Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on Presidential papers
19 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Bull, Ziegler, Haig
President Nixon met with General Services Administration officials, including Robert L. Kunzig and John B. Rhoads, to receive a book presentation and discuss the management of his presidential papers. The participants touched upon the development of his future presidential library, noting a prior conversation Rhoads held with Edward C. Nixon regarding the project. Additionally, the group briefly discussed the administration's initiative to demolish specific buildings on the National Mall.
President Nixon met with his secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to address a variety of administrative tasks and personal correspondence. They discussed the logistics of book presentations, the potential for Nixon to author a book on past presidents, and the management of his future presidential papers. Additionally, the pair touched upon public sentiment regarding the funding of presidential libraries and the political climate surrounding recent police funerals.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman to coordinate the administration's stance on welfare reform, including strategies to manage Senator Abraham Ribicoff's involvement. The group discussed managing negative media inquiries regarding F. Donald Nixon, specifically focusing on his ties to the Howard Hughes loan scandal and press relations for the upcoming trip to the People's Republic of China. Additionally, Nixon reviewed his personal financial and property arrangements, including the potential sale of his papers to a foundation, and finalized preparations for gift-giving and press coverage for the China summit.
President Nixon met with his personal valet Manolo Sanchez and aide Stephen B. Bull to address the misplaced location of important documents. The discussion primarily focused on locating specific papers and coordinating the President's schedule with key staff, including Henry Kissinger and Rose Mary Woods. The meeting concluded with efforts to resolve administrative logistical issues regarding the President’s working materials.
President Nixon met with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to request the retrieval of a specific document he previously asked her to copy. The brief exchange focused on locating and returning this particular draft or file to the President's desk. No further policy or political discussions were recorded during this interaction.
President Richard M. Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield in the Oval Office to address administrative matters. The brief discussion focused primarily on the review and signing of official documents requiring presidential authorization. No major policy shifts or strategic decisions were recorded during this brief encounter.
President Richard M. Nixon met with an unidentified individual in his Old Executive Office Building office to address materials designated for the President’s briefcase. The discussion focused on the preparation and selection of these specific documents for the President's personal review or official use. No further details regarding the identity of the participant or the nature of the briefcase contents are available in the current record.
President Nixon directs Stephen Bull to instruct Leonard Garment to revise a memorandum regarding access to presidential papers, which Nixon deems overly broad and legally intrusive. Nixon asserts ownership over his personal and national security files, refusing to allow them to be subjected to subpoenas or FBI seizure. Furthermore, Nixon expresses his frustration with Garment's handling of the matter and tasks Bull with pressuring Garment to produce a more appropriate document by his 2:30 p.m. deadline.
President Nixon directs his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to ensure that a memorandum authored by Leonard Garment is revised to explicitly assert the President's personal ownership of presidential papers and national security funds. Expressing intense frustration with Garment’s approach, Nixon dismisses the memorandum's cosmetic focus and demands that his staff not be portrayed as criminals. He threatens to fire his entire staff if these instructions regarding the document's substance and tone are not immediately executed.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to demand immediate progress on the legal assertion that presidential and National Security Council papers remain the property of the President rather than the government archives. Expressing intense frustration with the current staff's pace and efficacy, Nixon insisted that legal counsel Garland finalize this position immediately. He concluded by threatening to terminate the entire staff if his directive regarding the control of these records was not executed.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to discuss strategies for handling legal challenges, specifically regarding the handling of presidential papers and the refusal of a subpoena. Nixon asserted that his records were protected by national security claims and insisted they should be submitted through alternative channels rather than handed over directly. The conversation concluded with Nixon directing Bull to coordinate with William P. Rogers to manage the situation.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig met to strategize on managing the escalating Watergate crisis, focusing on the potential implications of John Dean’s testimony and the administration’s use of executive privilege. They discussed shifting the venue of testimony away from the Ervin Committee and into the grand jury process to protect presidential papers and administrative integrity. The conversation also touched upon the confirmation of Elliot Richardson and various personnel appointments, emphasizing the need to maintain a firm stance against Congressional encroachment while appearing cooperative on non-Watergate matters.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman spoke to prepare for Haldeman's upcoming Grand Jury appearance related to the Watergate scandal. The two discussed strategies for navigating testimony, emphasizing that their focus had been on managing the political fallout rather than participating in illegal activities or a cover-up. Nixon reaffirmed his ownership of all presidential papers, including Haldeman's personal notes and logs, as a means to shield sensitive internal documentation from investigators.
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 Alexander Haig discuss the administration’s strategy regarding Watergate-related documents, specifically focusing on the handling of memoranda of conversation (memcons) and the containment of information held by Vernon Walters and Richard Helms. They emphasize the necessity of maintaining a unified stance that no such records exist or will be released, framing this as a critical protection of presidential papers under the guise of national security. Furthermore, they coordinate efforts to contact L. Patrick Gray for testimony and confirm the preparation of additional materials by Leonard Garment for review at Camp David.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to facilitate the reproduction of specific personal documentation. The discussion centered on copying a letter, with the President noting its significance as a contribution from his father. The interaction concluded with clear instructions regarding the handling and filing of these materials.
President Nixon and Ronald Ziegler discussed concerns regarding John W. Dean’s unauthorized access to and potential copying of sensitive presidential files. Nixon directed Ziegler to secure copies of all of Dean’s files and notes pertaining to their meetings from February 27, 1973, onward. Emphasizing his ownership of the documents, the President insisted that these materials be provided directly to him to prevent them from reaching other staffers like J. Fred Buzhardt or Leonard Garment.
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.
President Nixon met with Alexander Haig and J. Fred Buzhardt to strategize on managing ongoing Watergate disclosures and to discuss potential personnel changes within the White House staff. The conversation focused heavily on the administration's public relations response to subpoenas and media coverage, specifically regarding wiretap information and the handling of presidential papers. Additionally, the participants deliberated on potential economic policies, including a possible price freeze, and considered how to integrate John Connally into a special advisory role to strengthen leadership visibility.