Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 890
Nixon White House Tape 890 (March 30, 1973)
37 conversations · Oval Office · about 4 hr 55 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Ziegler, Ehrlichman, Kissinger
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to coordinate logistical arrangements for an upcoming meeting with a visiting prime minister. The discussion focused on gift-giving protocol, specifically the presentation of state-themed silver caps to the dignitary. Bull was tasked with finalizing the scheduling details and ensuring the presentation was integrated into the President's itinerary.
President Nixon initiates a brief administrative interaction with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. The exchange serves as a routine coordination effort for the President's telephonic communications. No substantive policy matters or political developments are addressed during this brief connection.
President Nixon consults with Patrick J. Buchanan regarding a recent speech he personally drafted to address public divisions, military policy, and the administration's legislative agenda. Nixon expresses frustration with political opponents and emphasizes the necessity of taking a firm, combative stance against critics of his defense budget and military actions in Southeast Asia. The discussion also touches on the President's internal debate over how to publicly address the Watergate controversy and whether he should rely on staff affidavits to defend his administration's integrity.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull reviewed the President’s upcoming schedule and logistics for his trip to California. The discussion focused on coordinating a visit with Norman Chandler, including health considerations relayed by Rose Mary Woods, and finalizing plans for a dinner honoring John Ford. Additionally, they addressed the timing and location for a meeting with George P. Shultz and state legislators.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to facilitate the immediate transfer of a manila envelope. The brief interaction focused on the urgent exchange of these materials, characterized by a sense of haste and security-related concerns. No further substantive policy discussions were recorded before the participant departed the office.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to facilitate the delivery of an unspecified item. The brief exchange concludes with the participant departing the office shortly after the handover. Due to the lack of transcript detail, the broader political or administrative significance of the interaction remains unknown.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to address administrative matters regarding the President's daily schedule. The brief discussion focused on the signing and delivery of official documents, specifically involving the U.S. Army. No major policy developments occurred, as the exchange remained limited to routine logistical coordination.
President Nixon met with George Shultz, Helmut Sonnenfeldt, and John Ehrlichman to coordinate economic and national security policy, specifically focusing on the intersection of trade legislation and East-West diplomacy. Nixon emphasized the need to bridge the gap between Shultz’s economic initiatives and Henry Kissinger’s national security priorities to present a unified administration stance on European and Soviet relations. The participants also reviewed domestic labor and economic policy, including pension reform and minimum wage legislation, with Nixon instructing his team to manage Labor Secretary Peter Brennan’s expectations while maintaining a conservative budgetary position.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to review and manage his daily schedule. The primary focus of the brief interaction was coordinating an upcoming appointment with John D. Ehrlichman. Nixon expressed frustration regarding difficulties with a separate individual, identified as Bill, while finalizing the sequence of his morning meetings.
President Nixon met briefly with an unidentified woman in the Oval Office to confirm the completion of a specific administrative task. The discussion focused on the handling of documents, with Nixon instructing the visitor to place an item into the designated box for processing. The brief interaction concluded with the woman exiting the office after receiving these instructions.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate administrative tasks and schedule management. The President directed Bull to instruct William E. Timmons to call Senator Howard H. Baker, Jr. to convey the President's personal appreciation for Baker's recent, well-received speech to the Young Republicans Leadership School. Additionally, the President addressed logistical matters, including declining an invitation from Senator Barry Goldwater.
President Nixon consults with a Navy steward regarding his attire for an upcoming departure, specifically determining which coat is appropriate for the weather conditions. The President decides to wear a dark topcoat instead of a raincoat to avoid unnecessary transport of multiple garments. The discussion concludes with the steward confirming he will manage the logistical arrangements for the coat.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to review and coordinate the President's upcoming daily schedule. The primary focus of the discussion was the logistical arrangements for Nixon's scheduled meeting with the Minister of Culture from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. This brief administrative consultation served to ensure the President was prepared for his impending diplomatic engagement.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate administrative details regarding an upcoming appointment. The discussion primarily centered on the attendance of National Security Advisor Henry A. Kissinger at a subsequent meeting. Bull's involvement focused on logistical arrangements, ensuring the President's schedule and staff presence were properly aligned.
President Nixon met with Soviet Minister of Culture Yekaterina Furtseva, Ambassador Anatoliy Dobrynin, and Henry Kissinger to discuss the state of US-USSR cultural exchanges and diplomatic relations. The participants exchanged gifts, including a Russian painting for the President, and reflected on the improved climate of cooperation between the two nations since 1959. Nixon emphasized that strengthening US-Soviet relations remains a primary goal of his presidency, expressing mutual respect for the leadership of Leonid Brezhnev and Aleksei Kosygin.
President Nixon met with Donald E. Johnson and James H. Cavanaugh to discuss administrative support and public relations strategies regarding Vietnam veterans following his March 29 address. The participants focused on the challenges faced by returning veterans, including psychological care and the need for the Veterans Administration to combat bureaucratic inefficiencies through decentralization. Additionally, Nixon emphasized the administration's commitment to obtaining a full accounting of American prisoners of war and those missing in action.
President Nixon met with Henry Kissinger to discuss the geopolitical implications of Jewish immigration to the USSR and the potential for a visit by Leonid Brezhnev. Following this, outgoing Indian Ambassador Lakshmi Kant Jha joined the President for a farewell discussion aimed at improving strained U.S.-India relations. Nixon emphasized the necessity of a constructive partnership between the world's two largest democracies, citing shared interests in peace and freedom while seeking to dispel perceptions of personal anti-Indian bias.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler briefly coordinated logistics regarding an upcoming meeting with Mr. and Mrs. Roland H. Shackford. The discussion focused on managing the presence of photographers during the encounter. They established a three-minute timeframe for the photo opportunity before proceeding with the scheduled appointment.
Following a brief meeting with journalist R.H. Shackford regarding his retirement and foreign policy, President Nixon met with John Ehrlichman and Ron Ziegler to strategize a public response to Watergate-related allegations. The group focused on drafting talking points intended to refute claims that the White House was attempting to "cover up" information. They ultimately decided to emphasize a stance of cooperation with grand jury investigations while maintaining the constitutional principle of separation of powers, aiming to dispel public misapprehensions without engaging in a public trial via the press.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull reviewed the President’s upcoming schedule and discussed the allotment of time for a future meeting. They also coordinated the distribution of presidential gifts, specifically cufflinks, for Chet Holifield and Perkins McGuire. The conversation concluded with instructions for Bull to consult with William E. Timmons regarding the logistics of these gift presentations.
President Nixon met with Chet Holifield, Perkins McGuire, Roy L. Ash, and William E. Timmons to discuss the final report and recommendations of the Commission on Government Procurement. The group highlighted potential government savings, particularly through adjusting non-competitive procurement thresholds, and reviewed strategies for implementing reforms via legislation and executive action. Additionally, the participants reviewed energy projections and the development of the breeder reactor, with Holifield presenting comprehensive analyses on long-term energy needs.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to handle administrative tasks and briefings. The brief exchange focused on securing the President’s signature on pending documentation and discussing logistics regarding an upcoming trip for Henry Kissinger. The interaction concluded rapidly as the participants departed to address these immediate logistical matters.
President Nixon met with Dr. John R. Kernodle and James H. Cavanaugh of the American Medical Association (AMA) to discuss physician concerns regarding Phase III wage and price controls. The AMA representatives argued that these controls were unfairly discriminatory toward physicians compared to other professionals and institutional healthcare providers, leading to internal unrest among their members. Nixon expressed support for the medical profession and his own preference for free-market principles, ultimately directing the group to coordinate with John T. Dunlop to find a subtle, mutually agreeable resolution that would not invite negative political scrutiny from Congress.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office to address personal household matters. The conversation centered on the placement of a food order, including a brief and somber reference to a death. No significant political or policy decisions were documented during this brief interaction.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate a telephonic communication. This brief interaction served administrative purposes to connect the President with another party. No further substantive details regarding the nature or outcome of the call were recorded in this brief exchange.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. This interaction served a routine administrative purpose to connect the President with another party. No substantive policy discussions or significant political developments occurred during this brief exchange.
President Richard Nixon and his daughter, Tricia Nixon Cox, held a brief, informal meeting in the Oval Office to bid each other farewell. Their conversation touched upon a recent encounter with an unidentified individual whom Tricia was pleased to have met. The exchange concluded with plans to reconnect the following week, serving primarily as a personal interaction rather than a discussion of formal administrative business.
President Nixon and personal secretary Rose Mary Woods discussed administrative details, including scheduling, gift logistics for Vietnam POWs and their families, and the potential for a visit with Norman Chandler. The conversation also focused on the President's ongoing work on his upcoming Vietnam speech, with Woods praising his decision to write the address personally to ensure the language remained direct and accessible. Nixon concluded the meeting by emphasizing his commitment to refining the speech through his own direct involvement.
President Nixon initiates a brief, routine communication with the White House operator to place an outgoing call. No substantive policy matters or political developments are discussed during this short administrative interaction. The recording primarily serves as a procedural example of the President utilizing the internal switchboard to facilitate his daily schedule.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discuss the escalating military situation in Cambodia and the need to justify continued U.S. air operations to a skeptical Congress. They emphasize that air strikes are necessary because enemy forces have violated established peace agreements. To better assess the crisis, the President instructs Haig to personally visit Cambodia and evaluate the situation on the ground.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to engage in an informal, private discussion. The brief interaction, which included refreshments, appears to have been social or personal in nature rather than focused on official administrative business. No significant policy decisions or substantive governmental actions were recorded during this segment of the meeting.
President Nixon held a brief, informal meeting in the Oval Office to discuss the landscaping and seasonal progression of the White House grounds. The dialogue focused specifically on the upcoming bloom of tulips and the condition of the trees. No substantive political or administrative policy decisions were recorded during this interaction.
President Nixon, H. R. Haldeman, and Ronald Ziegler met to coordinate the administration’s strategy for responding to escalating Watergate inquiries and press scrutiny. They discussed the President’s recent televised speech, the necessity of maintaining a unified front among Republican allies, and the risks posed by potential testimony from figures like John Dean and James McCord. Nixon emphasized the importance of publicizing a statement to clarify that the White House was cooperating with investigations while attempting to distance the President from the operational details of the campaign.
President Nixon held a brief, informal meeting with an unknown woman in the Oval Office to discuss her upcoming travel plans. The conversation focused on the woman's impending departure for California to begin employment with Thomas Hart. Nixon inquired about her personal interests, specifically her golf experience, before concluding the meeting as he prepared to depart for a helicopter trip.
Manolo Sanchez and unidentified individuals convened in the Oval Office to coordinate logistics for an upcoming presidential trip to California. The discussion primarily focused on managing travel materials, specifically a briefcase, and confirming the departure schedule for President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman. The brief interaction was cut short before reaching a formal conclusion.
President Nixon held a brief, private meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual to receive a specific message. Due to the redacted nature of the recording under the deed of gift, the substantive content of the communication remains classified or withheld from public record. The encounter concluded shortly after the delivery of the message, with no further details provided regarding its nature or subsequent action items.
President Nixon held an brief, unrecorded-content discussion with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office. The interaction concludes with a polite exchange, though the substance of the meeting remains restricted and unavailable for analysis. No substantive policy developments or decisions are discernible from the available documentation.