Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 168
Nixon White House Tape 168 (June 1, 1973 – June 3, 1973)
38 conversations · Camp David Study Table · about 3 hr 20 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Ziegler, Haldeman, Haig, Kissinger
An unidentified individual placed an outgoing telephone call from the Camp David study, requesting assistance from the White House operator. The conversation consists entirely of a brief exchange regarding connection services rather than substantive policy or political matters. No further dialogue was captured, leaving the intended recipient and the purpose of the call unknown.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discuss plans to counter Watergate-related criticism by leaking records of extensive wiretapping conducted during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. Nixon asserts that Bobby Kennedy ordered significantly more illegal wiretaps than the Nixon administration and intends to publish the names of those surveilled to expose political hypocrisy. Additionally, the pair briefly reviews the positive international press reception regarding the President’s recent foreign policy initiatives, including the Shanghai communique and Soviet relations.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an urgent telephone call to Alexander M. Haig, Jr. The brief exchange served purely administrative purposes to connect the President with his Chief of Staff. No substantive policy discussions took place during this recorded interaction.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discuss a public relations strategy to control the narrative regarding historical government wiretaps of newsmen. Nixon instructs Haig to orchestrate a methodical, staged release of this information to make the disclosure appear deliberate and formal rather than spontaneous. The President emphasizes the need to secure specific names and data from Secret Service Director James J. Rowley, threatening his position if he fails to produce the files quickly, in order to use the information to intimidate political opponents and critics.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to request that Manolo Sanchez bring vanilla to his location. This brief communication served a purely logistical purpose regarding the President's personal requests while at the retreat. No policy matters or significant administrative decisions were discussed during the exchange.
President Nixon instructed his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, to proceed with a scheduled movie showing at Camp David without waiting for his immediate arrival. The President indicated that he intended to join the screening briefly but noted that he might retire for the evening early. No significant political or policy matters were addressed during this brief exchange.
President Nixon coordinated administrative communications while stationed at Camp David, requesting that the operator facilitate a return call from Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler upon his arrival at the White House. Additionally, the President initiated a request to speak with his daughter, Tricia Nixon Cox. This brief exchange reflects the ongoing management of internal staff scheduling and personal communications during the President's time away from the Oval Office.
President Nixon and his daughter, Tricia Nixon Cox, discussed the success of his recent diplomatic trip to Iceland and its role in advancing his "Year of Europe" policy, specifically noting productive meetings with French President Georges Pompidou. The conversation contrasted this international progress with the ongoing distractions of the Watergate scandal, which Nixon lamented dominated domestic press coverage. Tricia encouraged her father to maintain high-profile engagements, such as the upcoming visit by Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, to help shift public focus away from Watergate and alleviate political pressure.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discussed the positive media reception of Nixon’s recent trip to France and the administration's strategy regarding ongoing Watergate coverage. The conversation focused on a plan to counter political pressure by releasing data on FBI wiretaps authorized during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations to create a defensive narrative. Nixon emphasized the importance of aggressive tactics, instructing Ziegler to coordinate with Alexander Haig to formalize the release of this information and identify the names of any targeted newsmen.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a telephone connection with H. R. “Bob” Haldeman. The exchange was strictly administrative, serving solely as a request to initiate communication with his former Chief of Staff. No further substantive policy matters or discussions were captured during this brief operational interaction.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss the political fallout and public perception of recent televised testimony regarding the Watergate scandal. Haldeman reviews his own recent testimony and that of John Ehrlichman, emphasizing their use of categorical denials and strategic framing of national security concerns to distance the President from the cover-up. They assess the tactics of the Ervin Committee, potential immunity for witnesses like John Dean, and the ongoing efforts by special prosecutor Archibald Cox to manage the investigation.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an urgent telephone call to National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger. This brief administrative interaction served as a logistical bridge to connect the President with his primary foreign policy advisor. No substantive policy matters were discussed during this brief request.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discuss the favorable reception of Nixon's recent trip to Iceland, viewing it as a strategic success that elevates his stature and serves as a vital distraction from the ongoing Watergate scandal. Kissinger reports that the international press coverage is improving and that he plans to conduct background briefings to solidify the trip's accomplishments, particularly regarding the 'Year of Europe.' Meanwhile, Nixon characterizes the Watergate hearings as a partisan political fight and expresses confidence that the administration has weathered the worst of the fallout following the departures of H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman. Additionally, the pair coordinates a media strategy for the upcoming announcement of a Vietnam agreement, ensuring they maximize positive publicity through simultaneous briefings with Congressional leaders.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an outgoing telephone call to his former chief of staff, H. R. Haldeman. This brief administrative interaction served as the necessary logistical step to connect the President with his former aide. No further policy or strategic matters were discussed during this specific exchange.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman briefly coordinate a potential outreach or follow-up with Hobart “Hobe” Lewis. Haldeman notes that Lewis is unavailable until the following evening, leading the President to suggest that Lewis contact him directly by telephone once he returns. No further immediate actions were required beyond this scheduling arrangement.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a telephone connection with his Chief of Staff, Alexander M. Haig, Jr. The brief exchange served as a routine administrative request to initiate communication between the President and his top aide. No substantive policy discussions took place during this brief operator-assisted call.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig met to coordinate White House strategy regarding ongoing political scandals, including the Watergate investigation and the Ervin Committee hearings. They discussed organizational changes to improve staff efficiency, the management of upcoming bipartisan congressional briefings, and efforts to uncover past wiretap records involving Robert F. Kennedy. Additionally, they strategized on how to counter potential indictments against top aides and discussed ways to dissuade political figures from publicly suggesting the President testify before the Senate committee.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to request a return call from Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. The operator informed the President that Ziegler was currently in a meeting with General Alexander M. Haig, Jr. Nixon directed the operator to notify Ziegler’s secretary so that the Press Secretary could contact him immediately upon the conclusion of that meeting.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to initiate a telephone call to Charles W. Colson. This brief communication served solely as a logistical request to facilitate direct contact with a key political advisor. No substantive policy matters or further details were discussed during this exchange.
President Nixon instructed the Camp David operator to cease attempts to reach Charles W. Colson after the operator reported an inability to connect with him at his home or office. Nixon determined that further outreach was unnecessary at the time and opted to abandon the call for the moment. This brief exchange reflects the administrative management of the President's personal communications while he was working from Camp David.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a telephone connection with his Press Secretary, Ronald L. Ziegler. The brief exchange served as a routine administrative request to initiate official communication. No other substantive policy matters or decisions were discussed during this interaction.
President Nixon and Ronald Ziegler discuss a communications strategy to counter negative press coverage and leaks regarding the Watergate scandal. They evaluate the timing for releasing information about past wiretap records, hoping to identify potentially damaging precedents involving Robert F. Kennedy to deflect from current criticisms. The President affirms a 'moderate profile' strategy, agreeing with Ziegler that they should stop responding to individual leaks and instead rely on previous official denials, while also coordinating with congressional allies like Edward Gurney to challenge the Ervin Committee's proceedings.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a telephone connection with his Press Secretary, Ronald L. Ziegler. The brief exchange served as a routine administrative request to initiate official communication. No other substantive topics or policy discussions were addressed during this short operational call.
President Nixon and Ronald Ziegler discussed the White House response to recent press leaks, likely emanating from prosecutors and the Ervin Committee, which alleged that John W. Dean had numerous meetings with the President regarding the Watergate cover-up. Nixon firmly denied the timeline of these allegations, asserting that his meetings with Dean regarding the cover-up did not begin until March 21, 1973. To address the situation, the participants planned to coordinate a strategy with White House staff, including Leonard Garment and J. Fred Buzhardt, and considered having Haldeman, Ehrlichman, and Colson issue public statements to defend the President's record.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a telephone connection with H. R. “Bob” Haldeman. The brief exchange served as a logistical request to initiate communication with the former White House Chief of Staff. No further substantive policy matters were discussed during this brief administrative interaction.
President Nixon received a brief status update from the Camp David operator regarding the current location of H. R. Haldeman. The operator informed the President that Haldeman had recently departed for church services. No further business was conducted during this brief administrative exchange.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to initiate a telephone call to his former special counsel, Charles W. Colson. This brief administrative interaction served as a logistical step to facilitate communication between the President and Colson. No further discussion or substantive policy deliberations occurred during this short exchange.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discussed their strategy for countering damaging allegations made by John Dean, who had recently claimed to the press and prosecutors that Nixon was aware of the Watergate cover-up as early as early 1973. Both men dismissed Dean's claims as an attempt to leverage a deal for immunity, citing his lack of evidence and the President's preoccupation with foreign policy matters like Vietnam during that period. Nixon decided to move forward with exclusive interviews with Howard K. Smith and The New York Times to personally address the accusations and challenge the media's framing of the story.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an outgoing telephone call. The brief administrative exchange focused on reaching Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. No further substantive policy matters were discussed during this connection.
President Nixon and Ronald Ziegler discussed strategies for managing public and legal fallout following allegations from John W. Dean regarding the President's prior knowledge of the Watergate cover-up. They reviewed the timeline of Nixon's meetings with Dean to verify facts and establish a consistent defense, while weighing whether to utilize third-party surrogates to challenge Dean's credibility. The conversation concluded that the administration should avoid immediate direct confrontation with the press or Dean until they were fully prepared to neutralize his testimony or potential immunity bid.
President Nixon initiated a brief communication with the Camp David operator to request a telephone connection with H.R. Haldeman. This administrative interaction highlights the routine logistical coordination required for the President to conduct official business while stationed at the retreat. No further substantive policy matters were discussed during this brief exchange.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discuss the escalating Watergate-related leaks and allegations stemming from John Dean and his legal team, which they characterize as a public campaign to build immunity. The two focus on establishing a factual chronology of their past meetings with Dean to counter media narratives, specifically addressing allegations involving hush money and clemency. Nixon and Haldeman agree to prioritize a consistent, truthful defense while avoiding reactive public denials, with Haldeman tasked to document a formal timeline of events to prepare for future public scrutiny.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a telephone connection with his Press Secretary, Ronald L. Ziegler. The brief exchange served as a routine administrative request to initiate official communication. No other substantive policy matters or critical developments were addressed during this short interaction.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discuss the White House's public relations strategy regarding the escalating Watergate scandal and the ongoing efforts of John W. Dean III to leverage information for immunity. The President instructs his staff to avoid getting bogged down in daily rebuttals of Dean’s allegations, preferring to focus on substantive administration business and scheduled public appearances to project stability. Nixon directs H. R. Haldeman to compile a comprehensive chronology of events to clarify the President's lack of involvement in questionable activities, while Ziegler confirms the administration’s plan to delay public responses to avoid providing Dean with information that he could use in his testimony.
President Nixon initiated a brief administrative contact with the Camp David operator to request a telephone connection. The primary purpose of the communication was to facilitate a conversation with White House Chief of Staff Alexander M. Haig, Jr. No substantive policy discussions occurred during this exchange.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discuss the administration's strategic response to ongoing Watergate allegations and the public's waning interest in the scandal. They agree to refrain from a direct White House rebuttal to John Dean's claims, favoring instead a focus on positive policy achievements, such as new economic initiatives and key personnel appointments, to project stability. Nixon expresses confidence that the administration has moved past the threat of impeachment or resignation and emphasizes that maintaining a busy, productive agenda is the best way to ensure political survival.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an outgoing call. The primary purpose of this brief communication was to request a connection to H.R. "Bob" Haldeman. No further substantive policy matters or official developments were addressed during this short exchange.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman coordinated a meeting to discuss the reconstruction of a Watergate event chronology. After briefly discussing weather conditions and a hand injury sustained by Haldeman, the two agreed to meet at 4:15 p.m. to review these sensitive materials. They ultimately decided to convene in the Lincoln Room to ensure the conversation regarding the timeline remained secure.