Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 453
Nixon White House Tape 453 (February 19, 1971)
5 conversations · Oval Office · about 56 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, White House photographer, Ehrlichman, Shultz
President Nixon met with John Ehrlichman, George Shultz, and John Whitaker to coordinate a strategic public relations campaign surrounding the administration's agricultural policies and rural development initiatives. The discussion focused on scheduling upcoming presidential travel to Iowa and other locations to bolster support among farmers and improve the administration’s image regarding farm policy. Additionally, the group addressed broader economic concerns, including manpower training for Vietnam veterans, welfare reform, and the economic justification for the Supersonic Transport (SST) program.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met briefly to review the President’s upcoming schedule. The conversation focused on appointments involving the Young Republicans and the secretary of Robert J. Brown. No major policy decisions were made during this short administrative coordination.
President Nixon hosted a brief meeting in the Oval Office with a group of visitors, including Melia Black, Pamela Southall, Orville Black, Hilary Black, Rosemary Manarin, and Betty Fountain. The primary purpose of the gathering was to facilitate introductions and engage in informal conversation. Nixon presented the guests with presidential pins and posed for official photographs to commemorate the visit.
President Nixon met with a group of Young Republicans to discuss the progress of their national meeting and emphasize the importance of promoting administration policies. He instructed his staff to provide the group with detailed materials and arguments regarding revenue sharing and government reorganization, specifically highlighting why the alternative approach proposed by Wilbur Mills was flawed. The meeting also included a casual exchange of presidential gifts and a brief tour of the Oval Office, during which Nixon discussed the historical significance of the room's artwork and furnishings.
Secret Service personnel met in the Oval Office to coordinate security logistics and surveillance operations. The discussion focused on monitoring specific positions and checking technical equipment readiness, including the functionality of vinyl coverings. The briefing concluded with agents confirming their watch assignments and operational readiness for the day.