Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on Washington Post
23 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Ziegler, Colson, Haldeman
President Nixon instructed Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler to preemptively address a speculative Washington Post report suggesting that Paul McCracken, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, was planning to resign. Nixon directed Ziegler to dismiss the story as entirely unfounded during the upcoming press briefing. By affirming the President's full confidence in McCracken’s leadership and policies, Nixon aimed to stabilize the administration's economic messaging.
President Nixon met with Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler to strategize for an upcoming meeting with news editors regarding media criticism of FBI surveillance practices. Nixon expressed frustration over what he deemed irresponsible reporting by the Washington Post and the New York Times, particularly allegations of domestic spying on innocent citizens. He instructed Ziegler to forcefully defend the administration's policy by contrasting it with historical wiretapping practices during the Robert Kennedy era and emphasizing the necessity of surveillance for national security and crime prevention.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss a military band concert being held at the Kennedy Center, prompted by conflicting reports regarding the event's nature and media coverage from the Washington Post. Nixon directs Colson to verify the event's dress code and private status, expressing potential interest in attending the end of the performance if appropriate. Colson agrees to investigate the details immediately and report back to the President.
President Nixon coordinates with Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler to manage the logistics and messaging for an upcoming press conference. Nixon directs Ziegler to ensure media outlets correct a recent Washington Post report by emphasizing that Senator Robert C. Byrd remains under active consideration for a Supreme Court vacancy. This strategy aims to force Democratic opponents, such as George McGovern, to take a public stance on the potential nomination.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman debrief the successful conclusion of the President's trip to China, focusing on the positive public reception at Andrews Air Force Base and the favorable stock market performance. The conversation shifts to managing press relations, specifically addressing a critical Washington Post headline regarding Taiwan policy that drew concern from press secretary Ron Ziegler. Despite these media challenges, the participants reaffirm the overall success of the diplomatic mission and discuss the ongoing efforts of Henry Kissinger to brief domestic political leaders.
President Nixon initiates a call through the White House operator to be connected to the Washington Post. The brief exchange serves as a logistical step to facilitate communication with the newspaper's offices. No further substantive discussion occurs during this interaction.
President Nixon met with Charles Colson and Stephen Bull to coordinate preparations for an upcoming engagement with national veterans leaders. The discussion also addressed a critical Washington Post article, prompting a decision to involve Alexander Haig in the administration's subsequent press response. Additionally, the participants briefly reviewed updates regarding Henry Kissinger and adjustments to the President's immediate schedule.
President Nixon and Senator Harry F. Byrd, Jr. engaged in a brief, cordial exchange to return a previous call initiated by the Senator. The conversation focused on social pleasantries and the President's upcoming schedule in Maryland. The two men also commiserated over their mutual distaste for the Washington Post, with Nixon suggesting that the Senator consult a more balanced White House news summary to better gauge national sentiment.
President Nixon dictates a series of directives to John Ehrlichman regarding post-election media strategy, administrative initiatives, and campaign platform messaging. Key action items include investigating television broadcast licenses held by Katharine Graham's Washington Post, establishing a commission on women's issues to be announced post-convention, and balancing labor platform language concerning U.S.-owned plants in Mexico. Nixon also instructs Ehrlichman to coordinate with Melvin Laird on a speech regarding the F-14 aircraft to address its performance issues.
President Nixon and Charles Colson met to strategize on public relations and campaign management during the 1972 election cycle. The conversation focused on countering critical media coverage from outlets like CBS and The Washington Post, including potential challenges to the latter's television license, and managing the political fallout from Watergate-related hearings. They also discussed administration efforts to discredit opponent George McGovern and the campaign's surrogate communication strategy.
President Nixon met with Charles Colson to discuss political strategy regarding the upcoming election and media relations. The conversation covered attacks on Senator George McGovern’s economic policies, the administration's efforts to influence CBS News coverage, and complaints regarding *The Washington Post*. Colson reported on his interactions with media executives and provided updates on political maneuvering against the opposition.
President Nixon, H. R. Haldeman, and John Connally met to assess the political fallout from a forthcoming Washington Post story concerning secret campaign funds and Watergate-related disbursements. The discussion centered on allegations that Haldeman authorized payments from these funds to individuals such as G. Gordon Liddy and E. Howard Hunt, based on grand jury testimony from Hugh Sloan. The participants evaluated the potential impact of this press coverage and the threat posed by leaks from the grand jury and federal investigations.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman met to coordinate the messaging strategy for the final weeks of the 1972 presidential campaign. They discussed the scheduling and content of upcoming radio addresses on foreign policy, defense, and urban affairs, while also strategizing a media offensive regarding George McGovern's position on amnesty. Additionally, the pair assessed the administration's aggressive response to recent Washington Post reporting on campaign espionage, framing the coverage as "yellow journalism" to discredit the newspaper.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler discuss the necessity of utilizing memorable catchphrases to influence public perception of the 1972 presidential campaign. Nixon emphasizes the importance of framing the media's coverage as "yellow journalism" to discredit critical reporting, particularly from the Washington Post. The President explicitly tasks Ziegler with delegating the execution of this strategy to others rather than handling it personally.
President Nixon expressed intense frustration to Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler regarding the presence of Washington Post reporters at the White House Christmas tree display. Reasserting a previous ban on the newspaper's staff, the President ordered Ziegler to contact Connie Stuart to demand an explanation for the breach and to threaten her with immediate termination should such an unauthorized access occur again. Ziegler was instructed to verify the situation and report back to the President promptly.
President Nixon directs Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler to implement a total ban on Washington Post reporters and photographers within the White House, excluding only formal press conferences. Nixon insists that the restriction apply to all events, including church services and activities involving First Lady Pat Nixon, and emphasizes that the order is absolute under threat of termination. The discussion follows a report from Connie Stuart regarding the absence of a Post reporter at a recent ceremony, prompting Nixon to enforce the directive immediately.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discussed messaging strategies regarding the Vietnam War, specifically the ongoing U.S. bombing and mining of North Vietnam as a response to enemy buildup and the breakdown in peace negotiations. The two also addressed the administration's contentious relationship with the Washington Post, with Nixon instructing Ziegler to remain firm in his policy of denying the newspaper special access to White House social events. Nixon encouraged Ziegler to continue distributing press opportunities more broadly to other outlets to diminish the Post's traditional influence in Washington.
President Nixon uses his recording system to dictate a letter of appreciation to journalist Ronald Kessler regarding a recent Washington Post article about the First Family. The President reflects on the piece, which featured personal anecdotes from Clifford and Willard Moore about their time with the Nixons. Nixon emphasizes the warmth of these memories and directs that the message be formally transcribed for the reporter.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss an upcoming meeting with prominent attorney Edward Bennett Williams, who had recently reached out to the White House following Nixon's public support of the Washington Redskins. Nixon instructs Colson to remain firm regarding the Washington Post’s coverage of the Watergate scandal, while using the meeting to signal that the administration expects Williams to distance himself from the paper's personal attacks on the President. The conversation highlights the administration's desire to leverage political pressure and potential investigations into Williams' tax returns to encourage his cooperation or neutrality.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss strategy for Colson's upcoming meeting with prominent trial lawyer Edward Bennett Williams. Nixon instructs Colson to flatter Williams by acknowledging his professional reputation before pivoting to confront him about his involvement in the Watergate case, specifically questioning his decision to represent the Democratic National Committee on a personal basis. The pair also coordinate efforts to gauge Williams' true intentions regarding the Watergate investigation and potential hidden motives behind his recent correspondence with the President.
President Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met to discuss a comprehensive strategy for managing press relations during the second term, focusing on marginalizing the influence of the Washington-based media establishment. They analyzed tactics for handling social events, church services, and formal press conferences to minimize adversarial coverage and break the perceived intimidation of the press corps. Nixon emphasized a desire to shift toward more subtle, controlled interactions and directed Ziegler to prioritize the cultivation of alternative media relationships while keeping the administration's strategic goals insulated from hostile outlets.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss Colson's recent trip to Israel and Romania, where they reflect on Nixon's strong international stature and the importance of foreign travel for perspective. The conversation shifts to the ongoing Watergate investigation, with both men strategizing on how to handle the pressure from the Washington Post, the Senate Ervin hearings, and executive privilege claims. Additionally, they touch upon domestic issues, including the administration's hard-line stance on crime and law enforcement, and share ideas for future political maneuvers, such as a potential effort to take over the Washington Post.
President Nixon and Ronald Ziegler discussed how to manage the escalating Watergate scandal and the mounting pressure from press coverage, specifically reports involving the Washington Post and the Ervin Committee. They debated whether to pursue a strategy of "minimum action"—relying on the Department of Justice and limiting personnel changes—or a "bold play" involving the public removal of key staff like H.R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman, and John Dean. Ultimately, Nixon emphasized that he required full, candid information from his aides and considered relying on Assistant Attorney General Henry Petersen to handle the unfolding investigations while avoiding a premature or ineffective special prosecutor.