Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on National Security
311 conversations · page 4 of 4 · frequently with Nixon, Kissinger, Buzhardt, United States Secret Service agents
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to discuss the review, management, and long-term disposition of the White House taping system. The discussion focused on the practical logistics of reviewing recordings for historical value and sensitivity, including concerns regarding national security and the necessity of maintaining strict secrecy. The participants also addressed the operational oversight provided by the United States Secret Service and the quality of the audio recordings captured during the system's activation.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to place an urgent call to National Security Advisor Henry A. Kissinger. This brief administrative interaction was initiated solely to facilitate direct communication between the President and his advisor. No further substantive policy discussions occurred during this exchange.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discuss the logistical and security arrangements for Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev’s upcoming visit to San Clemente. Nixon emphasizes the site's suitability, noting its controlled environment on a military base, while Kissinger highlights the Soviet delegation’s significant concerns regarding security and reported plots. The two agree to resolve the site issue by the following day to finalize travel arrangements.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discuss logistics and security arrangements for an upcoming trip, focusing on the necessity of maintaining a strictly controlled itinerary. The two weigh the potential security risks of landing at specific bases and whether such details should be disclosed publicly. They conclude the brief exchange by confirming departure times and reaffirming the need for operational discretion.
President Nixon held a brief, two-minute meeting in the Oval Office with General Brent Scowcroft and an unidentified individual. The discussion, characterized by ambiguous remarks regarding a lack of a "storefront," remains largely unintelligible due to the brevity and indistinct nature of the recording. No definitive policy decisions or significant administrative actions were captured during this exchange.
President Nixon initiates a request through the White House operator to place a telephone call to General Brent Scowcroft. This brief administrative interaction serves as the logistical bridge to facilitate a direct conversation between the President and his National Security Advisor. No substantive policy matters were discussed during this specific exchange.
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 contacted the White House operator to place an urgent call to General Brent G. Scowcroft, who served as his Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs. The brief interaction focused solely on establishing this high-level communication link. No further policy discussions or substantive developments occurred during this exchange.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to request an outgoing telephone call to his National Security Advisor, Henry Kissinger. This administrative interaction served as the necessary bridge to facilitate a direct line of communication between the President and his top foreign policy official. No substantive policy matters were discussed during this brief request.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met briefly in the Oval Office to continue discussions regarding ongoing international negotiations or intelligence matters. The dialogue, which appears to be a segment of a broader exchange, focuses on the strategic feasibility of obtaining specific terms or information. No definitive policy shift is finalized in this short duration, as the participants weigh the necessity and availability of their objectives.
United States Secret Service agents convened in the Oval Office to discuss matters related to the President's location and movements. Due to national security restrictions, the specific details of the deliberation remain classified and redacted from the historical record. The brief exchange constitutes the entirety of the available audio for this session.