Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on White House Counsel
17 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Rogers, Buzhardt, Ziegler
President Nixon consulted with Charles Colson regarding ongoing legal strategy and public messaging tactics concerning a judge. The conversation focused on interpreting specific points raised during judicial proceedings to influence the narrative surrounding the administration's legal challenges. The exchange served to coordinate legal arguments and political posturing in response to the judge's inquiries.
President Nixon met with John W. Dean III to discuss sensitive administrative or legal matters. While the transcript is fragmentary, the meeting centered on internal White House counsel concerns and the handling of ongoing investigations. No specific action items are recorded due to the fragmentary nature of the available transcript.
President Nixon, Ronald Ziegler, and John Dean consult on how to manage anticipated press inquiries regarding a potential subpoena of Dean in a Common Cause civil suit. They weigh the legal implications of executive privilege, discussing whether Dean's testimony would pertain to his official duties as White House Counsel or extraneous matters. The group decides to adopt a strategy of denial, maintaining that Dean has not been served and emphasizing the lack of information regarding the basis for any potential legal action.
President Nixon met with John Dean, John Ehrlichman, H.R. Haldeman, and John Mitchell to strategize on managing the escalating Watergate investigation. The group discussed how to assert executive privilege regarding FBI files and staff testimony to limit the scope of congressional inquiries. They reached a decision to have legal counsel open a dialogue with Senators Ervin and Baker to establish a controlled format for cooperation that avoids public confrontations while protecting presidential authority.
President Nixon and Secretary of State William P. Rogers discuss how to manage Senate pressure regarding the appointment of a special prosecutor for the Watergate scandal, particularly focusing on Senator Charles Percy's legislative resolution. Rogers reports that he confronted Percy to ensure support for Elliot Richardson and suggests that the White House should neutralize the resolution by securing endorsements from senior senators rather than forcing a floor vote. Additionally, the two men discuss the need to find a new, experienced, and low-profile White House Counsel to replace Leonard Garment and briefly consider potential candidates like Bryce Harlow.
President Nixon and Kenneth R. Cole, Jr. met to discuss potential candidates to replace John W. Dean, III as White House counsel. The conversation focused on the qualifications required for the role, specifically evaluating Edward L. Morgan as a potential candidate due to his reputation as a solid thinker and his limited involvement in campaign activities. Nixon expressed concerns about pulling Morgan from his critical duties as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, ultimately directing Cole to consult with others regarding Morgan’s suitability and recommendations.
President Nixon and William P. Rogers met to discuss the staffing of the White House Counsel position following the resignations of H. R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman, as well as the ongoing management of the Watergate scandal. The two evaluated potential candidates for Counsel—including George H. W. Bush, John W. Byrnes, and others—emphasizing the need for a candidate with legal expertise who could effectively manage Cabinet and Congressional relations. Furthermore, they reviewed the search for a Special Prosecutor to handle the difficult legal proceedings involving high-level administration officials, ultimately favoring individuals with strong integrity and non-partisan backgrounds.
President Richard Nixon and Secretary of State William P. Rogers discussed potential personnel appointments, including the recruitment of David Packard and E. Barrett Prettyman as White House Counsel, while navigating complex conflicts of interest and personal reservations. The two men also reviewed the political fallout of John Connally’s party switch and tensions regarding Vice President Spiro Agnew’s role on the Domestic Council. Finally, they addressed the ongoing Watergate scandal, agreeing that while the disclosure of the Daniel Ellsberg break-in would be unpleasant, the administration must focus on maintaining government functionality.
President Nixon met with Leonard Garment to strategize on managing Watergate-related legal threats, specifically focusing on the protection of presidential files and the invocation of executive privilege. They discussed the legal defense of White House staff members like H.R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman, Egil Krogh, and David Young during upcoming grand jury appearances and FBI interrogations. Nixon emphasized that sensitive documents remained under his direct control, while the two agreed on a measured, narrow approach to asserting executive privilege to avoid perceptions of a cover-up.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler met to strategize the White House response to intensifying Watergate-related scrutiny, specifically regarding the role and credibility of former counsel John Dean. They focused on clarifying the internal investigation process and justifying previous press statements by emphasizing that Ziegler’s assurances of no White House staff involvement were based on Dean's repeated, deceptive briefings. The pair decided to shift toward an offensive communications strategy, framing the investigation as a standard administrative function performed by the counsel's office rather than a specific, top-down directive from the President.
President Nixon and White House counsel J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. discuss the contents of a mysterious 43-page document to determine if it involves sensitive national security matters or potential political liabilities. They deliberate on whether the information relates to domestic intelligence gathering and if it is appropriate or necessary to disclose these materials to a judge. Nixon ultimately praises Buzhardt's investigative progress and instructs him to provide a follow-up report on the document's implications.
President Nixon met briefly with his counsel, J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr., to coordinate their schedules following an ongoing meeting. The discussion functioned primarily as a brief administrative exchange to ensure they were prepared to convene once Buzhardt became available. No substantive policy or legal strategy decisions were recorded during this brief encounter.
President Nixon directs White House Counsel J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. to relocate from his office to the President's location for a private briefing. The meeting serves to coordinate their ongoing efforts regarding an unspecified administrative problem that the President is currently addressing. This brief exchange functions as a logistical prompt to facilitate an immediate, in-person consultation on sensitive legal or political matters.
President Nixon contacted the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call to J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. The brief exchange served as a routine administrative request to connect the President with his White House Counsel. No further substantive policy matters were addressed during this short bridge communication.
President Nixon met with his brother, F. Donald Nixon, to discuss personal business interests, family matters, and the ongoing political fallout from the Watergate scandal. Donald provided updates on his various international business ventures and requested advice regarding potential conflicts of interest with White House counsel. The conversation also touched on the President's upcoming travel schedule and general frustration with the political atmosphere surrounding the Watergate investigation.
President Nixon requested that the White House operator place a telephone call to J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr., who was serving as White House Counsel at the time. This brief interaction served solely to facilitate official communication between the President and his legal advisor. No further substantive details regarding the purpose or outcome of the subsequent discussion were recorded in this initial connection request.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to coordinate scheduling and legal strategy regarding the ongoing Watergate investigation. The discussion specifically addressed the administration's defensive posture toward the Ervin Committee and concerns over damaging press leaks. Nixon also arranged a briefing with J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. to further manage the White House's response to the scandal.