Yep. It’s why Nixon used Kissinger as NSA to run the opening to China. He didn’t want State mucking it up, as they would have...
Bob Woodward of Watergate fame used to intercept the secret messages between Nixon and Kissinger - Woodward was in Naval Communications - worked for Admiral Moorer and Alexander Haig in an effort to derail the President.
Woodward continued those efforts as a reporter.