Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 850
Nixon White House Tape 850 (February 6, 1973)
13 conversations · Oval Office · about 2 hr 11 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Haldeman, Ziegler, Woods
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull reviewed the President’s daily schedule, including arrangements for a meeting with King Hussein of Jordan and a briefing with Henry Kissinger regarding his upcoming trip to Southeast Asia. The discussion also addressed press strategy regarding the administration's impoundment of funds, specifically highlighting the need to frame these actions as consistent with previous presidencies. Nixon directed Bull to clear the afternoon agenda and organize talking points for an upcoming meeting with Republican Congressional leadership concerning federal spending.
President Nixon met with an unknown individual and Stephen B. Bull to coordinate compassionate assistance for a White House staffer named Fate Suber. Nixon expressed concern over Suber’s ongoing health struggles and mental state following a heart attack. The President directed Bull to finalize arrangements for Suber and his wife to spend time at Camp David, specifically tasking him with coordinating military support and lodge accommodations.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to review preparations for an upcoming meeting with King Hussein of Jordan. Nixon expressed dissatisfaction with the length of the provided briefing materials and directed Bull to condense the reports into a more manageable two-page summary. This interaction highlights Nixon's specific requirements for executive briefing documents and his time-constrained approach to managing his daily schedule.
President Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met to coordinate administrative details for upcoming White House events, including seating arrangements and guest lists for state dinners honoring the King of Jordan and Golda Meir. They discussed the potential inclusion of various political figures and guests, as well as scheduling a tea for Alice Roosevelt Longworth. Additionally, the President expressed frustration regarding the delayed Navy discharge of David Eisenhower, accusing Secretary of the Navy John Warner of politicizing the process.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman to discuss the potential mishandling of David Eisenhower's Navy discharge and the broader political performance of Secretary of the Navy John Warner. The participants also strategized on how to counter the Ervin Committee's Watergate investigation by broadening its scope to include past political campaigns, and they coordinated a messaging plan to defend the administration's impoundment of budget funds. Finally, the group reviewed legislative priorities and briefing materials for an upcoming meeting with Republican Congressional leaders.
President Nixon met with Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler to provide specific tactical instructions regarding the administration's messaging on impoundment. Nixon emphasized the necessity of leading press conferences with a clear articulation of the administration's stance on withholding funds. This directive aimed to ensure Ziegler maintained a consistent and assertive public narrative during upcoming media engagements.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to coordinate his upcoming schedule with King Hussein of Jordan before consulting with Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. The discussion focused on Ziegler’s recent press briefing regarding presidential impoundment of budget funds and the administration's frustration with media coverage. Nixon and Ziegler strategized on how to better communicate the administration's fiscal policy to the press by drawing direct comparisons to the practices of previous administrations.
President Nixon, King Hussein of Jordan, Henry Kissinger, and Zaid al-Rifai met to discuss the Middle East peace process and bilateral US-Jordanian relations, including military and economic aid requirements. The participants analyzed the regional security environment, specifically the influence of the Soviet Union, the threat posed by Iraq and Syria, and the potential for private, rather than public, negotiations between Jordan and Israel. Nixon committed to reviewing Jordan's urgent budgetary and military aid requests sympathetically, while Kissinger coordinated follow-up channels to maintain progress on peace negotiations.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull reviewed various administrative matters, focusing on establishing a standard practice for preparing summaries of the President's meetings with foreign dignitaries to improve efficiency. They discussed scheduling for upcoming White House events, including the swearing-in ceremony for John T. Dunlop and meetings regarding tax policy. Additionally, the President issued instructions for streamlining correspondence and handling personnel matters and nominations, including those of Jack O. Horton and John H. Kyl.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull discussed protocol and security arrangements for an upcoming state dinner hosting King Hussein of Jordan. The pair focused on logistics regarding vehicle transport and seating for the official party to avoid potential security risks and crowd management issues. Nixon directed Bull to handle these instructions carefully so that the guests would not be offended by the revised itinerary.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed several administrative and political matters, including the handling of David Eisenhower's military service discharge and strategies for managing the upcoming Senate Watergate hearings. Nixon emphasized the need for simpler, more effective public relations messaging regarding the federal budget and impoundments, criticizing current staff for failing to communicate in concise, "grabby" terms. They also assessed the legislative landscape and the potential for a more bipartisan approach to the Watergate committee structure while planning future Cabinet engagement and press strategies.
H. R. Haldeman met with unidentified individuals in the Oval Office to address the retrieval of a forgotten item. The discussion was brief and concluded before the participants departed the office. No significant policy developments or strategic decisions were recorded during this engagement.
An unidentified individual met with President Nixon in the Oval Office to facilitate a brief, informal arrangement regarding personnel or scheduling. The participants discussed the logistics of meeting a specific woman, identified by a numeric reference code, as part of an unspecified internal coordination task. The brief four-minute exchange concluded with the participants confirming the meeting details before exiting the office.