Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 897
Nixon White House Tape 897 (April 16, 1973)
17 conversations · Oval Office · about 2 hr 57 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Haldeman, Ehrlichman, White House photographer
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to coordinate the President's upcoming schedule, specifically focusing on managing high-stakes meetings with key figures including John W. Dean III, George P. Shultz, and Henry E. Peterson. Nixon expressed a desire to limit his direct involvement in certain sessions while emphasizing the need for extended time with specific individuals. The discussion concluded with instructions regarding the logistics and staging of these meetings at the Executive Office Building.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to review and manage the President’s upcoming schedule. The primary focus of the discussion was coordinating a meeting with Charles G. “Bebe” Rebozo. The session concluded with planning for the President's scheduled trip to Florida.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman to strategize their response to the escalating Watergate investigation and the upcoming deposition of John Dean. The group discussed managing public perception through a potential White House-led announcement, while specifically addressing legal vulnerabilities regarding “plumbing” operations, unauthorized wiretaps, and the extent of the President's knowledge. They focused on establishing a consistent narrative that would distance the President from illegal activities, particularly by framing past surveillance as national security matters and attributing unauthorized actions to subordinates like John Mitchell.
President Nixon met with John Dean to strategize on managing potential legal and political fallout from the Watergate investigation, specifically focusing on the possibility of looming indictments for top White House aides H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman. Nixon instructed Dean to prepare resignation letters for various staff members to have on hand as a precautionary measure should evidence against them emerge. Throughout the discussion, the two navigated the distinction between criminal culpability and "technical" obstruction of justice, while attempting to craft a public relations narrative that emphasized the President’s desire to uncover the truth.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to coordinate the scheduling of an upcoming address to the building trades unions. They discussed logistical delays and decided to adjust the departure time to accommodate a shift of approximately 15 minutes. The conversation focused on ensuring the President arrived appropriately for the event in coordination with George P. Shultz.
President Nixon instructed his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to postpone a scheduled meeting with Arthur F. Burns and George P. Shultz. The President cited urgent national security matters as the reason for his unavailability and limited the upcoming session with them to 30 minutes. This directive reflects the President's attempt to manage his schedule amidst the increasing pressures of the escalating Watergate scandal.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to coordinate the details of the President’s daily schedule. The primary focus of the brief discussion was to confirm upcoming departures and logistics regarding a potential meeting with Daniel P. Moynihan. No major policy decisions were made during this brief administrative exchange.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to finalize scheduling arrangements for an upcoming Building Trade Association conference. They reviewed the logistics for the event, including Nixon’s attendance at a VIP reception involving Secretary of Labor Peter J. Brennan. Nixon directed Bull to coordinate with Kenneth R. Cole, Jr. to ensure the President was briefed on the delay of the event and the specific protocol for his appearance.
President Nixon, H. R. Haldeman, and John Ehrlichman met to coordinate a narrative regarding their management of the Watergate investigation. They reviewed the timeline of recent events, specifically emphasizing the President's actions to uncover facts after becoming dissatisfied with the John Dean report. The participants strategized on how to frame these developments to legal authorities and the public, focusing on the decision to involve the Attorney General and the handling of potential witnesses like Mitchell and Magruder.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to review and adjust the President's upcoming schedule, specifically focusing on managing high-level meetings and administrative commitments. Key discussions included the reorganization of energy policy briefings, the coordination of bipartisan congressional meetings, and logistical arrangements for upcoming events and film messages. Nixon instructed Bull to clear his immediate agenda to manage his workload and prioritize interactions with key economic and legislative leaders.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman meet to strategize their public and legal response to the escalating Watergate scandal. They evaluate proposals from advisors, including Len Garment and John Ehrlichman, regarding whether the President should make a dramatic public admission or resign to protect the office of the presidency. Ultimately, they decide to solicit further written recommendations from Garment before meeting with William Rogers, maintaining a cautious approach to avoid impulsive actions that could jeopardize their legal standing.
President Nixon held a brief meeting with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to coordinate his official schedule. The discussion focused on arrangements regarding John Norris and the logistics for an upcoming photograph session. The visitor departed immediately following this brief administrative exchange.
President Nixon met with representatives from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), including Tom Pike and Caspar Weinberger, to accept a ceremonial gift of the organization's one-millionth published book. The participants discussed the organization’s redemptive work, the prevalence of alcoholism in various sectors of society and the military, and the importance of recovery efforts. During the exchange, Nixon shared his own personal habits, emphasizing that he abstains from alcohol before public speaking or major responsibilities to maintain peak performance.
President Nixon met with Rotary International President Roy D. Hickman and W. Richard Howard to discuss Hickman’s recent global travels and the role of Rotary in fostering world peace. Hickman shared observations on the positive international reception of Nixon’s foreign policy, specifically his trips to China and the Soviet Union, and discussed the importance of voluntary community service in promoting American values abroad. The conversation concluded with an exchange of gifts and a reaffirmation of the organization’s commitment to bridging political divides.
President Nixon held a brief meeting with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to discuss administrative logistics. The conversation centered on the President's upcoming schedule, specifically regarding John D. Ehrlichman. The encounter concluded quickly, with no substantive policy decisions recorded.
President Nixon and Ronald Ziegler discussed how to manage the escalating Watergate scandal and the mounting pressure from press coverage, specifically reports involving the Washington Post and the Ervin Committee. They debated whether to pursue a strategy of "minimum action"—relying on the Department of Justice and limiting personnel changes—or a "bold play" involving the public removal of key staff like H.R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman, and John Dean. Ultimately, Nixon emphasized that he required full, candid information from his aides and considered relying on Assistant Attorney General Henry Petersen to handle the unfolding investigations while avoiding a premature or ineffective special prosecutor.
Secretary of Labor Peter J. Brennan met with Stephen B. Bull and an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to discuss administrative logistics and scheduling. The brief interaction focused on organizing the President's upcoming agenda and facilitating introductions. The meeting concluded quickly without recorded policy deliberations.