Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 136
Nixon White House Tape 136 (June 29, 1972 – July 23, 1972)
33 conversations · Camp David Study Table · about 2 hr 41 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Colson, Kissinger, Haldeman, Ziegler
An unidentified individual contacted the Camp David operator to request a return telephone call. The exchange was brief and focused solely on facilitating this administrative communication. No substantive policy matters or historical developments were recorded during the interaction.
An unidentified individual coordinated a telephone connection through the Camp David operator. The brief exchange focused solely on the logistics of establishing a callback. No substantive policy matters or historical developments were addressed during this interaction.
An unknown individual engaged in a brief telephone exchange with the Camp David operator to request a return call. The casual dialogue between the caller and an associate named Harold focused on general inquiries about activities at the site and lighthearted banter regarding the acquisition of "freebies." No significant administrative or political decisions were made during this routine telecommunication.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to request a telephone connection with Charles W. Colson. This brief administrative interaction served as a communication bridge to facilitate further discussion between the President and his special counsel. No substantive policy or political matters were addressed during this specific exchange.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss strategies for the 1972 campaign, focusing specifically on the organization and launch of the 'Democrats for Nixon' effort led by John B. Connally. They review potential high-profile Democratic defectors, assess the economic landscape, and analyze the vulnerabilities of George McGovern, particularly regarding his temperament, defense policies, and stance on social issues like marijuana. The conversation highlights the administration's intent to utilize surrogates and aggressive political maneuvering to maintain the President's lead in the polls and prevent McGovern from building momentum.
President Nixon initiated a brief telephone communication through the Camp David operator to facilitate an urgent connection with National Security Advisor Henry A. Kissinger. This interaction served purely as a logistical bridge to establish direct contact for high-level policy consultations. No substantive policy discussions occurred during this exchange, as its primary purpose was the successful routing of the call.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed political strategy, including coordinating with John B. Connally regarding his upcoming media appearance and his appointment to the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. They also reviewed ongoing military operations in Vietnam, agreeing that U.S. air power and B-52 strikes were successfully depleting North Vietnamese forces. Additionally, the pair strategized on how to counter potential campaign attacks from George McGovern concerning U.S. casualties, specifically by emphasizing that a significant portion of fatalities occurred during the previous administration.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an urgent communication. The primary purpose of the brief telephone exchange was to request that White House Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler be connected to the President. This administrative action highlights the President's ongoing need for staff coordination while stationed at Camp David.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discuss the positive media reception to Vice President Spiro Agnew’s recent 50-state campaign announcement and his aggressive stance against Democratic nominee George McGovern. They also coordinate a strategic response to McGovern's call for televised debates, deciding that Clark MacGregor should issue a rebuttal highlighting McGovern's past voting inconsistencies and asserting that an incumbent president should not debate an opponent. Nixon emphasizes that a debate would inappropriately elevate McGovern's stature and that current international negotiations make such a forum contrary to the national interest.
President Nixon placed a brief telephone call through the Camp David operator to request a connection with H. R. Haldeman. The exchange served primarily as a logistical step to facilitate direct communication with his Chief of Staff. No substantive policy matters or further discussions were addressed during this brief administrative interaction.
President Nixon contacted H. R. Haldeman at Camp David to discuss the day's leisure activities and local weather conditions. The two men compared the extreme heat in Washington, D.C., with the relatively more comfortable environment at the retreat. They concluded the call by coordinating a brief, informal meeting to address pending administrative matters.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to request a telephone connection with his National Security Advisor, Henry Kissinger. The brief exchange served as a logistical bridge to facilitate a high-level discussion on foreign policy or national security matters. No substantive policy decisions were reached during this administrative interaction.
President Nixon communicated with the Camp David operator to manage a scheduled call with National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger, who was en route to visit journalist Stewart Alsop. Nixon decided to cancel the immediate effort to reach Kissinger, noting that the conversation was no longer urgent. The President instructed the operator to inform Kissinger that he could return the call at his own convenience later in the day.
President Nixon placed a call through the Camp David operator to speak with his daughter, Tricia Nixon Cox. The conversation centers on a social update regarding a wedding they both recently attended, with Tricia detailing the reception and the newlyweds' upcoming trip to Bermuda. Nixon expresses his satisfaction with the event and the loyalty of the families involved before closing the call with a warning about the extreme heat.
President Nixon and his daughter, Tricia Nixon Cox, discuss logistical arrangements for the upcoming wedding of Dabney Jane Hibbert and Barry Wayne Feather. Tricia informs the President about her role as matron of honor, standing in for her sister Julie, and confirms the wedding reception details at The Westchester. The brief personal call also includes a discussion of the couple's travel plans to Bermuda and general remarks regarding the weather.
President Nixon consulted with National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger regarding a proposal to receive representatives from the Baltic republics. Both men agreed that such a meeting would unnecessarily provoke the Soviet Union, with Nixon suggesting Vice President Agnew handle the matter instead to avoid a diplomatic incident. Concluding that maintaining international relations for 'bigger games' was the priority, Nixon officially decided against receiving the delegation and extended an invitation for Kissinger to join him at Camp David.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed whether to grant a meeting request from representatives of the Baltic republics, a move both men feared would provoke a hostile reaction from the Soviet Union. Nixon expressed his strong preference against a presidential audience, citing recent geopolitical tensions involving Lithuania. The two agreed that the meeting should be deferred to Vice President Spiro Agnew to maintain diplomatic discretion while still acknowledging the petitioners.
President Nixon initiates a brief telephone call through the Camp David operator to request a connection with Charles W. Colson. The exchange serves solely as a logistical request to facilitate direct communication with his special counsel. No substantive policy matters or further details are discussed during this brief administrative interaction.
President Nixon and Charles W. Colson discussed the launch of the "Democrats for Nixon" organization, strategizing on how to leverage former Democratic Treasury Secretary John B. Connally to peel away traditional Democratic support from George McGovern. They reviewed upcoming media appearances by Connally and other candidates, agreeing to emphasize the theme of "loyal Democrats" as a means to differentiate their opposition from the McGovern platform. Additionally, the conversation touched upon the administration's political strategy regarding labor unions, polling data trends, and the necessity of forcing Republican candidates to formally request their opponents' positions on McGovern to create a negative wedge issue.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a telephone call to his daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower. The brief interaction served as a formal request to connect with her at her current location. No further policy or administrative matters were discussed.
President Nixon and his daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, discussed various administrative and personal matters while the President was at Camp David. They touched upon political topics, including John Connally's media appearances, George McGovern's position on Greek aid and its impact on NATO, and the public reception of Vice President Spiro Agnew. Additionally, the President requested that his staff track down press coverage of a recent wedding for a family friend, and the two briefly discussed family activities and film recommendations.
President Nixon initiated this brief telephone call to the Camp David operator to request a connection with H.R. Haldeman. The exchange served primarily as an administrative communication to facilitate immediate contact with his Chief of Staff. No policy discussions took place during this brief interaction.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman coordinated their monitoring of televised Sunday talk shows, specifically focusing on John Connally’s upcoming appearance and George McGovern’s potential policy vulnerabilities regarding foreign aid and international relations. The pair discussed the political strategy of addressing McGovern’s debate requests, with both agreeing that the early proposal had been effectively neutralized by campaign staff. Additionally, they reviewed the positive media coverage surrounding Vice President Spiro Agnew’s recent press conference and discussed the timing of press reports regarding the firing of G. Gordon Liddy in relation to the FBI investigation.
President Nixon calls John B. Connally to praise his recent appearance on "Meet the Press," specifically commending his adept handling of hostile questioning regarding the economy, the Vietnam War, and the Smithsonian Agreement. The two discuss political strategy, including how to frame the administration’s position against opponent George McGovern, and briefly touch on the effectiveness of Connally's appearance and wardrobe. Finally, Nixon decides to pursue political assistance from George Smathers and requests the name of Connally's tailor to commission a similar pinstripe suit.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an urgent communication with his Chief of Staff, H.R. Haldeman. This brief administrative exchange served as a logistical step to connect the President with his key advisor. No substantive policy matters were discussed during this specific interaction.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman reviewed recent television interviews featuring Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern and former Treasury Secretary John Connally. The discussion focused on comparing their respective performances, with Nixon expressing high satisfaction with Connally's ability to act as a political "lightning rod" for the administration. They analyzed McGovern's vulnerabilities regarding labor support, foreign policy stances on Vietnam, and shifting economic proposals, ultimately concluding that Connally's effective critique of McGovern provided the administration with a significant political advantage.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to request a telephone connection with Charles W. Colson. The brief exchange served as a procedural step to facilitate a direct line of communication between the President and his special counsel. No further substantive policy discussions occurred during this brief administrative interaction.
President Nixon and Charles W. Colson reviewed recent television appearances by John B. Connally and George S. McGovern, discussing the efficacy of their respective political messages. Nixon praised Connally’s performance while expressing frustration over McGovern's policy stances, particularly regarding Vietnam, Thailand, and the Detroit busing case. The two also strategized on labor union endorsements and voter outreach, specifically emphasizing the importance of registering non-college youth to solidify support within the "silent majority."
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to initiate a telephone call to former Senator George Smathers. He provided instructions to locate Smathers, noting that the former senator might be in North Carolina, and authorized the White House operator to pursue the connection either that day or the following morning. No further follow-up was required by the Camp David operator.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an urgent communication with National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger. This brief exchange served as a logistical request to establish a secure line or initiate a conference call between the two officials. The conversation reflects the President's reliance on switchboard operators for maintaining direct contact with key foreign policy advisors while at the presidential retreat.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed the potential political and military fallout of Senator George McGovern's campaign statements, specifically his proposals to cut foreign aid to Greece and withdraw U.S. troops from Thailand. They transitioned to logistical planning for an upcoming summit with Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka, emphasizing the need for a private communication channel to bypass bureaucratic leaks. Finally, they addressed the volatile military situation in South Vietnam, agreeing that South Vietnamese forces should consider a tactical retreat from Quang Tri to avoid a potentially devastating defeat that could undermine ongoing peace negotiations.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator via telephone to request the assistance of Manolo Sanchez. The brief exchange served as a directive to summon the President's personal valet to his location. No other substantive policy or political matters were discussed during this brief communication.
President Nixon contacted his valet, Manolo Sanchez, to coordinate end-of-day logistics while at Camp David. He instructed Sanchez to inform the secretarial staff that they were free to pursue recreational activities for the remainder of the afternoon. Additionally, the President confirmed a 7:00 p.m. departure time, allowing all staff members to finalize their evening plans accordingly.