Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 886
Nixon White House Tape 886 (March 21, 1973)
20 conversations · Oval Office · about 4 hr 14 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Scowcroft, White House photographer, Ehrlichman
President Nixon held a brief, informal meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified woman followed by National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft. While the woman's departure occurred early in the session, the dialogue transitioned to matters of staff programming and administrative oversight. The discussion centered on verifying the accuracy and status of ongoing internal protocols.
President Nixon and General Brent Scowcroft discussed the logistical challenges of the U.S. military withdrawal from Vietnam and the potential risks associated with North Vietnam’s proposal to exchange prisoners of war by the 25th. The pair evaluated the timing of planned air strikes in light of ongoing uncertainty regarding the formation of a new Laotian government and North Vietnamese troop movements. Nixon ultimately decided to maintain flexibility regarding the withdrawal deadline, instructing Scowcroft to inform the North Vietnamese that U.S. forces would be out before the 28th without committing to the accelerated 25th deadline.
President Nixon held a brief morning meeting with General Brent Scowcroft in the Oval Office. Although the specific substance of their exchange was not captured or remains undefined, the meeting highlights the President's ongoing consultations with his national security staff during a critical period of his administration. No definitive decisions or actions were recorded during this four-minute encounter.
President Nixon and General Brent Scowcroft discussed the logistical logistics and timing for the final release of American prisoners of war from Hanoi and the subsequent withdrawal of U.S. troops. They analyzed transportation capabilities, confirming that the remaining five to six thousand personnel could be evacuated within three days. The conversation also addressed concerns regarding delays in the release of prisoners held in Laos, which the two men attributed to North Vietnamese stalling tactics.
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to conduct a comprehensive review and reorganization of his daily schedule. The discussion focused on rescheduling several high-level meetings, specifically regarding interactions with Secretary of the Treasury George P. Shultz and Federal Reserve Chairman Arthur F. Burns. Nixon instructed Bull to clear his calendar through Thursday and finalize arrangements for a private meeting with Shultz at the White House.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to coordinate scheduling logistics for an upcoming trip to Florida, specifically regarding the movements of Secretary George Shultz and his staff. The discussion centered on transportation arrangements, including the use of helicopters to facilitate meetings between Nixon, Shultz, and John D. Ehrlichman. The primary outcome was the planning of these high-level consultations within the constraints of the President's travel itinerary.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman met to discuss staffing, the administration's economic and domestic policy messaging, and strategies for navigating political crises. They coordinated the appointment of new Labor Department officials and planned a briefing strategy to address public concerns regarding food prices and economic instability. Additionally, the pair strategized on managing public relations regarding the Watergate scandal, the FBI, and upcoming summer youth programs, with Nixon emphasizing a 'counter-reformation' narrative to define his domestic agenda.
In this Oval Office meeting, President Nixon, John Dean, and H.R. Haldeman discuss the escalating legal and political dangers of the Watergate scandal, which Dean characterizes as a 'cancer' growing within the administration. Dean warns that ongoing blackmail demands from the Watergate burglars and the potential for perjury among key staff members threaten to unravel the administration's containment strategy. The participants deliberate on how to manage these liabilities, weighing the high risks of continued silence against the potential fallout of a public disclosure or a new, controlled grand jury investigation.
President Nixon met with an unknown individual to coordinate the logistics and protocol for an upcoming visit by the Soviet gymnastic team. The discussion focused on arrangements for press coverage, the sequence of events, and the presentation of a commemorative book. Stephen B. Bull was identified as a key point of contact for finalizing the scheduling and the President's remarks.
President Nixon hosted members of the Soviet national gymnastics team, including Olympic star Olga Korbut, and their coaching staff in the Oval Office for a diplomatic meet-and-greet. Accompanied by General Brent Scowcroft, the President congratulated the athletes on their performance at the Munich Olympics and used the visit to emphasize the importance of youth in the future of U.S.-Soviet relations. The session concluded with a formal photo opportunity, the exchange of presidential gifts, and an offer for the team to receive a tour of the White House.
President Nixon consulted with an unidentified staff member regarding logistics for an upcoming meeting involving David M. Packard and William J. Baroody, Jr. The discussion focused on confirming the number of attendees for the session. Following the brief administrative check, the President moved forward with the planned proceedings.
President Nixon held a brief, unscheduled meeting with an unidentified individual regarding his immediate daily itinerary. The discussion focused on the logistics of the President's upcoming arrivals and movements. No significant policy decisions were recorded during this three-minute interaction.
President Nixon met with David Packard, James Roosevelt, John Byrnes, and William Baroody, Jr., to discuss mobilizing public and business support for his austere federal budget and efforts to curb government spending. The participants focused on strategies to counter congressional pressure for increased spending—particularly regarding programs like OEO and social initiatives—while emphasizing the link between fiscal discipline and national security. The President stressed that maintaining military strength and avoiding unilateral cuts was essential to his ongoing diplomatic efforts and arms control negotiations with the Soviet Union.
President Nixon met with his clothing consultant Anthony T. Rossi and associates Acheille Mongelli and Ralph W. Persico in the Oval Office to consult on his personal wardrobe, focusing on material weight, fabric patterns, and tailoring for upcoming spring attire and formal wear. The group also discussed and organized various presidential gift items, including cufflinks, ashtrays, and commemorative coins. The meeting concluded with a photography session, facilitated by a White House photographer, to document the participants.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to review the President's upcoming schedule, focusing on logistical arrangements for a Florida trip and various administrative appointments. They discussed the coordination of high-level meetings with officials such as George P. Shultz, as well as the management of media events and courtesy photo sessions. Nixon explicitly directed Bull to postpone decisions regarding a potential meeting with state legislators and confirmed his refusal to host a reception for the Organization of American States.
Stephen B. Bull informs President Nixon that Mr. Hall is currently in the barbershop and will proceed to the Oval Office shortly for a scheduled meeting. This brief interaction serves to coordinate the arrival of an upcoming visitor and manage the President's immediate schedule. The exchange reflects routine administrative logistics regarding the flow of personnel into the Oval Office.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to facilitate a private meeting with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods. The primary purpose of this brief interaction was for the President to coordinate scheduling for his discussion with Woods. No further policy or administrative actions were recorded during this session.
President Nixon met with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to address a variety of administrative, logistical, and personal matters. The conversation covered routine office business, including the handling of official correspondence, the coordination of travel arrangements for family members, and the acquisition of gifts for supporters. Additionally, the pair discussed private financial matters and scheduling concerns regarding the President’s upcoming trip to Florida.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, to facilitate logistical arrangements regarding his movement from the Oval Office to the Executive Office Building. The brief exchange focused primarily on the President's schedule and the coordination of his transition between working spaces. No substantive policy matters were addressed, as the discussion was confined to administrative movement and departure logistics.
Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office to coordinate logistics regarding the President’s location at the Executive Office Building. The conversation primarily functioned as a brief operational update concerning security protocols and personnel movement. No major policy decisions were recorded during this exchange, which focused on routine protective detail administrative tasks.