Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 402
Nixon White House Tape 402 (January 11, 1973 – January 23, 1973)
17 conversations · Old Executive Office Building · about 2 hr 12 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Sanchez, Bull, Haldeman, Kendall
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met with various staff members and Cabinet officials to discuss preparations for the 1973 Inauguration, administrative reorganization, and legislative strategy. They reviewed logistical details for inaugural events, evaluated the performance of congressional Republicans, and strategized on how to manage media and public perception regarding the administration's second-term agenda. Nixon emphasized the importance of maintaining a low-profile, disciplined approach to 1974 midterm campaign activities to avoid perceptions of political deception while advancing his policy goals in areas such as crime, the federal budget, and education.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building. The brief interaction focused on the President requesting refreshments, specifically an order for coffee. No policy matters or significant political decisions were discussed during this short exchange.
President Nixon held a brief, unscheduled meeting in the Old Executive Office Building with an unidentified individual to discuss matters pertaining to the President's schedule. The interaction concluded within six minutes, providing no further substantive details regarding policy or administration objectives. Due to the limited audio record and the anonymity of the participant, the specific purpose and outcome of the discussion remain undocumented.
President Nixon met with aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate his upcoming schedule and manage communications with key advisors. The discussion focused primarily on the availability of Alexander M. Haig, Jr. and Henry A. Kissinger, specifically regarding the timing of a potential phone call. Nixon directed Bull to inform relevant parties of his location in the office while expressing a desire to avoid unnecessary administrative solicitations.
President Nixon dictated a retrospective memorandum for the files to capture his impressions of the 1973 inaugural events. He reviewed memories of the inaugural balls, parades, and church services, emphasizing the sense of pride, dignity, and public behavior displayed during the festivities. Throughout the dictation, Nixon recounted personal anecdotes, including surprise guest appearances and interactions with family members and staff, to memorialize the occasion.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. This routine interaction served as a logistical step in the President's administrative communications. No further details regarding the substance of the requested connection or specific policy discussions are documented.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discuss the complexities of diplomatic communications and the perceived dishonesty of foreign counterparts regarding official correspondence. The two explore the necessity of maintaining a firm public stance while coordinating their strategic approach to upcoming negotiations. They conclude by scheduling a follow-up meeting at the Executive Office Building for the following evening to further assess their position.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull reviewed logistical details regarding an upcoming Republican National Committee (RNC) reception. They discussed the President's speaking engagement, including the schedule for photographs and the involvement of key figures such as Spiro T. Agnew, Robert J. Dole, and Anne Armstrong. The discussion focused on finalizing the timing and coordination of these ceremonial duties.
President Nixon met with his valet, Manolo Sanchez, to discuss the ongoing technical malfunctions plaguing his dictation machine. Nixon expressed frustration over the device’s performance and concluded that it required professional repairs. The brief interaction concluded with logistical instructions regarding the President's schedule and the machine's maintenance.
President Nixon met with unidentified individuals in his Old Executive Office Building suite to address technical issues regarding the office's dictation equipment. The discussion focused on coordinating the necessary repairs for the machine, which was located within the President's workspace. Following the inspection and maintenance efforts, the unidentified participants concluded their business and departed the office.
An unidentified individual met with President Nixon in the Old Executive Office Building to discuss the maintenance of a dictation machine. The parties addressed the specific logistics of the device's repair, inspection, and delivery. No broader policy or political matters were recorded during this brief technical administrative exchange.
President Nixon utilized this time in the Old Executive Office Building to dictate a memorandum for the files regarding his recent activities and administrative priorities. The recording captures the President documenting thoughts on the 1973 inauguration, the impending Vietnam peace settlement announcement, and personnel matters involving Alexander Haig and Charles Colson. Following this dictation, Manolo Sanchez entered the office to fulfill a request for refreshments.
President Nixon utilized this session to dictate a memorandum for the official White House files. This recording serves as a continuation of his previous administrative notes recorded in the preceding conversation. The primary purpose was to document specific internal matters for the historical record.
President Nixon utilized the White House operator to place an outgoing call to Charles W. Colson. This brief interaction served solely as a logistical bridge to connect the President with his special counsel. No substantive policy discussions or decisions occurred during the exchange with the operator.
President Nixon dictates a memorandum for the files to record his thoughts following a previous discussion. The brief recording serves as a continuation of prior deliberations, documenting internal administrative or policy recollections. This dictated entry functions as an official record of the President's personal notes regarding ongoing White House matters.
President Nixon and Charles Colson held a brief, informal discussion regarding unspecified political activities or personnel matters. Due to the fragmentary and poor quality of the recording, no substantive policy decisions or clear action items are discernable. The brief interaction serves primarily to document the ongoing communication between the President and his advisor during this period.
President Nixon met with Alexander Haig and Raymond Price to review and refine a draft statement or speech regarding the ongoing negotiations in Vietnam. The discussion focused on editing specific paragraphs and determining the appropriate tone for addressing the progress of the peace efforts and the role of the South Vietnamese government. Nixon provided direction on which sections to retain or omit to ensure the document effectively communicated the administration's position.