Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on Press briefings
23 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Ziegler, Bull, Haldeman
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss a strategy to utilize New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller to publicly advocate for the administration’s urban revenue sharing initiative. The President considers joining Rockefeller for a press briefing to bolster the proposal’s profile. They agree that Haldeman should coordinate with Rockefeller to arrange his involvement in promoting the policy.
President Nixon met with his personal aide, Stephen B. Bull, in the Oval Office to address administrative matters. The primary focus of the discussion concerned the scheduling and coordination of press briefings for Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. This meeting served as an operational check-in to ensure the alignment of the President's public communications strategy.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discuss the importance of upcoming media briefings with representatives from Time and Newsweek, specifically mentioning journalists Jerrold L. Schecter and John L. Steele. Nixon emphasizes the critical nature of the coverage expected for the following week and directs Kissinger to ensure he personally speaks with these correspondents before their respective deadlines. Kissinger confirms his intent to meet with the reporters to manage the administration's messaging.
President Nixon met with Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler to coordinate the administration's public messaging regarding the ongoing Paris Peace Talks, the Pentagon Papers, and the Mansfield Amendment. The discussion focused on managing press speculation and determining the appropriate government posture toward media inquiries and potential information suppression. Nixon expressed a desire to keep official statements brief and dismissive of the controversy surrounding the leaked documents.
H. R. Haldeman contacts the White House operator to place a call to Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. The operator informs Haldeman that Ziegler is unavailable due to an ongoing press briefing. Consequently, the call is not completed, and no further administrative action is taken during this brief exchange.
President Nixon consults Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler regarding whether an upcoming press briefing will impact his own scheduled preparations for the following day. The brief exchange focuses on ongoing media scrutiny surrounding the ITT Corporation and the potential necessity for the administration to manage the narrative effectively. Nixon prompts Ziegler to confirm the public status of the ITT inquiry to better inform his own strategy.
Stephen B. Bull met with President Nixon in the Oval Office to coordinate the President's upcoming schedule. The primary focus of the discussion was a briefing involving Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. Bull provided the President with documents, including a letter, for his review prior to these engagements.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman coordinated the messaging and scheduling for press briefings regarding John B. Connally’s upcoming address on international monetary policy. The discussion focused on ensuring that economic statements from the Council of Economic Advisers and other officials remained aligned with Connally’s position. Haldeman received instructions to consult with key figures, including Herbert Stein, Nathaniel Samuels, and Connally, to manage personnel concerns and maintain a unified administrative stance on economic affairs.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discuss the timing and messaging strategy for an upcoming speech regarding the contentious issue of busing. They coordinate on how to frame the administration's stance for the press and prepare for potential scrutiny from major outlets like the Washington Post and New York Times. The dialogue includes considerations of how this policy will be perceived by various political stakeholders, including Congress and black voters, as well as the potential for legislative or constitutional actions.
President Nixon contacted the White House operator to request an urgent return call from Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. The President specified that if Ziegler was currently conducting a press briefing, he should be instructed to call the President immediately upon its conclusion. This brief exchange served solely to facilitate a direct line of communication between the President and his press secretary.
President Nixon met with Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler to coordinate administrative messaging and press strategy regarding upcoming national security matters. They discussed Ziegler's inclusion in a National Security Council meeting and the timing for an imminent presidential speech. The brief exchange served to align the White House communications team on the disclosure of sensitive policy details.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler briefly discussed the potential scheduling of a meeting with Congressional leaders following a telephone call regarding the upcoming Congressional adjournment. Additionally, they touched upon the press briefing strategy for an impending U.S.-Soviet Union trade agreement. The conversation concluded quickly as the two coordinated their immediate schedules.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler coordinate messaging for upcoming press briefings, focusing on legislation, the schedule for farm and urban affairs speeches, and the administration's stance on Vietnam peace negotiations. Nixon directs Ziegler to explicitly deny rumors of a coalition government in South Vietnam and to prepare a response to George McGovern's criticisms regarding the peace process. Ultimately, they decide to frame McGovern’s comments as irresponsible and contrast the President's commitment to 'peace with honor' against the risks posed to ongoing negotiations.
President Nixon and the White House operator coordinated the President's schedule regarding Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler’s ongoing press briefing. The President requested that the operator facilitate a follow-up call to aide Stephen B. Bull once the briefing concluded. This brief interaction served primarily as a logistical check to manage the President's communication flow and staff availability.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to coordinate administrative logistics regarding White House communications. The discussion primarily focused on preparations for Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler’s upcoming press briefing and scheduling details for the President’s meeting with Charles W. Colson. No specific policy decisions were recorded during this brief administrative exchange.
President Nixon, Stephen Bull, and Ron Ziegler discussed the President's schedule, including upcoming events like the Golda Meir dinner and a Governors' Conference, as well as arrangements for astronauts and Sammy Davis Jr. A significant portion of the conversation focused on the Vietnam War, specifically the status of POW lists, potential press briefings by Secretary of Defense Elliot Richardson, and the timing of a presidential press conference. Decisions were made to postpone any public statements regarding POWs or military actions until more definitive information was available, and to schedule the President's press conference for Monday, February 5th, after the Golda Meir visit.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discuss the administration's ongoing public relations strategy to manage the Watergate investigation. They coordinate efforts to brief columnists, emphasizing the administration's cooperation while specifically distinguishing the current situation from the Sherman Adams scandal. Nixon stresses the importance of clearly communicating that, unlike the Adams case, White House staff members are not currently formal targets of misconduct charges.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler coordinate the administration's public response regarding the President’s ongoing meetings with Assistant Attorney General Henry Petersen. They specifically discuss how to address media inquiries concerning Watergate investigations and clarify that the President does not receive reports from the grand jury. Nixon instructs Ziegler to emphasize that while he receives updates on general investigative progress from Petersen, he is not privy to the contents or internal proceedings of the grand jury.
President Nixon directs Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler to launch a public offensive against the Senate Watergate Committee, specifically targeting Senators Sam Ervin and Howard Baker. Nixon instructs Ziegler to denounce the committee for its failure to formally repudiate a recent Santa Ana Register story, arguing that the committee has essentially 'indicted itself' through its inaction. He mandates that Ziegler use his upcoming press briefing to demand a formal retraction, an apology, and the firing of the responsible committee staffer.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to briefly discuss the status of a press briefing and the related schedule managed by Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. The conversation centers on the timing of an ongoing broadcast or news cycle event. No significant policy decisions or further actions were recorded during this brief interaction.
President Nixon met briefly with an unidentified individual to discuss scheduling arrangements regarding Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler’s ongoing press briefing. The conversation centers on logistical coordination between the Oval Office and the Executive Office Building, specifically regarding the timing of the briefing and the President's subsequent movements. No substantive policy decisions were reached during this short interaction.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull reviewed the presidential schedule, specifically coordinating upcoming meetings and potential phone calls related to the Soviet summit. They discussed the current whereabouts and activities of staff members, including Alexander M. Haig, Jr. and Robert H. Finch. The President also requested a meeting with Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler prior to his scheduled press briefing to ensure message alignment.
President Nixon consulted with Stephen B. Bull to check the status of Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler, who was delayed in completing a scheduled briefing. The President expressed concern that the briefing had run past its expected conclusion time and requested that Bull provide an update on Ziegler's availability. No major policy decisions were made, as the exchange focused exclusively on coordinating the President's immediate daily schedule.