Oval Office tapes

White House audio

Secret recordings made in the White House during the Nixon administration, capturing conversations that became central evidence in the Watergate scandal.

Nixon installed voice-activated recording systems in 1971, and the tapes revealed his involvement in covering up the 1972 break-in at Democratic National Committee headquarters.

The Supreme Court ordered their release in 1974, precipitating Nixon's resignation.

The eighteen-and-a-half-minute gap in the Oval Office tapes was never explained.

Related

president · White House · transcripts · expletive deleted · surveillance · coverup · wiretap · enemies list · evidence · subpoena · Saturday Night Massacre · resignation · paranoia · conspiracy · erasure · gap · incriminating · testimony

Opposites
secrecy/disclosure

Oval Office tapesfireside chats

Informal presidential broadcasts

public broadcast · televised address · presidential proclamation

political transparency

Oval Office tapessunshine laws

Legislation mandating government transparency

whistleblower protections · declassified documents

communication format

Oval Office tapesfireside chats

Informal presidential broadcasts

prepared remarks · official transcript · press release

Family

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Top 500,000
Profile
Mostly American · Timeless · Concrete · Negative · Rated G