Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 895
Nixon White House Tape 895 (April 13, 1973)
26 conversations · Oval Office · about 5 hr 2 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Ehrlichman, White House photographer, Bull, Kissinger
President Nixon and Stephen Bull met to coordinate the logistics and entertainment for upcoming White House events, including a State dinner for Willy Brandt and a major dinner honoring returning Prisoners of War (POWs). They discussed potential performers, scheduling challenges for large receptions, and the need for a formal press plan regarding the POW event. Additionally, Nixon directed that formal citations for the POWs be deferred due to pending legal and disciplinary reviews, while finalizing guest policies for the attendees.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to discuss the scheduling of William E. Timmons. The brief exchange focused on assessing the availability and potential recruitment of an unnamed third party for a specific role. The conversation concluded with the President seeking logistical adjustments regarding this individual’s status.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull reviewed administrative papers and discussed upcoming White House social programming. The conversation centered on achieving ethnic balance in these events and organizing a fundraising initiative for children of Missing in Action (MIA) servicemen. Nixon reviewed plans for a scholarship program involving celebrities like Sammy Davis, Jr. and Bob Hope to promote voluntary action and charitable efforts regarding Vietnam-era veterans.
President Nixon met with William E. Timmons to discuss the effectiveness of recent social gatherings for Congress members in fostering partisan support and building a stronger team atmosphere. The two reviewed attendance lists for White House receptions and religious services, strategizing on how to use "wildcard" invitations to include specific Republican and "responsible" Democratic lawmakers. Nixon also directed Timmons to refine the guest selection process for upcoming meetings on energy and trade issues, focusing on key committee leadership to ensure legislative priorities remained on track.
President Nixon held a brief morning meeting with an unidentified individual to address an unspecified emerging issue. The discussion focused on the President's schedule and involved John D. Ehrlichman. The session concluded quickly, providing no further details regarding the nature of the problem or resulting directives.
President Nixon initiates a brief communication through the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. The exchange serves as a logistical step to connect the President with another party for official business. No substantive policy or political discussions occur during this short administrative interaction.
President Nixon met with Stephen Bull to review logistics regarding a recent appearance by the Mike Curb Congregation, specifically focusing on the president's interactions with new members and the children in attendance. Following Bull's departure, Nixon consulted with William Timmons to coordinate an urgent meeting with Otto Passman. The President directed Timmons to contact Passman regarding an unspecified matter and requested that no definitive decisions be finalized until Passman’s return.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman met to coordinate the White House's legal and public relations strategy regarding the Watergate investigations, specifically addressing the Grand Jury's scrutiny of campaign funds and potential perjury by administration staff. Ehrlichman reported on his recent discussions with Attorney General Richard Kleindienst regarding immunity policies and the legal distinctions between illegal payoffs and legitimate campaign financial practices. They weighed options for managing White House testimony, including the potential for staff to issue sworn statements, the possible departure of John Dean, and the selection of new legal counsel to navigate the impending Ervin Committee hearings.
President Nixon held a brief meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual. The discussion was limited to the topic of food. No other substantive political or administrative details were recorded during this segment.
President Nixon held a private meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual, potentially former Attorney General John N. Mitchell, to discuss evolving matters concerning the Watergate investigation. While the audio remains largely undefined, the interaction occurred during a period of intense pressure regarding the administration's legal exposure. No specific policy actions or formal decisions were captured in the available documentation for this brief encounter.
President Nixon consulted with an aide to finalize the protocol and logistical arrangements for a courtesy call involving a group of Japanese governors. The discussion focused on scheduling a brief greeting in the Oval Office, followed by a walk in the Rose Garden to view the spring blooms and a subsequent tour led by Michael J. Farrell. Nixon explicitly directed that no press be present for the event, ensuring the engagement remained an informal visit.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discussed how to handle public inquiries regarding the President's continued medical treatment by Dr. W. Kenneth Riland following the doctor's legal issues. Haldeman expressed concern that maintaining the relationship while Riland faced tax-related indictments could create political vulnerability for the President, particularly regarding his role as the nation's chief law enforcement officer. Ultimately, the two strategized on how to discreetly manage Riland's access and public messaging to avoid unnecessary controversy.
President Nixon met with a delegation of Japanese governors and officials to discuss the strengthening of U.S.-Japan relations through localized diplomatic exchanges. The participants highlighted the importance of fostering ties beyond the national government level, specifically between state and local leaders, to better connect with the general public in both countries. Discussion touched upon the shift toward friendly economic competition and the long-term historical importance of bilateral cooperation. The meeting concluded with a photo opportunity in the Rose Garden to celebrate the spirit of international friendship.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed strategies for managing public perception, specifically addressing press coverage of the administration and the unfolding Watergate scandal. They reviewed potential public relations maneuvers, including a possible statement from Vice President Spiro Agnew to counter media narratives, while also weighing administrative appointments for the Federal Reserve and the Department of Labor. The conversation emphasized maintaining a unified front against hostile press inquiries and coordinating staff testimonies for upcoming grand jury appearances.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to briefly discuss the President's upcoming schedule and coordinate arrangements involving William E. Timmons. The discussion appears to focus on administrative planning and governmental personnel matters, though the brevity of the recording limits the detail regarding specific outcomes. No major policy decisions were reached during this short interaction.
President Nixon met with a delegation from the Frontiers of Science Foundation of Oklahoma, led by Edward King Gaylord and accompanied by Congressman John Jarman, to recognize the organization's contributions to scientific education and research. During the brief, ceremonial Oval Office session, Nixon commended the role of voluntary organizations in American life, arguing that private sector initiative often produces more value than government spending. The President presented the group with commemorative gifts and engaged in light conversation regarding his experiences with science education, his past visits to Oklahoma, and the logistical challenges of presidential communications via satellite.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to briefly discuss upcoming scheduling matters. The conversation covered logistics regarding Herbert G. Klein and a scheduled meeting with Peter J. Brennan. No significant policy decisions were recorded during this brief administrative exchange.
President Nixon met with Herbert Klein and staff member Jeni Brown to formally acknowledge Brown’s departure from the White House staff. The brief session included a photograph to commemorate the occasion and a discussion regarding Brown’s future professional plans in California, specifically involving television and media work. Nixon offered encouragement for her career transition before presenting her with a parting gift.
President Nixon met with an unknown individual to coordinate his immediate schedule and administrative workflow. The discussion focused on facilitating a brief ten-minute briefing for Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., to address pending legislative matters following a separate meeting with Secretary Brennan. No major policy decisions were reached, as the primary objective was the logistical management of the President's appointments.
President Nixon met with Secretary of Labor Peter J. Brennan and Kenneth R. Cole, Jr. to discuss political strategy regarding organized labor, specifically the administration's ongoing tensions with AFL-CIO leader George Meany. They reviewed the administration's legislative agenda, including the minimum wage, unemployment insurance for strike victims, and the Alaska Pipeline, while emphasizing the need to maintain strong support from the Building Trades unions. The discussion concluded with a focus on managing the President's upcoming appearance before labor groups and balancing the competing economic interests of labor and the business community.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman coordinate their schedules and discuss an ongoing meeting involving Charles Colson. The participants focus on the mounting political pressures surrounding the White House and investigate the substance and motivations behind Colson’s recent actions. The conversation serves as a preparatory session for later briefings regarding these unfolding external demands.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman met to strategize on the worsening Watergate scandal, specifically focusing on damaging allegations against White House staff members including H.R. Haldeman, Charles Colson, and John Dean. The two discussed the threat posed by Jeb Stuart Magruder's potential cooperation with investigators and his claims regarding a tape that allegedly implicated the White House in electronic eavesdropping and obstruction of justice. They weighed options for managing these threats, including hiring an independent special counsel and potentially discrediting Magruder or other witnesses to prevent the scandal from reaching the Oval Office.
In this meeting, President Nixon discussed the ongoing Watergate investigation with John Ehrlichman, focusing on strategies for dealing with the Ervin Committee and managing testimony. Following Ehrlichman's departure, Henry Kissinger joined the President to review foreign policy concerns, specifically regarding potential military responses to North Vietnamese violations in South Vietnam. The participants also evaluated the political stability of Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and discussed the progress of negotiations on a nuclear treaty ahead of a potential summit.
President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and Joseph Sisco met to discuss a confidential diplomatic strategy for managing Middle East tensions through both formal channels and back-channel negotiations. The participants emphasized the necessity of maintaining secrecy and building psychological deterrence to manage Egyptian expectations and prevent military escalation, despite the intransigence of the Israeli government. Additionally, the President and Kissinger reviewed Sisco's potential future assignments, ultimately suggesting that his skills were best utilized in Washington to continue his active role in Middle East diplomacy rather than an ambassadorship in Moscow.
President Nixon held a brief meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual. The conversation consists of undefined activity, offering no substantive insight into policy or administrative decisions. Due to the lack of intelligible dialogue, no specific topics were discussed or actions taken.
This recording captures fragmented, brief exchanges between unidentified individuals and potentially President Nixon within the Oval Office and the Executive Office Building. The dialogue consists of administrative-sounding logistical checks, including numerical references and confirmation of arrangements. Due to the lack of identifying information and the disjointed nature of the transcript, no substantive policy discussions or significant presidential decisions are discernable.