Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 267
Nixon White House Tape 267 (July 29, 1971 – July 30, 1971)
22 conversations · Old Executive Office Building · about 2 hr 10 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Haldeman, Butterfield, Shultz, Woods
President Richard Nixon met with an unidentified individual in the Old Executive Office Building to discuss matters that remain undocumented in the available transcript. Due to the lack of audio content or textual record for this specific recording, the meeting's substance, primary topics, and any resulting action items cannot be determined. Consequently, this session provides no substantive insight into White House policy or executive decision-making.
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met to coordinate the President's upcoming schedule and manage communications with George P. Shultz. The discussion focused on logistical arrangements for Shultz's meeting with railroad officials and the potential need for a follow-up telephone briefing. Nixon deliberated on whether a direct meeting with Shultz was necessary or if a telephonic update would suffice, ultimately questioning the utility of a formal sit-down.
President Nixon met briefly with an unidentified male visitor in the Old Executive Office Building. Given the limited duration of the recording—lasting no more than three minutes—no substantive dialogue or policy decisions were captured. The encounter concludes without record of the participants' identities or the nature of their brief discussion.
President Nixon and George P. Shultz briefly coordinate their attendance for an upcoming meeting or appearance. The participants focus on timing, with Nixon deciding to arrive at the last possible moment to maintain tactical positioning. Their exchange suggests a desire to execute a strategy that contrasts with the actions of their unidentified counterparts.
President Nixon met briefly with an unidentified woman in his Old Executive Office Building office to discuss personal or administrative scheduling matters. The exchange was limited to brief greetings, and the participants departed the office together shortly after the meeting began. No substantive policy discussions or significant political decisions were recorded during this brief encounter.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman met in the Old Executive Office Building to coordinate the President's upcoming schedule. The discussion focused on logistical planning and the prioritization of forthcoming meetings. No specific policy decisions were finalized, as the dialogue served primarily as an administrative briefing to organize the executive calendar.
President Nixon consults with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, regarding the preparation of a speech draft for an upcoming trip to Iowa. He instructs Woods to oversee the final typing and formatting, specifically requesting that she emphasize certain underlined words during delivery. The discussion focuses on logistical coordination to ensure the document is prepared for his review and subsequent use.
President Nixon met with an unknown individual to coordinate administrative tasks and official photography. The President specifically requested that a group photograph be taken of the team and asked for a secretary to be brought into the office. This brief interaction focused on facilitating routine staff documentation.
President Nixon met with an unknown female staff member to provide specific editing instructions for a speech draft intended for his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods. He directed her to ensure particular sentences were underlined to emphasize key points within the text. This brief exchange focused on administrative preparation for upcoming presidential communications.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to discuss strategies for addressing negative press coverage regarding Vice President Spiro Agnew and to coordinate a forceful response to unfair media portrayals. The discussion included plans to isolate critical press outlets by cutting off White House cooperation until retractions are issued, specifically targeting Newsweek's inaccurate reporting on the Vice President. Additionally, the President reviewed a speech by Thomas R. Shepard that criticized the 'disaster lobby' and environmental activists, leading Nixon to decide that this narrative should be adopted to reframe public discourse on environmental and consumer issues.
President Nixon utilized the White House operator to facilitate a personal phone call to First Lady Pat Nixon. The brief interaction served as a logistical bridge to connect the President with his wife. No substantive policy discussions or political developments occurred during this exchange.
President Richard Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon discussed logistical plans for their upcoming trip to Camp David and travel arrangements for their daughters. The President expressed concerns regarding persistent noise and mechanical issues with the air conditioning system at the retreat. They coordinated family schedules, noting that Julie Nixon Eisenhower would not be joining them and confirming the dates for a visit to Tricia Nixon Cox.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed their dissatisfaction with current White House domestic policy messaging, specifically regarding welfare, the environment, and consumer issues. Nixon expressed frustration that domestic speechwriting staff were producing content he felt was too liberal and lacking in ideological conviction. He directed Haldeman to shift toward a more aggressive, sharper rhetorical style to better align the administration's public persona with his personal political positions as the 1972 campaign approached.
President Nixon met with Marjorie P. Acker to discuss logistical preparations for his upcoming travel. The brief interaction focused on the organization of items to be included in his luggage for the trip. No major policy decisions were made during this administrative consultation.
President Nixon and an unidentified staff member coordinate the scheduling of a forthcoming meeting. The discussion centers on determining the duration of a commitment and confirming staff availability through the late afternoon. No substantive policy matters are addressed, as the exchange focuses strictly on logistics and personnel presence in the office.
President Nixon directed the White House operator to place a telephone call to George P. Shultz, then the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. This brief administrative interaction served as the necessary logistical step to initiate a discussion between the President and Shultz. No substantive policy matters were addressed during this connection request.
President Nixon consults with the White House operator regarding the schedule of George P. Shultz. During the brief exchange, the President instructs the operator to maintain secrecy concerning the scheduling details. No further policy decisions are addressed in this short administrative interaction.
President Nixon initiated a phone call to connect with Secretary of Labor James D. Hodgson. After requesting the operator place the call, the President waited briefly for the connection to be established. No further substantive discussion occurred during this brief administrative interaction.
President Nixon and Secretary of Labor James D. Hodgson discussed strategies to force immediate settlements in ongoing steel and railroad labor negotiations. Concerned by the inflationary impact and the public's exhaustion with labor disputes, Nixon authorized Hodgson to convey a stern ultimatum to both industries, signaling that the administration was prepared to take aggressive action if negotiations failed. Nixon further expressed his willingness to personally intervene in the steel talks if a breakthrough appeared imminent, emphasizing the necessity of resolving productivity and work rule issues.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to place a telephone call to his special counsel, Charles W. Colson. This brief interaction served solely as a logistical request to initiate contact with a senior staff member. No substantive policy matters or further developments were discussed during this short exchange.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate the President's upcoming schedule. They focused on evaluating specific meeting requests to manage the executive calendar effectively. This discussion served to prioritize incoming appointments and streamline the administration's daily operations.
President Nixon met with his staff and advisors, including H.R. Haldeman and Henry Kissinger, to discuss political messaging, criticism of the Domestic Council, and strategies for upcoming foreign policy initiatives. Nixon expressed frustration with the liberal bias of the media and the academic community, particularly regarding environmental and social issues, and directed his team to sharpen his administration's messaging. Additionally, the participants discussed the logistics and strategic timing of a potential presidential trip to China, weighing the domestic political implications against international relations.