Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on White House personnel
127 conversations · page 2 of 2 · frequently with Nixon, Haldeman, Sanchez, Haig
President Nixon met with Charles W. Colson to review Colson’s recent media appearances regarding the Watergate scandal and his defense of administration policy, particularly concerning the Vietnam War and draft amnesty. The two men also discussed administrative staffing challenges for the second term, specifically focusing on appointments within the Treasury and Labor Departments and the importance of maintaining loyalty and control over agency leadership. Additionally, the President touched upon the ongoing Senate Watergate investigation and considered political strategies regarding potential high-profile party shifts involving figures like John Connally.
On February 14, 1973, Manolo Sanchez and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:46 pm and 1:52 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 855-027 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon met with his staff to discuss public relations strategies, specifically focusing on the recent release of Prisoners of War (POWs), the need to manage expectations for upcoming press conferences, and the delicate political challenge of securing aid for North Vietnam. The President emphasized his desire to avoid "grandstanding" during his planned Pentagon visit while highlighting the need to address the emotional and physical well-being of returning veterans. Additionally, Nixon reviewed administrative staffing issues and social planning for upcoming events, directing his staff to organize White House functions that include a broad cross-section of Congress while managing internal personnel disputes involving the Secret Service and White House aides.
President Nixon called Margeret Armiger to convey his well wishes and professional praise for George T. Bell, who was currently facing health challenges. The President expressed his admiration for Bell's effectiveness and resilience, requesting that Armiger relay these sentiments to him. This brief exchange served as a morale-boosting gesture from the President to a valued associate.
President Nixon met with G. Bradford Cook and a large group of his family members, friends, and associates, including William J. Casey and Judge Kevin Duffy, to commemorate Cook’s recent appointment. The primary focus of the meeting was a ceremonial photo session held in the Oval Office to mark the occasion. The participants engaged in informal conversation regarding the appointment, family introductions, and brief mentions of current policy matters such as the administration's work on Latin American issues.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to discuss a wide-ranging agenda of personnel, public relations, and scheduling matters, including salary adjustments for staff and strategies for upcoming events. They focused on optimizing the President's image by managing interactions with Vietnam POWs, coordinating high-profile "stag" dinners with key "New Establishment" figures, and organizing state visits for leaders such as Lee Kuan Yew. Additionally, they reviewed long-term political objectives for the 1974 election cycle, emphasizing a shift toward emphasizing "Square America" values and delegating domestic battles to surrogates while the President maintains the stature of a global peacemaker.
President Nixon called John A. Scali to offer his well wishes before Scali assumed his new role as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. During the brief exchange, the President also extended congratulations regarding Scali’s recent marriage to his wife, Denise. The conversation served primarily as a formal and personal gesture of encouragement as Scali prepared for his upcoming diplomatic assignment.
President Nixon met with John Ehrlichman to address administrative oversight, White House personnel, and specific policy concerns. Key topics included the management of Soviet trade negotiations involving George Shultz and Henry Kissinger, potential adjustments to the Property Review Board, and the strategy for deregulating natural gas prices. The two also discussed personnel transitions, including the placement of Donald Santarelli and Balzano, and resolved to improve staff morale by addressing complaints regarding segregated dining facilities at the White House.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate White House operations, focusing on congressional relations, personnel management, and the ongoing political fallout from the Watergate investigation. They discussed the performance of congressional liaisons, the potential recruitment of new staff, and the administrative roles of cabinet members like George Shultz and Roy Ash. The conversation shifted toward managing the administration's legal risks, specifically debating the merits of releasing a 'White Paper' on Watergate and assessing the potential legal exposure of key figures like G. Gordon Liddy, Jeb Magruder, and John Dean.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman briefly conferred regarding the scheduling and logistical coordination of upcoming meetings. The discussion focused on sequencing the President's appointments with John Ehrlichman, Haldeman, and George H. W. Bush. Stephen B. Bull was identified as the point of contact to manage the timing of these engagements.
On April 13, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:29 am and 8:49 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 895-002 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon met with Herbert Klein and staff member Jeni Brown to formally acknowledge Brown’s departure from the White House staff. The brief session included a photograph to commemorate the occasion and a discussion regarding Brown’s future professional plans in California, specifically involving television and media work. Nixon offered encouragement for her career transition before presenting her with a parting gift.
President Nixon met with William P. Rogers, H.R. Haldeman, and John Ehrlichman to discuss the deepening Watergate scandal and potential legal strategies for the administration. The conversation focused on managing the fallout from emerging testimony, the necessity of forcing the resignation of compromised staff members, and the strategic importance of legal representation and public image. The President expressed significant concern regarding the loyalty of his staff and the risk of being implicated in obstruction of justice, ultimately leaning toward a policy of full disclosure and cooperation with investigators to mitigate further political damage.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman to discuss White House staff appointments, the ongoing Watergate investigation, and the public relations strategy for addressing the scandal. The participants debated whether to maintain the President's public detachment from the investigation or to proactively frame the administration as victims of subordinates who misled them. Nixon emphasized his desire to insulate the presidency from the unfolding legal crises, while Haldeman and Ehrlichman urged him to project confidence and consider taking a short break from the office to regain his perspective.
President Nixon and Assistant Attorney General Henry E. Petersen arranged an evening meeting at the White House to discuss ongoing Watergate investigations. Nixon expressed significant frustration regarding grand jury leaks, pressuring Petersen to administer lie detector tests to the prosecution team to identify the source. The two also discussed the resignation of Jeb Stuart Magruder and the management of public messaging regarding various White House staff members implicated in the scandal.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to discuss the evolving Watergate scandal, specifically focusing on damaging media reports regarding L. Patrick Gray and John W. Dean. They addressed allegations concerning the destruction of sensitive documents and scrutinized Dean's motives, particularly the possibility that he recorded his conversations with the President. The two also discussed personnel matters, including potential candidates to replace Gray at the FBI.
On May 3, 1973, United States Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:52 pm and 11:59 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 911-034 of the White House Tapes.
On May 9, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Thomas Hart met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:15 pm and 6:03 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 432-042 of the White House Tapes.
On May 10, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 12:55 pm and 2:45 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 435-001 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig held a brief, informal meeting to clarify the attendance of specific individuals, identified as “Chappie” and Garland, at a prior gathering. The discussion focused on rectifying the President’s uncertainty regarding who was present during that meeting. No major policy decisions were made, as the exchange served primarily to resolve a minor factual discrepancy regarding personnel.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig held a strategic discussion regarding the administration's defensive posture in the ongoing Watergate investigation. They reviewed the status of key witnesses, including L. Patrick Gray’s successor, FBI files, and the expected testimony of figures like John Dean and Vernon Walters. Furthermore, Nixon proposed declassifying decade-old national security records, such as those related to the Bay of Pigs and the death of Ngo Dinh Diem, as a diversionary tactic to generate favorable controversy and shift public focus away from Watergate.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig met to discuss the escalating pressures of the Watergate scandal, specifically focusing on the resignation of G. Bradford Cook and the potential legal exposure of William J. Casey. The President emphasized his refusal to resign, dismissed impeachment concerns, and stressed the need for the White House staff to remain resilient. They also evaluated potential personnel changes, including roles for Ron Ziegler and John Scali, and monitored Elliot Richardson's progress in selecting a Special Prosecutor.
On May 16, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:00 pm and 2:44 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 437-004 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon met with Ronald Ziegler, Alexander Haig, and J. Fred Buzhardt to strategize the administration's response to escalating Watergate-related inquiries, specifically regarding CIA involvement, the 'Huston Plan,' and leaked documents. A central focus was managing the upcoming press briefings and public narrative to distance the President from illicit activities by framing actions as legitimate national security initiatives. They also addressed personnel moves, deciding to remove H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman from the White House payroll to mitigate political optics while ensuring they remained restricted from sensitive files.
On May 29, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:40 pm and 1:44 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 440-056 of the White House Tapes.
On June 2, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 12:12 pm and 12:29 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 168-019 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met to discuss a range of pressing administrative issues, including strategies for handling Watergate-related legal matters, particularly regarding Bebe Rebozo's involvement with Howard Hughes' contributions. They also addressed personnel appointments, including potential roles for Peter G. Peterson and Ellsworth Bunker, and debated the implementation of a 60-day national economic freeze. The President directed Haig to ensure that his economic team, led by George Shultz, thoroughly prepared all policy options—including the freeze—while utilizing Camp David facilities to facilitate their work.