Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 391
Nixon White House Tape 391 (November 1, 1972 – November 3, 1972)
31 conversations · Old Executive Office Building · about 3 hr 42 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Haldeman, Price, Kissinger
President Nixon met with Zosimo Monson in the Old Executive Office Building for an brief, informal discussion. Due to the lack of a substantial recorded transcript, the specific purpose and substantive outcomes of the meeting remain unclear. The conversation appears to have been limited to brief greetings before the participant departed.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman met to coordinate the content and strategy for an upcoming radio address titled “The Birthright of an American Child.” The discussion focused on refining a ten-point policy agenda to be presented during the speech. Nixon instructed Ehrlichman to take the necessary time to carefully review and finalize these specific goals to ensure the message was effectively crafted.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building. The brief interaction focused on the service of coffee and concluded with the President dismissing Sanchez for the remainder of the day. No substantive policy matters or major administrative decisions were recorded during this engagement.
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, at the Old Executive Office Building to discuss administrative tasks and logistical arrangements. While the specific transcript is unavailable, the meeting focused on the internal management of presidential affairs and the handling of sensitive materials. The session concluded with Bull departing the office to execute the administrative directives provided by the President.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman met to strategize for the final days of the 1972 presidential campaign, focusing on the use of radio addresses to communicate directly with the public while avoiding the hostility of traditional campaign rallies. They discussed the administration's platform, including domestic policy issues and racial topics, and coordinated the development of a series of speeches. A significant portion of the conversation centered on managing the ongoing Watergate scandal, with Nixon and Ehrlichman exploring the potential for a White House-led internal investigation to control the narrative and minimize political damage following the election.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual in the Old Executive Office Building to discuss an unspecified matter. The dialogue recorded is fragmentary and inconclusive, consisting largely of an administrative request for refreshments. No substantive policy decisions or political developments were captured in this brief exchange.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger deliberate on potential diplomatic emissaries to South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu, considering figures such as William F. Buckley Jr. The discussion shifts to evaluating the qualifications and suitability of high-level diplomatic appointees, specifically debating the effectiveness of Ambassador Kenneth Rush. The conversation highlights the administration's strategic search for an envoy capable of managing delicate negotiations with the South Vietnamese government.
President Nixon met with Raymond K. Price, Jr., and consulted with Henry Kissinger via telephone to finalize a draft of his upcoming "Look to the Future" speech. The discussion primarily focused on refining the Vietnam section of the address, specifically addressing the ongoing peace negotiations, South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu's concerns regarding U.S. withdrawal, and the planned cease-fire terms. Nixon provided revisions on the speech's tone and length to ensure the administration's stance on the conflict and political platform was clearly communicated before the 1972 election.
President Nixon met with his senior advisors to strategize for the final days of the 1972 presidential campaign, focusing on polling analysis, press engagement, and the handling of hecklers at campaign events. Much of the session was dedicated to reviewing and revising the text of the President's upcoming "Look to the Future" speech, specifically addressing the sensitive Vietnam War section and the ongoing peace negotiations. Nixon emphasized the importance of delivering the speech at a deliberate, measured pace to effectively convey his vision for the future, domestic achievements, and his foreign policy legacy.
President Nixon, H.R. Haldeman, Henry Kissinger, and other staff members met to finalize the President's upcoming "Look to the Future" campaign speech and coordinate media strategy for the final days of the 1972 election. The discussion focused on television airtime purchases, speech pacing and editing, and managing campaign appearances in the context of ongoing Vietnam peace negotiations. The President also addressed organizational plans for the Republican National Committee and broader GOP candidate support efforts.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building. The primary purpose of this brief encounter was for Sanchez to assist the President with his morning grooming. No substantive policy or political matters were discussed during this routine personal service.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed the logistics of candidate-related telephone calls and the distribution of the President’s campaign speeches. Nixon requested that specific recipients be prioritized for direct outreach while delegating others to a general list for supplementary contact. Additionally, the pair briefly reviewed Haldeman’s daily schedule and upcoming meetings.
President Nixon met briefly with Marjorie P. Acker in the Old Executive Office Building for a short, informal inquiry. The exchange lasted only one minute, providing no substantial policy discussion or strategic deliberation. Consequently, no specific decisions or action items were recorded during the interaction.
President Nixon and his personal secretary Rose Mary Woods coordinate the preparation and distribution of a forthcoming list of presidential telephone calls. Nixon instructs Woods to withhold the current 'reading copy' of the document after noting minor corrections on his own version. They conclude by prioritizing the finalization of these materials before release through Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler.
President Richard M. Nixon and his personal secretary Rose Mary Woods met to discuss administrative matters, campaign strategy, and media coverage regarding the 1972 election. They reviewed the President's upcoming schedule, including radio speeches and a list of telephone calls, while also critiquing the perceived hostility and desperation of Democratic campaign tactics. Additionally, the pair coordinated logistics for official photographs and discussed recent television appearances by political allies like John Connally.
President Nixon held a brief introductory meeting with Mary A. ("Toni") Sidley in his Old Executive Office Building suite. The encounter served primarily as a formal exchange of greetings. No policy discussions or specific administrative actions occurred during the one-minute interaction.
President Nixon held a brief, informal exchange with a White House operator that concluded with a shared prayer. This interaction served as a moment of personal reflection or religious observance between the President and a staff member. No policy matters or administrative actions were addressed during this short recording.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull and Raymond K. Price, Jr. to coordinate 1972 reelection campaign messaging and streamline the President's telephone scheduling. The discussion focused on establishing a standardized endorsement and communication protocol for political candidates across various states. Nixon also directed the drafting of a concise statement emphasizing his administration's forward-looking legislative and national priorities for the next four years.
President Nixon consulted with an unidentified individual regarding the scheduling of upcoming telephone calls. The discussion focused on political strategy, specifically involving the potential support of a candidate for a Congressional seat. The participants concluded the brief meeting with instructions to finalize these outreach efforts.
President Nixon met with an unknown individual to review his daily schedule and manage his outgoing telephone correspondence. Following the meeting, the President recorded an audio message intended for Thomas B. McCabe. The discussion focused on strategic support for McCabe’s political campaign efforts in Connecticut.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to discuss various administrative tasks, including the President recording gratitude messages for campaign supporters like Thomas B. McCabe and addressing health policy. The conversation also touched upon the President's upcoming phone calls, including one to Margaret Chase Smith. These interactions focused on the President's outreach efforts and the preparation of materials for his official agenda.
President Nixon contacted the White House operator to initiate a series of outbound telephone calls to several United States Senators. The President requested that the operator locate and connect him specifically to Senator Margaret Chase Smith in Maine along with several other unnamed members of the Senate. This brief administrative interaction served to facilitate the President's personal outreach to congressional leadership.
President Nixon and Senator Edward W. Brooke discuss the upcoming 1972 election and the status of Vietnam peace negotiations. Nixon conveys confidence regarding the progress of the peace talks, emphasizing the critical importance of finalizing technical details to avoid the pitfalls of previous agreements. The two men briefly touch upon political campaign dynamics in Massachusetts and the necessity of maintaining discretion regarding the ongoing diplomatic process.
President Nixon consulted with Senator Clifford P. Case regarding the status of ongoing peace negotiations and the complexities involved in finalizing an agreement. The President addressed lingering challenges related to prisoners of war and ceasefire terms while expressing a desire for continued cooperation with the Senator. Additionally, Nixon requested that Case help manage public expectations and political messaging regarding the President’s campaign travel schedule, specifically mentioning a competitive race in Oklahoma.
President Nixon and aide Stephen B. Bull reviewed the President's upcoming schedule, specifically focusing on logistics for meetings with the Council on Environmental Quality and the Soviet Academy of Sciences. The discussion centered on coordinating necessary photograph opportunities, including sessions with Beatrice Willard and Dixie Lee Ray. They also briefly touched upon the status of the President's recent telephone correspondence, including a call with Senator Clifford P. Case.
President Nixon met briefly with Senator Mark Hatfield and his wife to express his support for the Senator's re-election campaign in Oregon. Nixon emphasized the importance of returning Hatfield to the Senate and urged him to focus on maximizing voter turnout. The President also discussed upcoming campaign travel plans and referenced an impending policy speech regarding the situation in Vietnam.
President Nixon held a brief exchange with a White House operator to facilitate a routine communication task. The conversation concluded with a casual pleasantry regarding the operator's future availability. No substantive policy matters or administrative decisions were addressed during this interaction.
President Nixon and aide Stephen B. Bull coordinate the scheduling of an upcoming telephone call with the Soviet ambassador. Nixon expresses concern regarding the timing of the engagement while verifying that his administrative staff has addressed necessary preparatory communications. The brief interaction focuses on ensuring the President is available to receive the call as intended.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. This interaction served a logistical purpose, enabling the President to establish a connection with an unspecified party. No further policy or administrative developments were recorded during this brief exchange.
President Nixon spoke with the 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 political developments occurred during this exchange.
President Nixon met with Charles Colson and H.R. Haldeman to coordinate final campaign strategies, discuss media relations, and finalize his upcoming 'Look to the Future' speech. The conversation also touched upon concerns regarding the Watergate controversy, the status of Vietnam peace negotiations, and the need to mobilize support among blue-collar voters. Additionally, Nixon placed brief follow-up calls to Jack Miller and William Scott to encourage their campaign efforts and emphasize the importance of high voter turnout in their respective regions.