Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 467
Nixon White House Tape 467 (March 12, 1971 – March 17, 1971)
42 conversations · Oval Office · about 3 hr 32 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Butterfield, Ziegler, Haldeman, Woods
President Nixon initiates a phone call through the White House operator to reach Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This brief interaction serves as the administrative bridge to facilitate a direct communication between the President and his top military advisor. No further substantive discussion occurs during this operator-assisted exchange.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to review and manage the schedule of Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. The brief discussion focused on coordinating upcoming engagements and administrative logistics for the press office. Following these scheduling arrangements, Bull departed the Oval Office.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate secure telephone communications with high-ranking military officials. After attempting to reach Admiral Thomas H. Moorer and General John W. Vogt, Jr., the President directed the operator to connect him instead with General Boda. The brief exchange focused exclusively on establishing these specific military lines of communication.
President Nixon directed Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler to strictly control the broadcast usage of his recent interview on the 'Today' show. Nixon issued explicit orders that the footage was to be aired only in its entirety during the morning program and prohibited the media from using any excerpts for promotional spots, news segments, or Q&A clips. Ziegler was tasked with immediately communicating these non-negotiable requirements to the network to ensure compliance.
President Nixon consulted with General John W. Vogt, Jr. regarding the status of the Lam Son 719 operation in Laos and the broader military situation in Southeast Asia. The discussion focused on evaluating the performance of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), the impact of adverse weather conditions on planned air strikes, and concerns regarding North Vietnamese troop concentrations. Nixon emphasized his desire to be personally informed of any operational limitations and explicitly ordered that air strikes should proceed immediately when weather permits, asserting that budgetary or political considerations should not hinder the military effort.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield in the Oval Office to review and process administrative documents requiring presidential authorization. The brief interaction served as a routine procedural session for signing official paperwork. The meeting concluded immediately upon the completion of these administrative duties.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, discuss the delivery and review process for materials designated for the President's reading. Nixon instructs Woods to arrange for the documents to be sent via courier to his location rather than bringing them to the Oval Office. This brief exchange establishes the logistical plan for the President to review these materials while traveling on an airplane.
President Nixon initiates a request for the White House operator to place a telephone call to Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. The brief interaction serves primarily as a logistical step to facilitate direct communication with his communications chief. No substantive policy discussions or major decisions occur during this brief exchange.
President Nixon consulted with his aide Stephen B. Bull to facilitate a telephonic communication with Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. The brief interaction served as a logistical bridge to initiate contact with Ziegler, likely to coordinate messaging or address immediate press-related matters. No further substantive policy or administrative discussions were captured during this exchange.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discussed media management strategies concerning upcoming interviews and relations with the White House press corps. Nixon expressed hostility toward female journalists, specifically the National Women's Press Corps, while emphasizing strict control over how his interviews—including a high-profile segment with Barbara Walters—were edited and broadcast. To prevent journalists from taking statements out of context, Nixon mandated that the Walters interview be aired in its entirety on NBC's 'Today' show rather than as fragmented promotional excerpts.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to discuss the status of Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) with the Soviet Union, specifically navigating Soviet proposals regarding the sequencing of defensive versus offensive missile negotiations. The discussion also covered the military situation in Vietnam, with Nixon emphasizing the need to communicate the success of operations along the Ho Chi Minh Trail to the press to counter rising domestic isolationism. Alexander P. Butterfield briefly joined the meeting to address administrative items, including the President’s schedule and documents requiring his signature.
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met to discuss logistical preparations for an upcoming press briefing. The primary agenda item involved reviewing a draft of the President’s eulogy for civil rights leader Whitney M. Young, Jr. They evaluated the potential release of this document to the media as part of the briefing materials.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate a telephone connection with Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This brief interaction served as the administrative precursor to an urgent discussion regarding military or national security matters involving the Admiral. No further details of the substance of the conversation were recorded beyond the successful initiation of the call.
President Nixon met with Admiral Thomas H. Moorer to address inaccuracies in press reporting concerning the military situation in Laos, specifically Operation Lam Son. They discussed erroneous Associated Press and Time magazine accounts regarding ARVN troop movements and enemy logistics along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Nixon emphasized a preference for factual reporting over optimistic spin, directing Moorer to ensure public messaging remained grounded in actual military results.
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield held a brief morning meeting in the Oval Office to coordinate the President's daily schedule. The primary focus of the discussion concerned the inclusion of an unknown woman in the President's upcoming agenda. Following the brief logistical review, the meeting concluded immediately.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to discuss scheduling logistics, including upcoming funeral services for Thomas E. Dewey and Whitney M. Young, Jr., and the coordination of the President's public appearances. They reviewed negative press coverage surrounding the engagement of Tricia Nixon and analyzed staff communication, specifically expressing frustration over unauthorized leaks to journalists such as Hugh Sidey. Additionally, Nixon directed Haldeman to enforce stricter discipline among White House staff to prevent future leaks and maintain a controlled public image.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to coordinate logistical details regarding his travel to attend the funeral of Whitney M. Young, Jr. in Lexington, Kentucky. They specifically reviewed the flight schedule and addressed necessary adjustments to the travel itinerary to account for flight duration and time changes. This discussion ensured the President's arrival was properly synchronized with the funeral service schedule.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman and Alexander Butterfield to coordinate the logistics for his attendance at Thomas E. Dewey's funeral and to prepare correspondence for female members of the press. The discussion also turned to the administration’s public relations strategy, with the President evaluating the effectiveness of staff members like Leonard Garment in managing media narratives. Nixon emphasized the need for a more persuasive, "bullshitting" approach to public relations to better compete in the political landscape.
Manolo Sanchez met with unidentified individuals in the Oval Office to conduct brief, routine business. The available records for this recording contain no substantive dialogue, as the primary segment was withdrawn for non-historical reasons. No significant policy decisions or strategic developments occurred during this brief encounter.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to conduct a brief discussion regarding the President's official schedule. The meeting lasted no more than eleven minutes and concluded with the visitor's departure. No further details regarding the specific administrative or logistical matters addressed during this encounter are available.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate communication regarding his daily schedule. The brief interaction primarily concerned the coordination of an upcoming meeting with National Security Advisor Henry A. Kissinger. No other substantive policy matters were addressed during this exchange.
President Nixon requested that the White House operator place a telephone call to Senator Clifford P. Hansen. The brief exchange served as a logistical step to facilitate direct communication between the President and the Senator. No further substantive policy matters were discussed during this specific interaction.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to discuss the progress and public perception of the Laotian military operation (Lam Son 719), focusing on the strategic success of cutting enemy supply lines despite negative press reports. Kissinger provided an assessment of North Vietnamese supply decreases and current ARVN effectiveness to assist in drafting the President's upcoming April 7 speech on Vietnam policy. Throughout the conversation, Nixon emphasized his commitment to honesty regarding military data while seeking to frame the Vietnamization effort and future withdrawal timelines as evidence of a successful, principled strategy.
President Nixon held a brief, four-minute meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual. Due to the lack of intelligible dialogue recorded during this brief encounter, no substantive policy matters, decisions, or action items were captured by the taping system. The meeting concluded with the guest departing shortly after arrival.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to place a telephone call to Congressman William M. Colmer. The brief exchange was limited to the mechanics of initiating this communication with the representative. No substantive policy discussions or political decisions were recorded during this brief administrative interaction.
President Nixon checked on Representative William M. Colmer’s recovery following a recent surgery and discussed plans for a future lunch meeting during the upcoming Easter recess. The two men also briefly touched upon the President’s travel schedule to California and Nixon’s support for F. Edward Hébert in his public opposition to a CBS news story. The conversation concluded with Colmer reaffirming his commitment to supporting the President's legislative agenda and the military.
President Nixon initiates a call through the White House operator to Representative Samuel S. Stratton. The brief communication reflects logistical coordination during the President's travel schedule, specifically referencing locations in Los Angeles and New York. No further policy discussion occurs during this short exchange.
President Nixon met with Representative Samuel S. Stratton to express appreciation for his public support of the administration's Southeast Asian policies. The two discussed the ongoing Laotian operation, with Nixon emphasizing that the mission’s goal was to disrupt North Vietnamese supply routes rather than occupy territory. Nixon also addressed the challenges of maintaining public and congressional support, noting that the ultimate political perception of the operation would depend on its final outcome.
President Nixon utilized the White House operator to place a personal telephone call to First Lady Pat Nixon. The brief interaction served solely as a logistical bridge to facilitate direct communication with his wife. No substantive policy discussions or administrative actions occurred during this brief exchange.
President Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon met to coordinate their personal schedule, specifically finalizing arrangements for an upcoming dinner with their daughters, Julie Nixon Eisenhower and Tricia Nixon Cox. The discussion also extended to planning for a separate event involving congressional members, assistant secretaries, and General Daniel “Chappie” James Jr. The conversation focused on ensuring the First Lady's attendance and logistical alignment for these upcoming obligations.
President Nixon directs the White House operator to place a telephone call to Alfred P. Chamie, the National Commander of the American Legion. The brief interaction serves as a logistical bridge to initiate official communication with the organization's leadership. No further substantive policy discussions occur during this exchange.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate communication with an unidentified male participant, potentially H. R. Haldeman. The brief exchange focused on determining the individual's current location and arranging for a return call. No substantive policy matters were addressed, as the interaction served strictly as a logistical coordination of presidential correspondence.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to place a telephone call to legendary jazz musician Edward K. “Duke” Ellington. The brief interaction focused solely on facilitating this connection. No further policy or administrative matters were addressed during this exchange.
President Nixon consulted with a White House operator to facilitate a phone call to Al Chamie. Following a brief discussion regarding time zone logistics for the placement of the call, the President opted to manage the connection process personally. He ultimately instructed the operator to cease further involvement and directed that she not return his call.
President Nixon contacted Edna Ellington to express his formal congratulations regarding Duke Ellington’s recent election to the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. The President noted the historical significance of the honor, acknowledging it as a rare achievement for a popular musician. During the brief exchange, Nixon reflected fondly on the Duke's prior performance at the White House and requested that his sentiments be conveyed to him.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield in the Oval Office to address routine administrative tasks. The primary purpose of the meeting was for the President to review and sign various official documents prepared by staff. No major policy discussions occurred during this brief interaction, which concluded with Butterfield departing shortly thereafter.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate a telephone call to Congressman Lamar Baker of Tennessee. The President inquired about the Congressman's current availability, noting a possibility that he had returned from the desert. The brief interaction concluded with the operator proceeding to initiate the requested connection.
President Nixon initiates a call through the White House operator to reach an individual named Mr. Stoddard. This brief interaction serves as a logistical bridge to facilitate communication with a specific contact. No further substantive policy matters or political discussions were recorded during this brief administrative exchange.
President Nixon met with Representative LaMar Baker to offer well wishes regarding Baker's recent surgery. The brief, informal conversation focused on the physical recovery process following the procedure. No substantive policy matters or official administrative decisions were discussed during the encounter.
President Nixon and speechwriter William Safire discussed utilizing recent stock market growth, specifically the 40% increase in the Dow-Jones index, to highlight the administration's economic success in public communications. The President also addressed his media strategy, instructing Safire to defend his record of accessibility by citing specific past interviews rather than appearing defensive. Nixon emphasized that the administration must proactively correct inaccurate premises regarding his media engagements and campaign rhetoric to better manage his public image.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman reviewed the President's recent public relations efforts, focusing specifically on the impact of his recent eulogy for Whitney M. Young, Jr. and the need to strategically manage the President's press interviews. They discussed concerns regarding the influence and tactics of speechwriter William Safire, as well as the importance of maintaining an image of accessibility through controlled media engagements rather than traditional press conferences. Additionally, the President provided specific instructions to his staff regarding future press outreach and the upcoming funeral arrangements for Thomas E. Dewey.
President Nixon, H.R. Haldeman, and Charles Colson met to strategize regarding the President's upcoming press communications, specifically weighing the merits of a televised press conference versus an in-office domestic briefing. They determined that focusing solely on domestic issues would allow the President to control the narrative and avoid complex, high-pressure inquiries about foreign policy, particularly the Middle East. The group also discussed the logistics of utilizing regional press outlets in California and the ongoing public relations strategy to maintain media control.