Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 881
Nixon White House Tape 881 (March 16, 1973)
13 conversations · Oval Office · about 5 hr 39 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Kissinger, Ziegler, Bull, Ehrlichman
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to coordinate his immediate professional schedule. The brief interaction focused on facilitating upcoming appointments with key advisors, specifically John W. Dean III, Henry A. Kissinger, and John D. Ehrlichman. No further substantive policy matters were recorded during this brief administrative exchange.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to coordinate their strategy regarding a problematic Human Rights Commission resolution on Jewish emigration from the Soviet Union, which had been submitted without White House authorization. They also discussed potential military responses to North Vietnamese treaty violations and reviewed the domestic political fallout of the Watergate scandal. The meeting concluded with a consensus to focus on major foreign policy initiatives, such as the upcoming Brezhnev visit, to maintain momentum and distract from ongoing administrative controversies.
President Nixon, John Dean, and Ronald Ziegler met to formulate a strategic communication policy regarding the administration's cooperation with the Senate Watergate investigation. The discussion focused on restricting congressional access to raw FBI files while projecting an image of transparency and cooperation through evaluated summaries. Nixon emphasized that the primary political threat was the perception of a cover-up, and the group finalized instructions for Attorney General Richard Kleindienst to convey these firm, controlled guidelines to Senators Sam Ervin and Howard Baker.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman to discuss White House administrative matters, including protocols for presidential gifts to POWs and the management of White House social events. The conversation primarily focused on the ongoing Watergate crisis, with Nixon and Haldeman evaluating the political risks of a potential cover-up versus full disclosure. They also discussed strategies for managing press relations, congressional testimony, and the assertion of executive privilege regarding White House staff.
President Nixon hosted Senator Pete V. Domenici and his family in the Oval Office for a cordial social visit. The discussion focused primarily on the Domenici children, their schooling, and the family's transition to living in Rockville, Maryland. During the meeting, Nixon shared anecdotes about his own family's political background and provided the group with a tour of the office's notable decorations, including artifacts from China and pieces crafted by his daughter, Julie. The visit concluded with arrangements for a group photograph and well-wishes for the Senator's upcoming work in Congress.
President Nixon met with Arlene Dahl, Michael J. Farrell, and members of the Schaum family for a social visit in the Oval Office. The discussion centered on cultural topics, including theater and film, with the group sharing perspectives on the perceived decline in moral standards within modern entertainment. Nixon emphasized his preference for family-friendly media and discussed obtaining copies of films for his personal viewing.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate White House operations, focusing on congressional relations, personnel management, and the ongoing political fallout from the Watergate investigation. They discussed the performance of congressional liaisons, the potential recruitment of new staff, and the administrative roles of cabinet members like George Shultz and Roy Ash. The conversation shifted toward managing the administration's legal risks, specifically debating the merits of releasing a 'White Paper' on Watergate and assessing the potential legal exposure of key figures like G. Gordon Liddy, Jeb Magruder, and John Dean.
President Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman discussed a recent Washington Post editorial comparing the current Watergate controversy, specifically regarding John W. Dean III, to the historical case of Sherman Adams. They deliberated on the potential necessity for staff members to resign if formal criminal charges were brought against them. The two men reached a consensus that any White House staffer accused of a crime would be required to leave their position.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, met to discuss routine administrative matters, including scheduling, personal gifts, and correspondence. The conversation touched upon the President’s upcoming appointments, the delivery of clothing items, and the handling of a sensitive letter from the daughter of Philip F. Timberlake regarding her marriage and family. Woods provided logistical assistance, and the two briefly deliberated on how the President should respond to personal constituent mail.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, discuss the personal tragedy surrounding Philip Timberlake and his family, specifically regarding a letter sent to the President. They address the controversy involving a potential civil rights violation claim and the broader social embarrassment such issues could cause during an inauguration. The conversation reflects Nixon’s desire to handle the delicate situation with compassion while acknowledging the gravity of the family's history, including the suicide of Timberlake’s son.
President Nixon held a brief meeting with Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler to coordinate administrative communications. During this short exchange, Nixon provided specific instructions for Ziegler to report back to John Connally regarding ongoing matters. The conversation functioned as a quick directive to ensure alignment between the White House and key political advisors.
President Nixon met with his aides and consultant Herman Kahn to discuss public perception, press relations, and the administration's long-term strategy for communicating with the American public, particularly the "leader class." Nixon emphasized the need for better communication strategies, noting that the press and academia often misinterpreted his policies and favored a "joy-love" culture over the values of the silent majority. The conversation included a request for Kahn to prepare a formal research proposal for a study on the long-term prospects of mankind to provide intellectual weight for the upcoming U.S. Bicentennial, as well as an assessment of how the administration could more effectively challenge the narratives promoted by outlets like The New York Times.
President Nixon held a brief, unscheduled meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified participant. The encounter lasted less than a minute, ending at 6:43 pm. Due to the lack of a transcript or supporting documentation, the specific subject matter and any potential action items remain officially unrecorded.