Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 835
Nixon White House Tape 835 (January 8, 1973)
8 conversations · Oval Office · about 4 hr 41 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Sanchez, Woods, Ziegler
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to review the President's upcoming schedule and coordinate administrative logistics, specifically regarding meetings with key staff members like John Ehrlichman, H.R. Haldeman, and Charles Colson. Nixon instructed Bull to proactively manage short, routine meetings and photo opportunities to prevent scheduling backlogs. Additionally, the pair discussed the status of Ehrlichman's trip to Vietnam and managed communications regarding the President's availability.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull reviewed upcoming presidential scheduling requirements, specifically regarding the second inauguration and diplomatic visits. The discussion focused on coordinating the attendance of special envoys, including Japan’s Eisaku Sato, and determining the appropriate venues for meetings with British Prime Minister Edward Heath and the Earl of Cromer. Nixon weighed the logistics of hosting these officials at either Camp David or the White House, ultimately finalizing scheduling preferences for the late January timeframe.
President Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met to discuss a wide-ranging agenda of administrative, personal, and inaugural arrangements. They addressed technical logistics such as cassette tape organization and transcription, along with sensitive personnel decisions regarding White House staff and public relations strategies for the First Lady. Additionally, they reviewed potential inaugural activities and identified key appointments, emphasizing the importance of managing press relations and staffing to ensure the effective operation of the East Wing.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, for a brief informal conversation. The primary subject of the discussion was the upcoming birthday of Charles G. “Bebe” Rebozo. The exchange was social in nature and did not involve significant policy decisions or administrative directives.
President Richard M. Nixon met with his personal aide, Stephen B. Bull, to discuss upcoming administrative matters and personnel coordination. The primary focus of the brief interaction was the preparation and content of an impending press briefing by White House Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. No formal policy decisions were recorded during this brief exchange, which functioned primarily as a logistical check-in regarding media relations.
President Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met to discuss a comprehensive strategy for managing press relations during the second term, focusing on marginalizing the influence of the Washington-based media establishment. They analyzed tactics for handling social events, church services, and formal press conferences to minimize adversarial coverage and break the perceived intimidation of the press corps. Nixon emphasized a desire to shift toward more subtle, controlled interactions and directed Ziegler to prioritize the cultivation of alternative media relationships while keeping the administration's strategic goals insulated from hostile outlets.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office to receive refreshments. This brief interaction served as a routine service call during the President’s morning schedule. No policy discussions or administrative decisions occurred during this exchange.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman to discuss high-level staffing, Cabinet appointments, and managing relations with a hostile Congress. The group addressed strategies for the upcoming inaugural, including a simplified Cabinet swearing-in process and limiting White House social events. Additionally, they reviewed potential candidates for various agency roles, the future of L. Patrick Gray at the FBI, and the need to maintain distance from the ongoing Watergate investigation.