Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 134
Nixon White House Tape 134 (June 24, 1972)
15 conversations · Camp David Study Table · about 56 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Colson, Campbell, Haldeman, Stein
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a personal phone call. He specifically requested to be connected with Amanda Campbell. The exchange served as a logistical coordination for the President's private communication.
President Nixon and Craig S. Campbell coordinate the logistics for a presidential visit to the flood-stricken Susquehanna River area in Pennsylvania. Following recommendations from John Ehrlichman and Ron Ziegler, they determine the destination of Steelton and settle on a 10:00 am departure time. It is further decided that the press will accompany the President on the aircraft for the duration of the trip.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an urgent telephone connection with Dr. Charles G. Zubrod. Nixon provided the operator with specific details regarding Dr. Zubrod’s current location at the International Hotel at Kennedy Airport in New York. The conversation focused exclusively on securing this communication link before the doctor departed his location.
President Nixon consulted with a Camp David operator to track the movements of Charles G. Zubrod. The President confirmed details regarding Zubrod’s check-out time and his scheduled 10:15 a.m. flight to Paris. Following this confirmation, Nixon requested that the operator facilitate a subsequent call to Charles W. Colson.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discussed political strategy for the 1972 campaign, focusing on delegitimizing Democratic challenger George McGovern by highlighting his extreme platform positions. They reviewed current economic policy concerns, including inflation and the Cost of Living Council's management of government meat procurement, while agreeing to minimize direct engagement with businessmen. Furthermore, the President directed Colson to ensure that administration talking points regarding recent press conferences were effectively distributed and utilized by surrogates.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an urgent communication link. The primary purpose of the brief telephone exchange was to request a direct call to H. R. Haldeman. This action served to initiate administrative coordination between the President and his Chief of Staff.
The Camp David operator contacted President Nixon to provide a logistics update regarding H. R. Haldeman’s travel schedule. The operator confirmed that Haldeman was en route to the retreat and estimated his arrival time at 1:30 pm. This exchange served solely to facilitate the coordination of the President's staff and internal security protocols.
President Nixon consulted with the Camp David operator to facilitate administrative communications while stationed at the retreat. He requested a phone call to Herbert Stein and inquired about the whereabouts of H. R. Haldeman. Additionally, the President arranged a meeting with Mr. Holloman, confirming his availability upon the aide's arrival at the site.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman coordinated their schedules for a meeting at Camp David following Haldeman's arrival. After acknowledging the delay in reaching Herbert Stein, the two agreed to discuss pending administrative business once Haldeman finished lunch. The brief exchange served primarily to establish the logistical framework for their upcoming consultation.
President Nixon contacted Herbert Stein via the Camp David operator to relay instructions regarding Arthur Burns’s upcoming trip to Argentina. Nixon expressed skepticism toward the existing ban on Argentine beef imports, which is officially justified by concerns over foot-and-mouth disease, but feared domestic political backlash if Burns prematurely promised a policy change. Stein was directed to verify the trade constraints with Earl Butz and ensure that Burns was briefed on the sensitivity of the issue before meeting with Argentine officials.
President Nixon consulted with Herbert Stein to provide cautionary instructions regarding Federal Reserve Chairman Arthur Burns' upcoming trip to Argentina. Nixon expressed skepticism regarding the long-standing health justifications for restricting Argentine beef imports and tasked Stein with coordinating with Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz to ensure Burns did not inadvertently make unsustainable trade promises. This conversation served to manage potential diplomatic fallout and domestic political complications surrounding international trade policies.
President Nixon requested that the Camp David operator initiate an international telephone call to Dr. Charles G. Zubrod in Paris. The brief exchange served as a logistical instruction to facilitate this specific connection. No further policy or administrative matters were addressed during the brief interaction.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a telephone call to Congressman Thomas G. Abernethy. The operator informed the President that Abernethy was currently at the Bethesda Naval Hospital. This brief exchange served as an administrative arrangement to connect the President with the hospitalized legislator.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an urgent telephone connection to his special counsel, Charles W. Colson. The brief exchange served as a procedural request to initiate this communication channel while the President was stationed at Camp David. No further policy or substantive matters were discussed during this connection attempt.
President Nixon and Charles Colson analyzed the state of the 1972 Democratic presidential primary, focusing on George McGovern's campaign strategy and his perceived vulnerabilities. They discussed the political fallout from McGovern's left-leaning platform, potential issues for the upcoming Democratic National Convention, and opportunities for Nixon to attract support from Catholics, labor unions, and "Middle America." Additionally, they reviewed recent messaging efforts, including Nixon’s recent public statements on busing and the political benefits of framing the Vietnam War negotiations around McGovern’s positions.