Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 949
Nixon White House Tape 949 (July 12, 1973 – July 13, 1973)
21 conversations · Oval Office · about 3 hr 46 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Haig, Kissinger, Woods, Ziegler
President Nixon held a brief, undocumented meeting with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office. Due to the lack of a surviving transcript or detailed record, the specific subject matter and any potential actions resulting from this exchange remain unknown. The conversation was captured by the White House taping system but provides no substantive information for historical analysis.
President Nixon met with his doctors to discuss his ongoing health issues, specifically viral pneumonia, and the logistics of managing his public schedule and medical testing. Following these medical consultations, he met with Alexander Haig to review the administration's strategy regarding the Watergate investigation and the Ervin Committee hearings. Nixon expressed determination to maintain a firm stance against the committee's subpoenas, while the participants analyzed the testimony of key figures such as John Mitchell and John Dean. The meeting concluded with Nixon reaffirming his resolve to protect the presidency from perceived partisan attacks.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to facilitate a scheduled photography session. The discussion was limited to logistical arrangements regarding the President's public appearance and the immediate itinerary for the visitor. The meeting concluded quickly, with no substantive policy or political matters addressed.
President Nixon held a brief introductory meeting with West German Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Walter Scheel and his aide, Heinz Weiber, accompanied by Henry Kissinger. The discussion was limited to preliminary social exchanges and pleasantries. The group concluded the meeting by coordinating an arrangement for official photographs to be taken outside the Oval Office.
President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and West German Foreign Minister Walter Scheel met to coordinate a unified Western strategy for the upcoming "Year of Europe" initiative. The participants discussed the importance of balancing Atlantic partnership with European cooperation, emphasizing the need for a substantive, philosophically grounded declaration rather than a mere procedural communique. They also explored leveraging the Soviet Union's interest in an all-European summit to secure diplomatic concessions, while stressing the importance of maintaining close, personal channels of communication with European allies—particularly France and Great Britain—to ensure a cohesive stance.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig met to strategize on resisting the Senate Watergate Committee's demands for access to White House files and to manage the fallout from Senator Sam Ervin's recent public statements. Nixon expressed profound frustration with the committee's partisan nature and insisted on maintaining a rigid, "hard-line" position, refusing to grant the committee or special prosecutor Archibald Cox access to sensitive materials. The President ultimately decided to hold a private meeting with Senator Ervin, while specifically excluding other committee members like Howard Baker and Samuel Dash from the White House, as part of a broader effort to contain the investigation and assert executive privilege.
President Nixon and William E. Timmons met to discuss strategies for managing congressional relations and the ongoing Watergate investigations. The President expressed intense frustration with Senator Howard Baker’s conduct during the hearings, particularly his questioning of John Mitchell, and directed that Baker be denied further access to the White House. They also reviewed plans to engage supportive members of Congress through White House meetings to build a stronger political base, while dismissing the impact of John Dean’s testimony as a failure to implicate the President.
President Nixon met with an unknown visitor to address scheduling concerns regarding Henry Kissinger. The discussion centered on a delay in Kissinger’s arrival and the logistical impossibility of cancelling a subsequent appointment with the National Commission on Fire Prevention. No significant policy actions were taken beyond the management of the President's immediate calendar.
President Nixon met with Richard E. Bland, W. Howard McClennan, and other members of the National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control to receive their report, titled "America Burning." The discussion focused on shifting national fire policy from suppression to prevention and addressed the risks posed by forest fires and residential fire hazards. Following the formal presentation, the President concluded the meeting by exchanging pleasantries and sharing anecdotes regarding his college football experiences.
President Nixon met with Rose Mary Woods, Manolo Sanchez, and an unknown guest to discuss his ongoing recovery from viral pneumonia and his intense frustration regarding the Senate Watergate Committee hearings. Nixon expressed profound disapproval of Senator Howard Baker’s conduct during the hearings, declaring that Baker would no longer be welcome at the White House. Additionally, the President praised the testimony of John Mitchell and Richard Moore, contrasting their reliability with the accusations made by John Dean, and reaffirmed his administration's decision to withhold White House papers from the committee.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to discuss the escalating political pressure of the Watergate investigation, specifically focusing on the Ervin Committee's demands for White House files and the recent testimony of John Mitchell and Richard Moore. Nixon and Kissinger strategized on how to maintain a firm stance against the committee's inquiries while managing the potential for a constitutional crisis. Additionally, they reviewed progress on the 'Year of Europe' foreign policy initiatives and discussed the optics of managing the President's current bout of viral pneumonia to garner public sympathy while maintaining a statesmanlike image.
President Nixon met with Alexander Haig, Ronald Ziegler, and Dr. Walter Tkach to discuss a two-fold crisis involving his deteriorating health and the escalating pressures from the Ervin Committee regarding Watergate. Nixon, suffering from a fever and fearing he may have viral pneumonia, debated the public relations implications of seeking hospital care, specifically how to avoid public perception of weakness while maintaining credibility. Simultaneously, the group strategized on resisting the Ervin Committee's demands for White House files, reaffirming their decision to reject any compromise and maintaining a hardline stance to avoid the appearance of a cover-up.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discussed managing the optics of the President’s recent hospitalization and the scheduling of his upcoming public appearances, including the announcement of Phase IV economic policies. They also touched upon the political challenges posed by the Ervin Committee's Watergate investigations and requests for access to White House files. The two agreed on a strategy to maintain a dignified public image while controlling the narrative surrounding the President's health and staff activities.
President Nixon met with Henry Kissinger, Alexander Haig, and Ronald Ziegler to coordinate the public response to his health issues and the subsequent adjustments to his official schedule, including the potential cancellation of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s state visit. The participants discussed how to manage the optics of these changes to avoid political embarrassment while navigating the ongoing pressures of the Watergate investigation. Nixon and his advisors also weighed the implications of the Ervin Committee's proceedings and potential witness testimony on the administration's stability.
President Nixon met with Alexander M. Haig, Jr. to coordinate logistical arrangements for upcoming appearances. The discussion focused on the President's official schedule and the planning of a motorcade, potentially involving Ronald L. Ziegler. The meeting served to finalize details for immediate executive travel and public outreach operations.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. The discussion served as a logistical bridge to connect the President with another party for official communications. No substantive policy matters or major political decisions were recorded during this brief exchange.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, discuss the logistical process of transferring materials. The brief exchange concerns the coordination of file management or record handling. No major policy decisions are reached during this short interaction.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler met to discuss the management of public communications regarding the President's recent health issues. They coordinated the logistics for an official announcement to be handled by Deputy Press Secretary Gerald L. Warren and Dr. Walter R. Tkach, with input from Alexander Haig. The discussion focused on controlling the narrative and anticipating the press corps' reaction to the medical news.
President Nixon held a brief, undocumented meeting with unidentified individuals in the Oval Office. Due to the lack of a transcript and limited metadata, the specific subject matter and objectives of this discussion remain unknown. The interaction concluded within approximately thirty minutes with the departure of the visitors.
President Nixon met with unidentified individuals in the Oval Office to discuss adjustments to his official schedule. The dialogue centered on a proposal for an alternative meeting date and the strategic placement of a specific object within that timeframe. The brief encounter concluded with the guests departing shortly after the matter was introduced.
This brief interaction features unknown participants discussing the timing of an outgoing telephone call to an unnamed individual. The participants inquire about the readiness of the recipient for the contact, though the conversation concludes without identifying the target or the purpose of the intended communication. No substantive policy matters or decisions were recorded during this three-minute exchange.