Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on John Mitchell
105 conversations · page 2 of 2 · frequently with Nixon, Haig, Sanchez, Eisenhower
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 and his daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, discussed her recent successful trip to Texas, where she received a positive reception from local Republicans and noted that the public responded enthusiastically to her introduction as the daughter of a peacemaker. The pair also briefly touched upon the President's upcoming schedule and the political fallout of the Watergate hearings. They specifically noted positive feedback regarding John Mitchell’s recent television testimony, which was perceived as effectively challenging the accounts of John Dean and Jeb Magruder.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discuss media management and the administration's public messaging strategy. The President emphasizes the importance of credibility and selectively managing public statements, specifically referencing his direct intervention to suppress certain information. They briefly touch upon the current media climate and speculate on the motives behind the exclusion of figures like John Mitchell from press coverage.
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 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.