Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 231
Nixon White House Tape 231 (November 27, 1972 – November 28, 1972)
19 conversations · Camp David Hard Wire · about 1 hr 59 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Haldeman, Brennan, Sanchez, Toumayan
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman engage in a brief, informal exchange that touches on personal updates and administrative coordination. The President requests that Haldeman facilitate a connection with John Popover prior to a scheduled meeting, noting a need to consult with a freshman representative. The dialogue reflects routine staffing management and scheduling adjustments within the White House inner circle.
John V. Brennan and Alex G. Toumayan met at Camp David to conduct technical preparations for an upcoming telephone call between President Nixon and Ivorian President Felix Houphouet-Boigny. The participants tested the communication equipment in the Aspen Lodge to ensure the line was secure and operational for the international discussion. The brief interaction concluded with logistical adjustments to facilitate the connection for the President.
This recording documents the technical preparations and subsequent telephone conversation between President Richard Nixon and President Félix Houphouët-Boigny of the Ivory Coast, facilitated by White House staff and interpreters. The call marked the inauguration of a new satellite communications link between the two nations, providing an opportunity for both leaders to express mutual admiration for their respective economic development efforts and foreign policy goals. Nixon affirmed his continued interest in U.S.-Ivory Coast cooperation and pledged to support the nation's progress throughout his second term.
President Nixon initiates a brief request for the Camp David operator to connect him with H.R. Haldeman, referred to by his nickname 'Christian.' This exchange serves as a routine administrative step to facilitate a high-level communication. No substantive policy discussions occur, as the call functions solely to establish a telephone connection.
President Nixon meets with his daughter, Tricia Nixon Cox, to coordinate her upcoming international travel itinerary and discuss domestic renovations at the White House. The President advises Tricia on how to facilitate diplomatic scheduling through the National Security Council and General Haig for her planned visits to Egypt, Jordan, and Israel. Additionally, they discuss administrative details regarding renovations to the third floor of the White House, specifically the modernization of the kitchen facilities.
President Nixon held a brief, informal meeting at the Camp David Aspen Lodge involving White House staffer John V. Brennan and personal aide Manolo Sanchez. The discussion included the arrival of Attorney General Richard G. Kleindienst and the routine maintenance of the lodge's fireplace. No major policy decisions were recorded during these casual interactions.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, at the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David. The interaction was limited to the provision of refreshments. No substantive policy discussions or significant political decisions were recorded during this brief encounter.
President Nixon met with John V. Brennan at the Aspen Lodge to coordinate logistics for a forthcoming trip to the Camp David Fieldhouse. The discussion centered on transportation arrangements and the specific departure time for the President. This meeting concluded with the finalization of these transit details to ensure the President's schedule remained on track.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler met to coordinate logistics for the President’s upcoming announcement regarding the administration's second-term reorganization. They discussed the technical requirements for the hangar venue, including lighting and sound arrangements, and the appropriate framing of the President’s remarks to the press. Nixon clarified that the event would feature a brief address rather than a formal question-and-answer session.
President Nixon met with Manolo Sanchez and Bebe Rebozo at Camp David to finalize evening plans. The discussion focused on the acquisition of cigars and the coordination of the President's scheduled movie screening. The participants successfully confirmed the timing for the evening's entertainment before proceeding.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, at the Aspen Lodge during a stay at Camp David. The brief exchange centers on the maintenance or condition of a small fire within the study. No significant policy decisions or political developments occurred during this casual interaction.
President Nixon held a brief administrative interaction with the Camp David operator while situated at the Aspen Lodge. The exchange concerned routine logistical or communication needs inherent to the President's residency at the retreat. No substantive policy matters or major historical developments were recorded during this brief technical contact.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met at the Aspen Lodge to coordinate administrative affairs and discuss pending items on the President's agenda. The conversation focused on a briefing regarding specific issues requiring attention, with Haldeman tasked with reviewing these matters further. No major policy shifts were recorded, as the dialogue served primarily as an organizational exchange between the President and his Chief of Staff.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an outgoing call while working from the Aspen Lodge. The brief interaction focused on establishing communication lines to conduct official business. No substantive policy discussions or significant strategic decisions occurred during this brief administrative exchange.
President Nixon tasks his close friend Charles "Bebe" Rebozo with canceling a planned visit from television writer Paul Keyes. Nixon explains that the meeting is unnecessary due to prior discussions between Henry Kissinger, Don, and Joseph Smith, and he asks Rebozo to frame the cancellation around his need to focus on wrapping up the Vietnam situation. This informal exchange highlights the President’s reliance on Rebozo to manage personal logistics and communicate professional priorities while Nixon remained at Camp David.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate the administrative reorganization for the President’s second term, focusing on key cabinet appointments, ambassadorships, and the removal of certain personnel. They discussed strategies for managing political loyalists, including the potential reassignment of H. R. Haldeman and other staff, while addressing the optics of these shifts. Furthermore, they deliberated on managing the Watergate fallout, specifically regarding the handling of sensitive staff departures and the strategic messaging required to insulate the White House from ongoing investigations.
H. R. Haldeman and John D. Ehrlichman confer regarding the management of an individual’s schedule and the handling of sensitive findings. The discussion centers on the unpredictable behavior of the subject, who has reportedly engaged in erratic actions that complicate administrative control. Ultimately, they decide to withhold information until the subject completes his current tasks to ensure better oversight of the final report.
President Nixon initiated a brief communication with the Camp David operator from the Aspen Lodge study. The interaction was primarily administrative in nature, focusing on the coordination of telephone services at the retreat. No significant policy discussions or major strategic decisions occurred during this brief exchange.
President Nixon contacted the White House operator from the Aspen Lodge at Camp David to facilitate a phone connection. The brief exchange served as a logistical step to reach another party, consistent with standard presidential communication protocols. No substantive policy discussions or administrative decisions occurred during this interaction.