Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 948
Nixon White House Tape 948 (July 11, 1973)
22 conversations · Oval Office · about 4 hr 36 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Ziegler, Bull, Woods, Haig
President Nixon held a brief, five-minute morning meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual. The discussion was limited to routine social pleasantries and greetings. No substantive policy matters, political developments, or administrative decisions were recorded during this encounter.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull and Ronald L. Ziegler to coordinate control and access regarding White House tape recordings, particularly addressing requests from H.R. Haldeman to listen to specific conversations from March and April 1973. The President emphasized strict oversight of the recordings and authorized access only under controlled circumstances while reviewing the logistical concerns regarding the quality and content of those tapes. Additionally, the group discussed scheduling details for a forthcoming reception for Senators, with Nixon insisting on a rotation and reduction of White House staff attendees to improve the event's atmosphere.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discuss media coverage of the Watergate Ervin Committee hearings, specifically focusing on John N. Mitchell's testimony and the framing of his loyalty to the President. They evaluate the effectiveness of the White House’s response strategy and assess the positive reception of a recent BBC interview featuring Julie Nixon Eisenhower and David Eisenhower. The conversation also briefly touches upon current news leads regarding Soviet relations and Federal Reserve credit policy.
President Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met to discuss the ongoing political fallout from the Watergate scandal, specifically focusing on the Ervin Committee hearings and the testimony of John N. Mitchell. They assessed the performances and loyalty of various administration figures, including John Dean, H.R. Haldeman, and John Ehrlichman, while criticizing media coverage of the proceedings. Additionally, the conversation touched upon the President's public relations strategy, the negative portrayal of the White House staff in the press, and general morale amidst the mounting pressures of the scandal.
President Nixon met with an unknown individual to coordinate his immediate schedule and upcoming engagements. The brief discussion focused on planning a press briefing and securing photographs on Capitol Hill. The President also confirmed his availability to meet with Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler regarding meal arrangements and further scheduling.
President Nixon consulted with an aide regarding his immediate schedule and the management of upcoming meetings with prominent political figures, including Hubert H. Humphrey and Gerald R. Ford. The discussion centered on logistics and the coordination of press attendance for these engagements. Nixon directed the staffer to finalize preparations to accommodate the arriving guests and the accompanying media presence.
President Richard Nixon met with Senator Hubert H. Humphrey, Representative Gerald R. Ford, Arthur B. Hanson, and William E. Timmons in the Oval Office to accept a commemorative medallion from the United States Capitol Historical Society. The group engaged in casual conversation regarding Bicentennial planning, specifically a Marine Corps-led replica project in Philadelphia, and discussed various academic and professional football programs, including the Washington Redskins and the Minnesota Vikings. The meeting concluded after a brief photo session and the exchange of personal gifts.
President Nixon met briefly with an unidentified male visitor in the Oval Office to facilitate a transition related to the President's daily schedule. The interaction concluded immediately after a brief exchange regarding the delivery of materials to the President. No substantive policy discussions or significant political decisions were recorded during this session.
President Nixon dictated a memorandum to clarify his priorities for the Department of Justice, specifically directing Attorney General Elliot L. Richardson to refocus the department's agenda. The President emphasized his dissatisfaction with the current trajectory, urging a strategic pivot from a focus on social justice back toward the administration’s original emphasis on law and order. This directive served as a formal articulation of the President’s expectations regarding the department's core objectives.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler met to discuss the administration's public relations strategy regarding the ongoing Watergate investigation, specifically focusing on the Senate Ervin Committee hearings and the testimony of John Mitchell and John Dean. They analyzed recent press coverage and commentary, particularly media skepticism toward Dean's credibility and the negative impact of his immunity deal. The President determined that he should address the public on Watergate in August to move past the scandal, intending to shift focus toward the fall legislative agenda and economic policy once the committee hearings concluded.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to finalize logistical arrangements regarding the arrival of John B. Connally. The discussion focused on coordinating the schedule and confirming the presence of Alexander M. Haig, Jr. at the meeting.
President Nixon met with John B. Connally to discuss the administration's economic strategy, specifically regarding price and export controls on meat and agricultural products. They explored the political necessity of maintaining certain controls temporarily while emphasizing the importance of long-term economic prosperity and strengthening the U.S. dollar through increased agricultural exports. The discussion also shifted to the impact of the Watergate scandal, with Nixon expressing frustration over press coverage of his personal finances and the political distraction caused by ongoing congressional investigations.
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to review administrative scheduling matters, including the availability of Alexander M. Haig, Jr. The primary objective involved coordinating invitations for an upcoming meeting with Secretary of Labor Peter J. Brennan. Nixon instructed Bull to relay a message to a secretary regarding a personal acquaintance from Long Island, ensuring that the appropriate follow-through was acknowledged despite an initial lapse in memory.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discussed the development and presentation strategy for the administration's upcoming economic 'Phase IV' package. Nixon expressed skepticism toward a proposed balanced budget, fearing political backlash from Congress and the potential for damaging veto battles, while exploring alternative formats for announcing the economic plan to business and labor leaders. The conversation also touched on the ongoing Watergate investigations, specifically the upcoming Ervin Committee testimony, and the necessity of maintaining internal discipline and control amid these distractions.
President Nixon initiated a brief contact with the White House operator from the Oval Office to facilitate an outgoing communication. This interaction served an administrative purpose, likely intended to connect the President with another party for official business. No substantive policy discussions occurred, as the exchange was limited to the technical coordination of a telephone call.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discussed administrative logistics regarding an upcoming retreat to Camp David, specifically weighing the social inclusion of staff counselors and their wives. Nixon expressed a preference for maintaining personal solitude during his downtime while ensuring he retains professional access to advisors like Mel Laird, Bryce Harlow, and Roy Ash if needed. Additionally, the President reviewed his legislative agenda, emphasizing the need to evaluate upcoming bills for potential vetoes to maintain a balanced budget heading into the election year.
President Nixon met briefly with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office. The primary purpose of the meeting was to facilitate a request regarding Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. The interaction concluded quickly with no substantive policy developments recorded.
President Nixon and Ronald Ziegler met to discuss public relations strategies regarding the ongoing Watergate investigation and the Ervin Committee hearings. They evaluated the performance of witnesses like John Mitchell and considered ways to shift the national narrative toward the President's economic initiatives and foreign policy successes. Ultimately, they decided that a more calculated, proactive public relations campaign—centered on a clear philosophical framework rather than just policy technicalities—was necessary to counter media hostility and move past the Watergate crisis by the fall.
President Nixon met briefly with an unidentified male visitor in the Oval Office to address administrative availability. The individual had been referred to the President by aide Stephen B. Bull. The meeting concluded quickly without any substantive policy discussion or significant decision-making as the visitor departed almost immediately.
President Nixon and Rose Mary Woods discussed the ongoing fallout from the Watergate scandal, specifically focusing on the recent Ervin Committee hearings and the testimony of John N. Mitchell. They reviewed the aggressive questioning tactics employed by Senator Lowell Weicker and compared them to the treatment of John Dean, while also discussing the President's public support and his reception during a recent trip to Kansas City. Woods reassured the President by sharing reports of positive correspondence and telephone calls from supporters, reinforcing a narrative of loyalty and resilience amidst the political pressure.
United States Secret Service agents convened in the Oval Office to discuss matters related to the President's location and movements. Due to national security restrictions, the specific details of the deliberation remain classified and redacted from the historical record. The brief exchange constitutes the entirety of the available audio for this session.
A United States Secret Service agent met with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to discuss the President's location. This brief interaction, which occurred while the taping system was active, serves as a logistical record of presidential movement and security coordination. No significant policy decisions or substantive political developments were recorded during the exchange.