Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 318
Nixon White House Tape 318 (January 26, 1972 – February 2, 1972)
39 conversations · Old Executive Office Building · about 4 hr 4 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Haldeman, Sanchez, Kissinger, Shultz
President Nixon initiates a request through the White House operator to place an outgoing telephone call. The exchange is brief, serving strictly as a logistical interaction to establish a connection with an unspecified party. No substantive policy discussions or administrative decisions are recorded during this brief communication.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discuss the positive public and political reception to the President’s January 25 Vietnam speech, specifically noting the effectiveness of their late-night preparation sessions. Nixon directs Kissinger to formalize a Q&A document drafted by William Safire and Patrick Buchanan for distribution to the Cabinet and Congressional leaders to clarify administration policy. Additionally, the two analyze North Vietnamese intentions regarding POWs, with both men concluding that Hanoi is unlikely to offer a prisoner release in exchange for a U.S. troop withdrawal.
President Nixon, H.R. Haldeman, Charles Colson, and other staff members discuss communication strategy following a televised speech, specifically focusing on the favorable public reaction and the need to capitalize on it. They coordinate the dissemination of a Q&A document to help the press and administration officials defend the President's peace plan. Additionally, the group brainstorms a publicity stunt involving a surprise live telephone call from the President to Henry Kissinger during a public dinner to highlight the administration's unity and focus.
President Nixon directs the White House operator to contact Secretary of the Treasury John Connally immediately. He emphasizes that if Connally is occupied in a meeting, he must be interrupted to take the call. This request highlights the urgent priority Nixon placed on communicating with his Treasury Secretary during this period.
President Nixon contacted George P. Shultz to request an immediate, brief meeting at the Old Executive Office Building. The primary purpose of the call was to coordinate a discussion between the two men regarding an unspecified matter. Nixon indicated that he had a prior commitment with Page Belcher but intended to consult with Shultz directly afterward.
President Nixon held a brief, informal interaction with the White House operator while located in the Old Executive Office Building. The exchange remained lighthearted and limited in scope, focusing on a playful remark regarding the operator's service. No substantive policy matters or administrative decisions were addressed during this short communication.
President Nixon met with George Shultz, John Connally, and other advisors to assess the administration's economic policy and strategy regarding the Federal Reserve. The participants discussed the money supply (M-1 and M-2), the lack of currency convertibility as a strategic advantage, and the necessity of pressuring the banking community to increase lending. Additionally, they reviewed potential personnel appointments to the Council of Economic Advisers and the Federal Reserve Board, specifically focusing on the goal of ensuring more favorable policy alignment with the White House.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, to discuss the President's daily schedule. The primary focus of the brief interaction was the arrangement of a nap for the President. No other significant policy or political matters were addressed during this short exchange.
President Nixon interacted with a White House operator to facilitate a routine communication task, likely involving the processing of a long-distance or billed telephone call. The exchange centers on the administrative formalities of placing an operator-assisted call and addressing the associated toll charges. No significant policy discussions or strategic developments occurred during this brief procedural interaction.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building for a brief, informal interaction. The dialogue focuses on the location of a pipe, likely a personal item of the President’s. No policy matters or substantive political decisions were addressed during this short exchange.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator regarding an incoming telephone communication. He requested to speak directly with the caller, signaling his intent to handle the matter personally. The brief exchange served as a coordination effort to facilitate a specific, immediate connection for the President.
President Nixon initiates a request for the White House operator to place a personal call to his daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower. This interaction facilitates a private communication channel between the President and his family. No policy matters or substantive governmental affairs were addressed during this brief exchange.
President Nixon consulted with H. R. Haldeman regarding his upcoming schedule, focusing on balancing trips to Florida and Camp David with preparations for his historic journey to the People's Republic of China. The discussion also addressed public relations strategy, specifically evaluating the necessity of personal appearances at events like the National Prayer Breakfast to maximize political impact. Alexander P. Butterfield joined briefly to receive administrative instructions, while the President ultimately weighed the value of various appearances against the fatigue of his pre-trip workload.
President Nixon met with his daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, for a brief personal check-in. The conversation covered domestic updates, including a recent trip to Pittsburgh and a discussion regarding Republican governors, specifically mentioning Dan Evans. The two also touched upon potential travel plans for the upcoming weekend, weighing the benefits of a quiet stay at Camp David.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate a communication with Charles W. Colson. The discussion primarily addressed scheduling logistics and the President's request for Colson to return his call. The brief exchange served as a procedural step to initiate direct contact with his Special Counsel.
President Nixon directed the White House operator to connect him with an individual named Rob to facilitate a specific telephone communication. The brief exchange served as an administrative request to patch through an outside party. No further policy discussions or substantive developments occurred during this brief interaction.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discuss media coverage and the administration's public relations strategy. Nixon emphasizes the importance of maintaining a strong political stance and not allowing external pressures to dictate their agenda. The brief exchange focuses on celebrating recent administrative progress and ensuring the staff remains focused on long-term policy goals despite congressional challenges.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to initiate a telephone call. The exchange served as a brief administrative connection process to reach specific individuals, identified as Patricia and Andrew. No substantive policy matters were discussed during this brief logistical coordination.
President Nixon held a meeting with an unidentified individual in his Old Executive Office Building suite to discuss administrative or political matters. Due to the lack of an available transcript, the specific agenda, policy decisions, and outcomes of the discussion remain undocumented in the historical record. This recording serves as part of the archival documentation of the President’s daily scheduling and private consultations.
President Nixon and his daughter, Tricia Nixon Cox, engage in an informal check-in regarding family plans and recent personal activities. They discuss upcoming travel logistics, including potential trips to Florida and the President's impending visit to China, while also noting current weather conditions in Washington, D.C. The conversation concludes with a brief mention of political or social analysis regarding a trip taken by Monty.
President Nixon requested that the White House operator connect him with Harry Denny. This brief interaction served as a logistical bridge to initiate a telephone communication with Denny. No further policy discussions or significant political developments occurred during this brief exchange.
President Nixon and Harry Dent discuss the political reception of various governors and party figures following recent meetings, specifically focusing on the administration’s strategy for the upcoming election cycle. They evaluate the performance of political allies like Peterson, Kane, and Rockefeller while emphasizing the importance of a 50-state campaign strategy to maintain influence across diverse regions. The conversation also touches on sensitive outreach efforts to minority groups in the South and the potential political threat posed by candidates like John Lindsay.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to discuss military contingency plans for Vietnam, specifically addressing a potential North Vietnamese offensive and the timing of increased air strikes. They criticized Democratic presidential candidate Edmund Muskie for his public statements on the war, arguing that his rhetoric undermined ongoing peace negotiations and displayed a lack of responsibility. Additionally, the President directed Kissinger to push for the appointment of Vernon A. Walters as Deputy Director of the CIA, dismissing concerns from Richard Helms and Melvin Laird regarding the nomination.
President Nixon directed H. R. Haldeman to coordinate with Patrick Buchanan on a strategy to attack Edmund Muskie’s criticisms of the administration’s Vietnam peace proposal. Nixon sought to deflect political pressure by highlighting Muskie’s past support for Lyndon B. Johnson’s war policies, which he argued led to increased casualties and stagnant negotiations. The President tasked Buchanan with drafting talking points that shift blame for the prolonged conflict onto the Democratic Party’s previous leadership.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discuss the timing and strategy for responding to a current political or public relations challenge. Nixon insists on a cautious, patient approach, opting to wait for the situation to evolve before taking action. The President ultimately affirms that he has already dictated his chosen course of action and maintains that his plan is sufficient.
President Nixon held a brief, informal meeting in the Old Executive Office Building with an unidentified individual. The recording consists almost entirely of ambient noise and muffled background dialogue, precluding any substantive discussion of policy or administration business. No clear decisions, actions, or significant developments were captured during this short interaction.
President Nixon dictates a memorandum to H. R. Haldeman regarding the administration's political response to Senator Edmund Muskie’s criticisms of the U.S. peace plan for Vietnam. The President argues that Muskie’s opposition to the withdrawal and POW proposals is rooted in partisanship and effectively serves as aid to the enemy by mirroring North Vietnamese rejection of the peace terms. Nixon tasks Haldeman and aide Pat Buchanan with drafting points to highlight the contrast between his negotiation efforts and Muskie’s political opportunism.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building. The brief interaction, recorded by the White House system, focused on routine personal or administrative tasks. No significant policy decisions or historical developments were recorded during this exchange.
President Nixon met with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to discuss political strategy and administrative tasks regarding upcoming campaign materials. The conversation focused on a memorandum intended for H.R. Haldeman concerning public statements by Democratic rivals Edmund Muskie, John Lindsay, and George McGovern. Specifically, they addressed the implications of recent primary and caucus results in Iowa and Arizona to shape the administration's political narrative.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to discuss an unidentified individual's inability to resolve a specific issue, reportedly citing John Ehrlichman's assessment that the matter could not be saved. The brief exchange reflects Nixon's attempt to facilitate communication or address a pending problem regarding this individual. No definitive action was taken beyond the President inquiring about the status of a potential phone connection.
President Nixon met with Hobart D. Lewis to dictate a letter regarding a recent Republican Governors dinner held on January 28, 1972. The discussion centered on Nixon’s interaction with New Jersey Governor William T. Cahill and a previously published article in Reader's Digest. This meeting served to facilitate correspondence regarding the political landscape and media coverage surrounding the Republican leadership.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman discuss political strategy, focusing on the need to moderate public rhetoric regarding tax reform to avoid it becoming a political liability. The President instructs Ehrlichman to coordinate with a political associate to ensure alignment on administration objectives and to maintain a strong, proactive stance in upcoming policy deliberations. Additionally, the conversation touches upon the status of legal services reform and internal administration morale regarding regional political outreach.
President Nixon met with Reader's Digest editor Hobart D. Lewis to advocate for a follow-up article highlighting the administrative successes of New Jersey Governor William T. Cahill. Nixon emphasized Cahill’s accomplishments in environmental policy, education reform, and his efforts to combat corruption, contrasting these achievements with past negative portrayals of the state. The discussion served as an editorial pitch to improve the public perception of the Cahill administration through the magazine's national platform.
President Nixon initiated a brief, informal communication with the White House operator from his office in the Old Executive Office Building. The exchange consisted of a singular, colloquial greeting rather than a discussion of policy or official business. No substantive developments, decisions, or administrative actions occurred during this brief interaction.
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to briefly discuss administrative staffing or scheduling matters. The President inquired about the possibility of arranging daily five-minute appointments for Bull, emphasizing the necessity of their regular communication. The brief exchange served as a directive for Bull to coordinate his availability to meet with the President on a consistent, daily basis.
President Nixon met with Governors Nelson Rockefeller, Ronald Reagan, William Milliken, and Linwood Holton to formally dictate letters of appreciation following a recent governors' dinner. The conversation highlights the administration's effort to maintain political cohesion and express gratitude for the participants' supportive remarks regarding his peace initiatives and policy agenda. These letters served to acknowledge the governors' contributions and reinforce existing alliances heading into a challenging political period.
President Nixon met with his personal aide, Manolo Sanchez, and an unidentified individual in the Old Executive Office Building. The discussion focused on administrative logistics, specifically regarding the handling of eyeglasses and a speech draft intended for Rose Mary Woods, potentially authored by Patrick J. Buchanan. The participants managed desk items and coordinated the transfer of documents during the brief interaction.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman met to coordinate the President's upcoming schedule and strategic planning. Their discussion focused on organizing logistics for Nixon’s impending trip to the People's Republic of China, as well as managing his appointments for March and April 1972. The two also reviewed polling materials to assess the political landscape during this critical period.
President Nixon, along with H.R. Haldeman, Ronald Ziegler, and Peter Flanigan, discussed strategies for responding to Senator Muskie's criticisms of the President's Vietnam peace proposal. They debated the best approach for public rebuttal, considering television appearances, press statements, and the potential impact of various responses on public perception and political maneuvering. The conversation also touched upon the upcoming press conference of Secretary Rogers and the President's recent Vietnam speech, including its television ratings and public reaction.