Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on J. Fred Buzhardt
34 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Buzhardt, Haig, Bull
President Nixon and Alexander Haig met to strategize on managing the burgeoning Watergate scandal, specifically focusing on how to respond to the Ervin Committee and potential testimony from John Dean. The discussion centered on staffing the White House legal team, weighing the merits of candidates like J. Fred Buzhardt and Horace Chapman Rose to bolster their defense against Senate inquiries. Nixon emphasized the need for a dedicated, competent legal strategy to protect the office of the Presidency while asserting that he must personally remain detached from public confrontations with Dean.
President Nixon met with Alexander Haig, H. R. Haldeman, J. Fred Buzhardt, and others to strategize on the growing Watergate crisis, specifically focusing on the legal and political risks posed by Haldeman's personal notes. The group discussed the potential for these documents to be subpoenaed and the tension surrounding the use of executive privilege to protect them from grand jury scrutiny. Nixon emphasized his desire to gain control over these papers to avoid damaging misinterpretations and directed Buzhardt to serve as the primary legal counsel tasked with assessing the documents and managing the White House's defense strategy.
Alexander Haig updates President Nixon on the positive public reception of the President's speech at the New Majority Dinner, while both men dismiss concerns regarding resignation and impeachment. Nixon emphasizes his firm stance on executive privilege, explicitly directing that no ground be yielded on the release of written documents. To manage the ongoing Watergate fallout, Nixon instructs Haig to sideline Leonard Garment and coordinate efforts through J. Fred Buzhardt, who is tasked with working closely with H.R. Haldeman and Senator John C. Stennis.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss the recent New York grand jury indictments of John Mitchell and Maurice Stans in the Robert Vesco case. The conversation turns to legal strategy and internal frustrations regarding the accuracy of reports being relayed to Alexander Haig about meetings with Haldeman's legal counsel. Haldeman specifically corrects the record concerning the attendance of J. Fred Buzhardt, Leonard Garment, and Horace Chapman Rose at a recent meeting, highlighting ongoing friction within the administration’s legal coordination.
President Nixon instructed Alexander Haig to direct J. Fred Buzhardt to adopt a more supportive and optimistic tone when communicating with H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman regarding their legal strategy. Nixon emphasized that Buzhardt must project confidence that the Watergate situation is manageable to counter the anxiety caused by Leonard Garment’s more alarming counsel. Additionally, the two discussed John Connally’s potential leave of absence from his law firm, with Nixon approving the move to address concerns regarding professional conflicts of interest.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull reviewed the President’s upcoming schedule, specifically focusing on the sixth draft of an election reform speech and the arrangements for recording a message on the topic. They further coordinated appointments involving J. Fred Buzhardt, potential meetings with Bangladesh envoys based on Henry Kissinger’s recommendations, and matters regarding the FBI. This discussion served to organize the President’s administrative priorities and logistical preparations for diplomatic and legislative engagements.
President Nixon held a brief, recorded meeting with J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. regarding ongoing matters of administration concern. The transcript for this brief encounter is undefined, indicating that the meeting concluded almost immediately after the participants were present. No specific policy decisions or substantive discussions were documented in this segment.
J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. requested that the White House operator connect him to Doug Parker for an outgoing telephone call. This brief administrative interaction served as a logistical step to facilitate direct communication between legal staff. No substantive policy discussions or policy-related decisions occurred during this brief exchange.
President Nixon and White House counsel J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. discuss the contents of a mysterious 43-page document to determine if it involves sensitive national security matters or potential political liabilities. They deliberate on whether the information relates to domestic intelligence gathering and if it is appropriate or necessary to disclose these materials to a judge. Nixon ultimately praises Buzhardt's investigative progress and instructs him to provide a follow-up report on the document's implications.
President Nixon initiated this brief exchange to coordinate an in-person meeting with White House counsel J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. The President requested that Buzhardt come to the Oval Office immediately to discuss urgent matters. This logistical communication facilitated a follow-up session between the two key figures during the height of the Watergate investigation.
President Nixon met with Alexander Haig and J. Fred Buzhardt to discuss the potential fallout from the 'Huston Plan,' a controversial domestic intelligence program. The participants assessed the extent to which the plan was implemented and whether any illegal activities, such as domestic wiretapping or the break-in of Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office, could be legally linked to it. Nixon directed his team to gather facts from intelligence agencies while simultaneously attempting to keep the sensitive documents out of the hands of the Ervin Committee, fearing that public exposure would lead to a damaging narrative of a massive government conspiracy.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig met to strategize a defense against potential political damage stemming from the Watergate investigation, specifically focusing on the 1970 Huston Plan. They debated how to frame the plan—which authorized aggressive domestic surveillance tactics like surreptitious entry—as a necessary, albeit unimplemented, contingency response to civil unrest by radical groups. The participants aimed to distance the President from any association between the Huston Plan and the Watergate burglary while planning to utilize J. Fred Buzhardt to coordinate with relevant figures like Robert Mardian and clarify that the program was superseded and never operational.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discussed the negative public perception surrounding the opening days of the Ervin Committee hearings and the ongoing witness testimony. They reviewed the progress of J. Fred Buzhardt’s document preparations, setting a goal to have materials finalized by Sunday. Additionally, Haig provided an update on Elliot Richardson’s confirmation process and they coordinated the agenda for an upcoming Cabinet meeting intended to boost administration morale.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to connect him with J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr., who was serving as Special Counsel to the President at the time. This brief interaction served as a logistical step to facilitate direct communication with legal counsel amid the escalating Watergate investigation. No further substantive discussion was captured beyond the request to initiate the call.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig coordinated efforts to manage internal documentation related to the Watergate scandal, specifically focusing on John W. Dean III’s files. Nixon instructed Haig to ensure J. Fred Buzhardt provided access to the original documents to facilitate a comprehensive review of the ongoing investigation. The conversation concluded with Haig arranging a follow-up meeting with Stephen B. Bull to further address these administrative requirements.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig met to strategize a defense against John Dean’s potential allegations by securing and auditing White House materials. Haig recommended that the President personally review relevant White House tapes to determine exactly what information Dean might possess and how to counteract his claims. The discussion also addressed the physical security of Dean’s files, with plans for J. Fred Buzhardt to examine the materials and retrieve personal papers.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discuss strategy regarding the handling of presidential papers and the ongoing Watergate investigations. Nixon instructs Ziegler to coordinate with J. Fred Buzhardt and Leonard Garment to frame the refusal of document access in a more positive light, while maintaining an uncompromising stance against subpoenas. The two also agree to wait for internal conflicts within the Senate committee and the office of Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox to unfold before deciding on further public relations tactics.
Alexander M. Haig, Jr. and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. discuss the administration's response to press reports regarding a potential subpoena from Samuel Dash, chief counsel for the Senate Watergate Committee. Buzhardt confirms he communicated with Dash to dispute the reports, noting that Dash denied ever stating an intention to issue a subpoena. The participants coordinate efforts to have the record publicly corrected to mitigate the political fallout.
President Nixon directs J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. to coordinate with Leonard Garment regarding a confrontational response to Senate counsel Samuel Dash concerning leaked information about White House cooperation with the Watergate investigation. Nixon emphasizes that the administration must manage public perception and media narratives regarding the release of materials, rather than focusing on logistical logs. The President instructs Buzhardt to demand a public statement from Dash, threatening that the White House will initiate a critical media campaign if the administration's cooperation is not properly acknowledged.
President Nixon instructed his attorney, J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr., on the strategy for an upcoming meeting with Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox regarding the Watergate investigation. Nixon directed Buzhardt to project an image of full cooperation while maintaining a firm refusal to turn over sensitive presidential papers to avoid a constitutional crisis. Furthermore, Nixon urged Buzhardt to aggressively confront Cox about allegations that his staff was motivated by a desire to target the President, while simultaneously expressing absolute confidence that John Dean's testimony would ultimately prove Nixon's innocence.
President Nixon met with his legal counsel, J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr., to discuss the administration's ongoing cooperation with investigations and to coordinate a defensive strategy. Nixon commended Buzhardt’s recent legal work and emphasized that the White House would maintain a cooperative stance while remaining prepared for a political confrontation. The President firmly asserted his innocence regarding the matters under scrutiny and instructed Buzhardt to rebuff any attempts to obstruct their legal position.
President Nixon consults with J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. regarding his upcoming meeting with Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox to gauge the potential for a hostile confrontation. The President expresses concern that Cox might intentionally provoke a conflict to justify a resignation, prompting the two to strategize on how to manage the interaction. They conclude by scheduling a follow-up briefing to occur after the President finishes a concurrent meeting with Congressional leadership.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to place a call to J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. The President specified that the connection should only be made if Buzhardt was available and alone, rather than currently occupied with guests or dinner. This request reflects the high level of discretion required by the President when coordinating with his legal counsel during the ongoing Watergate investigations.
President Nixon consulted with a White House operator to facilitate a telephonic connection with J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. The primary purpose of the communication was to establish contact with Buzhardt regarding ongoing legal or administrative matters. No further substantive details regarding the conversation were recorded as the call served strictly as a logistical request for assistance in reaching the counsel.
President Nixon met with his counsel J. Fred Buzhardt to strategize the administration's defense regarding the Watergate scandal, specifically focusing on John Dean's conduct and credibility. Nixon emphasized the need for a general denial strategy, suggesting that Dean's failure to report information directly to the President proves Dean withheld details of the cover-up. They discussed potential lines of questioning to undermine Dean's narrative and explored the legal defense surrounding national security claims and hush money demands.
President Nixon requested that the White House operator place a telephone call to J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr., who was serving as White House Counsel at the time. This brief interaction served solely to facilitate official communication between the President and his legal advisor. No further substantive details regarding the purpose or outcome of the subsequent discussion were recorded in this initial connection request.
President Nixon and White House counsel J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. met to discuss legal defense strategies regarding ongoing investigations and potential witness reliability. The conversation centered on concerns regarding a witness's propensity for lying and the risk that their testimony could undermine the administration's legal position. They weighed the strategic implications of how specific evidence or documentation might be contested or utilized during formal proceedings.
President Nixon communicated with the White House operator to initiate a telephone call. The request was specifically made to connect the President with J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. No further substantive discussion occurred during this brief administrative exchange.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to coordinate scheduling and legal strategy regarding the ongoing Watergate investigation. The discussion specifically addressed the administration's defensive posture toward the Ervin Committee and concerns over damaging press leaks. Nixon also arranged a briefing with J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. to further manage the White House's response to the scandal.
President Nixon, Alexander Haig, and Ronald Ziegler met to discuss the White House's strategic response to the impending Ervin Committee testimony of John W. Dean III. The President and his aides analyzed how to manage the political fallout of the testimony during the upcoming summit with Leonid Brezhnev, weighing the pros and cons of potential delays. A significant focus of the discussion was the ongoing effort to discredit Dean by publicizing his alleged mishandling of campaign funds and payments to defendants.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to place a call to J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. to discuss legal or administrative matters. He specifically directed that Buzhardt should not be contacted if he was currently at the Capitol, requesting that the operator verify his presence in his office first. This exchange highlights the logistical coordination required for Nixon to communicate with his legal team during the height of the Watergate investigations.
President Nixon consulted with J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. regarding his immediate schedule and availability for a meeting. The brief exchange served to coordinate the President's upcoming activities, resulting in Buzhardt being instructed to come to the Oval Office. This interaction facilitated direct access between the President and his legal counsel during the height of the Watergate-related investigations.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discussed the White House's economic messaging strategy, specifically praising Melvin Laird’s recent success in bolstering support among Congressmen. The conversation shifted to monitoring Attorney General Elliot Richardson and the ongoing investigation into Vice President Spiro Agnew. Haig confirmed he had tasked J. Fred Buzhardt with pressing Richardson for information regarding the Agnew probe to ensure the administration was not blindsided by potential legal or political crises.
President Nixon initiates a brief telephone call to summon J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. to the Oval Office for an immediate meeting. The discussion is strictly logistical, serving to confirm Buzhardt's location and request his presence for a follow-up consultation. No specific policy or legal matters are addressed during this brief exchange, as the conversation functions solely as a scheduling maneuver.