Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on White House personnel
134 conversations · page 2 of 2 · frequently with Nixon, Haldeman, Bull, Haig
President Nixon held a brief meeting with Alexander P. Butterfield to discuss personnel matters. The discussion centered on the status and transition of Brent Scowcroft. No further substantive details regarding the meeting's outcome are available due to the lack of a transcript.
President Nixon held a brief meeting with Colonel Richard T. Kennedy to discuss matters concerning the National Security Council staff. The participants coordinated their schedules, as evidenced by the reference to a subsequent conversation. No substantive policy decisions were finalized during this extremely short interaction.
President Nixon, H.R. Haldeman, Manolo Sanchez, and Stephen B. Bull met to discuss administrative personnel changes, specifically regarding Secret Service staffing, and to coordinate the President's upcoming public relations and media strategy. A significant portion of the discussion addressed friction between John Ehrlichman and Charles Colson regarding policy advice, presidential speech themes, and the frequency of Nixon's televised appearances. Ultimately, the President decided to proceed with a radio address rather than a televised speech to avoid overexposure and concluded that both Ehrlichman and Colson should provide input on administration strategy.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to briefly review the President's upcoming daily schedule, specifically coordinating meetings with Commander Alexander R. Larzelere and Robert J. Brown. The discussion focused on personnel changes involving the Coast Guard representative at the White House and the logistics of providing an ashtray for the respective appointments. The brief interaction concluded with Bull confirming the arrangements for the upcoming meetings.
President Nixon directs his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to ensure that Stanley S. Scott, a Black staff member, is included in an upcoming breakfast meeting. This brief administrative exchange serves to confirm the guest list for the scheduled event. No further policy issues or substantive matters were addressed during this short call.
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.
Manolo Sanchez hosted an unidentified individual for a brief meeting in the Oval Office. The conversation consisted of informal, non-substantive dialogue that lacked policy-related content. No significant decisions or developments occurred during this brief interaction.
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.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to discuss the scheduling of William E. Timmons. The brief exchange focused on assessing the availability and potential recruitment of an unnamed third party for a specific role. The conversation concluded with the President seeking logistical adjustments regarding this individual’s status.
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.
Secret Service agents met with President Nixon in the Oval Office to conduct a farewell exchange. The conversation focused on expressions of gratitude regarding their professional service. No policy or substantive administrative decisions were recorded during this brief encounter.
President Nixon met with Thomas Hart to discuss personal and administrative scheduling, including arrangements for the President's barber, Milton Pitts. During the conversation, Nixon inquired about the current health status of Pitts. The discussion also touched upon the status of H. R. Haldeman following his recent departure from the White House staff.
President Nixon met with Vice President Agnew and his Cabinet to discuss the ongoing impact of the Watergate scandal on the administration, personnel changes, and the need to maintain governmental stability. Key topics included the appointment of a special prosecutor, the selection of Elliot Richardson, and the importance of professional coordination between the White House and Cabinet departments to ensure the administration's 1972 election mandate remained the primary focus. Nixon emphasized the necessity of improving Congressional relations and maintaining morale within the bureaucracy despite the political distractions caused by the Ervin Committee hearings.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual in the Old Executive Office Building to discuss administrative matters regarding his daily schedule. The conversation focused on identifying key personnel operating behind the scenes of the administration. No specific decisions or further actions were documented in the available records regarding this brief consultation.
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.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig met to discuss urgent personnel changes, the management of the ongoing Watergate scandal, and strategies to stabilize the administration's public and congressional standing. The conversation focused on potential replacements for high-level positions, including the FBI director and congressional liaison staff, while evaluating the performance of White House staff like Ronald Ziegler. Nixon emphasized a need for steady decision-making and resistance to panic as they navigated mounting political pressure and potential legal vulnerabilities surrounding Watergate.
President Richard M. Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building. The conversation primarily addressed personal or administrative matters, as indicated by the withdrawal of sensitive material from the public record. No significant policy decisions or governmental developments were recorded during this brief interaction.
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.
President Nixon met with an unidentified male visitor in the Old Executive Office Building to briefly discuss the whereabouts of Manolo Sanchez. Stephen B. Bull may have been present or involved in facilitating the brief exchange. The conversation concluded quickly, resulting in no documented policy decisions or significant administrative actions.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to initiate a telephone call to Charles W. Colson. This brief communication served solely as a logistical request to facilitate direct contact with a key political advisor. No substantive policy matters or further details were discussed during this exchange.
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.