Nixon Presidential Historical Materials; Opening of Materials

AGENCY:

National Archives and Records Administration.

ACTION:

Notice of opening of materials.

SUMMARY:

This notice announces the opening of additional Nixon presidential historical materials. Notice is hereby given that, in accordance with section 104 of Title I of the Presidential Recordings and Materials Preservation Act (PRMPA, 44 U.S.C. 2111 note) and 1275.42(b) of the PRMPA Regulations implementing the Act (36 CFR Part 1275), the agency has identified, inventoried, and prepared for public access approximately 420 hours of Nixon White House tape recordings among the Nixon Presidential historical materials.

DATES:

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) intends to make the materials described in this notice available to the public beginning October 26, 2000. In accordance with 36 CFR 1275.44, any person who believes it necessary to file a claim of legal right or privilege concerning access to these materials should notify the Archivist of the United States in writing of the claimed right, privilege, or defense on or before August 31, 2000.

ADDRESSES:

The materials will be made available to the public at the National Archives at College Park research room, located at 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, Maryland, beginning at 8:45 a.m on October 26, 2000.

Petitions asserting a legal or constitutional right or privilege which would prevent or limit access must be sent to the Archivist of the United States, National Archives at College Park, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, Maryland 20740-6001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Karl Weissenbach, Director, Nixon Presidential Materials Staff, 301-713-6950.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

NARA is proposing to open approximately 4,139 conversations which were recorded at the Nixon White House from August 1971 to December 1971. These tape segments total approximately 420 hours of listening time.

This is the eighth opening of Nixon White House tapes since 1980. Previous releases included conversations constituting “abuses of governmental power” and conversations recorded in the Cabinet Room of the Nixon White House. The tapes now being proposed for opening consist of the second of five segments comprising the remaining hours of conversations, processed for release in chronological order starting with February 1971.

There are no transcripts for these tapes. Tape logs, prepared by NARA, are offered for public access as a finding aid to the tape segments and a guide for the listener. There is a separate tape log entry for each segment of conversation released. Each tape log entry includes the names of participants; date, time, and location of the conversation; and an outline of the content of the conversation.

The tape recordings will be made available to the general public in the research room at 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, Maryland, Monday through Friday between 8:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Researchers must have a NARA researcher card, which they may obtain when they arrive at the facility, Listening stations will be available for public use on a first come, first served basis. NARA reserves the right to limit listening time in response to heavy demand. No copies of the tape recordings will be sold or otherwise provided at this time. No sound recording devices will be allowed in the listening area. Researchers may take notes. Copies of the tape log will be available for a fee in accordance with 36 CFR 1258.12.