Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 250
Nixon White House Tape 250 (April 16, 1971 – April 17, 1971)
33 conversations · Old Executive Office Building · about 1 hr 59 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Sanchez, Haldeman, Kissinger, Colson
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building to discuss the daily care and exercise of the President’s Irish Setter, King Timahoe. The brief exchange focused exclusively on coordinating a walk for the dog, reflecting the informal and personal nature of their interaction. No policy or administrative decisions were addressed during this short discussion.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual in the Old Executive Office Building to review a daily news summary. The discussion focused on current media coverage and political developments as reported in the press. No specific policy decisions or significant administrative actions were recorded during this brief exchange.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman reviewed the President's upcoming schedule, including a Rose Garden reception for the Rio Grande City High School Student Council and a meeting with business leaders Bernard Lasker, John Connally, and Gustave Levy. They discussed press management regarding a Commerce Department consumer buying study and recent controversies surrounding the Vietnam War, particularly involving George McGovern and William Saxbe. Nixon also instructed Haldeman to facilitate a meeting with an unidentified individual, likely Senator Saxbe, to address these ongoing political disputes.
President Nixon and his valet, Manolo Sanchez, engage in a brief, informal discussion regarding Sanchez's schedule and the current weather conditions. The conversation highlights the President's demanding workload and his perception of being confined to the office throughout the weekends. No formal policy decisions or official actions are recorded during this exchange.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to strategize for an upcoming press conference with the American Society of Newspaper Editors and to coordinate their diplomatic approach toward the People's Republic of China, Vietnam, and the Soviet Union. The President emphasized a cautious, step-by-step strategy for diplomatic normalization with China to avoid appearing overly anxious, while also discussing the ongoing conflict in India and Pakistan and the necessity of maintaining neutrality. Kissinger was instructed to coordinate with Senator Mike Mansfield regarding these initiatives, and the two men reviewed communication tactics for managing the press and potential congressional inquiries.
President Nixon initiates a brief, informal check-in with the White House operator, addressed as Bertie, to facilitate outgoing communications. The exchange serves as a routine administrative interaction typical of the President’s daily management of telephone access. No substantive policy discussions or significant decisions occur during this brief contact.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss strategies for managing legislative relationships within the House and Senate. The conversation touches on the necessity of maintaining firm positions with lawmakers and addresses concerns regarding public or political sentiment. Colson notes his intention to handle specific tasks, including a planned trip to Seattle, as part of the administration's broader outreach and political strategy.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman convened in the Old Executive Office Building to coordinate the President's immediate agenda. The brief discussion served primarily as a check-in to determine the President's availability for further administrative business. No specific policy decisions were recorded during this initial administrative exchange.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to discuss political strategy, staffing needs, and the administration's ongoing foreign and domestic initiatives. They focused on leveraging the recent "ping-pong diplomacy" with the People's Republic of China, evaluating the positive public response to the initiative, and coordinating future Cabinet changes to better align with the President's policy goals. Additionally, the pair strategized on managing political opposition, including handling potential protests on college campuses and addressing issues related to Prisoners of War.
President Nixon met with his longtime personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building. The brief interaction focused on facilitating Sanchez’s access to the President's office. This conversation highlights the routine administrative and personal arrangements required to manage the President’s daily schedule and inner circle.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Old Executive Office Building to handle a minor administrative task. The brief interaction focused on a specific request for paint in cans. No other policy or political matters were discussed during this short exchange.
President Nixon met with an unidentified woman in his Old Executive Office Building suite to discuss her professional schedule. The brief interaction focused on the logistics of her current commitments and availability. No substantive policy matters or major administrative decisions were recorded during this session.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed the management of interaction with the wives of American Prisoners of War to prevent the issue from becoming politically unmanageable. The President provided instructions to Haldeman regarding the oversight of this group and specifically designated Secretary of State William P. Rogers to lead the administration's handling of the matter. Major General James D. Hughes was also identified as a key figure in coordinating these efforts.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual in the Old Executive Office Building to review the President’s daily schedule. Due to the extremely brief duration of the recorded segment and the lack of a transcript, no substantive policy discussions or significant administrative decisions were captured. The interaction appears to have been limited to logistical coordination regarding the President's upcoming appointments.
President Nixon met with Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler to strategize for an upcoming meeting with news editors regarding media criticism of FBI surveillance practices. Nixon expressed frustration over what he deemed irresponsible reporting by the Washington Post and the New York Times, particularly allegations of domestic spying on innocent citizens. He instructed Ziegler to forcefully defend the administration's policy by contrasting it with historical wiretapping practices during the Robert Kennedy era and emphasizing the necessity of surveillance for national security and crime prevention.
Manolo Sanchez met with an unknown woman in the President's office to facilitate administrative coordination regarding the President’s daily schedule. The discussion focused on organizing an upcoming meeting between the President and an unidentified individual. No further significant policy decisions or substantive actions were recorded during this brief encounter.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed the political implications and costs associated with recent bombings of federal buildings and university campuses, specifically referencing arson at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Nixon expressed frustration regarding the prevalence of radical leftist activities and sought to compile comprehensive statistics on such incidents through the FBI and GSA. The conversation also touched upon press reporting, the rising stock market, and scheduling matters for upcoming meetings with figures such as Mike Mansfield.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss preparations for an upcoming editors' meeting, specifically focusing on technical logistics like the use of a rostrum and the presidential seal. The President emphasizes the need for a more relaxed attitude toward press relations, arguing that his ability to answer questions directly provides a significant political advantage. Additionally, the pair briefly touches upon the President's diplomatic policy regarding the USSR and the domestic political landscape involving "hawks" and Senator Mike Mansfield.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to examine a specific, unspecified item. The brief interaction focused on the physical inspection of this object, which the President prompted the visitor to observe. No further substantive policy discussions or administrative actions were recorded during this segment.
President Nixon consulted with an unidentified individual regarding the retrieval of a specific record album. The participant offered to secure the item provided it could be obtained discreetly without requiring an official identification number. This brief exchange focused on the logistics of acquiring this personal or administrative material.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to coordinate administrative logistics regarding an upcoming meeting with newspaper editors. The discussion focused on the role of Director of Communications Herbert G. Klein in managing these press relations. The participants evaluated the necessity of formal procedures for the event, ultimately determining that no further action was required at that time.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discuss the tactical management of a sensitive diplomatic channel, specifically cautioning against pressuring an unnamed intermediary. The conversation centers on maintaining operational control while ensuring the intermediary is adequately informed of the administration's progress. They align their strategy to prioritize an upcoming meeting in Paris before advancing to subsequent phases of the diplomatic process.
President Nixon held a brief, informal meeting with one or more unidentified individuals in his Old Executive Office Building office. The recording primarily captures administrative logistics related to the President's immediate schedule. No substantive policy discussions or significant executive decisions are documented in this brief exchange.
President Nixon directs H. R. Haldeman to coordinate a meeting between Henry Kissinger, Ronald Ziegler, and journalist John Scali to manage Scali’s views on Vietnam and the administration's China initiative. Nixon expresses frustration with Scali’s perspectives and Kissinger’s handling of the situation, insisting that Haldeman facilitate the discussion to align their messaging. The President explicitly tasks Haldeman with managing these communications to shield himself from the direct conflict and ensure policy consistency.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building to handle a brief, routine request. The conversation lasted only three seconds, precluding any substantive discussion of policy or political strategy. No significant developments or administrative decisions resulted from this limited interaction.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building to handle personal affairs. The brief interaction focused on a specific request involving the handling or transport of personal items referred to as "drops." No significant policy decisions were recorded during this short, private engagement.
President Nixon consulted with an associate regarding labor statistics to analyze the status of the steel industry workforce. The discussion focused on comparing employment figures from 1960 against 1971 to evaluate long-term trends. This data review served to inform the administration's understanding of shifts within the industrial sector.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building to request refreshments. The brief interaction focused solely on the President's request for coffee. No policy matters or significant administrative decisions were addressed during this short exchange.
President Richard Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building. The brief interaction consisted of a specific request made by the President to his aide. No further details regarding the nature of the request or subsequent policy developments are available due to the limited duration of the recording.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met briefly to discuss follow-up actions related to a previous conversation with Henry Kissinger and the administration's strategic response to media coverage. The discussion also touched upon preparations for an upcoming meeting with news editors. The dialogue remained informal, focusing on administrative coordination and media management tactics.
President Nixon held a brief, informal discussion with one or more unidentified individuals in the Old Executive Office Building. The dialogue is fragmentary, consisting primarily of acknowledgments and vague assurances regarding a sensitive matter. No concrete policy decisions, specific names, or identifiable subjects can be determined from the available transcript.
President Nixon summoned his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, to his office in the Old Executive Office Building for a brief, informal interaction. The exchange was extremely short in duration and lacked substantive discussion regarding policy or administrative matters. No formal decisions or significant actions were recorded during this brief encounter.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building to coordinate administrative logistics. The discussion centered on the President's upcoming schedule and the handling of his briefcase. The interaction concluded with the pair departing the office together shortly after 8:00 pm.