Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on CIA
59 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Haig, Ziegler, Walters
When CIA comes up
Related topics: WatergateRichard HelmsVernon A. WaltersExecutive privilegeWhite House operationsVietnam WarNational SecurityPsychological warfareJohn W. Dean IIIH. R. HaldemanPropagandaPresidential communicationJohn D. EhrlichmanFBI
President Nixon met with Lieutenant General Vernon A. Walters to discuss regional military strategy and evaluate potential career assignments for Walters. The conversation focused on the progress of Operation Lam Son 719, particularly the strategic situation regarding the Ho Chi Minh Trail and the role of U.S. air support. Nixon explored various future deployment options for Walters, including potential roles within the White House, the Army, or the CIA under Director Richard Helms.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discuss the allegiances and perceived loyalty of CIA Director Richard Helms following a prior meeting. Nixon expresses concern regarding the internal dynamics of the intelligence agency and emphasizes the necessity of having a clear understanding of where Helms’s loyalties lie. The conversation concludes with Kissinger confirming that Helms has become a more reliable and forthright proponent of the administration’s objectives.
On May 5, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:15 am and 10:27 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 491-019 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman held a brief, cryptic discussion regarding potential personnel changes involving CIA Director Richard M. Helms. The conversation centers on the administration's skepticism regarding Helms's ability to fulfill specific requirements or maintain a desired focus. No formal decision was finalized during this one-minute exchange.
President Nixon met with Alexander Butterfield to discuss the logistics of an upcoming engagement involving CIA Director Richard M. Helms. The brief exchange focused on coordinating the Director's return and ensuring the administration's readiness for a significant, unspecified event. The conversation emphasizes the President's reliance on Butterfield to manage the sensitivities and execution of this task.
President Nixon met with John Ehrlichman and CIA Director Richard Helms to discuss the President's access to sensitive, classified intelligence documents, specifically concerning past operations like the Bay of Pigs and the assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem. Nixon emphasized his need for full information regarding historical foreign policy and intelligence "dirty tricks" to prepare for upcoming diplomatic negotiations and to manage political exposure. Following this, Nixon met with David Kennedy, Henry Kissinger, and Peter Peterson to strategize on high-stakes textile trade negotiations with Japan, where they aimed to secure an agreement by applying pressure while maintaining the credibility of the U.S. position.
On November 20, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 10:23 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 015-060 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon met with Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler and Deputy Director of the CIA Vernon Walters to discuss sensitive intelligence matters. The conversation, which was almost entirely redacted for national security, focused on confidential briefing details and operational secrecy. Walters departed the Oval Office shortly after the discussion concluded.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to discuss military contingency plans for Vietnam, specifically addressing a potential North Vietnamese offensive and the timing of increased air strikes. They criticized Democratic presidential candidate Edmund Muskie for his public statements on the war, arguing that his rhetoric undermined ongoing peace negotiations and displayed a lack of responsibility. Additionally, the President directed Kissinger to push for the appointment of Vernon A. Walters as Deputy Director of the CIA, dismissing concerns from Richard Helms and Melvin Laird regarding the nomination.
H. R. Haldeman contacts newly confirmed CIA Deputy Director Vernon A. Walters to seek logistical advice regarding an overnight stop during President Nixon's upcoming trip to the Soviet Union. The two discuss potential locations for the stop, weighing the security, weather, and diplomatic implications of using various military bases. They ultimately conclude that a U.S. base in Spain, specifically Rota, appears to be the most practical and convenient option for the President's itinerary.
On April 11, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:14 pm and 2:06 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 022-108 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon met with CIA Director Richard Helms to emphasize the urgency of executing pending personnel and organizational changes within the intelligence agency. Nixon pressed Helms to implement these adjustments as thoroughly as possible. The brief exchange focused on accelerating the pace of internal restructuring efforts.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed the leadership transition at the FBI following the death of J. Edgar Hoover, including the strategic timing of the official announcement. The conversation also touched upon the appointment of Lt. Gen. Vernon A. Walters to the CIA, focusing on his Senate confirmation prospects and personal loyalty. Nixon expressed concerns regarding the delay in managing the public announcement of Hoover's passing, tasking staff with expediting the process.
President Nixon hosted a ceremony in the Oval Office for Vernon A. Walters to mark his promotion and official swearing-in as Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Joined by Walters's family, Judge Edward Tamm, and CIA Director Richard Helms, the President administered the oath of office and acknowledged Walters's 31 years of military service. The meeting concluded with a photography session and the distribution of presidential gifts to the attendees.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discuss the efficacy of CIA-led propaganda efforts and military operations in Vietnam. Nixon expresses frustration with the intelligence agency's historical performance while emphasizing the need for improved coordination and higher-quality materials regarding U.S. air strikes. The conversation centers on leveraging psychological operations to impact the morale of North Vietnamese leadership and their forces.
President Nixon dictated a memorandum for Henry Kissinger expressing his dissatisfaction with the CIA's psychological warfare and propaganda efforts. He directed the CIA to urgently develop and implement new programs, including broadcasts and leaflets, targeting the Hanoi area. The proposed propaganda would emphasize North Vietnam's isolation due to international shipping blockades and aim to instill terror in the North Vietnamese population. Additionally, Nixon instructed that domestic South Vietnamese propaganda should focus on boosting morale by highlighting successful military actions and addressing existing morale issues.
President Nixon met with Henry Kissinger and Soviet Ambassador Anatoliy Dobrynin to discuss the ongoing war in Vietnam. The primary focus of the conversation was Nixon's dissatisfaction with the effectiveness of U.S. propaganda efforts against North Vietnam, particularly concerning the bombing campaign and potential prisoner exchanges. Nixon directed Kissinger to pressure intelligence agencies, specifically the CIA under Richard Helms, to develop more aggressive and imaginative propaganda strategies, including the dissemination of disinformation and the announcement of increased B-52 deployments, to demoralize the enemy. Nixon also expressed a desire for new ideas on psychological warfare to be presented by Friday.
President Nixon dictated a memorandum regarding his previous interactions with Nikolai Podgorny of the USSR during the funeral of Charles de Gaulle. The discussion focused on clarifying the accuracy of US intelligence reports concerning Soviet interest in meeting with the President. Nixon emphasized the need for the CIA to provide more precise assessments of these high-level diplomatic encounters.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig reviewed the status of ongoing military operations in South Vietnam, specifically noting that North Vietnamese attacks at An Loc and Kontum appeared to be faltering. Expressing deep frustration with the lack of creativity from the CIA and State Department, Nixon ordered Haig to intensify psychological warfare efforts to exploit the enemy's morale. The President directed that the intelligence community develop new, aggressive propaganda initiatives, including false reports about additional B-52 deployments, to instill fear and hasten the enemy's collapse.
President Nixon met with Henry Kissinger and Alexander Haig to express intense frustration regarding the bureaucracy's failure to execute his orders concerning the Vietnam War. He sharply criticized the CIA for a lack of imagination in psychological warfare and denounced the Pentagon for harboring "McNamara-era" personnel who he claimed were sabotaging his policies. To rectify these performance issues, Nixon mandated an increase in B-52 deliveries and announced he would bypass standard command structures by selecting a naval commander to oversee specific bombing operations in North Vietnam.
On May 19, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:58 pm and 3:20 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 339-025 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig met to review positive military developments in Vietnam, including successful operations against North Vietnamese forces and the effectiveness of the ongoing bombing campaign. The conversation shifted to Nixon’s deep frustration with the Central Intelligence Agency, specifically criticizing its personnel for being overly cautious, unreliable, and obstructionist. Nixon and Haig discussed plans to aggressively purge the agency of the established 'Georgetown' and 'OSS' crowd, emphasizing the need to cut staff and forcibly reassign those deemed to be problematic.
On June 16, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:07 am and 12:30 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 025-070 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon updates CIA Director Richard Helms regarding a recent meeting with Mexican President Luis Echeverría. Nixon confirms that he has authorized a private discussion between Echeverría and Helms, intending to facilitate a high-level intelligence channel. The President also instructs Helms to brief the Mexican leader on U.S. foreign policy perspectives concerning the Soviet Union and China.
On June 21, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:26 pm and 12:28 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 025-101 of the White House Tapes.
President Richard Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman to coordinate the administration's response to the recent break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex. The discussion focused on leveraging the Central Intelligence Agency to impede the ongoing FBI investigation by claiming the inquiry threatened national security interests. This meeting resulted in a critical directive to obstruct justice, marking a pivotal moment in the administration's effort to conceal its involvement in the scandal.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman and Charles Colson to discuss the ongoing fallout from the Watergate break-in, specifically the FBI's investigation and the risks of it uncovering CIA connections or sensitive political associations. The participants analyzed the political landscape and current polling data to strategize for the upcoming election against George McGovern. They ultimately decided to prioritize aggressive negative campaigning against McGovern, concluding that focusing on the opponent's weaknesses was more effective for swaying undecided voters than emphasizing the administration's own policy achievements.
President Nixon initiated this brief call to reach Deputy CIA Director Vernon A. Walters after discovering that CIA Director Richard Helms was unavailable. The primary purpose was to coordinate a forthcoming meeting regarding sensitive matters involving Soviet leadership and concerns over potential information leaks from the State Department. Nixon also signaled an intent to discuss the protection of the CIA and provided specific instructions to be relayed to relevant personnel.
President Nixon met with Deputy Director of the CIA Vernon A. Walters to discuss his adjustment to his new role within the intelligence agency. Nixon inquired about Walters' satisfaction with the position and instructed him to secure assistance in managing specific operational challenges. The conversation emphasized the President's desire for Walters to navigate these internal matters discreetly without unnecessary administrative oversight.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, discussed various administrative and political matters, including the handling of a note for Hubert Humphrey and the vetting of potential guests for the Republican National Convention. Woods expressed concerns regarding the attendance of individuals linked to the unfolding Watergate scandal, specifically recommending the exclusion of Robert C. Odle, Jr. from the President’s box. The pair also addressed the logistics of a sensitive CIA report, domestic remodeling projects, and the handling of personal gifts.
President Nixon directs Alexander Haig to instruct CIA Director Richard Helms to conduct a rigorous, sworn investigation into the involvement of individuals associated with the Pentagon Papers and Daniel Ellsberg. Nixon emphasizes the need for a sanitized, restrictive approach when dealing with outside inquiries, explicitly ordering that no sensitive information be leaked to the press or unauthorized parties. Additionally, the President critiques Henry Kissinger’s negotiation strategy regarding the Vietnam War, arguing that minor concessions should not distract from the necessity of securing a favorable political settlement.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman and other staff to review administrative reorganizations, personnel appointments for his second term, and preparations for his upcoming meeting with Senator John Stennis. The discussion focused on shifting away from internal promotions, with specific deliberations on staffing the CIA, identifying potential female candidates for government roles, and reevaluating the use of military aides in social settings. Nixon emphasized a desire for a more "hard-nosed" approach to congressional relations and requested that his team focus on political strategy rather than traditional gift-giving or ceremonial scheduling.
President Nixon consulted with a White House operator and staff member Marjorie P. Acker to arrange a secure telephone call with CIA Director Richard M. Helms. The President emphasized strict security protocols, specifying that he only wished to speak with Helms if the communication line was secure and free from risks associated with the Director’s current travel status. The conversation concluded with the President instructing the operator to verify Helms's location and availability before initiating any contact.
On December 27, 1972, the White House operator and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at 10:53 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 035-011 of the White House Tapes.
On January 25, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:34 pm and 6:18 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 036-112 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon met with outgoing CIA Director Richard Helms to discuss Helms's upcoming ambassadorial appointment to Iran and to provide strategic guidance on global foreign policy. Nixon emphasized the importance of Helms applying his intelligence background to the critical issue of energy and oil production while maintaining a balanced, pragmatic approach to international relations. The two also addressed the challenges of managing global criticism of the U.S., regional security dynamics in the Persian Gulf, and the complex geopolitical task of negotiating a Middle East settlement between Israel and the Arab states.
On February 28, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 12:30 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 037-007 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig met to strategize on administration personnel shifts, specifically focusing on calming cabinet anxieties and implementing a 'paced' approach to management rather than sudden, spectacular changes. They finalized the appointments of William E. Colby to the CIA and planned the selection of a professional to lead the FBI, while weighing the potential involvement of John Connally and Horace 'Chappie' Rose to stabilize the White House staff. Nixon expressed a desire to maintain administrative continuity, manage the ongoing Watergate fallout by delegating legal inquiries to the Justice Department, and prepare for an upcoming Cabinet meeting to reinforce government stability.
President Nixon met with Republican congressional leaders and key aides to discuss strategies for managing the fallout from the Watergate scandal and controlling the political narrative. The group focused on coordinating a response to the upcoming Senate Ervin Committee hearings, specifically addressing the risks posed by potential testimony from grand jury witnesses, and explored launching a bipartisan "blue ribbon" commission on campaign finance reform to seize the legislative initiative. Additionally, the President reviewed pending administrative appointments, including the nomination of Elliot Richardson as Attorney General and the selection of William Colby to lead the CIA, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining consistent, public support from Republican allies.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discuss legal and public relations strategies regarding Watergate, specifically focusing on the potential impact of CIA memoranda (memcons) and wiretap evidence. The conversation centers on coordinating testimony from Lt. Gen. Vernon Walters to ensure it aligns with the administration's position that Nixon had no direct involvement in attempting to use the CIA to cover up the scandal. They determine that these documents must be withheld under executive privilege to prevent political damage and plan to instruct H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman on how to frame their upcoming interactions with investigators.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig met to discuss managing the ongoing Watergate investigation and coordinating the testimony of CIA Deputy Director Vernon Walters. Nixon emphasized that he wanted Walters to reassure officials like Elliot Richardson, William Colby, and James Schlesinger of the President’s innocence and his desire for a full investigation. The conversation centered on the potential legal exposure of H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman, the status of sensitive memoranda of conversation, and ensuring the loyalty of key administration appointees amidst the political fallout.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discussed the legal and political risks surrounding sensitive memoranda of conversation (memcons) related to the Watergate investigation and potential CIA involvement. Concerned about potential leaks and forthcoming testimony from officials like James Schlesinger and Vernon Walters, Nixon insisted that these documents remain in White House possession to protect national security and the administration's legal standing. The two also coordinated a strategy for press secretary Ronald Ziegler to counter negative narratives by emphasizing past administrations' use of wiretaps and ensuring the administration's public stance on cooperation remains consistent.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discussed the ongoing Watergate investigation, focusing on managing the public and legal narrative surrounding H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman. Nixon sought to convince Haig that interactions between his aides and the CIA were not a conspiratorial attempt to orchestrate a cover-up, but rather an effort to keep the CIA out of the investigation. The two men coordinated on strategies for upcoming grand jury testimony, specifically considering the use of executive privilege to protect Haldeman from potential perjury charges while emphasizing the need to ensure favorable, non-incriminating testimony from figures like Vernon Walters.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler consulted at Camp David to coordinate the administration's public relations strategy regarding ongoing press coverage of the Soviet summit and the Watergate scandal. They discussed promoting positive bipartisan cooperation on a new election commission while maintaining a firm, defensive narrative against damaging leaks, specifically regarding FBI wiretap files and allegations of CIA involvement. Nixon emphasized the need to frame his inquiries into intelligence activities as logical and routine, while Ziegler confirmed that the White House had successfully countered misleading reports concerning the President's past communications with L. Patrick Gray.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman consulted on the administration's strategy for responding to the intensifying Watergate investigation and the looming Senate hearings. They discussed the complexities of invoking executive privilege to protect presidential papers and testimony, specifically concerning meetings involving John Ehrlichman, H. R. Haldeman, and CIA Director Richard Helms. Nixon urged Haldeman to maintain a defiant stance, emphasizing the need to frame their past actions as a legitimate attempt to protect the CIA from being unfairly implicated in the scandal.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discuss strategic responses to the Watergate scandal, focusing on managing public perception and protecting administration documents. They address the controversy surrounding Central Intelligence Agency involvement, the potential risks of disclosing "memcons" (memoranda of conversation), and the necessity of maintaining a unified front among staff and foreign diplomats. Additionally, Nixon proposes a new commission on election reform as a distraction to shift media focus away from the ongoing investigations.
President Nixon met with Ronald Ziegler, Alexander Haig, and Leonard Garment to manage the administration's defensive response to ongoing Watergate investigations and emerging media scrutiny regarding the President's personal finances. The group discussed the legal and political implications of recent testimony from Lt. Gen. Vernon Walters, concerns regarding potential indictments of senior staff, and the management of sensitive documents related to the Huston Plan. Nixon emphasized maintaining a strategy of resilience, rejecting the idea of constant public rebuttals, while coordinating efforts to handle inquiries from the Ervin Committee and prosecutors without further damaging the presidency.
President Nixon and aide Lawrence Higby discuss the need for H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman to publicly refute any implication that their past actions involving the CIA and national security matters constituted a Watergate cover-up. The President emphasizes that his top advisors must be assertive and non-apologetic regarding their efforts to investigate leaks, specifically concerning the 'Plumbers' operation and Daniel Ellsberg. Additionally, they discuss strategy for addressing negative stories regarding the President's finances, emphasizing a planned aggressive pushback against the Ervin Committee.
President Nixon met with Alexander Haig and J. Fred Buzhardt to strategize on the burgeoning Watergate scandal, specifically focusing on John Dean's possession of sensitive documents and the potential for a damaging investigation into domestic intelligence operations. The participants discussed controlling the narrative surrounding CIA and NSA involvement, maintaining the loyalty of White House staff, and managing the political fallout of ongoing testimony. Additionally, Haig briefed the President on his recent discussions with John Connally regarding potential White House personnel changes, the appointment of a special prosecutor, and the necessity of presenting a strong, defiant front against congressional and legal pressures.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discuss a strategy to address potential inquiries regarding the administration's involvement in the Watergate break-in investigation. Nixon instructs Ziegler to maintain that he directed a comprehensive inquiry into the involvement of various agencies, specifically to determine if the CIA played a role. Additionally, Nixon directs Ziegler to gather data on John W. Dean III's past access to FBI reports and staff briefings to serve as a defensive counter-narrative.
President Nixon and Ronald Ziegler discussed internal investigations into agency involvement, specifically focusing on the CIA's potential role and the necessity for a thorough, broad-based inquiry. Nixon directed Ziegler to gather specific data regarding FBI reports and the timeline of staff involvement in Los Angeles to clarify administrative oversight. This exchange reflects the White House's attempt to manage and compartmentalize information surrounding ongoing investigations.
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 met with Alexander Haig and Ronald Ziegler to develop a rigorous "battle plan" for addressing the expanding Watergate scandal and ongoing investigations. The participants strategized on how to manage the release of sensitive White House records, including memoranda of conversation and materials related to the Huston Plan and CIA involvement. A primary focus was establishing a unified defense against accusations involving John Dean, H.R. Haldeman, and John Ehrlichman, while firmly asserting executive privilege over presidential papers.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig met to discuss strategic responses to mounting political pressure from the Watergate scandal and ongoing Senate committee investigations. They evaluated the potential benefits of releasing specific documents, including General Vernon Walters’s memoranda, to preemptively control the narrative regarding the President's directives to the FBI and CIA. The two considered whether a proactive, public disclosure—framed as an effort to protect institutional integrity rather than a cover-up—might mitigate long-term damage or potential impeachment proceedings.
President Nixon, Alexander Haig, and Alexander Butterfield met to strategize the White House response to the escalating Watergate scandal, focusing on the upcoming Ervin Committee hearings and potential impeachment proceedings. Nixon expressed a desire to present a 'White Paper' to Congressional leaders to clarify the administration's position and distance himself from the scandal, rather than addressing the public on prime-time television. They also discussed the status of CIA involvement, potential testimony from Richard Helms and Vernon Walters, and the need for a unified defense against political opponents.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig met to strategize the drafting of a White House White Paper intended to shape public perception of the Watergate scandal and address mounting allegations. The discussion focused on carefully framing the President's past communications with figures like L. Patrick Gray and Henry Petersen to emphasize that his actions were rooted in protecting national security rather than facilitating a cover-up. Nixon directed Haig to ensure the document explicitly addressed unauthorized activities involving the CIA and the Plumbers, while maintaining that the President had no prior knowledge of specific illegal acts like the break-in at the office of Daniel Ellsberg’s psychiatrist.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discuss the management of information and materials related to ongoing investigations, specifically focusing on what should be disclosed to prosecutors versus what falls under security protections. Nixon expresses concern over the handling of CIA-related information and the legal implications of providing specific directives to the agency. The conversation underscores the administration's efforts to navigate the tension between cooperative transparency and the protection of sensitive executive branch records.
On May 23, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:55 pm and 1:00 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 926-019 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler met to strategize on managing the ongoing Watergate scandal and the increasingly hostile press corps. They discussed refining the administration's public messaging regarding national security, the CIA's potential involvement in the Watergate break-in, and the President's awareness of these events. The conversation focused on preparing for upcoming press briefings and potential presidential appearances to shift the narrative and defend the administration against mounting political pressure.