Published: Dec. 8, 2010
Updated: 5:33 p.m.

New Nixon tapes set for release

By JESSICA TERRELL
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
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YORBA LINDA –The release of U.S. prisoners of war, Watergate, and the ceasefire in Vietnam are among myriad historical topics discussed on 265 hours of Nixon tapes set to become public on Thursday morning.

Although the National Archives and Records Administration releases new Nixon material about twice a year, not all releases include Nixon tapes. Thursday marks the first time new tapes have been released in Yorba Linda since the transfer of the Nixon materials from Maryland earlier this year.

President Nixon meets with King Hussein of Jordan in the Oval Office in 1970. Talk of Hussein's visit to Washington is among 250 hours of Nixon tapes being released Thursday morning. The tapes were recorded in February and March of 1973.

"It's an amazing aural diary of two very busy months in the life of the Nixon Administration," Nixon Library Director Timothy Naftali said.

The majority of documents slated for release are from the White House files of the Sanford Fox, who ran the White House's social and entertainment office. However, thousands of formerly classified documents regarding U.S. policy toward Chile are also included in the release.

Documents released in 2008 included exchanges between senior Nixon Administration officials about wanting to prevent democratically-elected Chilean President Salvador Allende from taking power in 1970.

All the documents and tapes will be available starting at 9 a.m. in the research room at the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd.

Anyone interested in viewing the materials in-person will need to obtain a free researcher's card. The tapes, as well as a selection of documents, will also be available on the library's website starting at 9 a.m.

Information: www.nixonlibrary.gov

Contact the writer: 714-704-3719 jterrell@ocregister.com

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