Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 933
Nixon White House Tape 933 (June 6, 1973)
14 conversations · Oval Office · about 3 hr 41 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Haig, Bull, Laird, Buzhardt
President Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met to discuss ongoing concerns regarding the Watergate scandal, specifically focusing on the potential testimony of Thomas A. Pappas. Nixon expressed anxiety about his March 7 meeting with Pappas, emphasizing his desire to ensure there was no implication that he had thanked Pappas for raising funds to pay off Watergate defendants. The conversation also touched on the broader political climate, the impact of the Ervin Committee hearings, and the need to maintain staff morale while preparing for potential legal scrutiny.
President Nixon met with his personal aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate the logistics for an upcoming appointment with Alexander M. Haig, Jr. The President instructed Bull to manage the scheduling and verify the status of the impending meeting. This discussion served as a brief administrative check-in to ensure the morning's agenda remained on track.
President Nixon met with Alexander Haig and J. Fred Buzhardt to strategize on managing ongoing Watergate disclosures and to discuss potential personnel changes within the White House staff. The conversation focused heavily on the administration's public relations response to subpoenas and media coverage, specifically regarding wiretap information and the handling of presidential papers. Additionally, the participants deliberated on potential economic policies, including a possible price freeze, and considered how to integrate John Connally into a special advisory role to strengthen leadership visibility.
President Nixon met briefly with an unidentified individual and aide Stephen B. Bull to discuss administrative matters regarding the presidential schedule. The conversation touched upon a past interaction between the President and Clarence M. Kelley, specifically referencing an incident involving an explosion in 1970. No major policy decisions were reached during this short logistical exchange.
President Richard Nixon met with Clarence M. Kelley to finalize his appointment as the new Director of the FBI and to outline the administration's expectations for his leadership. Nixon emphasized the need for Kelley to restore order, improve cooperation with other federal and local law enforcement agencies, and act as a fearless administrator to overcome the internal power struggles following J. Edgar Hoover’s tenure. The conversation also covered strategies for Kelley's upcoming confirmation hearings, particularly regarding Watergate, the handling of raw FBI files, and the administration's frustration with judicial restrictions on national security wiretapping.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to discuss his official schedule. The brief consultation included a specific focus on upcoming engagements involving Counselor to the President Melvin R. Laird. No further details regarding policy decisions or additional agenda items were recorded during this brief administrative meeting.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to coordinate the immediate whereabouts of Melvin R. Laird. The discussion focused on locating Laird at Alexander M. Haig, Jr.’s office to facilitate his prompt return for a scheduled meeting in the Oval Office. Nixon directed that Haig also participate in this upcoming briefing.
President Nixon, Alexander Haig, and Melvin Laird met to coordinate the announcement of Laird's return to the administration as Counselor for Domestic Affairs. They discussed strategies for managing press inquiries, particularly regarding Watergate, and debated potential economic interventions like a wage-price freeze. The group also planned Laird's forthcoming schedule, which included meetings with key congressional figures and labor leader George Meany to ensure a smooth transition and maintain party unity.
President Nixon met with Melvin Laird and Alexander Haig to discuss personnel shifts and the restructuring of responsibilities within the White House staff. The conversation focused on reassigning George Shultz’s duties, specifically moving him out of his energy portfolio to prioritize trade policy. The participants also touched upon the organizational roles of Roy Ash and other administrative adjustments to long-term policy management.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to coordinate the timing and communication of personnel changes involving Melvin Laird and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. The discussion centered on ensuring the public announcement of Haig’s retirement from the military was handled properly. The parties agreed to contact staff members John Irving and others to manage the dissemination of this information through wire services.
President Nixon met with his legal team and senior advisors, including Charles Wright, Alexander Haig, and J. Fred Buzhardt, to formulate a legal and public relations strategy regarding the intensifying Watergate investigation. The discussion focused on countering potential testimony from John Dean, particularly regarding his meetings with the President, and managing the risks posed by the Ervin Committee's upcoming hearings. The participants strategized on how to undermine Dean's credibility through targeted cross-examination by Fred Thompson and agreed on the necessity of maintaining a firm stance on executive privilege while preparing for further investigative challenges.
President Nixon consulted with an unidentified individual regarding the scheduling and readiness of an upcoming presidential address. The participants evaluated the risks of proceeding prematurely versus delaying the speech to ensure it was properly prepared. They ultimately determined that a short delay was preferable to appearing ill-prepared, leading to the postponement of the program.
President Nixon met with unidentified individuals, potentially including Alexander M. Haig, Jr., to coordinate logistics for an upcoming press conference. The discussion focused on finalizing arrangements and procedural details for the event. The brief exchange concluded with the participants confirming these logistical preparations before departing.
This recording captures an unidentified meeting in the Oval Office where no discernible audio was documented by the taping system. Because the transcript remains undefined, there is no evidence of specific participants, policy discussions, or actionable decisions. The archival record reflects an empty or silent segment of the presidential taping system rather than a substantive deliberation.