Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 915
Nixon White House Tape 915 (May 10, 1973)
23 conversations · Oval Office · about 2 hr 40 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Haig, Bull, Sanchez, Timmons
President Nixon and Alexander Haig met to strategize on the administration's response to the escalating Watergate crisis, focusing on managing public perception and protecting White House documents. They discussed the legal handling of materials belonging to H.R. Haldeman, Charles Colson, and John Ehrlichman, as well as the importance of maintaining a unified front to counter allegations of presidential involvement. Additionally, the pair evaluated personnel matters, including the confirmation of Elliot Richardson as Attorney General and the potential for a counter-offensive by leveraging information on previous administrations' abuses of power.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to briefly coordinate his daily schedule. The primary focus of the discussion concerned the President's upcoming meetings with Congressional leaders. The encounter concluded quickly, serving as a brief administrative update on the President's legislative outreach agenda.
President Nixon met with his valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office to address domestic needs. The primary purpose of the brief interaction was to arrange for refreshments, specifically discussing the number of coffees to be served. No significant political or policy decisions were reached during this exchange.
President Nixon met with Republican congressional leaders and key aides to discuss strategies for managing the fallout from the Watergate scandal and controlling the political narrative. The group focused on coordinating a response to the upcoming Senate Ervin Committee hearings, specifically addressing the risks posed by potential testimony from grand jury witnesses, and explored launching a bipartisan "blue ribbon" commission on campaign finance reform to seize the legislative initiative. Additionally, the President reviewed pending administrative appointments, including the nomination of Elliot Richardson as Attorney General and the selection of William Colby to lead the CIA, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining consistent, public support from Republican allies.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate the President's schedule and finalize preparations for the recording of audio messages. The discussion focused on logistics for the upcoming taping session and the status of an expected visitor. Nixon directed Bull to facilitate the necessary arrangements to ensure the recordings proceeded as planned.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to finalize preparations for recording an official audio message. The participants reviewed necessary documentation and confirmed the readiness of the technical equipment required for the production. Following these brief logistical arrangements, the meeting concluded to allow the recording session to proceed.
President Nixon held a brief, ten-minute meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual. Due to the lack of an available transcript or administrative record, the specific subject matter and any resulting directives remain undocumented. The encounter concluded without further clarification regarding the nature of the President's private discussions.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate administrative logistics regarding his daily schedule. The primary focus of the brief discussion involved arranging appointments with key staff members H. R. Haldeman and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. Bull acknowledged the instructions and confirmed he would facilitate the requested outreach to these officials.
President Nixon met with Alexander Haig and Ronald Ziegler to coordinate White House messaging regarding administrative reorganization and the ongoing fallout from the Watergate scandal. The participants discussed strategies to project a positive image, including how to brief the press on the advisory roles of presidential counselors and the formation of cabinet committees. They also addressed the legal implications of the John Dean situation, specifically aiming to emphasize reports that lacked evidence linking the President to the scandal while preparing for upcoming Congressional hearings.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to conduct a review of the President's upcoming daily schedule. The two men discussed logistical arrangements and the management of the President's time. No other policy matters or significant executive decisions were recorded during this brief administrative session.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office to receive refreshments. During this brief encounter, the President adjusted his plans regarding a previously mentioned call from his daughter, Lisa. The interaction was limited to routine personal services and internal scheduling matters.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to discuss strategic planning regarding the ongoing Watergate scandal, focusing heavily on legal defense preparations and the upcoming Senate hearings. They evaluated the status of John Dean’s potential testimony, the management of legal fees for White House staff through the Committee to Re-Elect the President, and the importance of maintaining a consistent public stance regarding White House involvement. Additionally, the two discussed post-administration employment prospects for Haldeman and John Ehrlichman, emphasizing the necessity of securing continued security clearances and access to files for historical documentation.
President Nixon met with an unknown individual to coordinate logistical arrangements for an upcoming swearing-in ceremony. The discussion focused on the involvement of the press, the potential participation of Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler, and the necessary preparation of a Bible for the event. The conversation concluded with the President finalizing the administrative sequence for the ceremony.
President Nixon met with Michael P. Balzano and a group of his family and associates in the Oval Office to conduct a ceremonial swearing-in for Balzano. The brief interaction included photo opportunities with the press and the presentation of commemorative gifts, such as presidential cufflinks and pins. The conversation centered on the logistical arrangements for the ceremony and expressions of pride regarding Balzano's new leadership role.
President Nixon met briefly with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to provide instructions regarding a specific, unspecified person. The dialogue consists solely of the President's command to "take him," indicating a directive for action. The meeting concluded within minutes, leaving the identity of the parties and the nature of the assignment ambiguous.
President Nixon met with Gene Taylor, Dewey J. Short, and William E. Timmons to discuss strategies for maintaining public and political support amidst the growing Watergate scandal. Participants emphasized the administration's policy achievements, such as ending the Vietnam War and the military draft, while contrasting these successes against Democratic political tactics. The conversation served as a morale-boosting session where allies reaffirmed their loyalty and discussed the necessity of framing the President's legacy within a broader, more positive context.
President Nixon met with an unknown individual in the Oval Office to facilitate a request initiated by Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. The conversation was brief and focused on the arrival of Ron Sanders for an appointment with the President. No further policy or administrative developments were recorded during this short interaction.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to discuss briefing preparations for Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. The conversation focused on managing potential questions and answers during upcoming media engagements. No further substantive details regarding policy or strategy were recorded due to the brevity and indistinct nature of the exchange.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to discuss logistical arrangements regarding the President’s personal schedule and the handling of a briefcase. The primary action item involved the transfer of this briefcase to the Executive Office Building. The meeting concluded shortly after these administrative instructions were conveyed.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig met to strategize on the Watergate crisis, specifically discussing the selection of a Special Prosecutor and managing the administration's legal and public relations response. They evaluated potential candidates, including Warren E. Hearnes, and considered how to neutralize political pressure from the Ervin Committee and critics. Nixon emphasized the importance of maintaining a firm stance on executive privilege and directed staff to accelerate work on campaign finance reform to shift public narrative.
President Nixon held a brief, nine-minute meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified male visitor. Aside from a brief reference to refreshments, the specific substance of the discussion remains unrecorded and unavailable in the archival transcript. Consequently, no significant policy decisions or actionable outcomes can be determined from this interaction.
An unknown individual engaged in an Oval Office discussion with President Nixon regarding the status of an ongoing inquiry. Although specific details remain limited due to the absence of a transcript, the participants focused on administrative or legal developments related to presidential oversight. The session concluded without documented formal resolutions, leaving the nature of the inquiry and its implications for the administration largely speculative.
Technical staff or aides met in the Oval Office to verify the operational status of the recording or audio equipment. The participants focused on ensuring the readiness of the recording system, including checking line connections for an upcoming audio message. The brief exchange concluded once the system was confirmed to be functioning properly.