Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 282
Nixon White House Tape 282 (October 20, 1971)
42 conversations · Old Executive Office Building · about 2 hr 30 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Haldeman, Sanchez, Mitchell, Moore
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual in the Old Executive Office Building to facilitate the delivery of unspecified materials. The brief exchange confirms the successful transfer of the items before the visitor departed the office. Due to the limited nature of the recording, no further policy decisions or substantive discussions were documented.
President Nixon contacted the White House operator to facilitate a telephone call to the Attorney General, John Mitchell. The brief exchange served as a routine administrative request to establish a line of communication with the head of the Justice Department. No policy discussions occurred during this interaction.
President Richard M. Nixon met with his valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building. While the bulk of the recording consists of a withdrawn personal segment, the interaction serves as a brief private exchange between the President and his personal staff member. No official policy discussions or major administrative decisions were recorded during this brief encounter.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building for a brief, informal interaction. The discussion centered on the location and well-being of King Timahoe, the President’s Irish Setter. No significant policy decisions were recorded during this brief exchange.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman reviewed logistical arrangements for upcoming White House events, including a dinner for a Japanese delegation featuring Henry Kearns and Nobusuke Kishi. The discussion touched upon the scheduling of an October 25 meeting and broader concerns regarding press relations, specifically the administration’s strategy for dealing with the Los Angeles Times. The conversation also briefly veered into personal observations regarding the temperament and perceived attitudes of various individuals and groups within the administration's political sphere.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual in the Old Executive Office Building to discuss his daily schedule. Given the sparse nature of the available records and the lack of a substantive transcript, no significant policy decisions or specific action items can be confirmed from this brief interaction.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to initiate a telephone call to Charles W. Colson. This brief communication was limited to the President requesting assistance in contacting his special counsel. No further substantive matters or policy discussions were recorded during this exchange.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss strategies for shaping public opinion and defending the administration against political opponents, particularly regarding the need for more aggressive advocacy from White House officials. They analyze recent polling data for Connecticut and national sentiment toward political rivals like Senator Edward Kennedy. The conversation concludes with a directive for Colson to coordinate with Pat Buchanan to draft a strong public statement condemning their opponents' tactics as "dirty gutter politics."
President Nixon contacted the White House operator to facilitate a telephone call to Secretary of State William P. Rogers. The brief exchange served as a routine administrative request to establish communication with the Secretary. No further policy discussions or significant developments occurred during this brief interaction.
President Nixon and Secretary of State William P. Rogers discuss plans for a diplomatic initiative toward Latin America, emphasizing the need for a high-profile tour to demonstrate commitment. They deliberate on potential policy gestures, such as addressing import surcharges and preferential trade treatment, to provide substance to the visit. Additionally, the conversation touches upon personnel choices for the delegation and assesses the decreasing intensity of the Vietnam War in terms of U.S. casualty rates.
President Nixon initiates a brief request for the White House operator to place a telephone call to Donald H. Rumsfeld. This interaction serves as a functional step to facilitate communication between the President and his advisor. No further substantive policy matters are addressed in this short exchange.
President Nixon and Donald Rumsfeld discuss potential appointments for the administration, specifically focusing on candidates for the chairmanship of the Price Board. Nixon emphasizes the need for a strong, vigorous leader who can effectively manage business community concerns regarding economic policy. The two also coordinate the scheduling of a media announcement to ensure maximum impact in upcoming Sunday papers and news cycles.
President Nixon consults with Alexander M. Haig, Jr. regarding the status of a potential meeting following a prior telephone discussion with Secretary of State William P. Rogers. The President instructs Haig to coordinate the logistics for this follow-up engagement. This brief interaction serves to facilitate administrative scheduling and direct communication between the President and his senior staff.
President Nixon met with Alexander Haig to discuss a wide range of administrative and foreign policy issues, including strategic planning for upcoming diplomatic summits with the Soviet Union and China, and the need for the President to engage in direct, private discussions with world leaders. They reviewed the status of the war in Vietnam, noting positive casualty trends and the importance of publicizing successes in Cambodia to maintain domestic and congressional support. Additionally, the President and his staff coordinated the logistics and messaging for First Lady Pat Nixon’s upcoming foreign travel, while also addressing trade negotiations with Japan and potential economic outreach initiatives for Latin American allies.
President Nixon utilizes the White House operator to place an outgoing call to Attorney General John Mitchell. This brief interaction serves as a logistical bridge to facilitate direct communication between the President and his chief legal officer. No substantive policy discussions occur, as the exchange is limited to the functional request for a telephone connection.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate a communications request. The brief exchange centered on managing the President's incoming and outgoing calls, specifically regarding a follow-up conversation with an unidentified individual upon their return. Nixon directed the operator to hold the request until the party became available.
President Nixon met with an unknown individual in his Old Executive Office Building office to briefly discuss administrative logistics. The conversation focused on the coordination of the President's schedule and the immediate retrieval of unspecified materials. The exchange concluded with the departure of the unidentified party, confirming that no further action items remained for the duration of the meeting.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman discussed political strategies regarding the issue of school busing, evaluating the potential for a constitutional amendment to leverage political advantage against rivals like Edward Kennedy, Edmund Muskie, and Henry Jackson. Nixon emphasized the importance of aligning with the powerful education lobby and explored linking busing to broader education policies, including aid to parochial schools. The pair aimed to capitalize on the busing controversy as a significant electoral issue by appealing to specific interest groups.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate upcoming scheduling logistics for the President’s agenda. The discussion focused on finalizing the timeline for meetings on October 21, specifically addressing the arrangement of a session involving Nobusuke Kishi and Henry Kearns. The pair prioritized determining the preferred location and duration for these appointments to ensure the President's calendar was efficiently organized.
President Nixon met with Alexander Butterfield and H.R. Haldeman to handle administrative tasks, including the signing of a photograph for John R. Brown, III. The group primarily focused on planning a forthcoming White House dinner for Nobusuke Kishi, specifically debating guest list capacity in the family dining room. Nixon ultimately directed that the guest list be reduced to ensure a more intimate setting and instructed his staff to finalize the invitees for the Japanese delegation.
President Nixon and his valet, Manolo Sanchez, discuss the behavior of King Timahoe, the President's Irish Setter. Nixon reports that the dog has been barking at him near the Executive Office Building. The brief interaction concludes with the President instructing Sanchez to bring the dog over to him.
President Nixon and Attorney General John Mitchell discuss potential candidates for upcoming Supreme Court vacancies, weighing the political implications and qualifications of various prospects. The conversation centers on navigating the vetting process for nominees like Powell, Rehnquist, and others, while specifically debating the optics of appointing corporate lawyers versus academic figures. Nixon emphasizes the importance of strategic appointments to balance legal expertise with political viability.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate a telephone connection with Richard A. Moore. The brief interaction focused solely on identifying the correct contact information for Moore, referred to as Dick or Billy Richard Moore. The exchange served as a logistical step to initiate this specific communication.
President Nixon and Richard A. Moore held a brief, informal exchange to coordinate a subsequent meeting. Nixon requested that Moore come to his office in the Old Executive Office Building for further discussion. This interaction served primarily as a logistical arrangement to facilitate a more substantive conversation.
President Nixon met with his valet, Manolo Sanchez, to discuss the whereabouts and management of the President's Irish Setter, King Timahoe. During the brief interaction, Nixon provided specific instructions for Sanchez to keep a door open to allow the dog to remain nearby. The exchange reflects the informal nature of their personal interactions regarding the President's pet.
President Nixon met with Richard Moore, John Mitchell, and Alexander Butterfield to discuss the selection process for upcoming Supreme Court vacancies. Nixon expressed frustration with the American Bar Association's influence and affirmed his intention to bypass them to avoid leaks and public criticism of his nominees' ideologies. The group evaluated several candidates, including Lewis Powell, Howard Baker, William Rehnquist, and William French Smith, ultimately favoring a strategy to nominate highly qualified conservatives to preempt opposition. Additionally, the President discussed concerns regarding negative press coverage of his personal finances involving Charles Rebozo and strategized on managing political messaging regarding the Vietnam War and POW issues.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler strategized on how to manage media speculation regarding the upcoming nomination of two Supreme Court candidates, Herschel H. Friday and Mildred L. Lillie. Nixon instructed Ziegler to maintain a vague public posture to keep the press guessing about the timing of the announcement while protecting his own credibility. They agreed that Ziegler would deflect inquiries by stating that the President had not yet made a final decision, citing the pending American Bar Association report as the primary reason for the delay.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building. The brief interaction, lasting less than ten minutes, primarily involved personal matters rather than substantive policy discussions. The meeting concluded without any recorded administrative decisions or significant political developments.
President Nixon and an unknown associate met to discuss strategy regarding pending Supreme Court nominations. The conversation focused on the timing for announcing these judicial appointments and addressed the American Bar Association's evaluation of Mildred L. Lillie. No definitive consensus or final action plan was established during the brief exchange.
President Nixon and John Mitchell discussed the final selection process for upcoming Supreme Court nominations, specifically weighing the qualifications of potential candidates Howard Baker, Lewis Powell, and William Rehnquist. Nixon expressed frustration with the deliberative pace and instructed Mitchell to prepare strong, positive statements for the chosen nominees. The President decided to finalize and announce his selections the following evening to preempt leaks and control the narrative surrounding the appointments.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman coordinate the final logistics for announcing two pending Supreme Court nominations. The President decides to bypass a full prime-time television address, opting instead for a 7:00 p.m. announcement the following evening. This decision finalized the timing for a sensitive political maneuver intended to manage the public reveal of his judicial selections.
President Nixon consulted with Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler and Attorney General John Mitchell to strategically manage the media coverage and timing of his upcoming Supreme Court nominations. Nixon decided to delay his public announcement until the following evening to create media confusion and effectively control the narrative. The participants also discussed the necessity of withholding information from the American Bar Association and coordinated messaging regarding the President's upcoming schedule, including a Veterans Day speech and price control initiatives.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate a telephone connection with Richard A. Moore. The interaction served as a logistical step to initiate communication with Moore, a key legal aide and advisor to the administration. No further substantive policy discussions occurred during this brief request for assistance.
President Richard Nixon met briefly with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, to coordinate evening arrangements. The pair discussed the President's upcoming dinner schedule and confirmed a timing of 6:30 p.m. Additionally, Nixon requested that Sanchez prepare a scotch and soda.
President Nixon and Richard A. Moore discuss the status of potential judicial nominees for the Supreme Court, specifically weighing the qualifications of candidates like Mildred Lillie. Nixon expresses frustration over opposition to certain nominees and identifies Senator Howard Baker as a top contingency choice if his primary preferences do not move forward. The brief meeting concludes with Nixon instructing Moore to conduct further vetting on the suitability of specific candidates.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman held a brief meeting to address a specific logistical or personal matter involving the landscaping of White House grounds. The discussion centered on instructions to replace a bush, reflecting the President's personal attention to the exterior aesthetics of the Executive Office Building. No broader policy or administrative developments were recorded during this exchange.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met briefly to adjust the President's upcoming schedule, specifically focusing on rescheduling a meeting with George H. W. Bush. The pair also coordinated logistical arrangements for a forthcoming White House dinner. The brief discussion concluded with an agreement on the necessity for Bush to fulfill other professional obligations before meeting with the President.
President Nixon initiates a brief communication with the White House operator to request a telephone connection with his speechwriter, Raymond K. Price, Jr. The interaction serves as a functional bridge to facilitate a subsequent discussion with a key member of the President's staff. No further policy-related deliberation occurs during this brief administrative exchange.
President Nixon consults with speechwriter Raymond K. Price, Jr. regarding the tone and content of a draft document or speech. The discussion centers on tempering overly idealistic rhetoric concerning war and peace to avoid creating unrealistic public expectations. They reach a consensus to remove specific passages that the President deems too extreme for the current political climate.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed the strategic communication and drafting process for the upcoming announcement of Supreme Court nominees. Nixon emphasized the necessity of employing a skilled writer, specifically mentioning William L. Safire, to ensure the speech is effectively crafted for public delivery. The conversation focused on the importance of selecting the right tone and reporter-like precision to articulate the appointments clearly.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate an urgent communication with Attorney General John N. Mitchell. The brief exchange focused primarily on establishing this telephone connection. No other substantive policy or political matters were addressed during this interaction.
President Nixon and John Mitchell discuss political messaging and strategic communications regarding upcoming remarks, specifically concerning the vetting or qualification of a female appointee. The conversation reflects concerns over potential information leaks and the potential political fallout from public statements. The two agree on the need for caution, ultimately deciding to hold off on addressing certain controversial topics until the following morning.