp David operator connect him via telephone to his former Chief of Staff, H.R. Haldeman. This brief administrative interaction served as a logistical bridge for the President to initiate a private communication with a key aide during his stay at Camp David. The call highlights the ongoing, off-the-record access Nixon maintained with Haldeman despite the latter's recent resignation amidst the burgeoning Watergate scandal.
President Nixon attempted to reach H. R. Haldeman by telephone from Camp David, but the operator was unable to locate him. The call was intended to establish direct contact with the former Chief of Staff. After receiving confirmation that Haldeman was unavailable, the President instructed the operator to attempt the call again in one hour.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an outgoing telephone call to Hobart D. Lewis. The interaction served strictly as a logistical request for the operator to connect the President to Mr. Lewis. No substantive policy discussions or political developments occurred during this brief exchange.
President Nixon initiated this brief call to check on the morale of Hobart D. Lewis amidst the intensifying Watergate scandal. The discussion centered on the President's public image and the strategic difficulty of defending himself against various allegations, including cover-up and clemency claims. They expressed mutual admiration for a recent supportive letter written by John S. D. Eisenhower to the New York Times, contemplating potential future use of the text to shift public focus toward broader international interests like the upcoming Soviet summit.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a telephone connection with his close friend and confidant, Charles G. “Bebe” Rebozo. This brief administrative interaction served as a logistical step to initiate a private conversation between the two men. No substantive policy matters or decisions were discussed during this brief request for assistance.
President Nixon and his close associate Bebe Rebozo spoke briefly via telephone to coordinate adjustments to their upcoming meeting schedule. The two men agreed to move their planned appointment forward by approximately fifteen minutes. Rebozo confirmed his availability, and the call concluded with the finalized logistical arrangement.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed the administration's strategy for managing the growing Watergate scandal and upcoming congressional hearings. They focused on maintaining a firm stance regarding executive privilege over White House staff notes and coordinating a unified defense centered on national security concerns. The two also assessed the perceived lack of momentum in the Ervin Committee hearings and reviewed the status of key administration figures, including John Ehrlichman and Henry Kissinger, in relation to ongoing investigations.
President Nixon initiated a brief administrative request to the Camp David operator to connect him with his former Chief of Staff, H.R. Haldeman. The call serves as a routine communication attempt to reach a key advisor during the President's stay at the retreat. No substantive policy matters were discussed, as the interaction was limited to the placement of the telephone connection.
H.R. Haldeman briefs President Nixon on his recent discussions with John Ehrlichman regarding the Watergate scandal, specifically focusing on the Ellsberg break-in and the administration's legal defense strategies. They coordinate a narrative emphasizing that the "Plumbers" operation and associated activities were motivated by national security concerns, rather than criminal intent. Nixon also discusses his April 18th conversation with Henry Petersen to ensure his own conduct appears consistent with proper executive oversight, ultimately deciding to draft a "White Paper" to solidify their national security justification.
President Nixon initiates a request for an operator to connect him via telephone to White House Chief of Staff Alexander M. Haig, Jr. The brief interaction serves solely as a logistical bridge to facilitate direct communication with his top aide. No substantive policy discussions or decisions occur during this brief exchange.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discuss the ongoing development of a White House White Paper intended to address the Watergate scandal and associated controversies. Nixon emphasizes that the document must move away from a defensive tone, focusing instead on national security justifications and a more aggressive political posture. They agree to involve Patrick Buchanan in refining the draft's specifics while setting a firm strategy to reject talk of impeachment and confront political critics directly.
President Nixon placed a brief telephone call from the Camp David study to the facility's operator to request a connection to his former Chief of Staff, H.R. Haldeman. This exchange served solely as a logistical communication to facilitate further private discussion between the President and Haldeman. No substantive policy or political matters were addressed during this brief request for a telephone patch.
President Nixon attempted to reach H. R. Haldeman via the Camp David operator to discuss urgent matters. Upon learning that Haldeman was dining at a nearby residence, the President instructed the operator to have him return the call later. This exchange highlights the logistical coordination required for Nixon to maintain direct communication with his key advisors during his retreat.