Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 328
Nixon White House Tape 328 (March 24, 1972 – April 3, 1972)
36 conversations · Old Executive Office Building · about 3 hr 35 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Sanchez, Haldeman, Haig, Kissinger
President Nixon met with his personal aide, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building to request refreshments. The brief interaction consisted solely of the President asking Sanchez to bring him a cup of coffee. No other policy matters or official business were discussed during this exchange.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman coordinated the President's upcoming travel and media schedule, focusing specifically on preparations for the forthcoming summit in the Soviet Union. The discussion centered on timing press conferences around international travel, planning domestic political outreach regarding American ethnic groups in cities like Chicago and Cleveland, and evaluating the feasibility of a satellite press conference to discuss foreign policy. Haldeman also briefed the President on the health and political status of legislative leaders such as Leslie Arends.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig held a brief administrative exchange to coordinate an upcoming meeting at the Old Executive Office Building. The conversation served primarily as a logistical check to confirm Haig’s availability for the President's schedule. No substantive policy matters were addressed beyond the arrangement of this appointment.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig met to coordinate administrative foreign policy, specifically addressing the upcoming Moscow summit and the management of Henry Kissinger's role. They discussed delicate geopolitical issues, including Soviet-American relations, potential arms control negotiations (SALT), and the need to maneuver around domestic political pressures regarding Israel and Northern Ireland. Nixon emphasized the importance of maintaining tight control over the substance of foreign policy negotiations to ensure they align with his strategic objectives rather than becoming subject to outside interference or Congressional criticism.
President Nixon requested that the White House operator locate Charles Colson to determine if he was available for a telephone conversation. Nixon specified that he only wished to speak with Colson if he was physically present in his office and not currently on Capitol Hill. The operator agreed to check his status and report back to the President.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building for a brief informal discussion. Their conversation focused on mundane logistical matters, including current weather conditions and the presence of flowers. Sanchez also noted his plans to travel to Boston, marking the interaction as a routine exchange regarding the President’s personal schedule and domestic arrangements.
President Nixon and Charles W. Colson attempted to conduct a brief, informal telephonic check-in regarding scheduling and ongoing communications. The conversation was significantly hampered by severe technical difficulties, rendering the audio mostly unintelligible and preventing any substantive discussion of policy or political strategy. Consequently, no concrete decisions were reached, and the participants ended the call due to the connectivity issues.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building to facilitate a specific delivery. While the transcript remains largely undefined, the interaction served as a brief administrative or personal exchange between the President and his staff member. Sanchez departed shortly thereafter, concluding the brief encounter.
President Nixon dictated a memorandum to formalize his stance on the proposed Alaska pipeline, weighing its domestic benefits against international and environmental complexities. He identified job creation in Alaska and the potential reduction in oil prices for the West Coast as key political advantages for the 1972 election cycle. Despite pressure from stakeholders like Senator Mike Gravel, Nixon expressed skepticism regarding the project's diplomatic implications and concluded that a final decision did not require immediate unilateral action.
President Nixon held a brief administrative exchange with an unidentified individual regarding the logistics of an upcoming telephone call. The dialogue centered on coordinating communication, with the President opting to initiate the contact himself rather than wait for a return call from the other party. The conversation concluded with a mutual agreement to postpone the interaction.
An unidentified man and woman met in the President’s office for a brief exchange that involved a short, general conversation. The discussion remained non-substantive and concluded without any recorded decisions or significant policy developments. The encounter appears to be a minor administrative or social interaction rather than a formal policy meeting.
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met to coordinate the arrangements for an upcoming Organization of American States (OAS) dinner. The discussion centered on finalizing the schedule for the event and planning the presentation of the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Jose A. Mora. Nixon approved a proposal to honor Mora during the ceremony and established the specific guest list and logistical sequence for the award presentation.
President Nixon utilized this time to dictate formal correspondence expressing appreciation to Mexican President Luis Echeverría Alvarez and General William Westmoreland. The letter to Echeverría focused on strengthening bilateral relations, highlighting Henry Kissinger’s recent diplomatic outreach to Mexico, and formally inviting the President to Camp David. Additionally, Nixon dictated a separate message of gratitude directed toward General Westmoreland regarding his service and contributions.
President Nixon utilized this time to dictate several letters and a memorandum, assisted by Manolo Sanchez. He drafted correspondence expressing gratitude to Mexican President Luis Echeverria Alvarez for his hospitality, acknowledging the Army chorus's performance for Gen. William Westmoreland, and reflecting on a conversation with Norman Vincent Peale regarding the character of King Hussein of Jordan. Additionally, Nixon dictated a memorandum to Henry Kissinger concerning potential board appointments for Robert Amory, Jr. while recounting historical political anecdotes involving the Eisenhower administration.
President Nixon held a brief, repetitive exchange with an unidentified participant in the Old Executive Office Building. The dialogue consists entirely of a series of negative responses from the President, suggesting a firm rejection of a proposal or a reaction to unwelcome information. No substantial policy discussion or actionable developments are identifiable from the available audio content.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building. The brief interaction focused on the President's personal schedule and logistical arrangements for his upcoming activities. No significant policy decisions or major developments were recorded during this informal engagement.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to place a telephone call to Clark MacGregor. The request serves as a routine administrative coordination to facilitate a direct line of communication between the President and his staff. No further substantive discussion occurred during this brief interaction.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building for a brief and informal interaction. The discussion primarily involved trivial matters, including a mention of the weather and the handling of a speaker or audio equipment. No significant policy decisions or official government actions were recorded during this brief exchange.
President Nixon met with Clark MacGregor to debrief on a recent meeting with Southern legislators and gauge the support of House Republicans. The discussion focused on navigating legislative hurdles and ensuring party unity regarding ongoing policy challenges. The President emphasized the strategic importance of managing these political relationships and maintaining momentum during the upcoming legislative recess.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met in the Old Executive Office Building to coordinate scheduling and discuss private strategic matters. The brief exchange served as a precursor to a more substantive policy discussion between the two men. No specific policy decisions were finalized during this opening segment of the meeting.
President Nixon held an brief administrative meeting with an unidentified individual to coordinate scheduling for an upcoming dinner engagement. The discussion primarily involved logistics regarding the attendance of the Deputy Secretary of Defense, identified as a person named Robert. The parties successfully finalized the timing for the event without further complications.
President Richard M. Nixon met with his daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, in his Old Executive Office Building suite for a brief personal visit. The discussion served as a momentary social interaction between family members during a period of significant presidential activity. No formal policy decisions or administrative actions were documented during this short encounter.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to discuss the precarious Senate confirmation of Richard G. Kleindienst as Attorney General, which was being jeopardized by ongoing hearings regarding the International Telephone and Telegraph (ITT) case. They analyzed the political strategies of key figures, including Senator James Eastland and John Mitchell, and evaluated the potential risks of forcing a floor vote versus withdrawing the nomination. The President ultimately decided to meet with Kleindienst to coordinate a strategy for handling the confirmation proceedings and managing political optics.
President Nixon consulted with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, to inquire about the availability of a specific consommé recommended by Julie Nixon Eisenhower. Upon learning the item was not in stock, the President directed Sanchez to purchase the product. This brief interaction reflects the routine coordination of the President's personal provisions within the White House.
President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and Alexander Haig met to discuss the worsening military situation in South Vietnam following a major North Vietnamese offensive across the Demilitarized Zone. The participants evaluated the effectiveness of South Vietnamese forces, criticized the lack of aggressive air support usage, and coordinated a public relations strategy to frame the conflict as an illegal North Vietnamese invasion. Nixon emphasized the necessity of using U.S. air power to inflict heavy casualties on the enemy, while the group considered the geopolitical risks of the offensive regarding upcoming diplomatic engagements with the Soviet Union and China.
President Nixon met with his personal aide, Manolo Sanchez, to discuss the retrieval of specific items and the logistics of store closures. The conversation focused on the availability of supplies and instructions regarding the secure handling and delivery of these goods. Sanchez received direct orders from the President to ensure the items were not left in a vulnerable location.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building to discuss the President's upcoming schedule. The brief interaction focused on the day's itinerary and the pacing of the President's appointments. No major policy decisions were reached during this short administrative exchange.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to facilitate a mundane administrative or personal request. The participant agreed to provide the President with an envelope containing 20 cents, presumably for postage or a similar small transaction. No substantive policy matters or significant political developments were discussed during this brief exchange.
President Nixon dictates a memorandum for the file regarding his upcoming political strategy. The discussion centers on preparations for a meeting with Republican officials to outline the party's objectives for the following year. This effort reflects the administration's focus on long-term political planning and party coordination.
President Nixon met with Ronald Ziegler and Rose Mary Woods to formulate a media strategy regarding the ongoing military offensive in South Vietnam. Nixon instructed Ziegler to maintain a posture of studied ambiguity, directing him to decline day-to-day commentary on the battle and instead defer military-specific evaluations to General Abrams in Saigon. The President emphasized a narrative that the South Vietnamese line was bending but not breaking, drawing historical parallels to maintain public resolve and avoid speculation about future US ground troop involvement or bombing campaigns.
President Nixon dictates a memorandum regarding the escalating North Vietnamese offensive and the subsequent administration strategy toward bombing campaigns in Laos and Vietnam. He consults with H.R. Haldeman to coordinate his upcoming schedule, specifically regarding a planned speech and press conference. The discussion emphasizes the need for internal alignment, necessitating consultations with John Connally, Henry Kissinger, and William Rogers to manage media coverage and public messaging.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman coordinate the administration's public relations strategy, focusing on delegating a speech assignment to John Connally to avoid presidential overexposure. They discuss the scheduling of a press conference and determine that Vice President Spiro Agnew should handle certain public appearances instead of the President. The conversation also addresses the management of upcoming meetings with key staffers and cabinet members, including Henry Kissinger and John Ehrlichman.
President Nixon initiates a call through the White House operator to be connected to the Washington Post. The brief exchange serves as a logistical step to facilitate communication with the newspaper's offices. No further substantive discussion occurs during this interaction.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building to discuss administrative matters. The brief interaction focused on the President's personal requests, specifically concerning a meal order for consommé. No major policy decisions or historical developments were recorded during this short exchange.
President Nixon and Charles W. Colson discuss political strategy regarding the 1972 primary elections and the management of media narratives surrounding political opponents. The conversation centers on undermining the credibility of critics by sowing doubt about their claims and analyzing the effectiveness of rival candidates' public exposure and media reach. Nixon expresses satisfaction with Colson’s efforts to neutralize negative charges and discusses the potential political impact of their coordinated messaging.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to evaluate the ongoing North Vietnamese offensive and the United States' strategic options, including the necessity of retaliatory air strikes. They discussed the implications of the invasion for the survival of South Vietnam and the importance of maintaining a calm, calculated response to avoid jeopardizing recent diplomatic progress with China and the Soviet Union. The conversation emphasized the political necessity of ensuring the public perceives the North as the aggressor, as well as addressing ongoing challenges with military coordination and weather conditions impacting air operations.