Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on Watergate scandal
312 conversations · page 4 of 4 · frequently with Nixon, Ziegler, Buzhardt, Kissinger
President Nixon met briefly with White House special counsel J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. to discuss matters related to the ongoing Watergate investigation. The extremely brief interaction reflects the high level of urgency and concern surrounding the administration's legal defense at the time. No specific directives were recorded, as the conversation primarily served to acknowledge pressing developments in the case.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger spoke from Camp David to coordinate the agenda for upcoming meetings with Soviet General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev. The two assessed Brezhnev’s strong personal rapport with Nixon and emphasized that their ongoing diplomatic efforts were of greater national significance than the Watergate scandal. Nixon expressed frustration over the distraction caused by domestic political controversies, specifically disparaging John Dean, while affirming the strategic necessity of maintaining his presidency to continue essential international negotiations with the USSR and China.
President Nixon and his daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, discuss their respective public engagements and the ongoing, highly successful diplomatic visit of Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev. Amidst the summit, Nixon emphasizes that the global importance of his negotiations outweighs the domestic political distractions of the Watergate scandal. Additionally, they discuss the positive reception of Julie’s recent public speaking, the upcoming schedule for David Eisenhower, and recent reports discrediting John Dean regarding financial misconduct.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discuss the positive television coverage of Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev's visit, while also finalizing negotiations regarding SALT and MBFR. The pair reviews the political fallout of the Watergate scandal, specifically monitoring media reports regarding John Dean's upcoming testimony and Senator Hugh Scott's remarks. Additionally, they coordinate the timing of personnel announcements for the SEC and John A. Love to avoid negative headlines, and they clarify the future advisory role of John Connally to mitigate public misperception.
President Nixon and his close associate Bebe Rebozo discuss recent diplomatic meetings with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and address ongoing concerns regarding the handling of a Howard Hughes financial contribution. Rebozo updates the President on the strategy for returning the funds, confirming that his lawyer, Kenneth Gemmill, is managing the process with a representative from New York. Rebozo also expresses relief after being assured by his legal counsel that he faces no legal jeopardy regarding the matter.
President Nixon and his daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, discuss recent positive media coverage of her interactions with a group of Teenage Republicans who expressed strong support for the President. They further address concerns regarding the political impact of the Watergate scandal on the 1974 elections. Additionally, the President explains the logistics behind his upcoming flight to San Clemente, clarifying that seating limitations for Soviet guests necessitated traveling separately from First Lady Pat Nixon.
President Nixon and J. Fred Buzhardt discuss the ongoing Watergate investigations, focusing on strategies to manage public perception and counter testimony from John Dean and other witnesses. They evaluate the effectiveness of the Senate committee's investigation, analyze the flow of hush money, and consider potential legal avenues to discredit damaging claims, including the possibility of a presidential press conference once the Senate hearings conclude. The conversation emphasizes the need to maintain a defensive legal posture while avoiding direct confrontation that might legitimize their political opponents' narratives.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler met to review the current state of media coverage regarding the Watergate scandal and the President's recent trip to Kansas City. They discussed the favorable impact of recent statements from John Mitchell and John Ehrlichman, which they believed countered damaging testimony from John Dean. The discussion also addressed the handling of internal memorandums and strategies to emphasize the President's actions during the April 15, 1973, meeting with Justice Department officials as evidence of his proper conduct.
Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler briefs President Nixon on television news coverage regarding John N. Mitchell's testimony before the Ervin Committee. Ziegler reports that network coverage focused on Mitchell's claims that he withheld information from the President to protect his reelection efforts and his denials of prior knowledge regarding the Watergate break-in. Both participants conclude that the reporting of the testimony was favorable to the administration and highlighted the perceived credibility of Mitchell's defense of the President.
President Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met to discuss the ongoing political fallout from the Watergate scandal, specifically focusing on the Ervin Committee hearings and the testimony of John N. Mitchell. They assessed the performances and loyalty of various administration figures, including John Dean, H.R. Haldeman, and John Ehrlichman, while criticizing media coverage of the proceedings. Additionally, the conversation touched upon the President's public relations strategy, the negative portrayal of the White House staff in the press, and general morale amidst the mounting pressures of the scandal.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to discuss the escalating political pressure of the Watergate investigation, specifically focusing on the Ervin Committee's demands for White House files and the recent testimony of John Mitchell and Richard Moore. Nixon and Kissinger strategized on how to maintain a firm stance against the committee's inquiries while managing the potential for a constitutional crisis. Additionally, they reviewed progress on the 'Year of Europe' foreign policy initiatives and discussed the optics of managing the President's current bout of viral pneumonia to garner public sympathy while maintaining a statesmanlike image.
President Nixon met with Alexander Haig, Ronald Ziegler, and Dr. Walter Tkach to discuss a two-fold crisis involving his deteriorating health and the escalating pressures from the Ervin Committee regarding Watergate. Nixon, suffering from a fever and fearing he may have viral pneumonia, debated the public relations implications of seeking hospital care, specifically how to avoid public perception of weakness while maintaining credibility. Simultaneously, the group strategized on resisting the Ervin Committee's demands for White House files, reaffirming their decision to reject any compromise and maintaining a hardline stance to avoid the appearance of a cover-up.