Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 916
Nixon White House Tape 916 (May 11, 1973)
20 conversations · Oval Office · about 4 hr 49 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Haig, Kissinger, Yates
President Nixon met with an unknown individual to engage in an informal, brief interaction. The primary focus of the brief exchange involved a practical demonstration regarding a watch battery. No significant policy decisions or official administrative actions were recorded during this encounter.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to review his daily schedule. The primary focus of the discussion was arranging a potential telephone call with Canadian Prime Minister Pierre E. Trudeau. Bull left the meeting shortly thereafter to finalize these administrative details.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate a phone connection to a Senator. This brief interaction served as a logistical step for the President to initiate official legislative outreach. No further substantive policy discussions were recorded during this segment of the call.
President Nixon held a brief morning meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual to discuss his daily schedule. The primary focus of the exchange was the coordination of appointments, specifically involving William E. Timmons. The conversation concluded shortly before 8:27 am after the administrative matter was addressed.
President Nixon met with Nellie L. Yates in the Oval Office to coordinate his daily schedule. The discussion focused on administrative arrangements for upcoming meetings with staff members William E. Timmons and Ronald L. Ziegler. The brief encounter served to finalize the President's morning agenda.
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to review the President’s daily schedule. The brief discussion focused on coordinating upcoming meetings with key advisors, specifically Henry A. Kissinger and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. The exchange served as a routine administrative session to facilitate presidential staff accessibility and time management.
President Nixon held a brief, undocumented meeting in the Oval Office to request the presence of his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods. The primary purpose of this interaction was to secure her immediate assistance or consultation. No further details regarding the substantive nature of the discussion are preserved in the historical record.
President Nixon met with Ronald Ziegler to strategize the White House response to the escalating Watergate scandal, specifically addressing negative press coverage and the potential for a formal election reform initiative. The discussion focused on shifting public attention away from the scandal by emphasizing the administration's foreign policy achievements and the need to professionalize government communications through the Republican National Committee. Nixon directed Ziegler to pursue a strategy of full disclosure regarding the administration’s actions while framing Watergate within the context of previous political wiretapping practices and media manipulation.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discuss the potential resignation of Henry Kissinger and his future role as Secretary of State. The President considers the strategic timing of offering Kissinger the position to ensure political stability. The conversation focuses on navigating this sensitive cabinet transition and determining the best approach for delivering the offer.
President Nixon met briefly with his personal aide, Stephen B. Bull, to conduct administrative business in the Oval Office. The primary purpose of the meeting was for the President to sign the official Mother's Day Proclamation. The encounter was short, concluding immediately after the document was executed.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discussed strategies to manage the fallout from the Watergate scandal, specifically focusing on the upcoming Congressional hearings and potential revelations regarding unauthorized wiretaps. They strategized on how to frame past FBI wiretapping activities as standard national security protocols inherited from previous administrations rather than partisan misconduct. Additionally, they evaluated the political implications of replacing Secretary of State William Rogers with Henry Kissinger or John Connally, ultimately weighing Kissinger's professional indispensability against the political utility of a cabinet change.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to briefly discuss the scheduling arrangements of National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger. The short exchange provided no further details regarding specific foreign policy objectives or strategic decisions. The meeting concluded abruptly after the brief administrative consultation.
President Nixon held a brief meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual, during which National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger was also present. The discussion centered on matters involving Kissinger's location and schedule, though the limited recording provides minimal detail on broader policy objectives. The meeting concluded quickly, leaving no specific record of substantive decisions or follow-up actions.
In this meeting, President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and Secretary of State William Rogers discussed the administration's foreign policy strategy amidst the growing pressure of the Watergate scandal. The participants focused on preparing for an upcoming Soviet summit, managing ongoing negotiations regarding the Paris Peace talks and Cambodia, and evaluating personnel changes within the State Department. Despite concerns about domestic distractions and Congressional opposition, they emphasized the necessity of maintaining a firm stance in international negotiations, particularly regarding nuclear arms control and Southeast Asian stability.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. This routine interaction served to connect the President with an unnamed party. No substantive policy discussions or significant political decisions occurred during this brief communication.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discuss legal and public relations strategies regarding Watergate, specifically focusing on the potential impact of CIA memoranda (memcons) and wiretap evidence. The conversation centers on coordinating testimony from Lt. Gen. Vernon Walters to ensure it aligns with the administration's position that Nixon had no direct involvement in attempting to use the CIA to cover up the scandal. They determine that these documents must be withheld under executive privilege to prevent political damage and plan to instruct H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman on how to frame their upcoming interactions with investigators.
President Nixon met with John C. Slemp and Stephen B. Bull to host a brief social visit and photo session. The conversation centered on Slemp’s extensive background in religious journalism, his global travels, and his literary work. The President concluded the meeting by presenting Slemp with personal gifts, including an autographed pen and cufflinks.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to coordinate an upcoming meeting with H. R. Haldeman. The discussion focused on locating Haldeman, who was reportedly conferring with Lawrence M. Higby at the time. Bull facilitated the scheduling, confirming that Haldeman was nearby and ready to meet with the President.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman and Alexander Haig to strategize their defense regarding the Watergate investigation and the potential release of sensitive documents. The discussion centered on managing the implications of memoranda created by CIA Deputy Director Vernon Walters, which documented past interactions involving the President, Haldeman, John Ehrlichman, and John Dean. The group focused on shielding the administration from allegations of a cover-up by emphasizing national security concerns and framing the CIA’s involvement as a peripheral issue, while also ensuring that Haldeman and Ehrlichman’s forthcoming testimony remained consistent with their narrative.
An unidentified United States Secret Service agent entered the Oval Office to relay a request to President Nixon. The meeting took place while the President was managing his schedule, which included an appointment with Henry A. Kissinger. Because no transcript is available, the specific nature of the request remains unknown.