Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 184
Nixon White House Tape 184 (December 18, 1972)
12 conversations · Camp David Study Desk · about 49 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Acker, Kissinger, Ziegler, Haldeman
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a telephone call to Marjorie P. Acker. During the brief exchange, he sought to locate Acker at Rose Mary Woods’s office. This routine administrative communication highlights the logistical coordination required for the President's personal and official correspondence while stationed at Camp David.
President Nixon consulted with Marjorie P. Acker to clarify and finalize the guest list for an upcoming dinner party. The discussion centered on confirming the attendance of Anne L. Armstrong and her husband, Tobin, as well as Admiral Thomas H. and Carrie Ellen Moorer. Nixon sought to reconcile conflicting information regarding whether Anne Armstrong's husband would be accompanying her to the event.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an outgoing call. The primary purpose of this brief communication was to request that the operator connect him with Marjorie P. Acker. No other substantive policy or political matters were addressed during this short exchange.
President Nixon consulted with Marjorie P. Acker to finalize logistics for an upcoming White House dinner party. The discussion confirmed that all twelve invited guests, including Admiral Thomas H. Moorer and Anne L. Armstrong, had accepted the invitation. The participants also finalized menu selections, specifically agreeing to include a salad course for the event.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a telephone connection with White House Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. This brief administrative interaction served as an intermediary step to coordinate direct communication between the President and his press secretary. No further substantive policy matters were discussed during this brief exchange.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discussed messaging strategies regarding the Vietnam War, specifically the ongoing U.S. bombing and mining of North Vietnam as a response to enemy buildup and the breakdown in peace negotiations. The two also addressed the administration's contentious relationship with the Washington Post, with Nixon instructing Ziegler to remain firm in his policy of denying the newspaper special access to White House social events. Nixon encouraged Ziegler to continue distributing press opportunities more broadly to other outlets to diminish the Post's traditional influence in Washington.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an urgent communication with his Chief of Staff, H.R. Haldeman. This brief administrative interaction served exclusively as a mechanism to establish a telephone connection between the two officials. No substantive policy matters were discussed during this request.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discuss administrative logistics, including scheduling upcoming meetings with officials such as Richard G. Kleindienst and William D. Ruckelshaus. The conversation covers the management of Camp David, the use of the retreat by cabinet members for social engagements, and the ongoing challenge of curbing media leaks regarding second-term appointments. Additionally, they touch upon managing press relations and the strategic handling of information provided to reporters.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a telephone connection with his National Security Advisor, Henry Kissinger. The brief exchange served as a logistical request to initiate this communication. No further policy or substantive matters were discussed during this interaction.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discuss the ongoing bombing and mining campaign against North Vietnam, specifically focusing on the operational impact of weather conditions, B-52 losses, and the destruction of North Vietnamese radio facilities. Kissinger provides updates on the progress of the air strikes while noting that the administration has initiated a new round of peace negotiations in hopes of achieving a settlement. The two also address concerns regarding leaked information about the campaign and the broader strategic necessity of maintaining American credibility with allies and adversaries alike.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an urgent communication with his National Security Advisor, Henry Kissinger. The primary purpose of the brief interaction was to place an outgoing call through the White House switchboard. This request reflects the standard administrative procedure Nixon utilized to maintain secure, direct lines of communication with his top foreign policy official during his stay at the presidential retreat.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discuss the tactical implementation and operational pace of an ongoing bombing campaign, specifically addressing the frequency and targeting of strikes. The conversation centers on maintaining operational intensity and ensuring military effectiveness, with the President explicitly instructing Kissinger to persist with the current offensive strategy. They assess the technical challenges of target selection and the implications of potential collateral damage in populated areas.