Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 947
Nixon White House Tape 947 (July 10, 1973)
21 conversations · Oval Office · about 4 hr 4 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Ziegler, Haig, Sanchez
President Nixon initiates a brief communication through the White House operator to place an outgoing call. This interaction serves as a routine administrative step to facilitate a connection to another party. No substantive policy discussions or policy decisions occur during this brief exchange.
President Nixon held a brief, unscheduled morning meeting with an unidentified individual, facilitated by Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. The encounter lasted less than a minute and concluded immediately upon the guest's departure from the Oval Office. Due to the lack of substantive transcript content, no specific policy topics or executive decisions were recorded during this interaction.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler met to review the current state of media coverage regarding the Watergate scandal and the President's recent trip to Kansas City. They discussed the favorable impact of recent statements from John Mitchell and John Ehrlichman, which they believed countered damaging testimony from John Dean. The discussion also addressed the handling of internal memorandums and strategies to emphasize the President's actions during the April 15, 1973, meeting with Justice Department officials as evidence of his proper conduct.
President Nixon met with his economic advisors and congressional leadership to strategize on Phase IV of the Economic Stabilization Program and urgent federal budget concerns. The discussion focused on balancing the fiscal year 1974 budget through potential spending cuts, vetoes of excessive appropriations, and the possibility of a tax increase. Additionally, the President and George Shultz evaluated the necessity of intervening in exchange markets to stabilize the U.S. dollar, ultimately deciding to proceed with modest market intervention.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate administrative tasks and address pending testimony preparations for H.R. "Bob" Haldeman. The President directed that Haldeman rely primarily on his own contemporaneous notes for his upcoming testimony, advising him to listen to the September 15, 1972, tape only if it contained information directly relevant to his notes. Additionally, they reviewed scheduling matters regarding a potential meeting with West German Minister Walter Scheel and the presentation of a report from the National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to conduct a review of Alexander M. Haig, Jr.’s schedule. The discussion centered on managing the operational calendar and professional commitments of the White House Chief of Staff. No further details regarding the substance of the scheduling decisions or potential policy implications were recorded.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig met to coordinate White House strategy regarding the Watergate scandal and the forthcoming economic Phase IV program. They discussed the necessity of adopting a more aggressive posture against Democratic political maneuvers and media leaks, specifically expressing frustration with the performance of staff members who maintained unauthorized contacts with reporters. Nixon also evaluated the current Justice Department leadership, particularly Attorney General Elliot Richardson, emphasizing the need for loyal, decisive action in managing legal challenges and personnel appointments.
President Nixon met with outgoing Secretary of the Army Robert F. Froehlke to express appreciation for his service, specifically citing his contributions to the troop withdrawal from Vietnam and the end of the military draft. The discussion transitioned to the necessity of maintaining conventional military strength, with Nixon emphasizing the importance of public messaging regarding advancements like the B-1 bomber and missile development. The meeting concluded with the President presenting ceremonial gifts to Froehlke and offering his support for Froehlke's future endeavors in Wisconsin.
President Nixon met with an unknown individual to coordinate the logistics for the National Farm Family of the Year award presentation to the Buxton family. The discussion focused on managing press relations for the event, including the involvement of Gerald L. Warren and photographer Oliver F. Atkins. The meeting served as a brief administrative planning session to ensure proper media coverage and briefing protocols for the ceremony.
President Nixon held a brief meeting with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to facilitate a photo opportunity. The session served strictly administrative and public relations purposes related to the President's official schedule. The interaction concluded immediately after the photograph was successfully captured.
President Nixon hosted the Buxton family, the designated National Farm Family of the Year, alongside Agriculture Secretary Earl Butz and Senator Wallace Bennett for a ceremonial meeting in the Oval Office. The participants engaged in light conversation regarding the Buxtons' Utah farming operations, cattle ranching, and the rising costs of higher education. The President utilized the visit to present gifts to the guests and facilitate an official photo session with the press and White House staff.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull reviewed the President’s upcoming schedule, focusing on appointments with John A. Love, Charles H. Percy, John B. Connally, and various Republican senators. The discussion involved logistics for a forthcoming economic meeting in the Cabinet Room and the coordination of attendees including William E. Timmons, Ronald L. Ziegler, Anne L. Armstrong, and Peter M. Flanigan. Additionally, the pair addressed administrative details regarding the delivery of a briefcase and Bull’s responsibilities concerning a cabinet meeting.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to discuss sensitive matters regarding the administration's taping system and the handling of specific recordings. Their dialogue focused on access to the September 15, 1972, tape by former aides, as well as the potential implications of the April 15, 1973, recording concerning a trip to California. The President emphasized discretion regarding these files, coordinating with Bull on who possessed knowledge of the tapes and how that information was being managed.
President Nixon met briefly with an unidentified male visitor in the Oval Office for approximately one minute. Due to the lack of available transcripts or descriptive logs, the specific subject matter and objectives of this meeting remain undocumented. No further information regarding potential decisions or action items resulting from this brief exchange is preserved in the available historical record.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discussed the ongoing Watergate investigations, specifically focusing on the scope of Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox’s charter and their insistence that investigations be strictly limited to 1972 campaign-related activities. They also reviewed concerning reports regarding Vice President Spiro Agnew’s potential legal jeopardy in Maryland, comparing his situation to previous presidential campaigns. Finally, the two men reviewed the administration's legislative agenda, agreeing to delay a planned economic policy announcement and speech until after George Shultz’s upcoming trip to Japan.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig met to strategize the administration's upcoming "Phase IV" economic program, specifically discussing the timing and format for public and congressional announcements. They agreed to avoid a joint session of Congress to bypass "crisis" rhetoric, instead favoring a plan that uses briefings for congressional leaders and radio addresses to demonstrate decisive presidential leadership. Additionally, they reviewed recent Watergate-related developments, including John Mitchell's committee testimony, which they viewed as helpful to the President's position, and expressed continued frustration with the scope and personnel of the Archibald Cox special prosecution team.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to discuss scheduling matters, specifically regarding the availability of his daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower. The conversation also touched upon the status of Manolo Sanchez and a brief, ambiguous inquiry by the President concerning an unidentified man's identity. No major policy decisions resulted from this brief exchange.
President Nixon met with his personal aide, Manolo Sanchez, to coordinate the schedule of Julie Eisenhower. The discussion centered on confirming her arrival time at a residence and ensuring she would be available for dinner at the White House. Nixon instructed Sanchez to monitor her movements and utilize Secret Service agents to receive updates on her status.
President Nixon consulted with a White House operator to facilitate a personal phone call to First Lady Pat Nixon. The brief interaction served as a formal request to connect the President with his wife. No substantive policy matters were addressed during this logistical exchange.
President Nixon met with Ronald Ziegler, William P. Rogers, and others to strategize regarding the ongoing Ervin Committee hearings and the credibility of witnesses like John N. Mitchell and John W. Dean III. The discussion focused on Mitchell's testimony, which presented a narrative favorable to the President by claiming Nixon lacked prior knowledge of the Watergate cover-up or the break-in. The participants analyzed the effectiveness of the White House's decision to remain publicly silent rather than launching an aggressive counter-campaign against Dean, concluding that this restrained approach enhanced Mitchell's credibility. The group also touched upon upcoming testimonies from other key figures and potential legislative or legal implications concerning Presidential authority and the Ellsberg break-in.
President Nixon held a series of brief, fragmented interactions in the Oval Office involving multiple unidentified individuals following his meeting with economic advisors in the Cabinet Room. The dialogue lacks substantive content, consisting primarily of routine acknowledgments and logistical coordination. No specific policy decisions or significant developments were recorded during these exchanges.