Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 319
Nixon White House Tape 319 (February 7, 1972 – February 8, 1972)
20 conversations · Old Executive Office Building · about 3 hr 24 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Sanchez, Haldeman, Price, Butterfield
President Nixon directed H. R. Haldeman to instruct speechwriter William Safire to expand a foreign policy document by 250 words to reach a total length of 1,500 words. Nixon expressed a desire to avoid further administrative friction regarding the draft, noting that the length should remain strictly at the 1,500-word limit to align closer to Henry Kissinger’s original submission. The President stipulated that once this adjustment was made, he would finalize the document without further revisions.
President Richard Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building to address a specific, though unidentified, personal request. The discussion remained brief and private, serving primarily to facilitate an administrative or logistical matter between the President and his staff member. No further policy-related developments were recorded during this brief encounter.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to review briefing materials in preparation for the President's scheduled appearance at the White House Conference on the Industrial World Ahead later that evening. The discussion focused on finalizing the details and logistics for the upcoming presentation. The President tasked Haldeman with confirming specific elements of the material to ensure the address was properly prepared.
President Richard Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building. While the specific transcript is unavailable, the meeting focused on a personal request initiated by Sanchez. No further administrative or political decisions were documented during this brief interaction.
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met to finalize the scheduling and agendas for an upcoming Cabinet meeting and a session with Congressional leaders. The discussion focused on coordinating topics for the Cabinet, including the ongoing dock strike, welfare reform, and the proposed value-added tax. They also addressed protocol for the final meeting of Secretary of Commerce Maurice Stans.
President Nixon and speechwriter Raymond K. Price, Jr. discussed preparations for an upcoming address to the White House Conference on the Industrial World Ahead. The pair debated the strategic value of the President delivering a formal, prepared speech versus a more spontaneous presentation style, while considering the time commitment required. Additionally, they briefly touched on incorporating John B. Connally’s views on the Productivity Commission and confirmed the President’s intent to meet with volunteers.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to terminate an ongoing call. This brief exchange served as a directive to cease communication with the party currently on the line. No further substantive policy or administrative matters were discussed.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull reviewed the President’s daily schedule, specifically coordinating the timing of an upcoming meeting with John D. Ehrlichman. The discussion centered on managing the President's obligations before a scheduled 4:30 pm commitment at a hotel. They addressed logistics regarding pending discussions on busing policies and meetings with members of Congress.
President Nixon met with speechwriter Raymond K. Price, Jr. to coordinate the structure of an upcoming address or initiative. The pair discussed splicing together two separate documents to ensure a cohesive narrative flow, specifically focusing on integrating page six of the initiative with existing talking points. They concluded that the combination would be effective and would require minimal additional synthesis.
President Richard Nixon met briefly with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building. During this short interaction, the President requested a cup of coffee. No other substantive political or administrative matters were discussed.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman met to discuss the administration's political strategy regarding court-ordered busing and to manage the fallout from a potentially damaging news exposé involving the President's brother, Donald Nixon. Ehrlichman advised that the President should meet with key Republican sponsors of anti-busing legislation to signal interest without formally committing to a constitutional amendment before his trip to China. Simultaneously, they addressed the imminent release of a Jack Anderson column detailing Donald Nixon's questionable business dealings and ties to controversial figures, ultimately deciding that the President must distance himself from his brother's activities and work with John Mitchell to secure Donald's exit from his current business commitments.
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield coordinate the seating arrangements and attendee list for an upcoming Cabinet meeting involving congressional leaders and White House staff. The President emphasizes prioritizing key leadership positions while expressing a desire to limit the overall number of staff attendees to maintain focus. The discussion also touches upon the status of a foreign assistance bill statement.
President Nixon initiates a brief, informal check-in with the White House operator to inquire about her well-being. This interaction serves as a routine interpersonal exchange rather than a policy-driven discussion. No substantive political decisions or administrative actions occur during this brief communication.
President Nixon met with Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler to establish a media strategy regarding the 1972 presidential campaign. Nixon instructed Ziegler to adopt a policy of refusing to comment on statements made by other political candidates to avoid entanglement in campaign rhetoric. Additionally, the pair briefly discussed personnel and personal associations to ensure the administration maintained a clear public record regarding outside influences.
President Nixon met with his personal aide, Manolo Sanchez, to coordinate his evening attire and logistical arrangements. The President directed Sanchez to bring a suit and specific ties to the Old Executive Office Building, where he intended to dress for an upcoming engagement. This brief interaction served primarily to manage the President's personal schedule and wardrobe requirements.
President Nixon initiates a brief administrative request to the White House operator to place an outgoing call. The conversation serves solely as a logistical bridge to connect the President to an external party. No substantive policy discussions or decisions are recorded during this brief exchange.
President Nixon and Rose Mary Woods reviewed the final agenda and logistics for an upcoming White House cabinet meeting and a speech to business leaders. The conversation focused on refining the President's public messaging regarding economic policy, including his defense of wage and price controls, and managing the political fallout surrounding a controversial article about Donald Nixon. Nixon directed Woods to finalize speech materials, emphasizing the need for brevity and a clear, even-handed tone while avoiding specific endorsements of pending legislative proposals during his upcoming diplomatic travel.
President Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon briefly discussed their respective evening schedules and recent personal activities. The conversation touched upon the President’s concern regarding a lingering cold before his upcoming speaking engagement and the First Lady’s positive impressions of a recent visit with their daughter, Julie. No formal policy matters were addressed during this short exchange.
President Nixon met with key advisors and staff, including H. R. Haldeman and Henry Kissinger, to prepare for his upcoming historic trip to the People's Republic of China and discuss the 1972 campaign strategy. The participants reviewed sensitive internal polling data, evaluated the political risks posed by news stories from columnist Jack Anderson involving F. Donald Nixon, and analyzed public reaction to Vietnam policy and recent busing controversies. Additionally, the President provided guidance on managing press relations for the China trip and discussed the importance of maintaining a unified administration stance on foreign and domestic policy matters.
President Richard Nixon met to rehearse and refine his speech, 'Industrial World Ahead: A Look at Business in 1990,' which he delivered to industrial leaders later that day. The address focused on the necessity of increasing American productivity and maintaining a competitive global economic stance to avoid isolationism and trade protectionism. Nixon defended his administration’s use of temporary wage and price controls as a necessary measure to curb inflation while emphasizing the broader goal of fostering long-term economic growth and job creation.