Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 906
Nixon White House Tape 906 (April 27, 1973 – April 28, 1973)
28 conversations · Oval Office · about 4 hr 57 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Ziegler, Bull, Haldeman, Petersen
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to discuss the evolving Watergate scandal, specifically focusing on damaging media reports regarding L. Patrick Gray and John W. Dean. They addressed allegations concerning the destruction of sensitive documents and scrutinized Dean's motives, particularly the possibility that he recorded his conversations with the President. The two also discussed personnel matters, including potential candidates to replace Gray at the FBI.
President Nixon held a brief, informal meeting with an unidentified individual to facilitate the transport of official materials. The exchange focused primarily on the logistics of moving a briefcase out of the Oval Office. No substantive policy discussions or political decisions were recorded during this brief encounter.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to review modifications to his daily schedule. The conversation focused on brief logistical updates and the coordination of administrative support, including the whereabouts of aide Stephen Bull. No significant policy decisions were recorded during this short meeting.
President Nixon and Ronald Ziegler met to strategize the handling of the escalating Watergate scandal and the required departures of key staff members, H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman. Ziegler briefed the President on John Dean's recent assertions, which implicated Haldeman and Ehrlichman in the cover-up while notably excluding the President from personal involvement. Nixon confirmed his intent to demand the resignations of his top aides to project a standard of accountability, though he sought to time these moves carefully to manage political fallout and minimize the impact on the administration's operations. The discussion also touched upon the selection of new leadership for the FBI and the Department of Justice, as well as the timing of a planned public address by the President to take responsibility for cleaning up the administration.
President Nixon met briefly with an unidentified individual to provide instructions regarding Henry Kissinger. Nixon directed the visitor to ensure Kissinger addressed a specific, urgent matter referred to as the "earthquake." This terse exchange likely concerns an immediate diplomatic or political crisis requiring Kissinger's prompt attention.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to review a wide range of foreign policy initiatives and administrative personnel matters. Key topics included the status of upcoming diplomatic efforts with North Vietnam, preparations for Kissinger’s trip to Moscow, and the scheduling of the US-USSR summit. They also discussed logistical arrangements for John Connally’s world tour, concerns regarding federal bureaucracy following H.R. Haldeman’s departure, and the cancellation of Emperor Hirohito’s visit to the United States.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to review and finalize scheduling details. The brief discussion focused specifically on the logistical arrangements for an upcoming meeting with William D. Ruckelshaus. This interaction served to coordinate the President's immediate calendar and ensure the presence of required participants for the subsequent appointment.
President Nixon met with William D. Ruckelshaus, John D. Ehrlichman, and Ronald L. Ziegler to finalize Ruckelshaus's appointment as Acting Director of the FBI following the resignation of L. Patrick Gray III. The President emphasized the need for a thorough, unbiased investigation into the Watergate scandal and directed Ruckelshaus to reorganize the Bureau and restore its integrity while a permanent director was sought. Ruckelshaus agreed to serve on an interim basis, with the participants coordinating the public announcement and strategy for fielding press inquiries regarding the transition.
President Nixon initiated a brief contact with the White House operator to facilitate a telephonic connection. The interaction was purely administrative in nature, serving as a functional step to reach an unnamed third party. No substantive policy discussions or significant political developments occurred during this short exchange.
President Richard Nixon met with Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen to discuss the ongoing investigation into the Watergate scandal and the status of potential evidence. The conversation centers on the President's frustration regarding uncorroborated information and his desire to control the investigative process to avoid political damage. Nixon emphasizes the need to manage the flow of information as the situation escalates, ultimately expressing concern over the implications of incriminating details surfacing.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull reviewed the President’s upcoming schedule to manage his workload and prioritize critical engagements. The discussion focused on streamlining the calendar by postponing various events, including meetings with the Labor-Management Advisory Committee and the National Association of Real Estate Boards. Nixon specifically directed the deferral of diplomatic credential ceremonies and meetings involving Representative Otto E. Passman to ensure his availability for higher-priority matters.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed the escalating Watergate crisis and the necessity of managing the potential departures of key staff members, specifically John Dean, H. R. Haldeman, and John Ehrlichman. Nixon pushed for the resignation or leave of absence of his aides to stabilize his administration and neutralize political threats, while emphasizing the need to maintain control over the narrative regarding their past conversations. They also evaluated internal staff loyalty and debated the content of a potential presidential speech to address the ongoing scandal.
President Nixon consulted with an unidentified individual regarding the timing of a meeting with Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. The participants reached a consensus to delay the interaction until after a specific, unspecified event referred to as the "breaking of the earth." This brief exchange underscores the President's deliberate orchestration of his daily schedule and media strategy during a period of heightened administrative volatility.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull and unidentified individuals to coordinate an urgent meeting with Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen. The participants focused on logistics for facilitating this discussion, with the President instructing his staff to secure Petersen’s presence at the White House immediately. The conversation highlights the administration's high-priority efforts to maintain direct communication with the Justice Department official overseeing the unfolding Watergate investigation.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull and Manolo Sanchez to review and streamline the upcoming presidential schedule, specifically concerning Congressional meetings and the logistics for West German Chancellor Willy Brandt’s state visit. The participants decided to scrub non-essential appointments to focus on key bipartisan leadership meetings and official diplomatic protocol. The discussion also touched on administrative coordination involving Henry E. Petersen and William E. Timmons regarding pending legislative matters.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler met to discuss alarming rumors circulating via journalists Seymour Hersh and Bob Woodward regarding the Watergate scandal. The reports suggested that John Dean might implicate the President and that Vice President Spiro Agnew was preparing to resign. Ziegler proposed a strategy to mitigate the media fallout by having aide David Gergen contact Woodward to dismiss the rumors as lacking substance and fact.
President Nixon met with Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen to address alarming reports from journalists Seymour Hersh and Bob Woodward that John Dean had implicated the President to Watergate prosecutors. Nixon expressed deep concern over these rumors and pressed Petersen to confirm whether the prosecutors had received such statements, specifically regarding the March 21, 1973, conversation concerning E. Howard Hunt’s demands. Petersen agreed to immediately contact the lead prosecutors to verify the information and reiterated his stance that his office lacked a mandate to investigate the presidency, asserting that such authority resided only with the House of Representatives.
President Nixon consulted with an unidentified individual regarding a telephone call made by Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen from the Cabinet Room. The brief exchange focused on technical or procedural aspects of the communication, specifically referencing the use of a "catapult" system. No further policy decisions or substantive outcomes were documented during this short meeting.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss the strategic handling of Haldeman’s and John Ehrlichman’s potential departures from the White House staff in the wake of the Watergate scandal. Haldeman conveys concerns from his legal counsel that resigning or taking a leave of absence could remove the protective 'mantle' of the White House and potentially influence grand jury decisions regarding future indictments. They weigh the optics of various options, ultimately considering a temporary leave of absence for the month of May to provide distance from the investigation while maintaining their positions.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman convened in the Oval Office to discuss the President's public right to provide an explanation regarding the escalating Watergate crisis. The conversation centered on strategies for managing executive communication and public perception as the administration faced mounting legal and political pressure. This discussion highlights the ongoing efforts by the President and his chief of staff to formulate a defense against the unfolding scandal.
President Nixon held a brief, unscheduled meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual. Given the lack of a transcript or descriptive records, the specific substance of the exchange remains unknown. The meeting lasted no longer than twenty-one minutes, concluding shortly before 6:04 pm.
President Nixon held a brief, informal meeting with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office while managing his active schedule. The dialogue centered on coordinating logistics regarding a telephone call involving Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen. No substantive policy discussions were recorded, as the exchange focused primarily on the status of ongoing communications.
President Nixon met with Assistant Attorney General Henry Petersen to discuss the ongoing Watergate investigation, specifically focusing on managing the legal fallout regarding White House staffers John Dean, H.R. Haldeman, and John Ehrlichman. Nixon sought to coordinate the investigation's pace to minimize political damage while pressuring Petersen to ensure that prosecutors pursue the truth aggressively without unfairly implicating the presidency. The conversation centered on the potential for staff resignations or leaves of absence, the credibility of witnesses like Dean, and concerns regarding leaks and threats of blackmail involving White House involvement in the cover-up.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate their strategy for handling the ongoing Watergate crisis, specifically focusing on the management of John Dean and the timing of their own potential leaves of absence. They discussed the necessity of distancing themselves from Dean, whom they viewed as a liability and a potential source of unpredictable attacks against the presidency. Nixon decided to finalize his own public statement for the following Monday, while instructing that Haldeman and Ehrlichman should take voluntary leaves of absence beforehand to project an image of institutional integrity. They ultimately agreed that Nixon should dismiss Dean from his position rather than allow him to resign or negotiate, aiming to maintain presidential control over the narrative and minimize further damage.
President Nixon met with his staff to coordinate his response to the intensifying Watergate scandal, specifically focusing on the drafting of a forthcoming public address and the management of White House personnel. The President discussed the impending forced resignations of H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman, the necessity of distancing his administration from John Dean, and the strategy of taking responsibility for staff conduct without engaging in public self-pity. Nixon emphasized the need for a firm tone to preserve the integrity of the presidency and decided to consult with his aides while planning a brief period of isolation to finalize his speech.
Henry A. Kissinger met with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to briefly discuss a matter involving a significant duration of time. Given the extremely limited duration of the recorded exchange, no specific policy decisions or substantive action items were documented. The conversation concluded abruptly within one minute, leaving the primary context of the meeting unclear.
An unidentified group of individuals met in the Oval Office to engage in an informal and cryptic discussion regarding themes of victory and religious conviction. The brief exchange centers on a philosophical or lighthearted disagreement concerning the identity of a 'winner,' ultimately invoking the figure of Jesus Christ. No policy decisions, administrative tasks, or substantive political developments are recorded during this interaction.
Unnamed United States Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office to conduct a technical check of the taping system equipment. The brief exchange consists primarily of testing audio levels and recording functionality. The agents also briefly discussed the weather forecast in preparation for the President’s upcoming travel.