Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 339
Nixon White House Tape 339 (May 10, 1972 – May 19, 1972)
30 conversations · Old Executive Office Building
Featuring Nixon, Haldeman, Colson, Ehrlichman, Kleindienst
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to review the public reception of the administration's recent decision to blockade North Vietnam and to discuss the political implications for the upcoming election. They examined a large volume of telegrams and correspondence from diverse supporters, including veterans, religious groups, and business organizations, as evidence of strong public approval. Additionally, the pair engaged in personal reflections on the President's disciplined lifestyle compared to his predecessors and reviewed potential candidates for Supreme Court appointments.
President Nixon met with an unknown individual to discuss the aftermath of the attempted assassination of George Wallace. The participants exchanged commentary on Wallace’s controversial rhetoric, debating the extent to which his political style incited hostility. Additionally, the conversation briefly touched upon Senator Jacob Javits and the political skill of John Connally.
President Nixon, H. R. Haldeman, Charles Colson, and other staff members met to discuss the immediate aftermath and implications of the assassination attempt on Governor George Wallace. The President expressed intense frustration with the lack of information and the perceived incompetence of the Secret Service, repeatedly ordering his staff to bypass them and mobilize the FBI to take control of the investigation. Nixon specifically emphasized the need to determine the assailant's identity and political motivations—particularly any potential ties to anti-Vietnam War sentiments—to prevent media speculation or a repeat of the perceived failures following the John F. Kennedy assassination.
Following the assassination attempt on Governor George Wallace, President Nixon and his aides, including H. R. Haldeman and Charles Colson, discussed strategies to manipulate public perception of the assailant's political affiliations. They explicitly directed staff to leak a story portraying the gunman as a supporter of Democratic candidates George McGovern and Edward Kennedy to associate the act with the political left. Additionally, the President reviewed the security implications for his own public appearances and coordinated with John Connally regarding future travel assignments.
President Nixon met with Nellie L. Yates and briefly conferred with FBI Associate Director W. Mark Felt following the attempted assassination of Governor George Wallace. The conversation centered on the implications of the shooting, with Nixon drawing historical parallels to the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and the wounding of John B. Connally. Nixon emphasized the need for a thorough FBI investigation to avoid the controversies associated with previous high-profile political shootings.
President Nixon initiates a brief interaction with the White House operator to facilitate a telephonic communication. This contact serves as a logistical administrative step to connect the President with another party for further discussion. No substantive policy matters or major decisions were recorded during this brief exchange.
President Nixon held a brief, unsuccessful attempt to place a telephone call through the White House operator. The interaction ended quickly without the President successfully reaching the intended party. No substantive policy matters or administrative decisions were documented during this short exchange.
President Nixon held a brief, procedural exchange with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing communication. The interaction focused on the logistics of placing a telephone call through the White House switchboard. No substantive policy discussions or significant political developments occurred during this brief administrative contact.
President Nixon held a brief, unscheduled interaction with a White House operator while working in the Old Executive Office Building. Although the specific substance of the exchange remains unrecorded, the interaction reflects the routine administrative communication required to manage telephonic operations during the President's evening hours. No substantive policy decisions or historical actions are documented as a result of this connection.
President Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon briefly discussed their immediate schedule and logistical arrangements during a short late-evening meeting. The President inquired about the First Lady's recent activities and potential media engagements, while coordinating plans related to a planned visit to a grave site. The exchange focused primarily on organizing their respective movements for the remainder of the evening.
President Nixon consulted with a White House operator to confirm the successful completion and mutual understanding of a previous communication. The brief exchange served as a follow-up to ensure that the intended message had been clearly conveyed to the recipient. No further actions were required, as both parties expressed satisfaction that the matter had been handled effectively.
President Nixon held a brief, unscheduled meeting with a White House operator in his Old Executive Office Building workspace. The interaction appears to be a routine administrative exchange, as no substantive policy or political discussions were recorded. The meeting serves primarily as a record of the President's immediate access to telecommunications support staff during late-evening hours.
President Nixon and Charles Colson briefly discussed the aftermath of the attempted assassination of Governor George Wallace, which had occurred earlier that same day. They exchanged remarks regarding the governor's medical condition and physical injuries, as well as the initial response to the incident. No major policy decisions were made during this short, informal check-in regarding the shooting.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman briefly discuss concerns regarding the absence of a formal list and the political activities of Hubert Humphrey and a figure identified as McGarrett. The exchange highlights the President's unease regarding these developments and his subsequent decision to refrain from contacting an unspecified individual. The brief meeting serves to monitor ongoing political monitoring efforts and potential outreach strategies.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discuss the security assessment and handling of the individual responsible for the attempted assassination of Governor George Wallace, who had occurred earlier that day. Nixon expresses concern regarding the potential for leaks and mismanagement, explicitly instructing Kissinger to withhold related information from Secretary of State William Rogers. The conversation focuses on ensuring the matter is handled securely and that the assailant’s radical background is contained without triggering the public scrutiny experienced during previous political assassinations.
President Richard M. Nixon contacted the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. Due to the lack of a transcript or further documentation regarding the conversation's content, the specific subject matter remains unidentified. This brief interaction served administrative purposes to connect the President with another party.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, discuss the ongoing intensification of the air war in Vietnam, specifically referencing a target count of 1,100. The conversation also involves logistical planning for a meeting at Camp David, where the President intends to host an unidentified individual for breakfast. These discussions reflect the President's strategic focus on military operations and the management of sensitive, high-level scheduling.
President Nixon consulted with his personal physician, Dr. William M. Lukash, regarding the security measures and protective details surrounding an unnamed individual facing a specific threat. The brief exchange reflects the President’s concern for the adequacy of the protection provided and his justification for actions taken to address the situation. No specific policy decisions were finalized, but the dialogue emphasizes the President's direct involvement in overseeing high-stakes security protocols.
President Nixon held a brief, informal check-in with Ann Duggan late in the evening to discuss the status of a specific legislative bill. The conversation focused on the lack of available information regarding the proposal's progress. The exchange concluded with the President instructing Duggan to retire for the night after acknowledging the ambiguity of the situation.
President Nixon met with an unknown individual, likely a staff member, to briefly discuss the health and appearance of Manolo Sanchez, a longtime White House valet. The participants exchanged observations regarding Sanchez's recovery, noting that he appeared somewhat thin or "dull" despite generally looking well. No significant policy decisions were made during this brief check-in regarding a personal staff matter.
President Nixon held a meeting with an unidentified individual in his Old Executive Office Building office to discuss the retention of an unknown document or item. The conversation concluded with a brief, informal sign-off, leaving the specific nature of the materials and any resulting directives ambiguous. No further policy developments or definitive actions are discernible from the brief recorded exchange.
President Nixon held a meeting with an unidentified individual in his Old Executive Office Building workspace to discuss matters that remain undocumented due to the lack of an available transcript. The conversation occurred within a 82-minute window, though the specific agenda and any resulting administrative actions or decisions are currently unknown. Historical researchers are unable to verify the participants or the substance of the dialogue based on existing archival records.
President Nixon met with Henry Kissinger and Alexander Haig to express intense frustration regarding the bureaucracy's failure to execute his orders concerning the Vietnam War. He sharply criticized the CIA for a lack of imagination in psychological warfare and denounced the Pentagon for harboring "McNamara-era" personnel who he claimed were sabotaging his policies. To rectify these performance issues, Nixon mandated an increase in B-52 deliveries and announced he would bypass standard command structures by selecting a naval commander to oversee specific bombing operations in North Vietnam.
President Nixon expresses intense frustration regarding the U.S. Air Force's failure to execute critical military operations as ordered. He criticizes the leadership for failing to strike important targets despite having the necessary opportunities. Nixon signals his intent to intervene and expose these operational deficiencies to ensure future compliance with his military directives.
President Nixon expresses a firm demand for increased administrative discipline and control over the operations of the State Department, the Pentagon, and the CIA. He emphasizes the need for centralized authority in his dealings with these government agencies and military branches. This directive highlights the President's ongoing efforts to assert tighter executive oversight across his foreign policy and national security apparatus.
President Nixon dictates a sharp memorandum for Alexander Haig and Henry Kissinger expressing his deep dissatisfaction with military leadership, specifically naming General Creighton Abrams. He demands that underperforming officials either improve their performance or vacate their positions. The President concludes by arranging for the administrative handling and transcription of these instructions.
President Nixon held a brief, informal meeting with an unidentified individual, likely a staff member or guest, in the Old Executive Office Building. The exchange remained purely social, concluding with lighthearted remarks about leaving a person named Pat behind and maintaining the status quo at the office. No substantive policy discussions or official directives were recorded during this brief interaction.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to facilitate a meeting by directing an unnamed individual to the Executive Office Building. This brief exchange served as a logistical coordination to ensure the individual's arrival upon being summoned. The conversation underscores the procedural reliance on operators to manage the President's immediate scheduling and visitor access.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discuss the logistics and media protocols for an upcoming debate. Nixon decides that the event must be on the record for the press and directs Ziegler to offer the attendees a transcript instead of allowing live media coverage. The President also reviews the guest list, ultimately opting to include Secretary of State William Rogers and Congressman Pete McCloskey to ensure a broader presence.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman and John B. Connally to coordinate strategy for the upcoming U.S.-Soviet summit and to organize a diplomatic trip for Connally to South America and potentially other regions. The participants discussed managing the President's public image, strategies to discredit the press, and the logistics of personnel attending the Moscow trip. Additionally, Nixon directed Connally to begin planning his international travel, emphasizing the strategic importance of his mission following the President's return from the Soviet Union.