Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on Pentagon Papers
133 conversations · page 2 of 2 · frequently with Nixon, Ehrlichman, Haldeman, Bull
President Nixon met with John Mitchell, H. R. Haldeman, and John Ehrlichman primarily to discuss the ongoing investigation into the leak of the Pentagon Papers and the prosecution of Daniel Ellsberg. The participants strategized on how to expose the existence of a broader conspiracy, suggesting that the administration should leverage media leaks and congressional committees to sway public opinion. Nixon emphasized the need for strict control over the investigative process, instructing that no final indictments be issued without his direct approval while the team continued to build their case.
President Nixon met with John D. Ehrlichman and George P. Shultz to discuss a wide-ranging agenda of domestic and political issues, including the administration's strategy for school desegregation, welfare reform, and the handling of the Pentagon Papers. The President expressed deep frustration with the lack of vocal support from Republican Congressional leaders regarding his recent initiative to open relations with the People's Republic of China, and directed his staff to organize briefings to mobilize legislators around economic and peace issues. Additionally, the President and Ehrlichman reviewed the potentially problematic behavior of the President's brother, Donald Nixon, requesting CIA surveillance to manage the political risks associated with his foreign travel and business dealings.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed political strategies to manage the impact of the Pentagon Papers, aiming to divide the Democratic Party on the Vietnam War issue while bolstering the President's image as a strong, decisive leader. The participants analyzed the positive public reception of the upcoming China initiative, which they planned to use to build momentum for the 1972 campaign. Furthermore, the meeting addressed domestic policy challenges, specifically examining how to navigate public dissatisfaction with court-ordered busing and the difficulties of advancing welfare reform.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discussed strategies to manage media coverage, specifically focusing on cultivating more favorable reporting from CBS regarding the administration's economic and policy successes. They reviewed the political benefits of the recent People's Republic of China initiative, which they agreed served as a valuable tool for boosting support among youth and improving the administration's overall image. Additionally, they touched on ongoing political operations, including the strategic use of Pentagon Papers-related information against Democratic candidates and the importance of John B. Connally’s role in managing labor relations.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman, Henry Kissinger, John Ehrlichman, and Alexander Butterfield to coordinate the administration's response to ongoing leaks of classified national security information. The President directed that all staff with access to sensitive documents be subjected to polygraph tests to identify the sources, expressing deep frustration with the Department of State and the Department of Defense. Additionally, the participants reviewed the status of Vietnam peace negotiations and planning for the President's forthcoming diplomatic initiative with the People's Republic of China.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate upcoming appointments and resolve personal logistics for Charles G. “Bebe” Rebozo. The discussion included scheduling meetings with John Mitchell and Peter G. Peterson, as well as managing the details of Rebozo's hotel accommodations through discreet channels. The participants also touched upon the Pentagon Papers case and the expected return of Henry Kissinger.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman, Clark MacGregor, and John Ehrlichman to coordinate the administration's legislative strategy, focusing on the draft extension bill, busing, and the People's Republic of China initiative. The participants discussed managing the political fallout from school desegregation and housing issues, as well as the potential impact of Eugene McCarthy's 1972 candidacy on the political left. Additionally, the President and his advisors reviewed economic policy, the handling of government leaks like the Pentagon Papers, and the personal conduct of the President's brother, Donald Nixon.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discussed a wide range of administrative, political, and personnel matters, including the handling of Vice President Spiro Agnew’s return from an African tour and the potential nomination of Robert S. McNamara to the World Bank. The conversation also covered strategic planning for upcoming presidential radio addresses, the management of economic policy advisors like Paul McCracken, and the implementation of tighter control over presidential media coverage, specifically regarding Nixon's planned trip to the Bohemian Grove. Finally, the President directed staff to gather sensitive historical documents from the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, emphasizing the need for organized access to records concerning the Bay of Pigs, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and other Cold War-era crises.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to coordinate strategy for an upcoming press conference, focusing on managing public and political expectations regarding the administration's foreign policy initiatives. They discussed the timing of Nixon's summit in the People's Republic of China, emphasizing the need for favorable weather and political leverage, as well as the progress of Vietnam peace negotiations. Additionally, they reviewed domestic political concerns, including the 1972 election landscape, the impact of the Pentagon Papers, and the necessity of maintaining a firm stance against leaks and political opponents.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman met in the Oval Office to coordinate administration strategy across several fronts, including legal actions related to the Pentagon Papers and the Daniel Ellsberg case. They discussed personnel shifts to strengthen economic policy management, the implementation of a new children's park project on the National Mall, and intelligence-gathering efforts concerning political opponents and internal leaks. Nixon also provided directives on foreign economic policy, emphasizing a shift toward bilateral negotiations to prioritize domestic interests over foreign aid commitments.
President Nixon met with several senior advisors and staff members, including H. R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman, Henry Kissinger, and Clark MacGregor, to manage a range of domestic and foreign policy issues. The discussions focused on navigating the fallout of the steel industry settlement, celebrating the recent legislative victory regarding the Lockheed loan guarantee, and refining the administration's stance on busing in Texas schools. Furthermore, the participants coordinated the logistics and messaging for the President’s upcoming press conference, his travel schedule, and his approach to ongoing concerns such as the Vietnam War and the Pentagon Papers.
President Nixon and Charles Colson met to discuss strategies for countering negative economic perceptions and managing press coverage, particularly concerning unemployment figures. They planned a coordinated effort involving Cabinet members and economic advisors to meet with business leaders and media editorial boards to shift the narrative toward a positive economic outlook. Additionally, they discussed using the Pentagon Papers to highlight political vulnerabilities of the previous Democratic administration, opting to delay the release of certain sensitive material until after the upcoming Vietnam elections.
President Nixon, John Ehrlichman, and Ronald Ziegler met to coordinate administration strategy regarding news leaks, classification policies, and the public handling of the Pentagon Papers. The President emphasized his commitment to a new, stricter classification system while justifying past actions as necessary for protecting sensitive foreign negotiations, such as those with China and the Soviet Union. The group also discussed the management of busing policy, the possible retirement of J. Edgar Hoover, and upcoming domestic policy initiatives, including welfare reform and revenue sharing.
President Nixon met with staff members, including Ronald Ziegler, Charles Colson, and H.R. Haldeman, to discuss a range of domestic and political issues, including school desegregation policy and public relations strategies. The conversation focused on exploiting political divisions among Democrats regarding the Pentagon Papers and the Vietnam War, and preparing for future economic messaging during the autumn. Additionally, Nixon addressed concerns over a potential security breach involving lost personal notes from a trip to Indiana and coordinated upcoming administrative schedules and briefings.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met briefly to coordinate their schedules and manage upcoming staff interactions. The discussion focused on preparing for a press briefing involving John Ehrlichman concerning the Pentagon Papers. Nixon specifically requested the inclusion of key advisors to ensure a unified administrative message during the press engagement.
President Nixon met with his senior staff, including H. R. Haldeman, Henry Kissinger, and John Ehrlichman, to discuss a range of domestic and foreign policy priorities. Key deliberations focused on the national economy—specifically addressing textile import issues and preparations for a significant upcoming economic announcement involving potential wage-price freezes—alongside strategies for managing national security declassifications and press relations. The President also reviewed his schedule, including upcoming diplomatic trips to China and the USSR and various domestic scheduling concerns, while emphasizing the need for a cohesive administration stance on legislative and public communication strategies.
President Nixon met with his senior advisors to strategize the timing and presentation of a major, upcoming national economic policy package. Discussions focused on whether to prioritize domestic measures like wage and price freezes or to address international monetary instability by closing the "gold window." Nixon expressed concern about appearing panicky and weighed the political benefits of delivering a televised address versus a more understated written announcement. Additionally, the group reviewed the success of a recent press briefing by Ehrlichman, which successfully shifted the media narrative regarding the declassification of government documents and the administration's stance on the Pentagon Papers.
President Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman discussed a wide array of political and administrative challenges, including ongoing difficulties with Attorney General John Mitchell regarding the Austin busing case and antitrust policy. The two reviewed internal White House strategies for managing personnel, such as potential replacements for antitrust officials and the planned retirement of J. Edgar Hoover. Additionally, they addressed media inquiries concerning the President's personal financial dealings, specifically those involving Bebe Rebozo, and examined strategies to leverage IRS investigations against political opponents like Edmund Muskie and Edward Kennedy.
President Nixon met with John Ehrlichman and H.R. Haldeman to discuss several pressing administration issues, including the political implications of offshore oil drilling in the Santa Barbara Channel and the status of his proposed presidential library site. The group also evaluated the public reception of the President's recent economic speech, deliberated on strategies for handling the ongoing Pentagon Papers controversy, and reviewed legislative challenges regarding welfare reform and school busing. The meeting functioned as a broad briefing session, resulting in instructions for staff to monitor specific political opponents and manage ongoing domestic policy initiatives.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discuss the importance of strictly enforcing a total ban on administration communication with The New York Times, specifically regarding a request for an interview from journalist James Reston. Nixon expresses frustration that Henry Kissinger met with Reston and suggested the idea, reinforcing that no White House staff should engage with The New York Times or other specific print publications. The President determines that such outlets are inherently hostile and mandates that all interview requests from these organizations be declined without negotiation to maintain a firm, unified stance.
President Nixon met with his inner circle, including John Mitchell, Henry Kissinger, and John Ehrlichman, to discuss a range of urgent issues including Middle East tensions, the SALT negotiations, and Supreme Court vacancies. The President directed that the Middle East situation be kept low-profile to avoid political complications, emphasized the need for a conservative nominee to fill the Supreme Court vacancy, and ordered his staff to secure comprehensive files on the Bay of Pigs and the Pentagon Papers to better manage political messaging. Additionally, the participants reviewed economic indicators, discussed the President's public relations strategy regarding J. Edgar Hoover, and brainstormed ways to capitalize on the Democratic Party's internal divisions.
President Nixon, H.R. Haldeman, and John Ehrlichman discussed the administration's strategy for releasing an expurgated version of the Pentagon Papers despite concerns raised by Henry Kissinger. The participants aimed to use the documents to turn the political narrative against the Democrats, ultimately deciding to proceed with the release while tasking Ehrlichman to coordinate with Richard Helms to declassify further sensitive intelligence records. Additionally, the group reviewed the staffing structure for the Council on International Economic Policy and finalized plans for the President's upcoming economic speech in Detroit.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman and other staff to review administrative and political matters, including the handling of the Pentagon Papers and the reorganization of the Council on International Economic Policy (CIEP). The President emphasized the need to move beyond current staffing limitations by centering economic policy work around George Shultz and John Connally, rather than Peter Peterson. Additionally, the group discussed potential candidates for Secretary of Agriculture, the legislative strategy for a Supreme Court appointment, and the necessity of managing Vice President Agnew's role leading into the upcoming campaign.
President Nixon and Charles Colson confer regarding the administration’s economic strategy and public relations efforts, specifically focusing on the Consumer Price Index and its implications for October 1971. The discussion touches upon political strategy related to the draft and administrative management, including George Shultz’s role and communications with George Romney. Additionally, the pair evaluates the political fallout surrounding the Pentagon Papers and internal Cabinet dynamics involving James D. Hodgson.
President Nixon met with John Mitchell and John Ehrlichman to discuss high-level personnel and policy matters, specifically focusing on potential Supreme Court nominees, school busing legislation, and tensions regarding FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. The group evaluated candidates such as Robert C. Byrd and Howard H. Baker Jr., while also debating the merits of a constitutional amendment versus legislative action to address court-ordered busing. Additionally, the President and his advisors addressed the secure handling of sensitive files related to the Pentagon Papers investigation and contemplated how to manage Hoover’s increasingly difficult tenure.
In this Oval Office meeting, President Nixon, John Ehrlichman, and Henry Kissinger discussed various administrative and political priorities, including government reorganization, the replacement of Cabinet Secretaries, and the management of the Agriculture Department. The participants also reviewed strategies for handling the Pentagon Papers controversy, addressed the status of the FBI under J. Edgar Hoover, and debated the implementation of a Value Added Tax (VAT). Additionally, the group strategized on domestic legislative hurdles, specifically the pending Congressional vote on school busing, and coordinated their approach to upcoming meetings regarding Vietnam troop withdrawal policies.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to discuss administration strategy regarding ongoing political controversies, specifically the ITT scandal and negative media coverage surrounding campaign financing and the Pentagon Papers. They evaluated public reaction to the President's recent stance on busing and strategized on how to counter political opposition, including potential smear tactics against members of Congress. Nixon emphasized the necessity of a proactive, aggressive communication strategy to discredit critics and protect the administration's image ahead of the upcoming election.
President Nixon met with Henry Kissinger, Alexander Haig, and other staff members to finalize the strategy for an upcoming televised address regarding the worsening military situation in Vietnam. The President emphasized his desire for a simple, direct speech that would frame the North Vietnamese invasion as a clear act of aggression while preparing the public for potential military losses. A significant portion of the conversation focused on the necessity of matching tough rhetoric with decisive air and naval strikes, as well as the importance of maintaining diplomatic credibility ahead of the upcoming Soviet summit. Nixon also instructed his team to improve their public relations efforts, expressing deep frustration with the lack of aggressive messaging from the State Department and the Pentagon regarding the conflict.
President Nixon met with John Ehrlichman to prepare for an upcoming press conference by refining administration positions on various domestic and foreign policy issues. The discussion covered strategies for addressing rising meat prices without imposing immediate controls, clarifying the administration's stance on busing legislation, and managing public expectations regarding gun control and welfare reform. They also reviewed political maneuvers concerning Social Security funding, the Legal Services Corporation, and the legal implications of the Ellsberg-Russo/Pentagon Papers case.
President Nixon directs Alexander M. Haig, Jr. to implement a strict, uncooperative approach regarding any potential security briefings for Paul C. Warnke, citing Warnke’s dismissive public statements about previous interactions with Henry Kissinger. Nixon explicitly orders that CIA Director Richard Helms subject Warnke to aggressive, sworn questioning concerning his possible connections to Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers. The conversation also touches on the President's satisfaction with current Vietnam negotiation delays as a tactic to manage domestic political critics, noting that anti-war rhetoric from figures like Ramsey Clark has begun to backfire.
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 Ronald Ziegler and Alexander Haig to coordinate a strategy for responding to the unfolding Watergate crisis, specifically focusing on managing John Dean’s potential revelations and impending Senate committee hearings. The group discussed utilizing executive privilege to protect presidential papers and staff notes while simultaneously orchestrating a public relations counterattack to challenge the media narrative. They also explored legal tactics to delay Senate proceedings by highlighting potential jeopardy to the rights of defendants like H.R. Haldeman and John Mitchell.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler met to coordinate the White House response to upcoming media reports concerning the Pentagon Papers investigation and wiretapping activities. Nixon instructed Ziegler to frame the administration's involvement in the Egil Krogh-led investigation as a routine, legitimate national security measure. The two also discussed the status of presidential files and sought to downplay the administration's prior knowledge of sensitive intelligence activities by emphasizing the President's lack of personal recollection of specific documents.