Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 858
Nixon White House Tape 858 (February 16, 1973)
5 conversations · Oval Office · about 1 hr 40 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Ehrlichman, Haldeman, Gray
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to facilitate a telephone call to evangelist Billy Graham. The discussion focused on coordinating this outreach, serving as a brief administrative interaction to connect the President with his prominent religious advisor. No further policy developments or complex deliberations were recorded during this brief exchange.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman and Stephen B. Bull to coordinate his upcoming travel schedule, including a trip to Florida, and to manage White House social outreach to key congressional members and political contributors. They also discussed public relations regarding Prisoners of War (POWs), specifically highlighting the positive public statements made by Col. Robinson Risner in support of the administration. Additionally, the group reviewed logistics for upcoming meetings with labor leaders George Meany and Peter J. Brennan, and solidified plans for announcing these engagements.
President Nixon, John Ehrlichman, and L. Patrick Gray discussed Gray’s upcoming confirmation process for the FBI directorship amidst the escalating Watergate investigation. Nixon emphasized the necessity of maintaining a relationship with the Bureau director characterized by total discipline and secure, direct communication, akin to his past interactions with J. Edgar Hoover. They deliberated on how Gray should handle hostile questioning regarding domestic wiretaps and potential illegal activities by the previous administration, ultimately deciding that Gray should meet these inquiries head-on to maintain control of the narrative.
President Nixon met with Sir Christopher Soames and administration officials to address the growing trend of isolationism in both the United States and Europe and its potential impact on trans-Atlantic relations. The discussion focused on complex trade negotiations, the role of an enlarged European Economic Community, and the necessity of maintaining unified Western political and economic strength in the face of competition from Japan and shifting global powers. Nixon emphasized the political difficulty of passing trade legislation in a protectionist-leaning U.S. Senate and urged European leaders to cooperate on a balanced approach to trade and energy security to prevent an ugly confrontation.
President Nixon, John Ehrlichman, and George Shultz met to discuss labor department personnel, specifically the management and staffing challenges facing Labor Secretary Peter J. Brennan. The participants coordinated travel plans involving Ehrlichman and Brennan, while also addressing George Meany’s inquiries regarding tax reform and presidential authority. Finally, the group discussed political strategy concerning potential aid to North Vietnam and how to frame domestic spending relative to historical post-war investments in Germany and Japan.