Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 478
Nixon White House Tape 478 (April 13, 1971)
12 conversations · Oval Office · about 3 hr 38 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Haldeman, Kissinger, Ziegler
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to finalize scheduling arrangements for an upcoming Cabinet meeting and address the status of Vice President Spiro Agnew. The discussion centered on confirming the attendance of key officials, including John N. Irwin II, and determining the logistics for a speech to be delivered in San Francisco. Following this brief coordination, it was confirmed that the Vice President would not be attending the scheduled event.
President Nixon met with key staff and advisors, including H. R. Haldeman, Henry Kissinger, and Paul McCracken, to discuss administrative strategy, economic messaging, and foreign policy. The President emphasized the need for a more confident and assertive presentation of his administration's record, particularly concerning the economic recovery and Vietnam. They also addressed the strategic communication surrounding upcoming trade initiatives with China and the importance of Henry Cabot Lodge's potential visit to Vietnam to manage regional political stability. Throughout the meeting, Nixon underscored the necessity of maintaining a firm posture against political opposition while attempting to shape public perception regarding his initiatives.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to review and finalize the President’s daily schedule. The discussion focused on coordinating appointments with John A. Scali, Oliver F. Atkins, and Henry A. Kissinger. They confirmed the expected duration and logistical arrangements for these upcoming meetings.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to conduct a review of his upcoming schedule. The discussion focused on coordinating the President's calendar and managing his professional commitments for the near term. No specific policy decisions or significant developments were recorded during this brief administrative session.
President Nixon communicated briefly with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. The interaction functioned as a logistical bridge to connect the President with another party. No substantive policy discussions or significant political developments occurred during this brief exchange.
President Nixon and Charles Colson briefly coordinated their schedules regarding upcoming meetings and discussed ongoing efforts to monitor an unnamed individual. The dialogue touches on strategic surveillance and public perception management, suggesting that their oversight tactics were successfully keeping the subject cautious. No formal policy decisions were made, as the conversation focused primarily on operational logistics and the status of their intelligence activities.
President Nixon, H.R. Haldeman, Henry Kissinger, and John Scali met to integrate Scali into the White House team, specifically to manage press relations and provide strategic counsel on foreign policy. The President emphasized a cautious, long-term approach to publicizing his China initiative, prioritizing secret diplomatic channels over immediate publicity to avoid alarming the Soviet Union. They also discussed future personnel changes within the State Department and Defense Department, the strategy for a potential summit with the Soviets, and the ongoing handling of the Vietnam War.
President Nixon met with Boston Red Sox star Carl Yastrzemski and aide Henry Cashen to discuss Yastrzemski’s off-field involvement in Massachusetts drug education programs. The conversation touched on the challenges of communicating the dangers of marijuana and LSD to youth and the disconnect between students and parents regarding drug awareness. The meeting concluded with a cordial exchange where Nixon presented gifts for Yastrzemski’s children and shared well-wishes for the upcoming baseball season.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to discuss administrative logistics and scheduling matters. Their brief conversation centered on the professional activities of Frank DeMarco, Jr. and included a mention of baseball player Carl Yastrzemski. No major policy decisions were reached during this short interaction.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull and the DeMarco brothers, Frank and John, for an informal social visit in the Oval Office. The participants engaged in light conversation, exchanged gifts, and posed for photographs. The discussion touched briefly on sports, specifically commending baseball player Carl Yastrzemski for his advocacy work in anti-drug campaigns for high school students.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman and Ronald Ziegler to review administrative public relations strategies and manage the President’s press engagement schedule. The discussion centered on effectively communicating policy goals, coordinating upcoming press conferences, and leveraging symbolic events—such as welcoming home military units—to bolster the administration's image. Additionally, the group addressed various logistical appointments, including potential ambassadorial changes and upcoming meetings with industry and agricultural leaders to cultivate political support.
President Nixon held a brief, unidentified discussion in the Oval Office with unknown participants. Due to the lack of audible content beyond a single emphatic negative response, the transcript offers no substantive information regarding policy, strategy, or administrative action. Consequently, the meeting's purpose and any potential decisions remain historically indeterminate.