Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 385
Nixon White House Tape 385 (December 11, 1972 – December 13, 1972)
30 conversations · Old Executive Office Building · about 3 hr 59 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Sanchez, Eisenhower, Haig, Butterfield
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met to review and refine the President's upcoming scheduling commitments and logistical arrangements. The discussion focused on coordinating various high-profile meetings, including appointments with business leaders and media figures, as well as managing the President's personal health checkup at Bethesda. Additionally, they addressed the timing for a meeting with Spanish-speaking administration officials regarding the second-term agenda.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, to discuss personal matters and logistical arrangements. The conversation focused on the schedule of Julie Nixon Eisenhower, including her walking plans, as well as the involvement of Fina Sanchez and Helene Drown. The participants also touched upon press relations and the President's personal appreciation for his staff.
President Richard Nixon met with Alexander Haig to receive updates regarding ongoing Vietnam peace negotiations, specifically focusing on the status of Henry Kissinger's efforts. The discussion centered on a critical remaining point of contention regarding the Demilitarized Zone and the potential for a compromise involving the withdrawal of North Vietnamese troops from South Vietnam. Nixon expressed concerns about the negotiation process while assessing the current diplomatic position.
President Nixon met with his longtime valet, Manolo Sanchez, to discuss scheduling logistics and personal arrangements. During the brief interaction, the President requested that Sanchez wait for further instructions regarding his upcoming activities. The conversation functioned primarily as a routine administrative check-in between the President and his personal staff.
President Nixon met with his personal aide, Manolo Sanchez, to discuss mundane personal matters within the Old Executive Office Building. The conversation primarily focused on the temperature of the workspace and the ongoing physical discomfort Nixon was experiencing due to a sore foot. No significant policy or administrative decisions were made during this brief, informal interaction.
President Nixon held a brief, informal coordination meeting with an unidentified individual in his Old Executive Office Building office. The discussion centered on logistics for arranging a follow-up meeting with a specific third party. No substantive policy matters were resolved, as the exchange focused primarily on scheduling availability.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building for an informal discussion. The conversation reflected on the rapid passage of time and touched upon the upcoming holiday season. No major policy decisions were made during this brief, personal exchange.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. to coordinate administrative logistics for upcoming White House holiday events and to conduct a critical strategic review of Vietnam peace negotiations. The President expressed frustration with the progress of talks and explored the potential for resuming intensive bombing campaigns if North Vietnam continued to delay or reject a final settlement. Nixon and Haig also discussed the administration's tense relationship with South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu and considered a possible diplomatic mission to Saigon to secure his cooperation.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. This brief interaction served an administrative purpose to connect the President to another party. No substantive policy discussions or major decisions occurred during this connection.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler held a brief meeting to discuss the handling of sensitive, undisclosed information referred to as the "Michelle thing." Nixon explicitly instructed Ziegler to maintain confidentiality and ensure the matter remained unpublicized until the outcome was certain. Additionally, Nixon emphasized the need for strict security regarding the documentation of these proceedings, insisting that the records be preserved and kept out of the reach of the press.
President Nixon held a brief meeting with an unidentified male visitor in the Old Executive Office Building. The discussion centered on an incoming telephone call from the President's daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower. The visitor departed shortly after the arrival of this communication.
President Nixon met with his personal valet Manolo Sanchez to address matters concerning presidential refreshments and scheduling, specifically regarding Charles W. Colson. Following Sanchez's departure, the President briefly spoke with his daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, to check on personal family matters. The session concluded with the President coordinating a follow-up meeting later that evening to resolve outstanding logistical and financial arrangements.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to discuss his upcoming schedule and personal appointments. The brief discussion addressed planned interactions with Julie Nixon Eisenhower and Helene Drown, as well as a scheduled conversation with Alexander M. Haig, Jr. No major policy decisions were recorded during this brief administrative briefing.
President Nixon met with Charles Colson, H.R. Haldeman, Alexander Haig, and Julie Nixon Eisenhower to discuss political strategy and administrative appointments for the second term. The participants analyzed the perception of the Republican Party, debated the potential for a political coalition involving John Connally, and reviewed candidate selections for key positions, specifically within the Department of Labor. Nixon emphasized the importance of ensuring high-level appointees were strategically aligned with the administration’s policy goals and internal machinery.
President Nixon communicated with a White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. This brief interaction served as a logistical step to connect the President with another party. No substantive policy discussions or significant executive decisions occurred during this brief exchange.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discuss the frustration and difficulties associated with ongoing administrative negotiations and message management. Nixon expresses a desire to move away from the current, tortuous process of dealing with outside parties who are failing to conform to established frameworks. The President indicates he will take a short recess to regroup and prepare for a more decisive approach to these challenges.
President Nixon and his daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, discussed potential roles for Julie within the administration, including the possibility of her joining the White House staff to assist with the President's schedule and organizational flow. They also debated strategies for enhancing First Lady Pat Nixon's public profile, with Julie proposing that her mother should focus on a single, major project to build a more lasting legacy. Additionally, the participants touched upon personnel management, the potential for acquiring a private residence for the family, and the importance of maintaining the President's physical health through regular exercise.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discussed the stalled Vietnam peace negotiations and the potential for a diplomatic breakdown with North Vietnam. The two reviewed the possibility of taking the stalled talks public, though Nixon expressed skepticism about such an approach. Nixon emphasized the need for a firm military response to North Vietnamese intransigence, suggesting an escalation of the bombing campaign should a negotiated settlement remain out of reach.
President Nixon met with his daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, to discuss her potential professional role during his second term and her desire to contribute to the administration. They explored various employment options for Julie and her husband, David Eisenhower, while touching upon administrative reorganization, including the appointment of George H. W. Bush as Chairman of the Republican National Committee. The discussion also covered logistical concerns regarding White House staff and the President’s personal schedule.
President Nixon and Julie Nixon Eisenhower discuss domestic living arrangements and renovations within the White House residence. The conversation centers on the practical necessity of installing a refrigerator in the President's bedroom to provide late-night convenience and privacy, away from the custodial staff and potential intruders. They also evaluate ongoing modifications to the kitchen, dining areas, and bathroom facilities to improve the comfort and security of the First Family's private quarters.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig met to discuss escalating military pressure on North Vietnam, specifically focusing on the urgent need to reseed mines and intensify the frequency of B-52 bombing raids. Nixon expressed frustration with the progress of ongoing negotiations and emphasized his desire for a more aggressive tactical approach to gain leverage. The two concluded that the administration should prioritize consistent, nightly military strikes to force a breakthrough in the stalled peace process.
President Nixon met with Julie Nixon Eisenhower and White House aide Manolo Sanchez to discuss domestic arrangements and personal projects at the White House. The conversation focused on logistical plans for a third-floor movie projection area and the installation of a small refrigerator in the President's living quarters for refreshments. They also briefly touched on upcoming travel preparations, including Julie's interest in potential visits to the People's Republic of China, and general family matters.
President Nixon met with Manolo Sanchez and Julie Nixon Eisenhower to discuss domestic logistics and minor household improvements within the Executive Office Building and the White House. The conversation focused on the installation of storage and appliances, including a new refrigerator, alongside coordination for upcoming Christmas preparations and entertainment plans. The participants also touched upon scheduling and various administrative directives for White House staff regarding personal items and facilities.
President Nixon held a brief meeting in the Old Executive Office Building with an unidentified male visitor. The available records contain no substantive documentation or transcript of the discussion, as the segment was restricted under a deed of gift. Consequently, no specific topics, policy decisions, or action items are available for historical analysis.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building. The brief interaction focused on routine service, specifically the provision of coffee. No policy matters or significant administrative decisions were recorded during this segment.
President Nixon held a brief administrative interaction with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. This exchange served as a routine communication task, acting as a precursor to a more substantive discussion designated as a separate conversation. No policy decisions or significant political developments occurred during this brief request for operator assistance.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig met to discuss the status of stalled Vietnam peace negotiations and strategies for dealing with South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu's resistance to a potential bilateral US-North Vietnam settlement. The conversation focused on the tactical necessity of exerting maximum pressure on Thieu to sign an agreement, including the possibility of the US moving forward with a deal independently if South Vietnam refused. Nixon expressed significant frustration with Henry Kissinger’s public relations management and his reliance on "smiling" press appearances, while also dismissing the current limited bombing campaign as ineffective and inadequate.
President Nixon met with his valet, Manolo Sanchez, to request coffee and coordinate his upcoming schedule. During the brief interaction, the President instructed Sanchez to summon H. R. Haldeman for a meeting once he became available. The conversation served primarily as a routine administrative coordination of the President's morning agenda.
President Nixon met with an unknown individual, likely White House valet Manolo Sanchez, to facilitate the delivery of materials from H.R. Haldeman. The brief interaction served as an administrative exchange of documents or items within the Executive Office Building. No substantive policy discussions were recorded during this short encounter.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate extensive second-term personnel changes, including appointments within the State Department and the IRS, while managing political friction with the tax bar. They also discussed the President’s public relations strategy, his upcoming diplomatic schedule, and potential roles for Julie Nixon Eisenhower in the East Wing. The conversation concluded with a brief check-in with Julie Nixon Eisenhower regarding personnel transitions and family matters.