Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 838
Nixon White House Tape 838 (January 11, 1973)
22 conversations · Oval Office · about 4 hr 9 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Haldeman, Sanchez, Timmons
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull discussed logistical adjustments to the President's upcoming schedule, specifically regarding a proposed meeting with three councilors. Nixon directed Bull to cancel the meeting, deeming it unhelpful for the afternoon agenda. The discussion concluded with a brief exchange regarding the President's itinerary for his remaining days leading up to the inauguration.
President Richard Nixon met with Marjorie P. Acker in the Oval Office to discuss personal administrative matters, specifically involving his clothing and neckties. The conversation also touched upon the professional arrangements of his staff, with the President tasking Acker with delegating specific oversight duties to his associates. This brief meeting served to facilitate personal housekeeping and internal staff coordination.
President Nixon met with his valet, Manolo Sanchez, to coordinate the delivery of personal items or documents to his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods. The brief exchange focused on the logistics of handling these materials via the dictating machine process. No major policy developments occurred, as the interaction was limited to administrative assistance and clerical handoffs.
President Nixon dictates a series of directives to H.R. Haldeman concerning the development of historical guest literature for Camp David and the presidential yacht, Sequoia. He emphasizes creating well-researched, professional accounts for these venues that highlight significant historical policy decisions and guest records. Additionally, Nixon instructs Haldeman to commission post-inaugural polling to gauge public opinion on tax increases versus government spending, stressing the need for precise and effective survey questions to clarify the President’s stance on fiscal responsibility.
President Nixon directs H. R. Haldeman to facilitate a series of national security briefings for new members of Congress to bolster support for his administration's foreign policy agenda. The President intends to highlight the Nixon Doctrine, ongoing arms control negotiations, and recent diplomatic initiatives involving the Soviet Union and China. Alexander Haig and Henry Kissinger are identified as key figures to spearhead these sessions to ensure effective communication of the President's leadership and strategic vision.
President Nixon dictates a memorandum to H. R. Haldeman establishing a strict protocol for the handling of high-level administration appointments. Nixon directs Haldeman to oversee the process and participate in all appointment discussions to ensure that competing interests from the RNC, Charles Colson, and Cabinet members are properly balanced and vetted. This directive serves to centralize control over personnel decisions while insulating the President from internal staff conflicts and potential disputes with Congress.
President Nixon met with an unknown woman to provide specific instructions regarding the handling of his personal dictation tapes and related memoranda. He emphasized the necessity of maintaining personal control over the original recordings, explicitly stating his desire to secure the tapes himself rather than having them copied or filed by others. The discussion focused on establishing a secure process for the custody and clearance of these sensitive records.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to coordinate the President's upcoming schedule and address administrative matters. The discussion centered on managing access to the President, specifically regarding a request from Vice President Spiro Agnew to meet with Nixon following a prior communication with H.R. Haldeman. Nixon also reviewed logistical plans involving key staff members, including Haldeman and William E. Timmons.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to review and adjust the President's morning schedule regarding upcoming appointments with William E. Timmons, H.R. Haldeman, and Colonel Richard T. Kennedy. Nixon evaluated the necessity of including certain attendees in his briefings to maintain focus. The discussion concluded with the President directing Bull to have Colonel Kennedy join him later that morning.
President Nixon initiates a brief request to the White House operator to be connected with Peter Bryan. The primary purpose of the communication is to secure information regarding news and e-commerce developments. The call serves as a routine administrative coordination to facilitate the President's access to external reporting.
President Nixon met with Col. Richard T. Kennedy and Peter J. Brennan to strategize the final stages of the Vietnam peace negotiations, emphasizing that the U.S. would move forward with an agreement regardless of South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu's reservations. Nixon instructed that information regarding these sensitive talks be tightly controlled to prevent interference from State Department staff or other officials. The group also discussed the timing of a potential ceasefire announcement, the management of international relations with foreign heads of state, and the necessity of maintaining pressure on South Vietnamese leadership to ensure a successful outcome.
President Nixon met with James T. Lynn to discuss the status of pending cabinet confirmations and the organizational structure of his administration. Nixon indicated that he was postponing cabinet meetings until nominees were confirmed and signaled potential adjustments to the counselor positions within his staff. This brief exchange served to reassure Lynn of his position and outline the President's preference for direct proximity to his advisors.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull discussed logistical arrangements regarding an upcoming meeting with William E. Timmons. The brief exchange focused on coordinating the President's daily schedule and ensuring the necessary preparations for his pending interaction with his assistant. No major policy decisions were reached during this short administrative consultation.
President Nixon met with his valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office to discuss personal or domestic arrangements. The brief interaction focused on the provision of refreshments. No significant policy developments or political decisions were recorded during this encounter.
President Nixon met with William E. Timmons to discuss strengthening congressional relations and managing the legislative agenda. They reviewed lists of supportive Democrats and Republicans, strategizing on how to cultivate these alliances through social events and political recognition. Additionally, they addressed concerns regarding potential opposition on Vietnam policy, the status of Watergate investigations, and plans to utilize Alexander Haig for briefings on national security matters.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to conduct a brief administrative review of the President's daily schedule. The discussion focused on coordinating upcoming meetings and appointments, specifically involving Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. No major policy decisions were recorded during this short transition period.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler met to coordinate the administration's messaging strategy for an upcoming press briefing. The discussion focused on managing media inquiries regarding the Watergate scandal, Vietnam negotiations, and various campaign finance allegations. Nixon directed Ziegler to frame sensitive topics as non-stories while encouraging a strategy of providing exclusive interviews to maintain favorable press coverage.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate key administrative personnel appointments, specifically prioritizing the exclusion of unauthorized intermediaries in the decision-making process. The discussion focused on strategies for managing press relations, particularly regarding negative coverage from the Washington Post and CBS, and leveraging potential influence over political figures like Lyndon B. Johnson. They also touched upon staffing roles for figures like Charles Colson and H. R. Haldeman, ensuring tighter control over news summaries and organizational responses to political pressure.
President Nixon met with members of the Council on Environmental Quality and key administration advisors to discuss the content and delivery of his upcoming State of the Union messages. Nixon emphasized a desire for a positive, forward-looking tone regarding the environment and population growth, while shifting from a single speech to a series of ten installments to maintain sustained media interest. The conversation also touched upon the restructuring of intelligence and resource management, as well as complex diplomatic maneuvers involving Vietnam negotiations and potential Middle East initiatives.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office for a brief, four-minute encounter. The discussion focused on the President's personal schedule and logistical arrangements for his upcoming activities. No significant policy decisions were recorded during this brief exchange.
President Nixon held a brief meeting with Alexander P. Butterfield to discuss personnel matters. The discussion centered on the status and transition of Brent Scowcroft. No further substantive details regarding the meeting's outcome are available due to the lack of a transcript.
Alexander P. Butterfield engages in an brief, unidentified telephone conversation from the Oval Office. The audio recording provides no substantive dialogue, rendering the specific context, participants, or administrative actions impossible to determine. Consequently, no policy decisions or developments were captured during this segment of the taping system.