Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 848
Nixon White House Tape 848 (February 5, 1973 – February 6, 1973)
20 conversations · Oval Office · about 4 hr 19 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Sanchez, White House photographer, Ehrlichman
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to coordinate the President's upcoming schedule, specifically focusing on a meeting with Congressional leaders. The two discussed the necessary timing for this engagement and evaluated the logistics of rescheduling the session. The brief interaction concluded with a directive for further follow-up on these planning arrangements.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull discussed logistical arrangements for honoring the late Colonel William B. Nolde, the last American combat casualty of the Vietnam War. They weighed the options of the President personally attending the funeral service at Arlington National Cemetery versus sending General Alexander M. Haig, Jr. as a representative to meet the family at the White House. The discussion also addressed the administration's efforts to facilitate a Washington tour for the Nolde family, coordinated in part by Senator Robert P. Griffin.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate the scheduling of upcoming meetings and establish strict protocols for Oval Office usage. Nixon mandated that specific group meetings be held in the Oval Office while simultaneously emphasizing that he did not want any photographs taken during these sessions. Additionally, the President inquired about the availability of Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler to assist with these logistical arrangements.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler met to discuss administrative messaging, media strategy, and responses to recent congressional and public relations challenges. They reviewed the status of legislative impoundment, personnel moves involving Herbert G. Klein, and press coverage of Vice President Spiro Agnew’s travels and the Vietnam cease-fire. Nixon emphasized the need for a firm, coordinated stance against critics of his administration’s amnesty policy while instructing Ziegler on how to manage personal media inquiries and cultivate favorable press relationships.
President Nixon met briefly with an unidentified woman in the Oval Office before transitioning to a discussion with legislative aides Thomas C. Korologos and William E. Timmons. The conversation focused on the administration's interactions with the House of Representatives, specifically mentioning Richard K. Cook. Due to the fragmented nature of the recording, no specific policy decisions or significant action items were finalized during this brief exchange.
President Nixon met with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, and assistant Stephen B. Bull to coordinate administrative tasks and social planning. The discussion focused on managing the President's personal correspondence with celebrity acquaintances like Jane Wyman, delegating the handling of incoming telephone calls, and finalizing the guest list for an upcoming state dinner for King Hussein of Jordan. Nixon emphasized the need for a more structured approach to managing his communications to ensure effective engagement with his contacts.
President Nixon met with William E. Timmons and Thomas C. Korologos to discuss legislative strategy, focusing on upcoming budget vetoes and garnering congressional support. The group examined messaging tactics, specifically regarding the Vietnam War, and the development of a 'loyalist list' of both Republican and Democratic members to cultivate for future legislative fights. Nixon emphasized the need for an aggressive, unified stance against the opposition's budgetary agenda and discussed plans for a White House reception to reward supportive legislators.
President Nixon held a brief, six-minute meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual. The discussion was limited to the President extending his personal expression of thanks to the participant. No further substantive policy matters or specific administrative decisions were recorded during this brief encounter.
President Nixon, H. R. Haldeman, and Henry Kissinger discussed the ongoing Southeast Asia trip of Vice President Spiro Agnew, specifically focusing on scheduling his return and managing his public itinerary to avoid negative optics. The President and his advisors expressed concern that Agnew's potential visits to military commands or unauthorized stops in Hawaii could undermine peace efforts during a sensitive period involving Kissinger's travel to Hanoi. Ultimately, Nixon decided that Agnew should bypass sensitive military sites and proceed to California rather than returning immediately to Washington, effectively controlling the Vice President's narrative and ensuring his activities remained aligned with administration policy.
President Nixon met with his aides and outside consultants to discuss the administration's telecommunications policy and a new strategic approach to public opinion. The discussions focused on centralizing control over broadcasting regulation, managing public perception regarding the press, and the need for internal unity among White House staff. Nixon and his advisors also reviewed polling data with Albert Sindlinger to better understand shifting voter sentiments, particularly among Democrats, regarding Vietnam, inflation, and law-and-order issues. The President emphasized that his administration must act decisively in these areas and maintain a unified public front to avoid being undermined by bureaucratic infighting or negative media coverage.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to briefly review the President's upcoming daily schedule, specifically coordinating meetings with Commander Alexander R. Larzelere and Robert J. Brown. The discussion focused on personnel changes involving the Coast Guard representative at the White House and the logistics of providing an ashtray for the respective appointments. The brief interaction concluded with Bull confirming the arrangements for the upcoming meetings.
President Nixon met with Cmdr. Alexander R. Larzelere and his family in the Oval Office, accompanied by Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft and Stephen B. Bull, to conduct a brief social visit and photo session. During the meeting, the President expressed his appreciation for the Commander's professional performance and discussed his transition into a new role within the Congressional affairs office. The conversation also touched upon the Coast Guard’s participation in the recent Inaugural Parade and the distribution of small gifts to the Larzelere children.
President Nixon met with Robert J. Brown and John D. Ehrlichman to discuss Brown's departure from his White House role and his future professional plans. The discussion covered Brown's potential involvement in international marketing programs and public broadcasting, as well as addressing the broader challenges of the American public image regarding political violence and radicalism. Following the Browns' departure, Nixon and Ehrlichman briefly addressed staffing concerns at the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, specifically regarding administrative appointments and regionalization policies.
President Nixon met with the Nolde family, including the widow and children of a fallen soldier, to express his condolences and gratitude for their sacrifice during the Vietnam War. During the visit, Nixon presented the family with gifts, discussed the importance of peace and the dignity of military families, and arranged for them to receive a private tour of the White House and Capitol. The meeting served as a gesture of presidential support, honoring the service member's legacy while providing his family with a personal encounter with the administration.
President Nixon met with John Ehrlichman to discuss various administrative, economic, and staffing challenges facing the White House. The participants addressed personnel matters, including the potential departure of Patricia Hitt from HEW and organizational issues involving Herbert Klein and Peter Peterson. They also reviewed economic policy, particularly Phase III controls, and strategized on how to manage Cabinet officers and Congressional relations by utilizing decision papers to streamline presidential involvement. Additionally, the conversation touched upon the complexities of the national energy policy and the upcoming preparation for foreign policy discussions, including SALT.
President Nixon met briefly with White House aide Stephen Bull and personal aide Manolo Sanchez in the Oval Office. The discussion was limited to personal pleasantries and minor administrative instructions regarding the office door. The brief exchange concluded within one minute without significant policy implications.
An unidentified group convened in the Oval Office to engage in an inquiry, potentially involving discussions regarding smoking. Due to the lack of a transcript and the fragmented nature of the recording, the specific identities of the participants and the formal purpose of the meeting remain unknown. The session concluded abruptly before the end of the scheduled window, leaving no record of finalized decisions or actionable outcomes.
This recording captures a brief, unidentified interaction in the Oval Office between President Nixon and unknown individuals. The conversation consists primarily of informal greetings and brief procedural instructions. No substantive policy discussions or significant political decisions were recorded during this segment.
An unidentified group met with President Nixon in the Oval Office to deliver unspecified information. Due to the lack of a transcript or further documentation, the specific nature of the intelligence or briefing remains unknown. The meeting concluded within a thirty-minute window without any publicly recorded outcomes or follow-up actions.
Stephen B. Bull and Manolo Sanchez met briefly in the Oval Office to deliver a private message to President Nixon. The discussion centered on the delivery of this communication and an inquiry regarding the President's availability or physical state. No major policy decisions were made during this short exchange, which concluded as the two men exited the office.