Virginia H. Knauer
Virginia H. Knauer was a prominent figure in the Nixon administration, serving as the highest-ranking woman for a significant period. In April 1969, she was appointed as the Special Assistant to the President for Consumer Affairs. Subsequently, in February 1971, she also became the Director of the newly created U.S. Office of Consumer Affairs, a position she held concurrently throughout the taping period and the remainder of the administration. In these roles, she was a vocal advocate for consumer rights, addressing issues such as product safety and truth in advertising.
When Knauer is on the tapes
What Knauer talks about on the tapes
Inflation 5Food prices 3Cost of Living Council 3Labor relations 2Economic policy 2White House public relations 1Wage-price controls 1Wage and price controls 1Vietnam War 1US-Soviet Relations 1Social Security 1SALT negotiations 1
Conversations (14)
President Nixon met with his senior staff to address several pressing administrative and political matters, primarily focusing on the South Vietnamese military operation in Laos and strategies for managing press criticism of the war. Nixon and his advisors discussed the need to report progress on the operation without overpromising, while also weighing whether to send General Alexander Haig to Vietnam to provide an independent assessment of the ground situation. Additionally, the President reviewed his recent engagement with Republican governors and considered whether to make a brief appearance at a White House meeting with Black leaders to maintain goodwill without becoming entangled in policy debates.
President Nixon convened a meeting with Vice President Agnew and his Cabinet to discuss the upcoming joint announcement with the Soviet Union regarding strategic arms limitation talks (SALT). The core issue was breaking the deadlock, with the US seeking limitations on both offensive and defensive weapons, while the Soviets initially focused only on defensive ones. A breakthrough was achieved through a high-level communication in January, leading to an agreement to jointly announce that both sides would concentrate on limiting Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) systems this year, while also agreeing on certain measures for offensive weapon limitations. The announcement aims to create favorable conditions for further negotiations, with the understanding that the hard work of negotiation will continue in Vienna and Helsinki.
On July 1, 1971, Virginia H. Knauer and unknown person(s) met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 8:35 am and 10:32 am. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 064-001 of the White House Tapes.
On September 11, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the Cost of Living Council, including John B. Connally, Paul W. McCracken, Clifford M. Hardin, James D. Hodgson, George W. Romney, Maurice H. Stans, George P. Shultz, Gen. George A. Lincoln, Virginia H. Knauer, Arnold R. Weber, Herbert Stein, Arthur Burns, and the White House photographer, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 9:29 am and 12:53 pm. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 073-002 of the White House Tapes.
On September 13, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon met with Cabinet officers and their wives, including William P. Rogers, Adele (Langston) Rogers, John B. Connally, Idanell ("Nellie") (Brill) (Connally), Melvin R. Laird, John N. Mitchell, Martha (Beall) Mitchell, Rogers C. B. Morton, Clifford M. Hardin, Martha L. (Wood) Hardin, Maurice H. Stans, Kathleen Stans, James D. Hodgson, Maria (Denend) Hodgson, Elliot L. Richardson, Anne Richardson, George W. Romney, Lenore L. Romney, John A. Volpe, Jennie (Benedetto) Volpe, David M. Kennedy, Lenora (Bingham) Kennedy, George P. Shultz, Helena M. ("Obie") Shultz, Robert H. Finch, Carol (Crothers) Finch, Joyce (Pierson) Rumsfeld, George H. W. Bush, Barbara (Pierce) Bush, Robert J. Dole, Dr. Arthur A. Fletcher, Robert E. Hampton, Dr. John A. Hannah, Thomas S. Kleppe, Virginia H. Knauer, Robert L. Kunzig, Gen. George A. Lincoln, Dr. James R. Schlesinger, Frank J. Shakespeare, Paul W. McCracken, Arnold R. Weber, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman, Clark MacGregor, William E. Timmons, Peter M. Flanigan, Peter G. Peterson, Herbert G. Klein, Raymond K. Price, Jr., Ronald L. Ziegler, Herbert Stein, and Alexander P. Butterfield, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 8:01 am and 3:07 pm. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 073-005 of the White House Tapes.
On September 21, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House Consumer Advisor Council, including Virginia H. Knauer, Eunice P. Howe, Dr. Carmen Busquets, George A. Johnson, Dr. Stewart M. Lee, Dr. Jean Mayer, Jacob Clayman, Dr. Wilma Donahue, Dr. Stewart Lee Richardson, Jr., Solomon Harge, Gary K. Nelson, Mrs. Oscar C. Sowards, Donald Livingston, Foster J. Pratt, Lucille Shriver, Joseph Smith, James P. Sullivan, Thomas G. Walters, Colston E. Warne, Don S. Willner, the White House photographer, and members of the press, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House from 9:36 am to 11:13 am. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 076-006 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon met with Consumer Affairs Advisor Virginia Knauer and representatives from the credit union movement to discuss the status and growth of credit unions. The participants reviewed efforts to increase enrollment and debated the operational effectiveness of these organizations despite current statistical limitations. The meeting concluded with a symbolic gesture as the President was presented with presidential cufflinks.
President Nixon met with the Cost of Living Council and members of the press to discuss the successful launch of Phase II of his economic program, emphasizing the efforts of the Pay Board and Price Commission in controlling inflation and aiming for a two to three percent inflation rate in 1972. The President highlighted the balance between necessary economic controls and preserving economic freedom, while also noting the Senate's delay on crucial legislation and the potential impact of a continuing resolution lapse.
On February 29, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Cabinet officers and staffers, including William P. Rogers, John B. Connally, Melvin R. Laird, John N. Mitchell, Rogers C. B. Morton, J. Philip Campbell, Peter G. Peterson, James D. Hodgson, Elliot L. Richardson, George W. Romney, John A. Volpe, David M. Kennedy, George P. Shultz, George H. W. Bush, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman, Henry A. Kissinger, Peter M. Flanigan, Clark MacGregor, Dr. Edward E. David, Jr., Herbert G. Klein, Raymond K. Price, Jr., Ronald L. Ziegler, Alexander P. Butterfield, John A. Scali, Harry S. Dent, Frederic V. Malek, William L. Safire, Charles W. Colson, General Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Robert J. Brown, Dwight L. Chapin, Virginia H. Knauer, Rose Mary Woods, John A. Hannah, Richard M. Helms, Frank J. Shakespeare, Herbert Stein, Caspar W. ("Cap") Weinberger, Maurice H. Stans, Arthur J. Sohmer, and the White House photographer, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House from 12:02 pm to 1:20 pm. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 093-001 of the White House Tapes.
On March 23, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and members of the Cost of Living Council, including John B. Connally, Herbert Stein, Donald H. Rumsfeld, J. Philip Campbell, Peter G. Peterson, James D. Hodgson, George W. Romney, George P. Shultz, Gen. George A. Lincoln, Virginia H. Knauer, Arthur F. Burns, James W. McLane, Albert E. Abrahams, Joseph Mullaney, Marvin H. Kosters, Richard B. Cheney, James Connor, Richard J. Alfultis, Donald Smith, Clark MacGregor, William L. Gifford, Charles R. Perry, and the White House photographer, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 3:02 pm and 3:56 pm. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 096-004 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon met with the Cost of Living Council to address surging food and meat prices, emphasizing the need to combat inflation without imposing direct price controls. The discussion focused on managing supply-side pressures, including reduced military food stockpiles and potential adjustments to meat import policies, while coordinating a "jawboning" strategy to encourage price restraint among industry leaders and labor unions. Nixon urged the council to publicly highlight the administration's commitment to fighting inflation while cautioning against speculating on a price freeze, which he warned would destabilize the market.
President Nixon met with the Cost of Living Council to review the performance of his administration's economic stabilization program, including successes in lowering inflation and fostering rapid economic growth. The discussion emphasized the necessity of maintaining fiscal discipline through a proposed $250 billion federal spending ceiling to prevent future inflationary pressure. Participants also addressed specific challenges, particularly rising food prices and the potential impact of government spending on tax rates, while strategizing on how to communicate these economic gains to the public ahead of the election.
President Nixon met with the Cost of Living Council to review the administration’s economic performance and coordinate strategy regarding inflation, labor relations, and food prices ahead of the 1972 election. Council members, including George Shultz and Donald Rumsfeld, discussed measures to protect Social Security recipients from illegal rent increases and highlighted the relative success of U.S. wage and price controls compared to foreign nations. The President directed his team to maintain an affirmative, disciplined public messaging campaign, emphasizing that the U.S. was achieving growth and reduced inflation without the reliance on wartime spending seen in the 1960s.
President Nixon met with his Vice President, Cabinet members, and senior staff to announce the implementation of a 60-day price freeze as part of a strategy to combat inflation. He explained that this measure, aimed at stabilizing food and gasoline prices, was a necessary pragmatic step to preempt more extreme, mandatory controls favored by Congress. Nixon emphasized his commitment to maintaining a free-market economy and tasked his Cabinet with actively promoting this policy to the public and opinion makers. He also highlighted the administration's broader accomplishments in foreign policy, including the end of the draft and the upcoming U.S.-Soviet summit.