Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 880
Nixon White House Tape 880 (March 15, 1973)
26 conversations · Oval Office · about 6 hr 20 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Ziegler, Bull, Sanchez, Kissinger
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler met to finalize preparations for an upcoming presidential press conference. They discussed the logistics of the event, including the opening format and the specific briefing materials to be provided to the press. A key focus of the discussion was the planned announcement regarding the appointment of Dr. David K. Bruce to lead the U.S. liaison office in the People's Republic of China.
President Nixon met with Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler to coordinate strategy regarding an upcoming presidential press conference. The discussion focused primarily on the framing and delivery of Ziegler’s introductory remarks for the event. This briefing served to ensure message alignment between the President and his chief spokesperson before the public address.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler reviewed the President's recent press conference and discussed strategies for managing ongoing media inquiries regarding the Watergate scandal. The two examined how to frame the administration’s cooperation with Congress, specifically utilizing the historical Alger Hiss case as a parallel to justify executive privilege and refute allegations of non-cooperation. They also identified a perceived media double standard between the administration's treatment and that of previous presidencies, while briefly touching upon administrative updates regarding food prices and foreign policy.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator regarding the placement of a specific telephone call. The interaction served as a brief administrative coordination to facilitate communication with another party. No substantive policy matters or political discussions were recorded during this brief exchange.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to coordinate administrative details regarding the memorial service for George T. Bell, an associate of H.R. Haldeman and John D. Ehrlichman. The discussion centered on Bell’s background in Christian Science and his recent passing following a battle with cancer. Nixon also discussed his intention to place a personal condolence call to Mrs. Bell.
President Nixon met with Henry Kissinger and Ronald Ziegler to review the President’s recent press conference performance regarding the Watergate scandal and ongoing geopolitical issues. They discussed the administration's defensive posture toward press inquiries, including the involvement of John Mitchell and the Committee to Re-elect the President, as well as the status of military aid to India and Pakistan. The group also touched upon future international travel plans and the announcement of a U.S. liaison office in the People's Republic of China.
President Nixon met briefly with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, to discuss routine administrative matters regarding the delivery of items and the President's immediate schedule. While the preceding segment of the recording focused heavily on Watergate strategy, executive privilege, and press relations, this specific interaction served as a brief interlude involving personal staff. No substantive political decisions or policy developments occurred during this minute-long exchange.
President Nixon met with Max Friedersdorf, James Collins, and Debbie Ploch for a social visit and photo session in the Oval Office. The discussion covered a wide range of informal topics, including Ploch’s teaching career, her recent travels to Southeast Asia, and the upcoming state visit by the King and Queen of Thailand. Additionally, the group conversed about various personal interests such as the history of White House decor, family anecdotes, and the significance of a Chinese jade vase.
In this meeting, President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed sensitive foreign policy developments involving the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Soviet Union. They coordinated their diplomatic strategy regarding the high-level Chinese mission to the United States and reviewed a proposed nuclear treaty with the USSR. Additionally, Nixon and Kissinger strategized on how to frame US-Soviet relations and the issue of Soviet Jewish emigration in the face of domestic political pressure from figures like Senator Edward Kennedy.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to discuss the scheduling of a briefing involving Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. The conversation briefly addressed the status of individuals currently incarcerated. The primary outcome of the meeting was the coordination of personnel for upcoming administrative discussions.
President Nixon and Ronald Ziegler discussed strategies for managing press relations and defending the administration against criticism regarding the Watergate scandal and executive privilege. They compared current media scrutiny to the Alger Hiss case, criticizing the press corps for their perceived bias, hostility, and lack of interest in significant foreign policy developments like the China diplomatic mission. The conversation concluded with Nixon expressing contempt for the 'liberal establishment,' framing his administration’s tough stance as a necessary countermeasure to the perceived moral and political failures of his opponents.
President Nixon met briefly with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to discuss a potential meeting or request involving Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. The short duration of the exchange suggests an administrative or scheduling matter rather than an in-depth policy discussion. No further details regarding the specific nature of the request were captured due to the brevity of the recording.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, held a brief, informal meeting in the Oval Office to address administrative or logistical matters. The dialogue centered on the review of unspecified documents or materials that required Woods’s immediate attention. No major policy decisions were reached during this short interaction, which functioned primarily as a routine exchange concerning office workflow.
President Nixon met with Max M. Fisher and Leonard Garment to discuss foreign policy strategy, specifically regarding the American Jewish community's opposition to granting Most Favored Nation (MFN) status to the Soviet Union. Nixon argued that linking trade concessions to Soviet Jewish emigration would be counterproductive, potentially damaging U.S.-Soviet relations and hindering the ongoing, quiet progress being made on emigration. He tasked Fisher and Garment with privately engaging Jewish community leaders to discourage congressional efforts to attach restrictive riders to MFN legislation, emphasizing that effective diplomacy requires secrecy and avoiding public posturing.
President Nixon met with Representative Don Young, Jack Coghill, and Richard Cook to discuss Alaska politics, the 1972 election, and legislative priorities. They reviewed campaign strategies—specifically the effective use of anti-bureaucracy messaging and counter-attacks against political opponents—and discussed the critical need for the Alaska pipeline. Nixon emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong rapport between the White House and the Alaska congressional delegation to advance administration goals.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office for a brief exchange. The discussion centered on logistics regarding the President’s daily schedule. The meeting concluded quickly without any major policy developments or recorded action items.
President Nixon held a brief, one-minute meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified male visitor. The discussion served as an informal administrative interaction related to the President's schedule and the availability of Henry Kissinger. Due to the extremely short duration and lack of recorded content, no significant policy decisions or substantive developments were captured.
President Nixon met with his senior advisors and staff to evaluate recent press relations and coordinate messaging regarding his administration's foreign and domestic agendas. Discussions focused on the successful announcement of the China liaison office, the ongoing Watergate controversy, and a planned response to North Vietnamese infiltration. The participants also debated the strategic implications of detente with the Soviet Union, including the drafting of a nuclear war prevention agreement, and reviewed potential ambassadorial appointments to navigate international diplomatic tensions.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to coordinate his upcoming schedule and finalize preparations for a scheduled radio address. The discussion centered on logistics regarding John D. Ehrlichman’s availability and the review of the draft for a speech concerning veterans and the appropriate role of government. Bull facilitated these administrative arrangements to ensure the President was prepared for his immediate public communication priorities.
President Nixon met briefly with his personal aide, Stephen B. Bull, to coordinate logistics for an upcoming discussion. The primary purpose of this meeting was to arrange a subsequent session with White House Counsel John W. Dean, III and aide Richard A. Moore. Bull departed the Oval Office immediately following these brief instructions to facilitate the requested meeting.
President Nixon held a brief, unscheduled communication with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. This exchange served solely as an administrative bridge to connect the President to an external party. No substantive policy discussions or executive decisions occurred during this brief interval.
President Nixon met with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to troubleshoot a faulty communication buzzer between their offices and verify the status of correspondence regarding an individual named Wilson. Nixon expressed concern over ensuring a specific letter was processed and delivered correctly. Woods confirmed her awareness of the dictation, leading Nixon to prioritize confirming the letter's dispatch before moving forward.
President Nixon initiated a brief contact with the White House operator to facilitate a connection to another party. The recording captures only the logistical coordination required to place an outbound call. No substantive policy matters or administrative decisions were discussed during this interaction.
President Nixon, John Dean, and Richard Moore met in the Oval Office to strategize following a press conference, focusing on managing the ongoing Watergate investigation and congressional inquiries. The discussion centered on maintaining an assertive stance against the Senate's Ervin Committee, particularly regarding executive privilege and the separation of powers. Nixon drew parallels between current events and his 1948 investigation of Alger Hiss, using the historical precedent to justify his refusal to disclose sensitive raw FBI files or allow staff testimony. The group also evaluated the political risks associated with potential subpoenas for White House staff, such as Dwight Chapin and Charles Colson, ultimately aiming to utilize legal court tests to delay testimony and control the administration's narrative.
President Nixon met with unidentified individuals in the Oval Office to conduct a review of his upcoming schedule. The discussion specifically focused on coordinating administrative arrangements with the Press Office. No further substantive details were recorded, and the meeting concluded abruptly.
An unidentified group of individuals met in the Oval Office to discuss an unclear subject matter. The fragmented transcript captures minimal dialogue, leaving the primary purpose of the gathering and the identity of the participants indeterminate. No substantive decisions or policy developments are evidenced in this brief recording.