Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 855
Nixon White House Tape 855 (February 14, 1973)
28 conversations · Oval Office · about 3 hr 40 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Sanchez, Ziegler, Woods
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull reviewed the presidential schedule, focusing on upcoming receptions for AFL-CIO leadership, Vietnam supporters, and major campaign contributors. The pair discussed logistical details for long-range events, including guest lists and the management of contributor receptions to avoid excessive social obligations. Additionally, Nixon addressed plans for a football safety film produced by Wilson Sporting Goods and scheduled revisions for an upcoming radio speech.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to coordinate the President's schedule, specifically regarding farewell meetings with departing staff members. The discussion touched upon the professional standing of White House personnel compared to assistant secretaries and cabinet members. Nixon also expressed personal interest in the status of his friend Curtis Thompson, who was associated with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, and confirmed an upcoming meeting with Charles Colson.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. This routine interaction served as a administrative step to connect the President with a third party. No substantive policy discussions or significant political decisions occurred during this brief telephonic coordination.
President Richard Nixon met with his close friend Charles G. "Bebe" Rebozo to coordinate travel plans for the upcoming weekend. The discussion centered on finalizing the timing of their departure, with Nixon noting he needed to remain at the White House through Thursday evening. The two men agreed to touch base via telephone once Rebozo reached their destination to confirm the logistics.
President Nixon met with his personal aide, Stephen B. Bull, to discuss preparations for an upcoming radio address. The conversation focused on the logistical and structural details required for the broadcast. This meeting served to coordinate executive messaging strategy during a period of significant administrative activity.
President Richard M. Nixon met with his personal aide, Stephen B. Bull, to discuss the drafting and preparation of an upcoming presidential address. The conversation focused on the logistical and structural planning required for the speech. No further details were recorded regarding the specific subject matter or final decisions made during the brief consultation.
President Nixon met with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to discuss administrative tasks and revisions to a draft document. The conversation focused on specific markings, numbering changes, and the handling of cards. The meeting concluded with instructions regarding the delivery of materials to the residence.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to coordinate upcoming meetings with Charles W. Colson and William E. Timmons regarding congressional relations. They discussed strategies for engaging Vietnam supporters, specifically focusing on labor and ethnic groups. Bull confirmed that Colson believes current outreach efforts are sufficient and that congressional allies will handle remaining matters.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate logistical details regarding a forthcoming seminar at Camp David. The discussion focused on the involvement of William E. Timmons and the potential for a telephone update to the President concerning these arrangements. The meeting functioned as a brief administrative briefing to ensure communication flow for the retreat planning.
President Nixon met with Charles Colson and staff to discuss strategies for managing the Watergate scandal, specifically debating the invocation of executive privilege to protect White House confidentiality. The conversation also covered broader public relations efforts, including leveraging the homecoming of Vietnam prisoners of war to bolster national pride and the President’s standing. Furthermore, the participants analyzed political challenges such as public resistance to amnesty for draft dodgers, economic concerns regarding dollar devaluation, and ongoing tensions with the press and the FBI.
President Nixon met with Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler to discuss media strategy, public perception of his foreign policy, and the administration’s response to various press inquiries. The conversation centered on managing criticism regarding Vietnam, addressing negative news stories about Secret Service staffing, and countering perceived bias within wire services like UPI, specifically naming reporters such as Helen Thomas. Nixon emphasized the importance of maintaining control over the news cycle by promoting positive, symbolic actions—such as the recent return of POWs—and coordinating consistent messaging across government departments.
President Nixon met with outgoing CIA Director Richard Helms to discuss Helms's upcoming ambassadorial appointment to Iran and to provide strategic guidance on global foreign policy. Nixon emphasized the importance of Helms applying his intelligence background to the critical issue of energy and oil production while maintaining a balanced, pragmatic approach to international relations. The two also addressed the challenges of managing global criticism of the U.S., regional security dynamics in the Persian Gulf, and the complex geopolitical task of negotiating a Middle East settlement between Israel and the Arab states.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to finalize logistical arrangements regarding the recognition of returning prisoners of war (POWs). The discussion focused on coordinating the delivery of commemorative cards and corsages, involving a San Diego florist with personal connections to the White House staff. Additionally, they briefly reviewed the President’s upcoming schedule, including meetings with General Andrew J. Goodpaster and Elliot Richardson.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to finalize logistical preparations for an upcoming radio address to be recorded in the President's private office. The discussion focused on technical requirements, specifically reviewing seating arrangements for the President and the optimal placement of microphones for the recording equipment. This session served as a final operational check to ensure the quality and professional setup of the broadcast.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to discuss an incoming telephone call from Admiral Thomas H. Moorer and General Brent Scowcroft. The conversation focused on the positive feedback received from returning prisoners of war (POWs), specifically regarding their support for the December 1972 bombing campaign. Bull facilitated the coordination of this intelligence and a potential follow-up meeting between the President and the military officials.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to review and finalize the President’s daily schedule. The discussion focused on coordinating upcoming appointments, specifically regarding meetings with Edward L. Morgan and Admiral Thomas H. Moorer. A key outcome of the consultation was the confirmation of General Brent G. Scowcroft’s attendance at the Moorer meeting and the planning for related announcements.
President Nixon held a brief administrative interaction with a White House operator to facilitate telephonic communication. The conversation served as a functional bridge to connect the President with other parties, as indicated by the presence of subsequent sub-segments in the recording log. No policy discussions occurred, as the exchange was limited to operator-assisted call processing.
President Nixon held a series of brief meetings in the Oval Office to express personal appreciation and host photo sessions for various administration officials, their families, and departing staff members. Throughout these interactions, the President acknowledged the professional contributions of personnel from the Treasury and Commerce Departments, as well as individuals transitioning to new roles in law and the public sector. The session served primarily as a gesture of gratitude for their service, during which Nixon also briefly touched upon ongoing administrative priorities such as school desegregation and employment initiatives.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to be introduced to Thomas Hart, an individual with a background in business education. The brief discussion focused on Hart’s educational history at Harvard Business School and the prevailing political attitudes and voting patterns of students during the 1972 presidential election. The interaction served primarily as a formal introduction and a cursory exchange regarding youth political sentiments.
President Richard Nixon met briefly with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office. The conversation focused on the provision of refreshments. No major policy decisions or significant political developments resulted from this short interaction.
President Nixon met with his daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, for a brief, informal discussion regarding upcoming scheduling arrangements. The conversation focused on coordinating a planned gathering or appearance, specifically confirming a meeting time of 6:00 p.m. The interaction concluded with lighthearted personal remarks, reflecting their family relationship.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman, Ronald Ziegler, and Stephen Bull to strategize on public relations, press management, and the administration’s social calendar. The President emphasized the need for more impactful, quotable language in his speeches and instructed his team to refine his media appearances and social events to better court political allies and financial contributors. Key decisions included structuring upcoming “Evenings at the White House” to feature small, rotating dinner groups to maximize personal engagement with guests while streamlining the presidential schedule for upcoming weeks.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office to discuss lunch arrangements and coordinate logistical details regarding a radio speech. The conversation focused on the practical coordination of the President's personal schedule and upcoming communications commitments. No major policy decisions were recorded during this brief administrative interaction.
Technical staff members gathered in the Oval Office to perform maintenance and calibration on the White House taping and recording equipment. The participants conducted comprehensive tests involving lighting, camera positioning, and audio functionality to resolve issues such as background buzzing. This session ensured that the recording apparatus remained operational and properly configured for future presidential documentation.
President Nixon initiated a brief contact with the White House operator to facilitate an external communication. The interaction served as a functional logistical task to connect the President with an outside party. No substantive policy matters or significant executive decisions were recorded during this brief exchange.
President Richard M. Nixon met with his personal aide, Stephen B. Bull, in the Oval Office for a brief consultation. While the specific details of their discussion remain restricted due to the withdrawal of personal returnable materials, the interaction was part of the standard daily administrative operations of the White House. No further actions or records are available regarding the substance of this private meeting.
Manolo Sanchez hosted an unidentified individual for a brief meeting in the Oval Office. The conversation consisted of informal, non-substantive dialogue that lacked policy-related content. No significant decisions or developments occurred during this brief interaction.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to conduct a brief review of the President's upcoming daily schedule. The discussion focused on logistical planning and the coordination of presidential commitments. The meeting concluded quickly without any recorded policy decisions or major developments.