Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 921
Nixon White House Tape 921 (May 17, 1973)
23 conversations · Oval Office · about 4 hr 20 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Haig, White House photographer, Buzhardt, Ziegler
President Nixon and Alexander Haig met to discuss ongoing Watergate-related pressures, specifically focusing on the handling of the Huston Plan and the potential public release of sensitive national security documents. They strategized on how to frame the history of the Huston Plan—emphasizing that it was a discontinued interagency effort that was never fully implemented—to mitigate political fallout. Additionally, they reviewed tactics for managing the administration's public relations response, including potential testimonies by officials like Vernon Walters, while maintaining a firm stance against prematurely surrendering privileged information.
President Nixon held a brief, four-minute meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual. The encounter appears to have been limited to a short social interaction or the serving of refreshments. No substantive policy discussions or administrative decisions were recorded during this session.
President Nixon and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. met to coordinate the White House's response to the Watergate scandal, specifically focusing on the 1970 'Huston Plan' and the potential release of incriminating documents held by John W. Dean III. The President and Buzhardt discussed the history of the intelligence plan's approval and subsequent suspension to ensure that the administration could argue that no illegal domestic surveillance activities were ever actually implemented. Nixon instructed Buzhardt to secure affidavits from relevant intelligence officials to establish the truth and mitigate public fallout, while emphasizing the need to maintain executive privilege regarding presidential conversations.
President Nixon consulted with a White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. This routine interaction served as a precursor to more substantive communications handled by the switchboard. The exchange was limited to the technical logistics of connecting the President to his intended party.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to discuss administrative logistics. The conversation centered on a specific request involving George P. Shultz, specifically regarding the procurement or handling of Xeroxed materials. The meeting concluded with the visitor departing shortly before the taping session ended.
President Nixon and George P. Shultz met to discuss the urgent need to address economic instability, specifically rising inflation and public concern regarding economic confidence. The President tasked Shultz with convening a group of economic advisors—including Herbert Stein, Roy Ash, and others—to evaluate potential policy responses and determine if they would be politically and practically viable. Nixon emphasized his refusal to pursue any policy measures that he deemed a guaranteed failure, directing the team to rigorously assess whether a new initiative could genuinely restore confidence.
President Nixon consults with an unidentified associate regarding the logistics of an upcoming briefing or meeting involving a specific group. The participants discuss the need to review talking points and strategies after the associate completes administrative tasks, specifically mentioning a prior consultation with an individual named Charles. The exchange focuses on ensuring coordination and availability for the President's scheduled interactions with his staff.
President Nixon met with Ronald Ziegler, Alexander Haig, and J. Fred Buzhardt to strategize the administration's response to escalating Watergate-related inquiries, specifically regarding CIA involvement, the 'Huston Plan,' and leaked documents. A central focus was managing the upcoming press briefings and public narrative to distance the President from illicit activities by framing actions as legitimate national security initiatives. They also addressed personnel moves, deciding to remove H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman from the White House payroll to mitigate political optics while ensuring they remained restricted from sensitive files.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to coordinate the scheduling of a visit from Charles G. “Bebe” Rebozo. The discussion focused on Rebozo’s recent travel between New York and Virginia and determining a suitable time for him to meet with the President for a private, relaxing visit at the White House. The President approved an arrangement for Rebozo to arrive by 5:00 p.m. to ensure they could spend time together away from other staff.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to discuss scheduling and ceremonial matters, specifically regarding the upcoming visit of Mustafizur Rahman Siddiqui. The conversation addressed the logistics of a congressional chair presentation involving Ralph J. Perk and Donald D. Clancy. The participants reviewed necessary press coverage and photography arrangements for the scheduled event.
President Nixon met briefly with an unidentified individual to discuss a matter involving the potential installation or use of a wire. The President explicitly rejected the idea, stating, 'I don't want a wire,' before the participant exited the Oval Office shortly thereafter. The exchange appears to be a quick logistical or security-related interaction rather than a substantive policy discussion.
President Nixon met with Bangladeshi representatives Mustafizur Rahman Siddiqui and Hossain Ali to discuss U.S.-Bangladesh relations and ongoing regional tensions following the 1971 conflict. The conversation focused on the repatriation of prisoners of war and civilians between Bangladesh and Pakistan, as well as the potential for war crimes trials. Nixon expressed a desire for a peaceful resolution in South Asia and directed the delegation to coordinate further with General Brent Scowcroft and the State Department's South Asia experts.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig met to discuss managing the escalating fallout from the Watergate scandal, specifically focusing on reports linking White House staff to negative stories about Thomas Eagleton. They reviewed personnel moves, including relocating Lawrence Higby and Tod Hullin to the Old Executive Office Building to protect them from public scrutiny. Nixon explored the potential for a national security-focused speech regarding the Huston Plan and requested a thorough Department of Justice investigation into suspicious claims involving a doctor's letter and alleged government interference.
President Nixon met with Mrs. Cleo Noel and Mrs. G. Curtis Moore, the widows of two American diplomats killed by terrorists in Sudan, to offer his condolences and government support. The discussion covered the administration's efforts to combat international terrorism through United Nations sanctions and the challenges of navigating complex Middle Eastern geopolitical tensions. The President also expressed his personal commitment to pursuing a more peaceful world, framed as the objective for which their husbands gave their lives, and provided gifts for their families.
President Nixon met briefly with an unidentified visitor in the Oval Office amidst ongoing discussions regarding an incoming call from Alexander M. Haig, Jr. The dialogue remains ambiguous due to the fragmented nature of the recording, which captures logistical remarks about the visitor's departure and a brief mention of a wedding. No substantive policy decisions or political actions were recorded during this short encounter.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig consult regarding a suspicious letter sent to Haig from New York, which the President dismisses as a "phony" crank communication. The two speculate that the letter may be part of a deliberate setup designed to manipulate or implicate individuals involved in the Watergate scandal. Nixon ultimately instructs Haig to handle the matter as he sees fit, deferring to his Chief of Staff's judgment on how to dispose of the document.
President Nixon met with an unknown man and woman in the Oval Office to discuss his scheduling and potential meetings with Donald D. Clancy. The brief discussion primarily focused on administrative calendar management rather than policy matters. No major decisions were recorded during the short duration of the meeting.
President Nixon met with Congressman Donald D. Clancy, artisan Chester Cornett, and the Donovan family to accept a hand-carved chair presented to him as a gesture of admiration. The President engaged with the family and the photographer to arrange for commemorative photos to be shared with the guests. During the brief interaction, Nixon discussed his ongoing diplomatic efforts, including upcoming meetings with representatives from the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China, expressing a desire to secure a peaceful world for the younger generation.
President Nixon held a brief one-minute meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual to coordinate his immediate schedule. The conversation focused on the President's upcoming engagement with Ralph J. Perk in the Cabinet Room. No further substantive policy discussions were recorded during this brief encounter.
President Nixon met with Cleveland Mayor Ralph J. Perk and other officials to discuss federal assistance for Cleveland's unemployment issues and political strategy for Perk’s upcoming re-election campaign. Nixon pledged administrative support regarding revenue sharing and funding, while Perk sought assistance in navigating local political hurdles and managing relations with the Cleveland press. Despite the distraction of the Watergate scandal, the participants emphasized the administration's continued focus on domestic programs and economic stability as key pillars for maintaining the support of the 1972 'New Majority.'
President Nixon met with Alexander M. Haig, Jr. and Ronald L. Ziegler to coordinate the White House's defense and messaging strategy regarding the escalating Watergate scandal. The discussion focused on discrediting the 'hoax' nature of allegations against the President, preparing affidavits to clarify national security activities, and countering potential testimony from John W. Dean III. Nixon emphasized the need to stand by staff members caught in the investigation while maintaining a firm, unified front against the press and the Ervin Committee.
This recording captures an unidentified group of men meeting in the Oval Office to discuss unspecified internal matters. Due to the lack of a transcript and the absence of recorded dialogue beyond basic message testing, the substance of the meeting remains unknown. No clear policy decisions or action items can be verified from the archival record.
This brief meeting involved unidentified participants meeting in the Oval Office to potentially discuss the President's schedule. Given the lack of substantive transcript data, the conversation remains largely undocumented and lacks clear decision-making or actionable outcomes. It serves primarily as a record of access to the Oval Office during a period of intense scrutiny surrounding the administration.