Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 351
Nixon White House Tape 351 (July 27, 1972 – August 1, 1972)
16 conversations · Old Executive Office Building · about 1 hr 19 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Sanchez, Colson, Butterfield, Kissinger
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to coordinate scheduling logistics for an upcoming appointment. The discussion primarily addressed the President's meeting with Henry A. Kissinger regarding the pending foreign aid bill. The brief interaction served to facilitate the immediate management of the President's calendar.
President Nixon met with his valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building to facilitate the delivery of a document from National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger. This brief interaction served as a logistical hand-off between the President and his staff member. No further substantive policy discussions were recorded during this meeting.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler met to finalize strategy and logistics for an upcoming presidential press conference. They specifically discussed how to address the emerging controversy surrounding Thomas F. Eagleton and coordinated the format of the event, including the risks associated with press photography. The brief consultation served to align the administration's messaging and public image management ahead of the scheduled media interaction.
President Nixon held a brief, informal discussion with an unidentified individual in his Old Executive Office Building workspace. The dialogue remains largely unintelligible, consisting of casual remarks that do not reveal any substantive policy deliberations or strategic decision-making. Consequently, the meeting did not result in any documented developments or official action items.
President Richard Nixon met with his valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building. The brief interaction consisted primarily of personal matters, as indicated by the withdrawal of the recorded content under personal returnable status. No significant policy decisions or administrative actions were documented during this short encounter.
President Nixon held a series of brief, disconnected meetings and calls with Alexander P. Butterfield, Charles W. Colson, and Henry A. Kissinger. The discussions centered on internal scheduling logistics, including a request for a meeting between the President and Senator Hugh Scott. The participants coordinated administrative items related to the President's upcoming agenda.
President Nixon met with Charles W. Colson to discuss the administration's public relations strategy regarding a specific news story involving Kenneth W. Clawson and John A. Scali. The President instructed Colson to investigate the details of this story to preempt potential complications. Manolo Sanchez joined the meeting briefly at its conclusion as the President managed his scheduling obligations.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed the political fallout and public reception of the President's press conference held earlier that day, specifically addressing comments regarding the bombing of North Vietnam and the targeting of dikes. The two evaluated the President's performance, compared historical precedents for the vice presidency, and touched upon political concerns involving Senator Hugh Scott and other congressional relations. Additionally, they reviewed the ongoing military situation in South Vietnam, including casualty counts and the impact of the conflict on future peace negotiations.
President Nixon met with Charles Colson, Kenneth Clawson, and John Scali to assess media coverage of his administration's foreign policy and the ongoing presidential campaign. The discussion focused on how international developments, such as the situation in Thailand and broader Cold War dynamics, impacted public and press perception of the President versus his opponent, George McGovern. Additionally, Nixon directed his staff to monitor media relations more closely and advised that Vice President Spiro Agnew should exercise more rhetorical discipline to maintain his political effectiveness.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss the political fallout following the removal of Thomas Eagleton from the Democratic ticket and its potential impact on the upcoming election. The conversation touches on the reactions of key political figures, including George Meany, Lawrence O'Brien, and Edward Kennedy, while evaluating how these developments might affect the electoral landscape. They further analyze news coverage and the shifting dynamics of the political climate in the suburbs.
President Nixon held a brief, ten-minute meeting in the Old Executive Office Building to coordinate a return phone call with an unidentified individual. The discussion was primarily logistical, focusing on the participant's current availability and the scheduling of follow-up communication. No substantive policy matters were addressed during this exchange.
President Nixon met with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to coordinate his schedule and address administrative priorities. The brief discussion focused on reviewing specific items and potential meetings, including a request for an appointment with the President. The exchange served to organize the President’s immediate workflow and manage access to his office.
President Nixon met with Rose Mary Woods and Stephen B. Bull to coordinate administrative tasks and discuss sensitive political matters. The conversation covered logistical arrangements for providing the film *Sunrise at Campobello* to George C. Wallace and addressed Elmer Bobst’s urgent recommendation that the President seek legislation for capital punishment regarding hijackers and kidnappers. Additionally, the participants touched upon the health and behavior of Martha Mitchell and the associated stress placed on John Mitchell amid the ongoing ITT and Watergate controversies.
President Nixon met briefly with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building. The recording consists of a very short interaction that concludes almost immediately. No substantive policy matters or official developments are captured in this brief exchange.
President Nixon initiated a brief, routine request for a telephone connection through the White House operator. The conversation served primarily as a functional administrative exchange to facilitate an outgoing call. No substantive policy discussions or significant political developments occurred during this short interaction.
President Nixon met with Alexander M. Haig, Jr. and John D. Ehrlichman to discuss military strategy in Vietnam and the administration's political agenda during the 1972 election year. Nixon expressed frustration with the lack of progress in peace negotiations and advocated for intensified bombing campaigns, including the potential targeting of North Vietnamese dikes to force a resolution. Additionally, the participants addressed the need to counter criticism from the United Nations and discussed strategies for promoting the administration's economic record to voters.