Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on John N. Mitchell
212 conversations · page 3 of 3 · frequently with Nixon, Ziegler, Woods, Rebozo
President Nixon met with Alexander Haig and Rose Mary Woods to discuss routine administrative tasks, including the President's upcoming schedule and staff support for a potential book project. The conversation shifted significantly to Watergate, specifically focusing on the ongoing Ervin Committee hearings and the legal difficulties facing John Mitchell, Maurice Stans, and John Dean. They also touched upon concerns regarding Martha Mitchell's behavior and the involvement of Thomas Pappas in financial matters related to legal defense funds.
President Nixon and Charles "Bebe" Rebozo discussed ongoing political pressures, specifically focusing on the Watergate hearings and the public perception of the administration. They expressed solidarity regarding the impending testimony of John N. Mitchell, while also coordinating a strategy to neutralize critical press inquiries—particularly those from Maxine Cheshire—regarding financial matters and property dealings involving Robert Abplanalp. Nixon emphasized his intention to stop personally addressing these allegations, signaling a move toward a more combative stance against his political detractors.
President Nixon met with Ronald Ziegler, William P. Rogers, and others to strategize regarding the ongoing Ervin Committee hearings and the credibility of witnesses like John N. Mitchell and John W. Dean III. The discussion focused on Mitchell's testimony, which presented a narrative favorable to the President by claiming Nixon lacked prior knowledge of the Watergate cover-up or the break-in. The participants analyzed the effectiveness of the White House's decision to remain publicly silent rather than launching an aggressive counter-campaign against Dean, concluding that this restrained approach enhanced Mitchell's credibility. The group also touched upon upcoming testimonies from other key figures and potential legislative or legal implications concerning Presidential authority and the Ellsberg break-in.
Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler briefs President Nixon on television news coverage regarding John N. Mitchell's testimony before the Ervin Committee. Ziegler reports that network coverage focused on Mitchell's claims that he withheld information from the President to protect his reelection efforts and his denials of prior knowledge regarding the Watergate break-in. Both participants conclude that the reporting of the testimony was favorable to the administration and highlighted the perceived credibility of Mitchell's defense of the President.
President Nixon and Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo discuss an ongoing, in-depth Internal Revenue Service (IRS) examination of Rebozo's financial records and personal expenditures. Rebozo expresses confidence that his counsel, Kenneth Gemmill, and his long-time accountant have properly managed the inquiry and that he will resist transferring his original documentation out of his personal control. They also briefly discuss John Mitchell's recent testimony before the Ervin Committee, with both men praising Mitchell's performance and perceived honesty.
President Nixon and his daughter, Tricia Nixon Cox, discussed their daily schedules and recent political developments during a brief phone call. The conversation focused heavily on the Senate Watergate hearings, with both agreeing that John Mitchell’s testimony was effective and superior to that of previous witnesses like Jeb Stuart Magruder and John W. Dean, III. Additionally, the President reflected on the positive reception he received during his recent trip to Kansas City, Missouri.
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 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 and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discuss media coverage of the Watergate hearings, specifically expressing frustration that the television networks provided John Dean five days of coverage while limiting John Mitchell to one. They strategize on ways to pressure the media by highlighting perceived biases and reporting false constituent outrage to network executives. Additionally, they review the status of upcoming testimonies, including those of Richard A. Moore and Herbert Kalmbach, while denigrating the conduct of Senator Howard Baker.
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.
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.