Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 449
Nixon White House Tape 449 (September 21, 1971 – September 22, 1971)
22 conversations · Oval Office · about 3 hr 37 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Sanchez, Haldeman, United States Secret Service agents
President Nixon, H.R. Haldeman, and John Ehrlichman discussed the administration's strategy for releasing an expurgated version of the Pentagon Papers despite concerns raised by Henry Kissinger. The participants aimed to use the documents to turn the political narrative against the Democrats, ultimately deciding to proceed with the release while tasking Ehrlichman to coordinate with Richard Helms to declassify further sensitive intelligence records. Additionally, the group reviewed the staffing structure for the Council on International Economic Policy and finalized plans for the President's upcoming economic speech in Detroit.
Secret Service agents entered the Oval Office to brief President Nixon regarding his logistics and upcoming movements. The discussion centered on the President's scheduled attendance at a conference held in the Cabinet Room. The meeting was brief and served primarily as a routine security coordination session.
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met to coordinate the details of the President’s upcoming schedule, specifically regarding a planned meeting with the consumer council. The brief discussion centered on managing the President's interactions with these stakeholders to ensure the tone and objectives of the engagement were appropriately addressed. Butterfield confirmed the logistics before exiting the Oval Office.
President Nixon met with King Olav V of Norway and members of his delegation to discuss diplomatic relations and international affairs. The conversation covered the special relationship between the United States and Norway, as well as broader geopolitical shifts, including the rise of Japan and Nixon’s strategic outreach to China. Nixon emphasized the necessity of maintaining strong economic and political ties with European allies while navigating the changing global power structure.
Alexander P. Butterfield, Stephen B. Bull, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office to coordinate administrative logistics regarding the President’s location. The participants discussed a phone call initiated by Bull while managing scheduling uncertainties. The brief interaction concluded with the group exiting the office to facilitate ongoing operations.
President Nixon met with his personal valet Manolo Sanchez and aide Alexander P. Butterfield in the Oval Office for a brief, two-minute discussion. Although the specific substance of the exchange remains largely obscured by withdrawn segments and undefined transcript data, the meeting focused on logistics involving personal staff. No major policy decisions were recorded during this abbreviated interaction.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to review and manage his daily schedule. The primary focus of the discussion concerned arrangements for an upcoming meeting with Paul G. Hoffman. Bull subsequently departed the Oval Office after finalizing the details of the President’s itinerary.
President Nixon met with Paul G. Hoffman, outgoing administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and Col. Richard T. Kennedy to discuss the importance of UN economic programs and the transition to new leadership. Hoffman advocated for increased U.S. financial support for the UNDP, emphasizing that economic stability and pre-investment work are essential foundations for world peace. The conversation also touched upon broader concerns regarding American economic isolationism and the need to maintain competitiveness in international trade.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to coordinate logistical arrangements for an upcoming photo opportunity with attendees of the International Seminar on Illicit Drug Traffic and Abuse. Bull briefed the President on the group's composition, the requirement for French translation, and the expectation that the President provide brief remarks and commemorative cufflinks. The meeting served to finalize the brief protocol for the interaction, confirming that Nixon would not be expected to deliver an extensive address.
President Nixon met with aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate scheduling and personal arrangements for Kenneth E. BeLieu. The discussion focused on BeLieu's upcoming work assignment and the logistical considerations involving his family. The brief meeting concluded with the President emphasizing the need for these arrangements to be finalized.
President Nixon met with Kenneth BeLieu, William Timmons, and Clark MacGregor to discuss BeLieu's transition to his new role as Undersecretary of the Army. The President emphasized the need for stronger leadership and management within the Army and stressed the importance of maintaining close coordination between the Pentagon and the White House on legislative defense matters. The participants further deliberated on potential military leadership candidates, including Gen. Creighton Abrams, and reflected on the ongoing political challenges regarding the military draft.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman and other staff to review administrative and political matters, including the handling of the Pentagon Papers and the reorganization of the Council on International Economic Policy (CIEP). The President emphasized the need to move beyond current staffing limitations by centering economic policy work around George Shultz and John Connally, rather than Peter Peterson. Additionally, the group discussed potential candidates for Secretary of Agriculture, the legislative strategy for a Supreme Court appointment, and the necessity of managing Vice President Agnew's role leading into the upcoming campaign.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to discuss administrative concerns and handle specific directives regarding Virginia H. Knauer. The discussion focused on the President's personal notes concerning Knauer, indicating an interest in her professional activities or future status. The meeting concluded with Bull tasked with administrative follow-up based on these presidential instructions.
President Nixon and Ronald Ziegler discussed media strategy regarding the upcoming Detroit Economic Club Q&A session. Ziegler advocated for allowing electronic media coverage, arguing that the cumulative impact of news segments—especially when preempting negative focus on picket lines—would be more effective than a live broadcast. Nixon considered the logistics of press positioning, ultimately agreeing that if television cameras were permitted, they must be kept in the back to minimize intrusion and maintain the focus on his interaction with the audience.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman coordinated travel logistics and messaging strategies for upcoming presidential trips to Anchorage, Montana, and Oregon. They discussed the involvement of Secretary of State William P. Rogers, specifically debating whether he should join the President to deliver foreign policy briefings to regional editors. The discussion also addressed the assignment of domestic policy representatives, including John D. Ehrlichman and George P. Shultz, to balance the administration's public outreach agenda.
Secret Service agents met with President Nixon in the Oval Office to conduct a security-related briefing or logistical check. The discussion centered on confirming the President's precise location and status within the White House residence. Following the brief exchange, the agents departed the office to continue their protective duties.
President Nixon, H. R. Haldeman, and Henry Kissinger met to coordinate the President's upcoming schedule, focusing on balancing his public appearances at various receptions with the need to protect his time. They discussed logistics for the President's Alaska trip, including interactions with newspaper publishers and potential appearances alongside Bill Rogers. Kissinger subsequently joined the meeting to brief the President on mounting evidence of domestic instability within the People's Republic of China, specifically citing the unexplained cancellation of civil aviation flights and the potential death or removal of Mao Zedong, which threatened the status of upcoming diplomatic initiatives.
President Nixon met with Prince Fahd of Saudi Arabia to discuss the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict and the strategic importance of stability in the Middle East. Prince Fahd conveyed a message from King Faisal regarding the desire of Egyptian leadership to move away from Soviet influence and toward a more constructive relationship with the United States. Nixon expressed his commitment to regional peace and emphasized the value of maintaining close bilateral ties with Saudi Arabia to counter the spread of radicalism and communism in the region.
Manolo Sanchez and Henry A. Kissinger met briefly in the Oval Office to conduct a short, largely unintelligible exchange. Due to the lack of audible content in the recording, no substantive policy discussions, decisions, or action items were captured. The encounter concluded within two minutes, providing no significant historical insight into administration activities.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed the ongoing diplomatic efforts regarding the People's Republic of China, specifically focusing on the uncertainty surrounding Mao Zedong's health and internal political instability. Kissinger updated the President on recent communications with Chinese officials and the logistical challenges of finalizing dates for a presidential visit. The pair concluded that regardless of internal Chinese turmoil, the administration's strategic position remained advantageous for upcoming diplomatic negotiations, including potential summits with the Soviet Union.
Secret Service agents met with President Nixon in the Oval Office to conduct an administrative or security-related briefing. The dialogue remains largely unintelligible, providing no actionable intelligence or clear records of substantive policy discussions. The meeting concluded when the agents departed the office shortly before 8:20 pm.
President Nixon met with United States Secret Service agents in the Oval Office to discuss logistical details regarding his movement to the Executive Office Building. Due to the unintelligible nature of the audio recording, the specific operational directives remain unclear. The meeting concluded with the agents exiting the office late in the evening.