Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 909
Nixon White House Tape 909 (May 2, 1973)
34 conversations · Oval Office · about 5 hr 59 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Ziegler, Bull, Cole, Rogers
President Nixon held a brief, unscheduled meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual, potentially Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. Due to the lack of an available transcript and the extremely short duration of the recording, the specific subject matter remains undocumented. No formal policy decisions or concrete action items were captured during this three-minute interval.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler met to discuss the administration's ongoing public relations and legal strategy regarding the Watergate scandal, specifically focusing on the Ellsberg break-in and subsequent press scrutiny. Nixon emphasized that he maintained the same official position—declining to comment on the break-in to avoid prejudicing ongoing court cases—while Ziegler strategized on how to manage media inquiries and leaks. The pair also discussed the need for Nixon to take a trip to Florida to rest due to the extreme workload and strain caused by the scandal, and explored how future structural changes to the White House staff could help regain control of the narrative.
President Nixon met with Vice President Agnew and his key economic advisors to assess the national economy, focusing on rising inflation and the status of the Phase III wage and price control program. The group evaluated the success of recent industrial wage settlements, particularly in the meatpacking industry, and discussed the potential necessity of fiscal and monetary restraint to avoid a future recession. The President and his team ultimately decided against implementing a new price freeze while considering the political feasibility of a variable investment tax credit with Congressional leaders.
President Nixon met with his personal aide, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office to address administrative matters. The brief discussion primarily concerned the scheduling of National Security Advisor Henry A. Kissinger. No other substantive policy issues or significant developments were recorded during this interaction.
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to review administrative logistics regarding his personal schedule and upcoming appointments. During the brief discussion, the President emphasized the need for strict confidentiality, specifically instructing Bull to maintain silence regarding his movements. The meeting concluded with Nixon providing instructions for later coordination, including plans to visit his daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to coordinate foreign policy messaging and prepare for upcoming diplomatic engagements, specifically Kissinger’s trip to Moscow to negotiate bilateral agreements and a nuclear treaty. The conversation addressed the logistical handling of a foreign policy report and the necessity of maintaining operational secrecy regarding Vietnam negotiations despite internal bureaucracy. Furthermore, they discussed the political fallout of the Watergate scandal, specifically evaluating the appointment of Elliot Richardson and the public perception of the administration's ongoing investigations.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate the timing of a public announcement regarding George H.W. Bush. The conversation centered on relaying information from John B. Connally concerning when this announcement would be released. Nixon sought confirmation of the scheduled timing, reflecting the administration's focus on managing the optics of personnel-related disclosures.
President Nixon met with John B. Connally to discuss the favorable public reception following the President’s recent televised address regarding the Watergate scandal. The exchange served as a brief morale-boosting session, with Nixon commending Connally for his loyalty and steadfast support during a period of intense political pressure. No substantive policy decisions were made, as the interaction focused primarily on personal rapport and mutual encouragement.
President Nixon met briefly with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to facilitate a meeting with White House Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. The conversation was exceptionally brief, serving primarily to arrange contact between the participant and Ziegler. No further substantive policy discussions were recorded during this short encounter.
President Nixon held a brief communication with a White House operator to facilitate a phone connection. The exchange served as a routine administrative task to manage presidential correspondence or scheduling. No substantive policy discussions or significant political developments occurred during this short interaction.
President Nixon met with Ronald Ziegler and H.R. Haldeman to address the public relations fallout and procedural concerns regarding FBI guards placed in the offices of Haldeman and John Ehrlichman. Ziegler briefed the President on his consultations with Leonard Garment, Elliot Richardson, and William Ruckelshaus, asserting that these actions would bolster the President's image by projecting strength and a commitment to a transparent investigation. The participants also touched upon press arrangements for an upcoming foreign policy briefing and discussed the political courage required for John B. Connally’s impending announcement regarding his party affiliation.
President Nixon held a brief, informal communication with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. This exchange served a purely administrative purpose to connect the President with another party. No substantive policy discussions or political decisions were recorded during this brief administrative interaction.
President Nixon held a brief morning meeting in the Oval Office with Ronald L. Ziegler and an unidentified man. While the specific substance of the dialogue remains unrecorded, the discussion occurred amidst the escalating pressures of the Watergate scandal. The meeting concluded quickly, with the unknown visitor departing shortly before 10:14 am.
President Nixon met briefly with his daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, in the Oval Office to discuss personal family matters. The vast majority of the recording is comprised of a withdrawn segment classified as personal and returnable material. Consequently, no substantive policy or administrative developments were recorded during this brief interaction.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discuss strategies to manage the Watergate narrative, specifically by denying any presidential involvement in or discussions regarding clemency for involved parties. They also address the Daniel Ellsberg psychiatrist break-in, with Nixon asserting he was unaware of the operation until March 1973 and defending his administration's surveillance activities as necessary for national security. Additionally, Nixon instructs Ziegler on how to frame his public interactions to emphasize that the President was focused on governing rather than political maneuvering.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to coordinate his upcoming schedule, specifically focusing on remarks for the 'New Majority' dinner and potential travel plans to Florida. They discussed the themes for the dinner speech, with Nixon emphasizing a focus on peace and long-term administrative goals while explicitly excluding mentions of the Watergate scandal. Additionally, the pair reviewed logistical details regarding future church attendance and the possibility of televising a peace service.
President Nixon met with Secretary of State William P. Rogers to discuss the need for a new legal counsel to handle mounting administrative and legal pressures. The conversation centered on the importance of expressing confidence in Attorney General Elliot Richardson regarding his dealings with the Senate, as well as the search for a seasoned, trusted individual to serve as a personal legal advisor. Nixon expressed urgency in finding a candidate who could operate independently of White House staff to navigate these sensitive government matters.
President Nixon held a brief meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual, who appeared to be coordinating personnel matters. The discussion focused primarily on facilitating a meeting between the President and Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. No other substantive policy issues or administrative decisions were captured during this short exchange.
President Nixon initiated a brief communication with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. The interaction served as a routine administrative step to connect the President with another party. No substantive policy discussions or significant political developments occurred during this brief exchange.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler coordinate the logistical details for an upcoming meeting with West German officials, including Chancellor Willy Brandt and Foreign Minister Walter Scheel. The discussion focuses on scheduling a photo opportunity to occur at the end of the session to avoid any appearance of conflict. Additionally, the pair briefly touches upon administrative concerns, including the roles of Vice President Spiro Agnew and John Connally, alongside ongoing developments regarding the Watergate scandal and Cabinet-level appointments.
President Nixon and Kenneth R. Cole, Jr. met to discuss potential candidates to replace John W. Dean, III as White House counsel. The conversation focused on the qualifications required for the role, specifically evaluating Edward L. Morgan as a potential candidate due to his reputation as a solid thinker and his limited involvement in campaign activities. Nixon expressed concerns about pulling Morgan from his critical duties as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, ultimately directing Cole to consult with others regarding Morgan’s suitability and recommendations.
President Nixon met with Thomas Hart to coordinate logistical details for an upcoming visit from West German Chancellor Willy Brandt. The discussion focused on finalizing the meeting schedule and clarifying the roles and attendance of Secretary of State William P. Rogers and National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger. They specifically reviewed the timing of a planned photo opportunity to ensure smooth transitions for the participating officials.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, to discuss logistical arrangements within the Oval Office. Their brief consultation focused on the removal of an unspecified item and coordination regarding the President's upcoming schedule. The exchange primarily centered on the practical administration of Nixon's private affairs, specifically mentioning a planned interaction with Julie Nixon Eisenhower.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to coordinate logistics regarding a potential meeting with West German Chancellor Willy Brandt. The discussion focused primarily on determining Brandt's current location and scheduling details for a forthcoming encounter. No further administrative or policy decisions were documented during the brief interaction.
President Nixon met with West German Chancellor Willy Brandt, along with their respective foreign ministers and advisors, to discuss geopolitical strategy, international trade, and energy policy. The participants engaged in a detailed review of East-West relations, focusing on Soviet adherence to the Four Power Agreement regarding Berlin, strategies for the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), and West Germany’s upcoming entry into the United Nations. Additionally, the group addressed the necessity of coordinating energy and oil policies with Japan and the European Community, while exploring diplomatic paths for a Middle East peace settlement despite the complexities surrounding Israeli elections and Soviet involvement.
President Nixon and William P. Rogers met to discuss the staffing of the White House Counsel position following the resignations of H. R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman, as well as the ongoing management of the Watergate scandal. The two evaluated potential candidates for Counsel—including George H. W. Bush, John W. Byrnes, and others—emphasizing the need for a candidate with legal expertise who could effectively manage Cabinet and Congressional relations. Furthermore, they reviewed the search for a Special Prosecutor to handle the difficult legal proceedings involving high-level administration officials, ultimately favoring individuals with strong integrity and non-partisan backgrounds.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman met to coordinate a strategy regarding Egil "Bud" Krogh, Jr., who was seeking to provide an affidavit concerning the break-in at Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office. They discussed the necessity of establishing that the break-in yielded no usable intelligence and that the President had no prior knowledge of the operation. Nixon instructed Ehrlichman to ensure Krogh communicated to Attorney General Elliot Richardson that he—and others within the Justice Department—had been aware of the break-in details, such as the photographs of G. Gordon Liddy, well before the President was officially briefed.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to discuss scheduling matters. The primary focus of the meeting was coordinating the President’s upcoming agenda, specifically regarding an appointment with John D. Ehrlichman. No further policy discussions or significant executive actions were recorded during this brief administrative session.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman met to discuss the mounting political and legal pressures surrounding the Watergate investigation, with a primary focus on the potential exposure of the White House-sanctioned 'Plumbers' unit. They reviewed the implications of Egil Krogh's forthcoming affidavit and debated how to manage their prior knowledge of the Daniel Ellsberg break-in while maintaining a defensible stance before the Justice Department and prosecutor Henry Petersen. The two men coordinated their strategy for handling Attorney General Elliot Richardson and expressed shared concern regarding the potential legal jeopardy faced by Krogh and the need to protect him from unfair prosecution.
President Nixon met with Representative Otto Passman, Dr. John Hannah, and William Timmons to discuss strategies for passing foreign aid legislation in Congress. Passman, a long-time skeptic of foreign aid grants, proposed converting aid into long-term, low-interest development loans to make the legislation more palatable to lawmakers. Passman argued that this structural shift would ensure congressional support for aid programs, including potential assistance for North Vietnam, and pledged his personal efforts to secure the bill's passage.
President Nixon met with George P. Shultz in the Oval Office to coordinate the President's upcoming schedule. The discussion centered on logistics for an impending Labor-Management Advisory Committee meeting. No significant policy decisions were recorded during this brief administrative session.
Secret Service agents visited the Oval Office to perform technical maintenance or inspections related to the White House taping system. The brief interaction focused on verifying the functionality and clarity of the recording equipment. No substantive political or policy discussions occurred during this technical check.
Two unidentified individuals met in the Oval Office to confer while President Nixon was located in the Cabinet Room. The nature of their discussion remains obscure due to the lack of an available transcript and the absence of identified participants. Consequently, no specific policy decisions, tactical developments, or actionable outcomes can be verified from this recorded interaction.
This recording captures a brief ten-minute meeting in the Oval Office involving President Nixon and unidentified participants. Due to the lack of a transcript or finding aid, the specific substance of the discussion remains undocumented. As a result, no definitive policy decisions, developments, or action items can be attributed to this interaction.