Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 908
Nixon White House Tape 908 (May 1, 1973)
28 conversations · Oval Office · about 4 hr 17 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Ziegler, Woods, United States Secret Service agents
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull and staff members, including Nellie L. Yates, to coordinate his daily schedule and manage administrative logistics. The conversation focused on upcoming cabinet meetings, the scheduling of various briefings, and the handling of departmental correspondence and materials. Throughout the meeting, the President attended to routine office matters, including securing specific writing supplies and briefly discussing personal grooming and appearances with staff.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to review his upcoming schedule, specifically regarding meeting times with staff and planned travel to Florida. They coordinated logistics for the Labor-Management Advisory Committee meeting and finalized the timing for a Cabinet session. Nixon directed adjustments to his departure plans, prioritizing an abbreviated staff briefing before his trip.
President Nixon met with William E. Timmons and William J. Baroody, Jr. to discuss the administration's political strategy and public messaging following his April 30 speech regarding the Watergate scandal. The President emphasized the need for his staff to maintain an upbeat, aggressive demeanor while navigating congressional inquiries and the potential appointment of a special prosecutor by Elliot Richardson. Nixon specifically directed the team to monitor staff members like W. Richard Howard to ensure they remained focused and avoided legal exposure as the administration braced for continued political pressure.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to discuss the reorganization of White House staff and communication protocols following the recent departures of H. R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman. Nixon established clear administrative boundaries, delegating domestic policy coordination to Kenneth R. Cole, Jr. and directing Bull and Rose Mary Woods to manage scheduling for personal friends and VIP contacts. The conversation also touched upon the necessity of monitoring public and VIP reaction to the President's recent Watergate speech.
President Nixon met with Kenneth R. Cole, Jr. to discuss the restructuring of domestic policy operations following the departure of John D. Ehrlichman. Nixon instructed Cole to streamline the administrative process by requiring staff to formalize recommendations into position papers before seeking presidential review. The two also discussed the political aftermath of the Watergate scandal, with Cole commending Nixon's April 30th address as a necessary step toward refocusing the administration on national governance.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to prepare for an upcoming session with key bipartisan Congressional leaders. The discussion focused on coordinating the attendance of Senators Mike Mansfield, Robert C. Byrd, and J. William Fulbright for the scheduled meeting. This brief encounter served as a final logistical confirmation for the President’s impending engagement with these prominent legislators.
President Nixon met briefly with an unidentified individual to coordinate the logistics of Gerald R. Ford’s pending arrival at the Oval Office. The participants engaged in a short exchange regarding scheduling adjustments and the timing of the Congressman's appearance. No substantive policy matters were discussed during this encounter, which served primarily as a brief administrative update on the President's daily agenda.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discussed public and media reactions to the Watergate scandal following the President's recent address. Nixon expressed confidence in his core base of support, citing positive wire service reports and favorable sentiment among middle-class voters. The two emphasized the need to maintain a composed, forward-looking strategy rather than fixating on the ongoing political crisis.
President Nixon met briefly with an unidentified individual to coordinate minor scheduling adjustments. The discussion centered on managing the President's upcoming agenda, specifically regarding the arrival of West German Chancellor Willy Brandt and a meeting with personal secretary Rose Mary Woods. The brief exchange resulted in the implementation of a short delay to accommodate these priority appointments.
President Nixon met briefly with an unidentified individual to discuss logistical details regarding an upcoming engagement with West German Chancellor Willy Brandt. The brief exchange focused on coordinating the protocol for the President's meeting with the Chancellor as he arrived at the White House. No major policy decisions were reached during this short interaction.
President Nixon and Rose Mary Woods discussed the management of his presidential schedule, emphasizing the need for stricter screening of appointments and visitor access to minimize distractions. The conversation further addressed the administration's reaction to Nixon's April 30 Watergate speech, with the two reviewing incoming phone calls and feedback from prominent supporters. Nixon expressed personal frustration regarding Vice President Spiro Agnew's conduct and discussed his reliance on Woods to organize incoming correspondence and messages during this period of political pressure.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to coordinate the agenda for an upcoming visit with West German Chancellor Willy Brandt. The discussion centered on discouraging European efforts to weaken defense ties with the United States via the European Security Conference, with Nixon emphasizing the importance of keeping Europe aligned with American security interests. This strategic messaging was intended to bolster Brandt’s domestic political position against leftist factions within his own government.
President Nixon met with West German Chancellor Willy Brandt to discuss the future of U.S.-European relations, specifically addressing NATO, the "Year of Europe," and strategies for maintaining a unified front amid emerging U.S. isolationism. The conversation covered sensitive geopolitical issues including the Mutual and Balanced Force Reduction (MBFR) negotiations, the potential for a formal summit in Brussels, and the ongoing complexities of Middle Eastern peace efforts and global energy dependence. Both leaders emphasized the necessity of managing domestic public opinion while maintaining a firm, realistic posture toward the Soviet Union to prevent the division of the Western alliance.
President Nixon held a brief, one-minute meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual. Due to the lack of transcript content or discernible dialogue beyond a brief acknowledgment, the specific purpose and substantive outcomes of this encounter remain unrecorded. Consequently, no policy decisions or action items can be attributed to this exchange.
President Nixon met with Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler to coordinate the White House's public communications strategy following the President's April 30 speech addressing the Watergate scandal. The discussion focused on maintaining a firm, confident public stance while directing Ziegler to avoid substantive commentary on the ongoing investigation, as advised by Elliot Richardson and Leonard Garment. Nixon emphasized the need to project presidential strength and instructed Ziegler to highlight that the administration is continuing its regular business, including an upcoming Cabinet meeting.
President Nixon and his secretary, Rose Mary Woods, reviewed correspondence and reports concerning the public and political reaction to the President's April 30, 1973, televised address regarding the Watergate scandal. They discussed various supporters and critics, specifically noting concerns about Senator Charles Percy’s advocacy for a special prosecutor and the supportive messages received from family and political allies. The discussion served as an informal status update on the administration's political standing and the incoming volume of communications during the crisis.
President Nixon directed his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to immediately remove FBI agents stationed in White House offices to ensure their presence was less visible. Concerned about the optics and security of these personnel, Nixon ordered that any necessary interactions with the agents occur within their assigned office rather than in public view. Bull acknowledged these instructions, confirming that the agents would be removed from the general office areas.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to briefly discuss his official schedule. The conversation focused on logistical arrangements concerning an upcoming Cabinet meeting. The meeting concluded quickly, with the guest departing shortly thereafter.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to discuss strategies for handling legal challenges, specifically regarding the handling of presidential papers and the refusal of a subpoena. Nixon asserted that his records were protected by national security claims and insisted they should be submitted through alternative channels rather than handed over directly. The conversation concluded with Nixon directing Bull to coordinate with William P. Rogers to manage the situation.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, discuss the implementation of attendance limits for White House staff at official social events. The conversation focuses specifically on the guest list for the upcoming state dinner for West German Chancellor Willy Brandt. During the discussion, they evaluate the inclusion of Peter M. Flanigan, noting his involvement in ongoing treaty negotiations.
President Nixon met with Secretary of State William P. Rogers to discuss the handling of sensitive files belonging to departing aides H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman amid the ongoing Watergate investigation. Nixon expressed strong disapproval of the presence of FBI guards outside the aides' offices, characterizing the optics as unprofessional and damaging. The participants discussed ensuring the security and custody of these records to prevent unauthorized access by figures like John Dean, while also touching upon the political silence of Vice President Spiro Agnew.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull discussed concerns regarding the presence and conduct of FBI guards stationed within White House offices, expressing worry that their visibility might invite negative press speculation among the staff. Nixon emphasized the need for better control over the situation to prevent further rumors or internal unrest. Additionally, the pair coordinated logistics for upcoming appointments, including a scheduled meeting with Roy Ash.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to review and organize the President’s daily calendar. The discussion focused primarily on coordinating an upcoming meeting between Nixon and Vice President Spiro T. Agnew. This consultation served as a logistical planning session for the President's late afternoon engagements.
President Nixon met with Vice President Spiro Agnew to discuss insulating the Vice President from the growing Watergate scandal and to strategically realign his role within the administration. Nixon explicitly instructed Agnew to remain silent regarding the investigation to avoid being ensnared by the press or the special prosecutor. To enhance Agnew's standing and involvement, Nixon decided to appoint him as Vice Chairman of the Domestic Council and include him in 'Quadriad' economic meetings, while tasking Kenneth Cole with facilitating these new intergovernmental responsibilities.
An unidentified group convened in the Oval Office for a brief meeting characterized by minimal audible dialogue. The interaction primarily involved procedural exchanges and polite closing remarks. No substantive policy discussions, strategic decisions, or administrative actions were recorded during this segment.
President Nixon met with unidentified United States Secret Service agents in the Oval Office to conduct routine administrative matters. The brief interaction included the President greeting the agents and discussing logistical details regarding his schedule, specifically concerning his departure for home and his time spent in the office. No substantive policy decisions were reached during this exchange, which concluded with the agents' departure.
United States Secret Service agents met with an unknown woman in the Oval Office to discuss scheduling and the President's location. The participants exchanged brief remarks regarding a previous task, characterized by the phrase "good job." The brief, inconclusive interaction concluded with an agreement between the parties before the recording terminated.
United States Secret Service agents convened in the Oval Office to discuss administrative or security matters regarding the conclusion of operations. The brief, cryptic exchange centered on the finalization of their tasks. No major policy decisions were recorded during this brief encounter.