Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 893
Nixon White House Tape 893 (April 11, 1973)
23 conversations · Oval Office · about 7 hr 12 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Ehrlichman, White House photographer, Kissinger
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, briefly coordinate the schedule for a forthcoming meeting with David Eisenhower. Nixon discusses the logistics of Eisenhower's arrival and expresses his intention to prepare specific talking points for their discussion. The exchange concludes with a brief mention of the day's timeline for their respective appearances at the Oval Office and the Executive Office Building.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to coordinate administrative and foreign policy matters, including scheduling a meeting with the Spanish representative to accept a letter from Francisco Franco. They discussed ambassadorial appointments in Thailand and Pakistan, emphasizing the need for absolute loyalty to the administration, and reviewed the domestic political situation in Cambodia. Finally, the two assessed upcoming diplomatic engagements, specifically focusing on Lee Kuan Yew’s perspectives on global leadership and the potential for leadership instability within the Soviet Union ahead of a planned summit.
President Nixon met with his personal aide, Stephen B. Bull, to review upcoming scheduling logistics and formal event arrangements. The discussion focused on coordinating a variety of engagements, including presidential meetings with political figures, a scheduled Camp David trip, and the logistics for an NSC meeting and entertainment for Vietnam POWs. Additionally, Nixon addressed personal correspondence and criticized the service timing at a recent dinner hosted by his daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower.
President Nixon held a brief meeting with evangelist Billy Graham in the Oval Office. The two engaged in a short discussion regarding personal and pastoral matters following a brief connection facilitated by the White House operator. No significant policy decisions or administrative actions were recorded during this brief encounter.
President Richard Nixon met with evangelist Billy Graham to discuss personal correspondence and the President's perspective on the political climate. Nixon dismissed recent political opposition and criticism as temporary setbacks, emphasizing his administration's focus on Vietnam and foreign affairs. The President also expressed concerns regarding an upcoming appearance by Dr. Hill, cautioning that religious forums should not be used for political propaganda related to civil rights.
President Nixon met with David and Julie Nixon Eisenhower to discuss David’s potential political career and strategy for seeking a Congressional seat in Pennsylvania. They analyzed the challenge of navigating the retirement of incumbent George Goodling, debated the timing of a formal candidacy announcement, and strategized on securing appropriate professional positions to bolster David's public profile. Additionally, the group reviewed logistics for upcoming White House events, including state dinners and public tours, while Nixon advised David to maintain political independence and focus on substantive issues like national defense.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to review logistical details regarding the President's upcoming schedule. The primary focus of the discussion concerned the coordination of a photo opportunity featuring a foreign aid worker who had been a prisoner of war. This meeting served to finalize arrangements for the event as part of the administration's ongoing outreach related to repatriated veterans.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate upcoming logistical arrangements for his senior staff. The discussion centered on scheduling future meetings with H.R. Haldeman and John D. Ehrlichman. The primary purpose of the session was to manage the President's calendar and ensure access for his top advisors.
President Nixon met briefly with an unidentified male visitor in the Oval Office to discuss his upcoming schedule. The discussion specifically centered on a planned meeting with John D. Ehrlichman. The session concluded shortly after the brief exchange, with the visitor departing before 11:05 am.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman held an extensive meeting to discuss strategy for managing the ongoing Watergate scandal, including committee witness schedules, executive privilege, and the risks posed by testimony from individuals like James McCord and E. Howard Hunt. They assessed potential legal and political exposure regarding campaign funds and the activities of H.R. Haldeman and John Mitchell. Additionally, the President considered a proposal to appoint Supreme Court Justice Byron White as Director of the FBI and reviewed economic policy recommendations from his advisors to address inflation.
President Nixon met with an unknown individual in the Oval Office to coordinate logistics for a scheduled meeting with Spanish Foreign Minister Gregorio Lopez-Bravo de Castro. The discussion focused on the necessary duration for the diplomatic engagement and the inclusion of a formal photograph session. The brief interaction concluded with the visitor departing to finalize the President's immediate schedule.
President Nixon and Spanish Foreign Minister Gregorio Lopez Bravo de Castro, accompanied by Henry Kissinger, met to reaffirm the U.S.-Spain relationship and discuss integrating Spain more fully into the Atlantic community. The conversation focused on establishing a working group to proactively address geopolitical crises and security cooperation, moving beyond historical legacies to recognize Spain's modern economic and political status. Nixon emphasized his desire to facilitate Spain's greater role in European affairs and expressed his personal commitment to maintaining strong bilateral ties.
President Nixon met with Roger E. Shields and Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft to review the successful repatriation of American Prisoners of War (POWs) from North Vietnam. The discussion focused on the readjustment and future career integration of these veterans into the military, emphasizing the President's desire to treat them as vital institutional assets rather than mere media figures. Furthermore, Nixon tasked Shields with maintaining a firm commitment to resolving the status of those still Missing in Action (MIA) by continuing research and communicating clearly with their families.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met briefly in the Oval Office to coordinate administrative logistics and the President's upcoming schedule. The discussion centered on arrangements for a dental appointment and the logistics of personal correspondence and phone calls, including outreach to Gerald R. Ford. They also touched upon matters involving H. R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman regarding the management of presidential communications and scheduling.
President Nixon initiates a brief communication with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. This interaction serves as a routine administrative task to connect the President with an outside party. No substantive policy matters or major decisions are recorded during this brief exchange.
President Nixon met with John Ehrlichman to strategize on the administration's response to the escalating Watergate investigation and the upcoming Senate Ervin Committee hearings. They discussed the legal and public relations risks of potential testimony from White House staff, specifically H.R. Haldeman and John Dean, and debated whether to adopt a posture of unified defense or to distance the President from the actions of his subordinates. Additionally, they addressed the need to manage relations with Congressional Republicans and the press to maintain political viability amidst the scandal.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office. The discussion primarily concerned logistical details regarding the President's schedule and the handling of his briefcase. The interaction concluded quickly, with no further significant policy developments or administrative decisions recorded.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to coordinate his upcoming schedule and the logistics for an award presentation. The discussion focused primarily on ensuring the attendance of First Lady Pat Nixon at the event. Ronald L. Ziegler was identified as a key point of contact for finalizing these ceremonial arrangements.
President Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon hosted professional football player Jack Pardee, representatives from the American Cancer Society, and other guests in the Oval Office to honor Pardee’s recovery from skin cancer and his successful return to athletics. The meeting served as a photo opportunity and an awards presentation, highlighting Pardee's personal resilience and his support for the President’s cancer research initiatives. The group also engaged in casual conversation regarding the Miami Dolphins, football culture, and the general significance of athletic inspiration within the community.
President Nixon held a brief meeting with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to discuss scheduling matters. The conversation touched upon the President's upcoming agenda, including a scheduled car transit and meetings with key aides H. R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman. This brief exchange served to coordinate logistical arrangements for the remainder of the afternoon.
President Nixon met with John Ehrlichman, H.R. Haldeman, and Ronald Ziegler to strategize the White House response to the escalating Watergate investigation and the upcoming Ervin Committee hearings. The participants discussed the political risks of potential testimony from White House staffers and John Dean, the management of executive privilege, and the need to protect the presidency while appearing forthcoming. They specifically addressed allegations regarding Haldeman's role in the hiring of Donald Segretti and the handling of a $350,000 contingency fund, ultimately deciding to coordinate forthcoming statements and testimony to mitigate political fallout.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to discuss the retrieval of a briefcase belonging to Manolo Sanchez. The exchange was brief, centering on the logistics of securing the item. No further substantive policy matters or major political decisions were recorded during this session.
Manolo Sanchez met with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to engage in an informal discussion, potentially concerning matters related to the Executive Office Building. While the specific nature of the conversation remains unclear due to the absence of a transcript, the participants appear to have been coordinating or inquiring about hearing-related activities. The meeting concluded when both parties departed the office before 2:59 pm without recorded follow-up actions.