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Press Release · Monday, October 6, 1997

Press Release
October 6, 1997
National Archives and Records Administration Releases Cabinet Room Tape Recorded Conversations

  • WHAT: The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) plans to open approximately 154 hours of White House tape recordings from the Nixon Presidency, including approximately 436 conversations recorded in the Cabinet Room of the Nixon White House from February 16, 1971 through July 18, 1973. These tape segments are reproduced on 254 cassettes.

  • While the tape recordings of the Cabinet Room conversations are generally of good quality, some participants whose chairs were furthest away from the President are harder to hear than those who sat near the recording devices. Because the White House taping system was not installed by audio specialists, some conversations may be difficult to hear and understand. NARA cannot provide interpretative assistance to researchers.

  • At the opening, corresponding portions of a detailed tape log will be available to help researchers locate conversations of particular interest. For each tape segment, the tape log includes the date, time and location, names of participants and an outline of the content of the conversation. Material that is deleted due to restrictions, such as for personal privacy and national security, is indicated on the tape by a 10-second tone.

  • WHO: Besides Cabinet meetings, conversations recorded in the Cabinet Room include : White House staff (including the Domestic Council), the National Security Council, Republican and Bipartisan Congressional leaders, Presidential Committees and Commissions (including the Cost of Living Council, the Pay Board and the Price Commission), those attending Presidential bill signings, governors and mayors, special interest and constituent groups and those on White House tours.

  • WHEN: These tapes will be available at 9 A.M. on Thursday, October 16, l997.

  • WHERE: Conference Rooms A, B & C, the National Archives at College Park, MD, located at 8601 Adelphi Road.

    IMPORTANT INFORMATION: To assist researchers, in advance of the opening, the National Archives Public Affairs Staff will make available copies of four finding aids: the 33-page conversation list, the 55-page name list, the geographical index and the acronym list that may be helpful in locating materials of interest on the day of the opening. These will be available on disc ( in Word Perfect 6.1 or ASCII {IBM disc}) or in hard copy, beginning on October 9 at 9 A.M. from the Public Affairs staff in Room 4100 at the National Archives at College Park or from the Consultant’s office in Room 403 at the National Archives Building on Pennsylvania Avenue, between 7th and 9th Streets, NW.

    To accommodate the anticipated demand, 20 listening stations, each equipped with one tape player and four headsets, will be available on the day of the opening. NARA will make every attempt to assign these on an equitable basis. Each news organization may use only one listening station at a time and may be asked to share the listening station with other researchers or news organizations. All researchers must have a current National Archives and Records Administration researcher’s card. Clean research room rules will apply. No recording or transmission devices, of any kind, will be allowed in the research room. Laptop computers and stenographs will be allowed.

    In accordance with NARA regulations, these tape segments may not be reproduced. The National Archives and Records Administration will revoke privileges for anybody who attempts to record these materials. In addition, all members of the organization with which he or she is affiliated will lose privileges for all future openings as well.

    DIRECTIONS:
    BY CAR the new facility is approximately 40 minutes from downtown Washington, DC. Take North Capitol Street north, turn right onto Michigan Avenue (Michigan Avenue becomes Queens Chapel Road in Maryland), continue to East West Highway, turn left on Adelphi Road and follow it to the National Archives entrance on the right. Parking is available.

    BY SHUTTLE from the National Archives in Washington, DC board the bus on 7th Street between Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues. The shuttle leaves on the hour from 8 AM to 5 PM, returning to the downtown building on the hour. Researchers may use the shuttle on a space available basis with National Archives staff receiving priority.

    For additional PRESS information, please contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at (301) 837-1700 or e-mail public.affairs@nara.gov.

    98-01

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