Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 452
Nixon White House Tape 452 (February 19, 1971)
19 conversations · Oval Office · about 3 hr 33 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, White House photographer, Parker, Butterfield
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to review and finalize the President's upcoming daily schedule. The discussion centered on coordinating specific appointments with key administration officials, including George P. Shultz, Paul W. McCracken, and Peter G. Peterson. No major policy decisions were recorded during this brief administrative briefing.
President Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon held a brief morning meeting in the Oval Office to coordinate their respective daily schedules. The discussion focused on upcoming personal commitments, specifically regarding a potential social engagement at a country club and plans for dinner. The interaction served as a routine logistical check-in between the President and the First Lady.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman, Ronald Ziegler, and Stephen Bull to discuss public relations strategies and the administration's media image. The group reviewed recent news coverage of the President's speech at the Woodrow Wilson International Center, state dinner planning, and the handling of the resignation of Interior Department official Fred J. Russell. Nixon directed staff to coordinate with Paul McCracken to effectively communicate positive economic data, specifically regarding the Consumer Price Index, to counter negative press narratives.
President Nixon met with his economic advisors and a group of Fortune magazine editors to discuss the state of the U.S. economy, specifically focusing on inflation, unemployment, and potential policy responses. The discussion covered the administration's skepticism toward broad, mandatory wage and price controls during peacetime while exploring alternative methods like regional bargaining and government-led productivity initiatives. Nixon emphasized the importance of executive branch coordination in economic policy, noting the need to balance fiscal responsibility with strategic support for struggling industries like aerospace and construction.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull reviewed logistical details regarding the President's upcoming schedule, specifically focusing on a planned meeting with Lionel Hampton. They discussed the protocol for presenting official gifts, including coasters and potential jewelry, to Harriet Elam during the event. The conversation served to coordinate the specific items to be gifted and ensured appropriate preparations were made for the engagement.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to coordinate the President's schedule during the upcoming Open Door Hour. The discussion centered on managing appointments and logistics for scheduled photography sessions with Oliver F. “Ollie” Atkins. No major policy decisions were reached, as the meeting served primarily for administrative briefing and routine calendar oversight.
President Nixon met with departing White House staff members Leah McReynolds, William E. Casselman, II, and David N. Parker to formally express his appreciation for their service. During the brief session, the President presented the staffers with gifts as tokens of his gratitude. A White House photographer was present to document the occasion before the group departed the Oval Office.
President Nixon met with John R. Brown, III, and his wife to express appreciation for Brown’s service on the White House staff. The conversation touched upon Brown’s transition to a new position at the Koppers Company and the President’s personal recollections of a wartime contract involving the firm. The meeting concluded with the capture of a commemorative photograph by the White House photographer.
President Nixon met with White House staffer Harriet Elam and her family, accompanied by Dwight L. Chapin and David N. Parker, to express his appreciation for her government service. The session served as a formal acknowledgment of Elam's work and included the presentation of commemorative gifts. A White House photographer was present to document the meeting, which focused on recognizing Elam’s career contributions.
President Nixon met with George Black, Jr., Dr. John A. Hannah, and several others to discuss civil rights progress and educational desegregation in the South compared to Northern states. The discussion touched upon demographic trends in school attendance and the President’s appreciation for Black's brickmaking work. The meeting concluded with a commemorative photograph and the presentation of gifts in anticipation of Black's forthcoming trip to Africa.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate the scheduling of a forthcoming meeting with jazz musician Lionel Hampton. They briefly discussed the management of the President's calendar and potential press coverage related to the event. The interaction served as a quick logistical briefing to ensure the visit was properly facilitated.
President Nixon met with jazz musician Lionel Hampton and his associates to discuss Hampton’s upcoming cultural diplomacy tour of Eastern Europe, including stops in Warsaw, Bucharest, Budapest, and Prague. The meeting served as an opportunity for the President to provide official support for the band’s international itinerary and to present gifts to the group. The brief exchange highlighted Hampton's vocal support for the Nixon administration during this period of engagement.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to coordinate administrative details regarding an upcoming meeting with officials from the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). They discussed the expected duration of the session and the necessary participation of Alexander M. Haig, Jr. and Charles W. Colson. This brief consultation served to finalize the scheduling and internal staffing requirements for the presidential engagement.
President Nixon met with VFW leadership, Donald E. Johnson, Charles W. Colson, and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. to discuss the administration's Vietnam War policies, including the status of U.S. Prisoners of War and the progress of Vietnamization. A significant portion of the discussion focused on domestic challenges facing returning veterans, particularly the high unemployment rates among Vietnam veterans and the need for improved federal job training and placement programs. Nixon directed his team to prioritize veteran employment initiatives and emphasized the importance of ensuring these programs served all veterans equitably, including minorities.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to receive an update regarding the President’s daily schedule. The brief discussion centered on the logistical management of the President's upcoming commitments. No major policy decisions were recorded during this administrative exchange.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate a telephonic connection to Dr. Thomas E. “Doc” Morgan. This brief interaction served as an administrative bridge to reach the Congressman regarding an urgent matter. The primary objective of the exchange was the successful placement of the outgoing call.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discuss various public relations strategies, including media outreach, managing White House social events, and communicating economic policy successes. They examine the effectiveness of using celebrity appearances, such as Henry Mancini, to boost the President's image while critiquing the current reliance on government staff for logistical and messaging tasks. The conversation emphasizes the need to control the President's public narrative and improve outreach to broader, non-intellectual audiences.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to discuss administrative logistics and the President's upcoming daily schedule. The brief interaction consisted primarily of logistical coordination, though the majority of the audio remains unintelligible due to background noise and muffled dialogue. No major policy decisions or significant political developments were recorded during this brief encounter.
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to conduct a brief review of his daily schedule. The two men discussed upcoming appointments and logistical arrangements for the President's time in the Oval Office. No significant policy decisions were recorded during this short administrative consultation.