Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 917
Nixon White House Tape 917 (May 14, 1973)
44 conversations · Oval Office · about 5 hr 44 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Higby, Woods, Ziegler
President Nixon held a brief, informal meeting with an unidentified male visitor in the Oval Office. The primary purpose of the encounter was the visitor's request for a subsequent meeting with White House Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. Following this brief interaction, the unidentified man departed the office.
President Nixon met with Ronald Ziegler, Alexander Haig, and Lawrence Higby to discuss the ongoing fallout from the Watergate scandal and manage the White House's public relations strategy. They addressed the intensifying pressure surrounding John Dean’s allegations, the potential for impeachment, and the legal implications of White House files and intelligence activities. Nixon emphasized a strategy of holding the line, challenging Dean’s credibility, and maintaining administrative operations despite the investigation's encroachment on his staff and records.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met briefly in the Oval Office to discuss administrative logistics and scheduling. The primary action item involved a request for a meeting with Lawrence M. Higby. Additionally, the two engaged in brief casual conversation regarding the weather and weekend plans.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to review administrative matters, specifically focusing on Lawrence M. Higby’s schedule. During the brief session, the President also attended to the signing of a document concerning a foundation. The meeting concluded with no further developments recorded before Bull's departure.
President Nixon met with Lawrence Higby to discuss the location and existence of specific political memoranda that might have been shared with John Dean or H.R. Haldeman. Concerned about the potential impact of these documents in the context of the Watergate investigation, Nixon instructed Higby to verify their existence by consulting secretaries Beverly Kaye and Rose Mary Woods. The conversation also touched upon the sensitivity of national security documents mentioned by Dean in court and potential unauthorized activities involving E. Howard Hunt.
President Nixon met with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to discuss the management and security of sensitive documents, specifically memos and John D. Ehrlichman's diaries related to the ongoing Watergate investigation. Nixon instructed Woods to verify the contents of their files and retrieve certain personal dictated notes to ensure they were kept separate from official records. The conversation also touched upon the climate of the administration, with Woods offering personal support and encouragement to the President as he navigated the mounting political crisis.
President Nixon held a brief administrative conversation with a White House operator to facilitate a telephonic connection. This interaction served a routine communication purpose, as the President utilized the operator to initiate a subsequent call. No substantive policy discussions or major decisions occurred during this brief exchange.
President Nixon and Lawrence Higby discussed the integrity and control of internal White House documents and potential records related to the Watergate scandal. Nixon expressed deep concern over the handling of sensitive materials and instructed Higby to verify the origin and distribution of specific files and copies. The exchange highlights the President's anxiety regarding the potential paper trail and his efforts to manage internal information security during the investigation.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, met to organize and review sensitive records, including Presidential memoranda and dictabelt tapes relevant to the Watergate investigation. The President reviewed specific files and dictabelt content to manage and verify the filing procedures for these materials. During the meeting, they established instructions for the handling and marking of these tapes to maintain control over the documentation.
President Nixon and an unidentified aide discuss the political impact of recent public statements made by Clay T. Whitehead and Kevin Phillips regarding administration policy. They conclude that while these individuals are advancing the administration's goals, their inflammatory rhetoric has become counterproductive. The conversation concludes with the President requesting copies of relevant materials and reviewing taped recordings to manage future appearances and public messaging.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, met to conduct a review of specific dictabelt recordings related to the Watergate scandal. The discussion centered on organizing and verifying the chronological date ranges of these sensitive materials. This effort was part of the administration's internal process for managing and cataloging evidence during the unfolding investigation.
President Nixon utilized this session to review and listen to content from a previously recorded dictabelt tape. The discussion centered on appointments, specifically focusing on the involvement of ethnic groups and minorities within the political landscape. The meeting concluded with instructions for H.R. Haldeman regarding the follow-up on these administrative and personnel-related matters.
President Nixon reviewed personal dictabelt recordings from mid-March 1973 with an unknown participant to reflect on past events. The discussion revisited the President's preparations for his March 15th press conference and a subsequent meeting with Senator Hugh Scott at Camp David. The session served as a retrospective analysis of political strategy and internal challenges faced during that period.
President Nixon reviews past instructions intended for H.R. Haldeman regarding George H.W. Bush by listening to previously recorded dictabelt tapes. He also consults with George P. Shultz to discuss ongoing difficulties concerning the Labor Management Committee and the composition of its membership. The pair evaluates international economic affairs and specific administrative memos to address current organizational challenges.
President Nixon reviewed personal dictabelt recordings and memos to document his internal thoughts and prior communications regarding the unfolding Watergate scandal. He assessed the legal and political vulnerabilities of key staff members, including H.R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman, and John Dean, while considering potential legal strategies involving immunity and clemency. The session served as a retrospective evaluation of his administration's handling of the crisis and his efforts to establish a clear record of his knowledge and decision-making.
President Nixon met with an unknown individual to request the retrieval of specific memoranda. The brief exchange focused on securing documentation relevant to ongoing administrative business or inquiries. No further context or policy decisions were documented during this short interaction.
President Richard Nixon met with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to discuss the organization and status of sensitive Watergate-related memoranda. The conversation focused on distinguishing between internal files and documents prepared for distribution, including materials originating from Camp David. Nixon confirmed that the records were properly accounted for and verified, indicating the completion of a review process regarding these sensitive papers.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler met to coordinate the White House response to upcoming media reports concerning the Pentagon Papers investigation and wiretapping activities. Nixon instructed Ziegler to frame the administration's involvement in the Egil Krogh-led investigation as a routine, legitimate national security measure. The two also discussed the status of presidential files and sought to downplay the administration's prior knowledge of sensitive intelligence activities by emphasizing the President's lack of personal recollection of specific documents.
President Nixon met with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to discuss sensitive files related to the Watergate investigation. The brief interaction focused on the President's assessment of these documents and their management. No specific action items were recorded beyond the handling and review of these materials.
President Nixon met with unidentified individuals to finalize the logistical details for an upcoming bill-signing ceremony involving Vera Clemente. The discussion focused on coordinating the press relations and event participants, specifically noting the involvement of Senator Hugh Scott and baseball players Willie Stargell and Manny Sanguillen. The primary objective was to facilitate the presentation of a commemorative medal, with proceeds directed toward the Roberto Clemente Memorial Fund.
President Nixon held a brief, routine communication with the White House operator while in the Oval Office. The interaction served to facilitate administrative connectivity, as the President utilized the operator to initiate or manage telephonic communications. No substantive policy matters or major historical developments were recorded during this brief exchange.
President Nixon met with aide Lawrence M. Higby to briefly discuss the status of a requested report and the administrative handling of presidential correspondence. Nixon inquired about specific documentation regarding his expressed concerns over public demonstrations. The conversation concluded without a definitive resolution, reflecting the President's ongoing preoccupation with political optics during the Watergate era.
President Nixon hosted Vera Clemente, widow of baseball legend Roberto Clemente, alongside several legislators and fellow professional athletes to honor the late humanitarian and star outfielder. The meeting focused on the formal signing of H.R. 3841, a bipartisan bill authorizing a commemorative medal in Clemente’s honor. During the ceremony, the President presented the Citizen’s Medal to Mrs. Clemente, offered commemorative gifts for her children, and coordinated photographs with the attendees.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to discuss a specific, crudely described anecdote or story. The conversation briefly addressed this narrative before the visitor departed. No policy decisions or substantive administrative actions were recorded during this brief encounter.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office to coordinate the logistics and schedule for an upcoming bipartisan congressional leadership meeting. They reviewed the guest list, which included notable figures such as John B. Connally, Elliot L. Richardson, and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. The discussion centered on finalizing the administration of the meeting, including confirming attendee lists and relevant legislative contacts.
President Nixon met with Lawrence Higby and Alexander Haig to discuss the unfolding Watergate scandal, focusing on the potential legal vulnerabilities of H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman. Nixon expressed concerns regarding the motives and credibility of John Dean, specifically speculating about his possession of sensitive files and his efforts to secure immunity. The participants assessed the likely impact of forthcoming Ervin Committee testimony, emphasizing the need to maintain executive privilege and protect the administration from legal fallout.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig met to strategize the administration's response to the Watergate scandal, specifically focusing on managing the public statements of William Ruckelshaus and mitigating the impact of documents held by John Dean. They discussed the necessity of distancing the President from specific FBI and White House activities involving J. Edgar Hoover and William C. Sullivan. Nixon expressed relief after a review of his own files and private memoranda confirmed that no evidence existed linking him directly to the controversial actions under scrutiny.
President Nixon held a brief, six-minute meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual to discuss an unspecified matter involving a third party still present at a different location. The exchange remained elliptical, providing no clear insight into the specific subject matter or subsequent action items beyond confirming the status of the individual in question. Due to the lack of context and the nature of the transcript, the primary intent of this brief encounter remains indeterminate.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to discuss the status of Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler, who was currently engaged in a lengthy press briefing. The participants briefly noted that Ziegler was facing a high volume of questions from the press corps. No major policy decisions were made during this short exchange, which focused primarily on scheduling updates.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to coordinate logistical matters involving Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. The discussion focused on scheduling a press briefing and facilitating a meeting at Ziegler’s office in the Executive Office Building. The participants also briefly addressed the status of ongoing tasks and potential outreach to a third party.
President Nixon met with Nelson Rockefeller, Russell Peterson, and Kenneth Cole to discuss the progress of Rockefeller’s Commission on Critical Choices for Americans, emphasizing the need for bipartisanship and the selection of high-profile contributors. During the discussion, Nixon and Rockefeller pivoted to the Watergate scandal, with Nixon dismissing the involvement of his inner circle as the actions of "cheap crooks" while expressing frustration over the press's focus on the scandal over his 1972 foreign policy achievements. Nixon asserted his innocence regarding the break-in, framing his administration’s prior efforts as necessary measures to stop damaging national security leaks.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to discuss documents prepared by speechwriter Raymond K. Price, Jr. The meeting focused on reviewing and coordinating these materials, reflecting the ongoing administrative effort to manage White House messaging during the intensifying Watergate crisis. No specific policy decisions were recorded during this brief administrative exchange.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate logistical details regarding the President's upcoming schedule. The discussion focused on confirming appointments and reviewing the availability of key personnel, including Ronald Ziegler and George H.W. Bush. The conversation served as a brief administrative session to manage the flow of the President’s calendar for the remainder of the week.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to review logistical preparations for upcoming administrative activities and diplomatic engagements. The discussion focused on scheduling details for a visit by Emperor Haile Selassie and administrative arrangements for a meeting with bipartisan congressional leaders. Nixon also provided instructions regarding the handling of official gifts and briefed Bull on document editing procedures.
President Nixon met with an unknown individual to coordinate scheduling arrangements, specifically regarding a request for a meeting with Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. The conversation also addressed logistical planning for the President's upcoming activities, including a personal grooming appointment. The discussion concluded with brief administrative inquiries before the participant departed.
President Richard Nixon met with his longtime personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office. The informal exchange primarily concerned personal services, specifically the provision of refreshments. No significant policy decisions or political matters were recorded during this brief interaction.
President Nixon held a brief, informal meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual, during which they coordinated logistics regarding Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler's travel to Oregon and communications with office staff. The discussion also included brief mentions of scheduling a barber appointment and managing the pace of interactions with other personnel. No significant policy decisions were recorded during this brief administrative check-in.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler met to strategize a response to a damaging news report from the Santa Ana Register, which falsely alleged that Nixon used campaign funds to purchase his San Clemente estate. Nixon vehemently denied the claims, explaining that the property was held in a trust involving associates Robert Abplanalp and Bebe Rebozo for the Nixon Foundation. The two men coordinated an immediate public rebuttal to discredit the report and discussed concerns regarding potentially leaked documents related to E. Howard Hunt.
President Nixon instructed Stephen B. Bull to coordinate a meeting involving Lawrence M. Higby to discuss the processing of reports derived from the White House taping system. This administrative request sought to streamline the management of sensitive recordings housed in the Executive Office Building. Bull was tasked with arranging the logistics for this consultation to ensure the President and his staff could effectively review the material.
President Nixon met with United States Secret Service agents in the Oval Office to discuss logistics regarding his movements and notification protocols. The brief exchange primarily focused on the President's location and potential travel to the Executive Office Building. Due to the limited nature of the recording, no further substantive decisions or developments were captured before the conversation concluded.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office to receive refreshments. The interaction primarily involved the service of coffee to the President. No substantive policy discussions or significant political developments occurred during this brief encounter.
President Nixon met with Ronald Ziegler, Alexander Haig, and Leonard Garment to manage the administration's defensive response to ongoing Watergate investigations and emerging media scrutiny regarding the President's personal finances. The group discussed the legal and political implications of recent testimony from Lt. Gen. Vernon Walters, concerns regarding potential indictments of senior staff, and the management of sensitive documents related to the Huston Plan. Nixon emphasized maintaining a strategy of resilience, rejecting the idea of constant public rebuttals, while coordinating efforts to handle inquiries from the Ervin Committee and prosecutors without further damaging the presidency.
President Nixon held a brief, informal meeting with unidentified individuals characterized by fragmented dialogue and extraneous remarks. The exchange lacks coherent policy substance or actionable intelligence, consisting largely of colloquialisms and non-sequiturs in multiple languages. No significant administrative decisions or developments resulted from this interaction.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to review and refine a draft document. The discussion focused on incorporating specific suggestions while addressing difficulties encountered during the drafting process. The meeting served as a consultative session to finalize the language and content of the unidentified draft.