Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 229
Nixon White House Tape 229 (November 20, 1972 – November 21, 1972)
15 conversations · Camp David Hard Wire · about 1 hr 36 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Haldeman, Sanchez, Brennan, Ehrlichman
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met at the Aspen Lodge at Camp David to discuss the administrative restructuring required for the upcoming second term. The brief consultation focused specifically on potential changes and personnel appointments within the Department of Defense. This meeting served as part of the broader effort to finalize key cabinet and agency leadership shifts following Nixon's reelection.
President Nixon held an informal discussion at Camp David regarding his upcoming schedule and the logistics of a meeting with H.R. Haldeman. The participants coordinated the timing of Haldeman's return from a trip to New York to ensure the President's agenda remained on track. This brief exchange focused primarily on administrative planning and personnel availability.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a brief administrative exchange. The conversation served as a routine communication to assist the President with telephonic connectivity while stationed at the Aspen Lodge. No substantive policy matters or major political decisions were addressed during this short interaction.
President Richard Nixon met with his daughter, Tricia Nixon Cox, during a private stay at Camp David. As this recording lacks an available transcript, the specific substance of their dialogue remains undocumented. The interaction reflects the personal and family-oriented nature of the President's retreats to the Aspen Lodge.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, at Camp David to dictate a memorandum regarding his second-term administrative reorganization plans. The discussion focused on restructuring the Cabinet, coordinating future Cabinet meetings, and evaluating the role of the Republican National Committee. This session served as an initial effort to formalize the personnel and operational changes intended for the upcoming presidential term.
President Nixon met with his valet, Manolo Sanchez, at Camp David to discuss personal arrangements and evening activities. The conversation touched upon the President’s domestic schedule, including plans for television viewing and hosting guests. While administrative matters were briefly addressed, the dialogue primarily focused on informal logistical planning for the President's personal time.
President Nixon met with an unknown individual at the Aspen Lodge in Camp David to coordinate dinner arrangements. The discussion focused primarily on the evening meal, specifically the President’s preference for fish. No significant policy or political matters were addressed during this brief interaction.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator from the Aspen Lodge to manage internal communications. The brief interaction focused on facilitating an outgoing telephone connection. No significant policy decisions or substantive political discussions occurred during this exchange.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, at Camp David to engage in casual conversation. The discussion focused on routine personal matters, specifically including a review of the sports section in The Washington Post regarding football coverage. No significant policy decisions or official government actions were recorded during this brief interaction.
President Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon discussed logistical arrangements for their upcoming holiday travel and scheduling. The couple coordinated their departure from Camp David, plans for a return to the White House, and a scheduled trip to New York. The President also noted his intent to contact his former law firm during this time.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman met at Camp David to coordinate the comprehensive reorganization of the executive branch and White House staff for the second term. They discussed specific personnel changes, including the removal of Bob Dole from the Republican National Committee in favor of George H.W. Bush, the restructuring of Cabinet positions, and strategies for managing high-level officials like John Mitchell, Henry Kissinger, and William Rogers. Additionally, the President issued firm directives regarding inaugural pavilion designs, press relations, and the necessity of maintaining control over departmental transitions, while preparing for sensitive discussions with staff members slated for departure or reassignment.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman met to discuss staffing and organizational plans for the upcoming second term, focusing on personnel management and political maneuvering. The two men criticized the recent conduct of Donald Rumsfeld, labeling him an opportunist, and evaluated the power struggle between Henry Kissinger and William Rogers. They also coordinated strategy for an upcoming meeting with Nelson Rockefeller, with Nixon emphasizing the need to limit the scope of discussions regarding the State and Defense Departments.
President Nixon, H.R. Haldeman, and John Ehrlichman met to strategize the second-term administration reorganization, focusing on personnel changes and reining in the influence of key advisors. They discussed the forced departure of Herbert G. Klein, the management of Henry Kissinger’s growing public celebrity and professional friction with Secretary of State William Rogers, and the need to exert tighter presidential control over ambassadorship selections. The group further coordinated tactical appointments within the State Department, specifically intending to use Kenneth Rush and William J. Casey to assert greater administrative oversight.
President Nixon consulted with John V. Brennan regarding an upcoming meeting with Dr. James R. Schlesinger. The discussion centered on assessing Schlesinger’s temperament and potential concerns, with Brennan providing reassurance about the interaction. This brief exchange served as a preparatory briefing for the President prior to his engagement with Schlesinger.
An unidentified group gathered at the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David to exchange holiday greetings. The participants briefly convened to share expressions of goodwill ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. No substantive policy matters or administrative decisions were recorded during this brief encounter.