Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 148
Nixon White House Tape 148 (October 11, 1972)
20 conversations · Camp David Study Table · about 40 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Haldeman, Colson, Mills, Byrnes
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an urgent telephone connection to his special counsel, Charles W. Colson. This brief administrative interaction served as the necessary bridge to initiate a direct conversation with his aide. No substantive policy matters were discussed during this request for the operator's assistance.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a telephone connection with his Chief of Staff, H.R. Haldeman. This brief administrative interaction served as a logistical step to initiate a high-level briefing or discussion between the President and his top aide. No substantive policy matters were addressed during this short exchange.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss the successful House passage of a spending ceiling, which passed with a larger-than-expected margin due to intensive lobbying by cabinet members and a decisive floor speech by Wilbur Mills. Following this victory, the two coordinate a strategy to pressure the Senate, scheduling a meeting with key senators for Thursday morning to push for a cloture vote. The conversation also touches on ongoing efforts by Charles Colson to capitalize on George McGovern's controversial statements regarding amnesty and foreign policy.
President Nixon instructed the Camp David operator to place a telephone call to Representative Wilbur D. Mills. The President explicitly prioritized this connection over a pending call with Charles W. Colson, directing the operator to hold the latter until Mills was reached. This interaction reflects the President's urgent need to coordinate with the powerful House Ways and Means Committee Chairman.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a follow-up telephone connection with his special counsel, Charles W. Colson. The brief exchange served as a logistical request to re-attempt reaching Colson. No substantive policy matters were discussed during this connection attempt.
President Nixon and Charles W. Colson discussed political strategy for the 1972 election, focusing heavily on countering George McGovern's recent foreign policy speech regarding the Vietnam War. Nixon instructed Colson to mobilize labor leaders and other allies to attack McGovern's proposals as a "sellout" to communists, specifically criticizing his stance on amnesty for draft evaders and the potential deployment of Sargent Shriver to Hanoi. Additionally, the pair celebrated a recent victory in the House of Representatives regarding a federal spending ceiling, with Nixon emphasizing the importance of framing the issue as a fight against high taxes to gain leverage over the Senate.
President Nixon received a brief update from the Camp David operator regarding the status of Congressman Wilbur D. Mills. The operator informed the President that Mills was currently traveling and would initiate a return phone call upon his arrival home. Nixon acknowledged the message and confirmed his availability to receive the call at any time.
President Nixon and Congressman Wilbur Mills coordinated legislative strategy to secure support in the Senate Finance Committee for a pending bill involving debt limits, Medicare, and welfare. Mills encouraged Nixon to convene a private, Republican-led meeting with key Senators, specifically mentioning Len Jordan and Harry F. Byrd, Jr., to build momentum while avoiding obstruction from Russell Long. The two agreed on a strategy to compromise on specific bill provisions, such as disability and widow's benefits, to ensure passage while keeping the administration's legislative team, including William Timmons and John Veneman, fully informed.
President Nixon requested that the Camp David operator connect him with former Wisconsin Congressman John W. Byrnes. The brief interaction served solely to facilitate this outgoing call. No further substantive policy discussions were recorded during this exchange.
President Nixon calls Congressman John W. Byrnes to congratulate him on a successful House vote regarding the debt limit expenditure ceiling. Seeking to maintain legislative momentum, Nixon outlines his plan to pressure Republican senators during an upcoming Thursday morning meeting to ensure a unified front. Byrnes and the President agree that securing a substantial vote is critical to strengthening their position in the subsequent House-Senate conference committee.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a personal telephone call to his daughter, Tricia Nixon Cox. The brief exchange served purely administrative purposes to connect the President with his family. No policy matters or substantive political topics were discussed during this request.
President Richard Nixon spoke with his daughter, Tricia Nixon Cox, during an evening telephone call from Camp David. The conversation, which has been almost entirely withdrawn from public access for privacy reasons, served as a personal exchange between the President and his daughter. No policy matters or significant administrative decisions were recorded or disclosed in the available documentation.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a telephone connection. The primary purpose of this brief exchange was to initiate a call to Charles W. Colson. No substantive policy matters were addressed during this administrative interaction.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss a strategic counter-offensive against George McGovern following his recent foreign policy speech. They plan to challenge McGovern's platform by highlighting his inaccuracies regarding North Vietnamese forces and his perceived naivety on national security issues like POWs and amnesty. The two agree to mobilize administration officials, including Melvin Laird and William Rogers, to discredit McGovern's qualifications and frame his rhetoric as a dangerous proposal for surrender.
President Nixon initiates a brief telephone call through the Camp David operator to connect with his Chief of Staff, H.R. Haldeman. This exchange serves as a routine administrative request to facilitate communication with a key advisor. No substantive policy discussions occur, as the dialogue is restricted to the logistical task of placing the call.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman coordinate the arrival schedule and briefing protocol for Henry Kissinger following his Vietnam peace negotiations in Paris. They confirm that Kissinger should report to Secretary of State William P. Rogers immediately upon his return before meeting with the President. Nixon expresses confidence in the negotiations despite the lack of a clear breakthrough, opting to wait until Kissinger is refreshed to receive a full debriefing.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a telephone connection with his Chief of Staff, H.R. Haldeman. This brief interaction served solely as an administrative request to reach a key advisor while the President was stationed at Camp David. No other policy matters or substantive discussions were addressed during this exchange.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman coordinated the schedule for Henry Kissinger’s return to Washington to ensure their meetings were not disrupted by the President's travel to Atlanta. Nixon directed Haldeman to instruct Kissinger to delay his arrival until 5:00 p.m. so that they could meet privately with Secretary of State William P. Rogers. The plan further included a private dinner at the White House with Nixon, Kissinger, and Alexander Haig to discuss ongoing diplomatic matters.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a telephone connection with domestic affairs advisor John D. Ehrlichman. This brief administrative interaction served as the necessary step to initiate a formal policy discussion. The President successfully placed the request to reach his advisor, moving the conversation to a private line.
President Nixon consulted with the Camp David operator regarding the current whereabouts of advisor John D. Ehrlichman. Upon learning that Ehrlichman had just departed in a vehicle, the President decided against attempting to reach him at that moment. Nixon concluded the brief exchange by opting to defer the communication to a later time.