Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 872
Nixon White House Tape 872 (March 8, 1973 – March 9, 1973)
24 conversations · Oval Office · about 6 hr 3 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Kissinger, Haldeman, Hope
President Nixon and John Dean discussed strategies for managing negative press coverage and testimony related to the Watergate scandal, specifically focusing on the activities of Dwight Chapin and L. Patrick Gray. They sought to frame allegations of sabotage as mere innuendo and worked to influence the Senate confirmation hearings by planting specific questions regarding the FBI's investigation into the DNC bugging. Dean confirmed he was coordinating with Senator Edward Gurney to ensure these strategic questions were introduced during the proceedings to counter the prevailing media narrative.
President Nixon held a brief, informal meeting with an unidentified individual, during which Henry Kissinger also made an appearance. The interaction consisted primarily of brief pleasantries exchanged in German. No substantive policy discussions or executive decisions were recorded during this segment of the tape.
President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and Stephen Bull met to coordinate the President’s schedule, streamline upcoming National Security Council (NSC) meetings, and address sensitive foreign policy matters. The discussion centered on managing U.S. obligations to Pakistan and India, with Kissinger advising the release of previously blocked military contracts to fulfill long-standing commitments. Additionally, the participants reviewed the logistics of U.S. troop withdrawals in Vietnam and the importance of timing those departures to maintain leverage for the release of prisoners of war.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to review administrative items and prioritize pending tasks. The discussion included an update on a telephone communication involving entertainer Bob Hope. No significant policy decisions were made, and Bull was instructed to handle the remaining correspondence.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull discussed the protocol for managing meetings with departing staff members and senior departmental officials. The President outlined criteria for granting exit interviews, specifically distinguishing between those moving to other government positions versus those leaving the administration entirely. They also addressed the inclusion of personal friends in farewell photograph sessions as part of these transitions.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to review the President's performance in a recent National Security Council meeting and discuss upcoming foreign policy maneuvers. They analyzed complex strategic issues, including the potential for a nuclear test ban, Soviet missile throw-weight advantages, and the impact of the Trident program on future negotiations. Additionally, they coordinated a strategy for releasing military contracts to Pakistan, emphasizing the need to manage diplomatic friction with India and prioritize broader geopolitical interests involving the People's Republic of China.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met with a Pakistani delegation led by Mustafa Khar and Aziz Ahmed to discuss strengthening U.S.-Pakistan relations following the 1971 India-Pakistan War. The participants addressed the ongoing deadlock between India and Pakistan regarding the repatriation of prisoners of war, the recognition of Bangladesh, and concerns over Soviet influence and military buildup in the region. Nixon and Kissinger expressed a commitment to providing military aid to Pakistan but emphasized the need for a cautious, incremental approach to navigate domestic political opposition in Congress and the media.
President Nixon met with an unknown individual to coordinate adjustments to his official schedule. The discussion focused primarily on the logistics of rescheduling appointments, specifically regarding a meeting with Tony Martin. The parties reached a consensus to delay the start of the subsequent engagement to 1:00 p.m. due to ongoing preparation requirements.
President Nixon prepares to meet with Soviet Ambassador Anatoliy F. Dobrynin, who is waiting in an aide's office. The brief discussion with an unidentified staff member serves to coordinate the logistics and timing for this diplomatic encounter. The conversation concludes with the President confirming his readiness to proceed with the meeting immediately.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull reviewed the final draft of a forthcoming presidential speech addressing crime and drug policy. The pair discussed the integration of contributions from John D. Ehrlichman and members of the Cabinet into the text. Additionally, they coordinated a potential telephone call and a subsequent meeting between the President and comedian Bob Hope.
President Nixon met with Henry Kissinger and Soviet Ambassador Anatoliy Dobrynin to finalize arrangements for Leonid Brezhnev’s upcoming visit to the United States. The participants discussed the summit's itinerary, including social events at San Clemente and Camp David, while emphasizing the importance of a successful outcome to solidify US-USSR relations. They also addressed major policy objectives, specifically negotiating a binding agreement on the prevention of nuclear war and managing strategic arms limitations.
President Nixon met with several departing White House staff members and their spouses to express his personal appreciation for their service. During the brief session, which included a group photograph, the President discussed the staff's future career transitions into various federal agencies and the private sector. The conversation focused on individual placements, such as Allen Kaupinen's move to the GSA and Jane Eberle’s transition to the State Department, while acknowledging their ongoing contributions to the administration.
President Nixon met with entertainer Tony Martin to discuss Martin's continued political support and the national climate surrounding the return of American prisoners of war (POWs). The conversation focused on the need to better honor Vietnam veterans in hospitals, with Martin proposing a "Lest We Forget" entertainment tour to ensure these veterans are not overshadowed by the focus on POWs. Nixon and Martin also exchanged pleasantries regarding personal events, and Martin shared his experiences touring the country and his ongoing loyalty to the President's administration.
President Nixon held a brief, informal meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual while consuming a lunch of cottage cheese. The recorded segment captures a cursory exchange regarding the location of certain financial documents. No significant policy decisions or substantive administrative developments were recorded during this brief encounter.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to discuss matters regarding the President’s official schedule. Due to the lack of available transcripts or descriptive metadata, the specific nature of these logistical arrangements remains undocumented. No significant policy decisions or administrative actions were recorded for this encounter.
President Nixon met with an unidentified male visitor in the Oval Office to discuss a personnel-related decision regarding a female individual. During the exchange, the President indicated his intent to allow the individual to leave her position. No further details regarding the identity of the parties or the specific professional context were preserved in the available record.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual, addressed as Monty, to discuss the utilization of an unnamed female associate. The brief interaction serves as a directive regarding personnel or resource management. No further substantive details regarding the context of this assignment were recorded.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman, Stephen Bull, and Ronald Ziegler to manage a wide array of administrative, political, and public relations tasks, including scheduling future events and evaluating recent White House hosting efforts. A significant portion of the discussion focused on coordinating upcoming private meetings between the President and POWs, specifically Captain Jeremiah Denton and Colonel Robinson Risner, to ensure these encounters remained low-profile yet impactful. Additionally, the group reviewed the political maneuvering surrounding John Connally’s impending party switch from Democrat to Republican, with Nixon advising caution to insulate Connally from ongoing Watergate-related controversies.
President Nixon met with entertainer Bob Hope to discuss plans for a national televised tribute to returning prisoners of war (POWs) and the potential establishment of a scholarship fund for the children of Vietnam veterans. Nixon emphasized his administration's desire to honor these servicemen while avoiding exploitative fundraising tactics, instead suggesting a coordinated event involving celebrities and potential network broadcasts. The conversation also touched upon the President's recent golf activities, foreign policy developments regarding China, and lighthearted anecdotes about Hope's recent travels.
President Nixon met with comedian Bob Hope, advisor John Ehrlichman, and journalist Newbold Noyes, Jr. to discuss the challenges of communicating the administration's policies and accomplishments to the public. The participants addressed the perceived "hard-line" image of the administration, with Noyes encouraging the President to adopt a more reconciliatory tone to unify the country and address domestic social issues. Nixon defended his record on issues like housing and civil rights desegregation, while expressing his frustration with the press's reluctance to report on these efforts, leading to a broader conversation about the role of the presidency in shaping the national mood and legacy.
President Nixon and aide Stephen B. Bull discussed logistical arrangements for the President's personal property, specifically the relocation of his golf clubs between various sites, including Burning Tree Golf Club and his Florida and California residences. They also reviewed aspects of the President's upcoming schedule, focusing on family plans at Camp David and administrative details regarding press photos and staff meetings. The conversation highlights the intersection of official schedule management and the coordination of the President's private affairs.
President Nixon met briefly with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office for a conversation accompanied by refreshments. The limited recording captures only a preliminary request from the visitor to speak with the President again. No substantive policy discussions or significant executive decisions are documented during this brief encounter.
President Nixon met with William E. Timmons and Stephen B. Bull to prepare for an upcoming visit from a group of freshman Republican congressmen. The discussion focused on bolstering party unity, encouraging fiscal restraint regarding the federal budget, and strategizing on how to maintain support for potential presidential vetoes. Nixon decided to use the meeting to express his appreciation for their legislative efforts, emphasizing personal rapport and the administration's readiness to assist these new members in navigating congressional procedures.
This recorded session in the Oval Office involved President Nixon and unidentified participants for a meeting that lasted less than 47 minutes. Due to the lack of available transcripts or descriptive logs, the specific agenda, subject matter, and any resulting policy decisions or action items remain undocumented. The content of this segment is currently withheld, providing no substantive record for historical analysis.