Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 905
Nixon White House Tape 905 (April 26, 1973)
20 conversations · Oval Office · about 3 hr 35 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Haldeman, Kleindienst, Woods
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to discuss administrative logistics and the status of ongoing file management or documentation efforts. During the exchange, the President inquired about the capacity to acquire additional materials as the participant indicated they were exhausting their current supply. The discussion centered on the preparation of files for a specific command location, though the limited audio content precludes further detail regarding the nature of these materials.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to review and adjust the President's upcoming official schedule. The discussion focused on coordinating logistics for various engagements, including a White House reception, a Troika meeting, and a planned trip to Mississippi. Consequently, they reached decisions regarding the timing of these events to ensure they aligned with the President's availability.
President Nixon met with Richard A. Moore to coordinate a confidential strategy regarding the escalating Watergate scandal. The discussion centered on identifying a secure location to facilitate private deliberations away from public scrutiny. This meeting underscores the administration's urgent efforts to consolidate their defense and control the flow of information amidst growing political pressure.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to discuss matters related to a committee. The dialogue primarily focused on the delivery of materials or information associated with this entity. No significant policy decisions or further details were captured due to the brevity and fragmented nature of the transcript.
President Richard Nixon met with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, in the Oval Office to discuss undisclosed matters. The majority of the recorded session consists of a withdrawn segment classified as a personal returnable item. Consequently, no substantive policy decisions or administrative actions are publicly documented for this brief encounter.
President Nixon met with an unknown individual to coordinate the timing of upcoming congressional committee appearances and the review of related briefing materials. The discussion involved scheduling George P. Shultz for testimony and arranging for Richard A. Moore to be contacted while traveling to a wedding in Boston. These logistics were prioritized to ensure the administration's representatives were adequately prepared for their scheduled questioning.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman to discuss scheduling and the coordination of the Chief of Staff's time. The brief exchange focused on administrative arrangements for Haldeman's upcoming meetings within the White House. No major policy decisions were reached during this short interaction.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate legal strategy and public messaging in the wake of the expanding Watergate scandal. They discussed the difficulties of managing John Dean, the risks of granting him immunity, and the necessity of insulating the President from potential charges of obstruction of justice. The participants emphasized the need to maintain a record of the President's lack of involvement and considered initiatives to project stability within the White House staff.
President Nixon held a brief, one-minute meeting with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office. The participants engaged in a very short exchange involving refreshments before the guest departed immediately. No substantive policy discussions or significant administrative decisions were recorded during this encounter.
President Nixon met with George Shultz and John Ehrlichman to discuss legislative strategy regarding tax reform and the administration's ongoing economic stabilization efforts. The group focused on maintaining a firm stance against tax increases on capital gains and estates, while delegating the political credit or blame for such controversial measures to Congress. They also analyzed public relations tactics for Phase III wage and price controls, weighing the benefits of a potential confrontation with Congress over the Economic Stabilization Act against the risks of public perception.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to review and coordinate the President's daily schedule. Their brief discussion focused on logistical arrangements for an upcoming meeting with Henry Kissinger and potential travel plans involving Amsterdam. No major policy decisions were reached, as the conversation served primarily as a brief administrative update on the President's calendar.
President Nixon and Ronald Ziegler discussed strategies for managing the administration's public response to the Watergate scandal, specifically focusing on distancing the President from the cover-up and maintaining staff stability. They deliberated on how to address concerns regarding the credibility and potential blackmail threats posed by John Dean, while emphasizing the President's commitment to acting only upon corroborated evidence. The conversation also touched upon the possibility of utilizing Melvin Laird in a Congressional relations capacity and navigating the political fallout from ongoing investigations.
President Nixon held a brief exchange with the White House operator to facilitate a telephonic connection. During this interaction, the President remarked on the necessity of ensuring that ongoing efforts provided sufficient value for their expenditures. This brief moment reflects the President's administrative oversight regarding communication logistics and resource utilization.
President Nixon initiates a brief, routine communication with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. The interaction is functional in nature, serving as a logistical bridge to connect the President with another party. No substantive policy matters or historical developments occur during this brief exchange.
President Nixon held a brief, five-minute meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual. The discussion was restricted to the topic of food. No other substantive political or administrative details were captured in this segment of the recording.
President Nixon met with his valet, Manolo Sanchez, to briefly discuss his upcoming schedule. During the short interaction, the President mentioned his intention to visit a doctor located in the Executive Office Building. The exchange served as a routine coordination of the President's immediate movements.
President Nixon met with Attorney General Richard G. Kleindienst to discuss tax policy resolutions and address ongoing legal concerns regarding the Watergate scandal. The two men reviewed the administration's stance on the investigation, emphasizing the need to demonstrate the lack of prior knowledge among senior officials. Additionally, they touched upon personnel matters within the Department of the Interior and coordinated future meetings to resolve pending departmental issues.
President Nixon held a brief, unscheduled interaction with a White House operator while in the Oval Office. The communication served as a routine administrative exchange to facilitate an outgoing call or request assistance with telephonic operations. No substantive policy discussions or significant political developments occurred during this short interaction.
President Nixon met with Attorney General Richard Kleindienst to strategize on the burgeoning Watergate scandal and manage the legal and political liability posed by White House Counsel John Dean. The discussion focused on the necessity of portraying unauthorized activities—specifically the break-in—as independent actions while expressing deep skepticism regarding Dean's credibility and his potential to use damaging information as leverage against the administration. Nixon emphasized his desire to avoid a cover-up while simultaneously debating how to handle immunity and the risks of Dean testifying before the Senate.
United States Secret Service agents convened in the Oval Office to discuss operational assignments. The brief, indistinct recording concludes with formal exchanges between the participants. Due to the limited nature of the audio and the lack of specific substantive detail, the precise objectives and subsequent action items remain unidentified.