Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 902
Nixon White House Tape 902 (April 19, 1973)
13 conversations · Oval Office · about 2 hr 57 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Ehrlichman, Sanchez, Haldeman
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman to discuss White House staff appointments, the ongoing Watergate investigation, and the public relations strategy for addressing the scandal. The participants debated whether to maintain the President's public detachment from the investigation or to proactively frame the administration as victims of subordinates who misled them. Nixon emphasized his desire to insulate the presidency from the unfolding legal crises, while Haldeman and Ehrlichman urged him to project confidence and consider taking a short break from the office to regain his perspective.
President Nixon held a brief morning meeting with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office. The interaction concluded immediately following the President’s brief remark regarding an unnamed person being "divine." No substantive policy discussions or administrative actions were recorded during this segment of the meeting.
President Nixon met with Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen to discuss the ongoing Watergate investigation and the challenge of managing leaks from the U.S. Attorney's office. The conversation focused on the credibility of key figures like John Dean, Jeb Stuart Magruder, and Gordon C. Strachan, as well as the legal difficulties of pursuing conspiracy charges against H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman. Nixon emphasized that any potential immunity deals or further investigative steps must be grounded in corroborated testimony rather than conflicting accounts, while reinforcing his assertion that the White House had cooperated fully with the investigation.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger held a brief meeting to discuss a recent conversation Kissinger had with Dennis Bassett. Kissinger expressed his high regard for Bassett, describing him as a gentleman. The discussion served as a short briefing regarding these personal interactions rather than a substantive policy matter.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler met to coordinate the White House's public response to a defiant statement released by White House Counsel John Dean, who vowed not to serve as a scapegoat in the burgeoning Watergate scandal. The discussion focused on insulating the presidency from the unfolding investigation, with Nixon and Ziegler agreeing that the administration’s official stance should prioritize finding the truth rather than identifying scapegoats. Ziegler was instructed to avoid commenting on Dean’s individual credibility while emphasizing the administration's cooperation with the grand jury to maintain a posture of ignorance regarding prior wrongdoing.
President Nixon met with his valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office to discuss personal matters and ensure his well-being. The brief exchange primarily functioned as a check-in between the President and his staff member. No substantive policy decisions or political developments were recorded during this interaction.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to secure a copy of John Dean’s recent public statement regarding the Watergate scandal. The President requested that the document be retrieved for review and subsequent use by Jonathan in upcoming meetings. This exchange highlights the administration's urgent efforts to analyze Dean’s evolving testimony and its potential impact on the unfolding investigation.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to address the unfolding legal and political crisis involving White House Counsel John W. Dean III. The discussion focused on the implications of Dean’s recent statement as the Watergate scandal intensified. This brief meeting reflects the President's urgent efforts to monitor the evolving testimonies and internal fallout surrounding his administration's key figures.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman met to discuss legal strategies for defending White House staff members implicated in the developing Watergate scandal. They analyzed the potential for immunity for John Dean, the legal risks regarding campaign funds, and the possibility of separating the legal defense of presidential aides from that of other political figures. The discussion highlighted their concern over how these proceedings might impact the administration's public image and the necessity of managing internal information to protect the President.
President Nixon met with his valet, Manolo Sanchez, to coordinate logistics for an upcoming trip to Florida and the delivery of materials to the Executive Office Building. Nixon instructed Sanchez to notify Tricia Nixon Cox and Julie Nixon Eisenhower regarding the travel plans. The discussion primarily focused on managing the President's personal schedule and communication with his family.
An unidentified group of men engaged in a brief, one-minute meeting in the Oval Office. The discussion was limited to the arrangement of furniture within the room. No further policy or administrative business was recorded during this interaction before the participants departed.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler met to coordinate the White House's public response to mounting Watergate pressures, specifically focusing on John W. Dean III's shifting cooperation and potential implications for H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman. They reviewed Dean’s past reports, his role in the investigation, and the legal strategy regarding his potential immunity and testimony to the grand jury. The discussion also addressed the administration's public posture toward the press, including Ziegler’s forthcoming briefing on Dean and the President's recent communications with Assistant Attorney General Henry Petersen.
This recording captures a brief and indistinct interaction between President Nixon and one or more unidentified individuals in the Oval Office. The dialogue consists entirely of fragmented, informal remarks that provide no substantive information regarding policy, strategy, or administration business. No clear decisions or significant developments can be discerned from the transcript.