Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 220
Nixon White House Tape 220 (October 14, 1972 – October 15, 1972)
20 conversations · Camp David Hard Wire · about 2 hr 24 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Sanchez, Ehrlichman, Haldeman, Kissinger
President Nixon initiates a brief communication with the Camp David operator from the Aspen Lodge. The exchange serves as a routine administrative request regarding the operation of the telephone system. No substantive political or policy discussions occur during this brief interaction.
President Nixon and his daughter, Tricia Nixon Cox, coordinate domestic plans and social arrangements for their stay at Camp David. The conversation focuses on scheduling meals, potential plans to watch a movie, and logistical coordination for guests. The President ensures his daughter and her husband, Eddie Cox, are accommodated comfortably during their visit.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator from the Aspen Lodge study to address routine communication needs. The interaction served as a brief administrative exchange facilitated by the facility's hard-wired taping system. No substantive policy discussions or significant political developments were recorded during this brief transmission.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman discuss the strategic benefits of a 20% federal spending limitation, noting its utility in enforcing bureaucratic discipline and shifting blame to Congress. They also coordinate a planned appearance in Philadelphia, framing the event as a non-gimmicky, bipartisan return to constitutional principles. Finally, they briefly address the ongoing political fallout and potential witness appearances related to the Watergate-linked hearings involving John Mitchell and others.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman met at Camp David to discuss the 1972 reelection campaign strategy, specifically focusing on the timing of a potential Vietnam War peace settlement. Nixon expressed concerns that a premature announcement could jeopardize his political standing, concluding that peace negotiations should remain independent of election-year pressures to avoid appearing politically motivated. The discussion also included a detailed review of various state-level polls and campaign operations, with both men expressing confidence in the President's significant lead over George McGovern.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, at Camp David to attend to personal matters. During the brief interaction, the President requested a drink and inquired about Sanchez's health. This discussion reflects the informal, private nature of their professional relationship while the President was in residence at the retreat.
President Nixon initiates a brief administrative interaction with the Camp David operator from the Aspen Lodge study. The conversation is limited to a routine request regarding telephone connectivity or communication services. No substantive policy matters or major historical developments were addressed during this exchange.
President Nixon consulted with a Camp David operator to address an issue with the facility's telephone connectivity. The brief exchange served as a troubleshooting effort to resolve communication difficulties at the Aspen Lodge. No significant policy decisions or substantive political matters were addressed during this technical interaction.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, at Camp David to discuss logistical arrangements and the personal schedule of Tricia Nixon Cox and Edward R. F. Cox. The discussion focused on coordinating the departure of the Coxes from the presidential retreat. Sanchez was tasked with facilitating these movements and overseeing the relevant staff members.
President Nixon initiates a brief request for the Camp David operator to connect him with John Ehrlichman. This communication serves as an administrative bridge to facilitate a consultation between the President and his advisor. No further substantive policy discussions occurred during this brief exchange.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman discuss political strategy for the upcoming election, specifically addressing the administration's stance on social security, welfare reform, and budget spending. The President instructs Ehrlichman to aggressively attack the media's coverage of the campaign, suggesting they label the opposition's tactics as 'McCarthyism' and highlight the 'double standard' of the Washington Post and New York Times. Nixon also briefly addresses concerns regarding his personal financial disclosures and property investments, dismissing reports that suggested any impropriety.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman met at Camp David to discuss the fallout from the Watergate scandal, specifically reports regarding Donald Segretti's activities and his ties to Dwight Chapin. The President expressed frustration with the press and the perceived disloyalty of some White House staff, while finalizing a strategy to distance the White House from Segretti's actions by shifting the focus to the Committee for the Re-Election of the President (CRP). Additionally, the two reviewed the status of Vietnam peace negotiations, with Nixon rejecting Henry Kissinger's suggestions to delay progress for tactical election purposes or to travel to Hanoi prematurely.
President Nixon initiates a brief communication via the Camp David operator to establish a connection with White House Special Counsel Charles Colson. This administrative interaction serves as a bridge to facilitate further discussions between the President and his advisor. No substantive policy matters are addressed in this brief exchange, as the primary objective is the completion of a telephone call.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss negative press coverage in The Washington Post and The New York Times, concluding that the administration should remain unfazed by the reporting. They explore political strategies regarding an expected congressional override of a water bill veto, specifically proposing that Republicans avoid a quorum to prevent the vote. Finally, Nixon outlines plans for a non-political appearance in Philadelphia to sign a bill, intending to showcase support from governors and local allies while avoiding the optics of a standard motorcade.
President Nixon held a brief exchange with the Camp David operator from the Aspen Lodge. The interaction primarily served a functional, administrative purpose related to telephone connectivity. No substantive policy discussions or significant political developments occurred during this brief communication.
President Nixon consulted with the Camp David operator regarding logistics for an upcoming communication or scheduled event. The discussion served to confirm the timing and coordination of these arrangements. No further substantive policy matters or major strategic decisions were recorded during this brief exchange.
President Nixon communicated with a Camp David operator to facilitate a meeting with Bebe Rebozo. The President requested that Rebozo be contacted and brought to his location at the Aspen Lodge. This brief interaction served as a logistical coordination to arrange the arrival of a close personal confidant.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed the ongoing negotiations to end the Vietnam War, emphasizing the necessity of securing a settlement based on its merits rather than political expediency. Nixon explicitly instructed Kissinger to avoid any language suggesting the formation of a coalition government, which he feared would be politically damaging. The two agreed that the primary goal was to bring the conflict to a close, provided the agreement did not result in a collapse of the South Vietnamese government before the upcoming election.
President Nixon met with his valet, Manolo Sanchez, at Camp David to discuss his personal schedule and recent activities. The conversation touched upon local weather conditions and reflected on the President’s recent walk. Nixon noted that the retreat had provided him with a sense of mental clarity.
President Nixon recorded a memorandum at Camp David to summarize his recent meetings and observations regarding his 1972 re-election campaign. He reflected on various interactions, including social gatherings with athletes and political supporters, while evaluating his outreach efforts with Hispanic communities and local officials. Additionally, he assessed the delicate state of Vietnam peace negotiations, noting the strategic risks involved in reaching a settlement prior to the presidential election.