Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 484
Nixon White House Tape 484 (April 21, 1971)
14 conversations · Oval Office · about 4 hr 32 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Ziegler, Shultz, Haldeman
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to review the President's daily agenda and upcoming obligations. Bull briefed Nixon on his remaining schedule for the day and promised to provide the President with further documentation. This brief encounter served as a routine administrative coordination of executive appointments.
President Nixon met with his administration officials, including John Mitchell, Elliot Richardson, and George Shultz, to coordinate the White House's response to a recent Supreme Court ruling on school desegregation. Concerned about the ruling's political impact and the potential for a "double standard" between the North and South, Nixon directed his subordinates to remain disciplined and avoid proactive initiatives, emphasizing that the administration would comply with the law without going beyond what was strictly required by the courts. The President also instructed his team to keep a low profile on the Ribicoff amendment to avoid further legislative complications while managing upcoming political optics regarding Southern school policies.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield in the Oval Office to address routine administrative tasks. The discussion focused on the President's upcoming schedule and the processing of various documents requiring his signature. The meeting concluded promptly after the necessary papers were reviewed and signed.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate media strategy regarding the administration's China initiative, focusing on countering news reports that suggested a rift between Henry Kissinger and Secretary of State William Rogers or that the State Department deserved primary credit. They discussed using journalist John Scali to correct the narrative and emphasized that the China policy was fundamentally driven by the President. Additionally, the pair reviewed the President's upcoming schedule, including a meeting with the U.S. table tennis team, and considered potential administrative personnel reassignments for Clifford Hardin and Bryce Harlow.
President Nixon met with Graham B. Steenhoven, leader of the U.S. table tennis team, along with Henry Kissinger, Ronald Ziegler, and John Scali to discuss the team's recent historic trip to the People's Republic of China (PRC). Steenhoven provided detailed accounts of his interactions with Chinese officials, including Chou En-lai, and the team's experiences navigating the culture and political atmosphere of China. The group discussed the logistical and diplomatic considerations for a reciprocal visit by a Chinese table tennis team to the United States, emphasizing the need for a well-planned, dignified exchange to avoid a media circus or political embarrassment.
President Richard M. Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to review and finalize details regarding the President's upcoming schedule. The primary focus of the discussion centered on coordinating a meeting with George P. Shultz. The brief interaction concluded with Bull departing the Oval Office immediately following these logistical arrangements.
President Nixon and George Shultz met to review favorable Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures for March, which indicated inflation was slowing to its lowest quarterly rate since 1967. They analyzed the positive economic data, noting it was significantly lower than the previous year's performance. The President decided to have Paul McCracken handle the public briefing on these results to maintain a professional, low-profile presentation of the improved economic indicators.
President Nixon met with representatives from the Navy League of the United States to accept an honorary membership and discuss the importance of maintaining naval superiority. During the brief session, the group presented the President with a model of a statue of Admiral David G. Farragut, highlighting the Admiral's Spanish heritage. Nixon utilized the platform to emphasize his commitment to national defense and to discourage calls for unilateral disarmament.
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to coordinate his daily schedule and upcoming appointments. The discussion centered on logistics for meetings with Richard A. Moore, Mary Lou Grier, and Antonina Uccello, the former mayor of Hartford, Connecticut. Bull facilitated these scheduling updates before concluding the brief administrative session.
President Nixon met with Richard A. Moore, Antonina Uccello, and Mary Lou Grier for a ceremonial visit involving gift exchanges and discussion of the President's public image. Following this, Nixon consulted with Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler regarding the administration’s strategy for handling press inquiries about the recent "ping-pong diplomacy" outreach to the People's Republic of China. The conversation concluded with Nixon and Moore reviewing the efficacy of recent speeches and the importance of maintaining an appropriate tone and frequency in television appearances to avoid perceived overexposure.
President Nixon and aide Stephen B. Bull met briefly in the Oval Office to coordinate the President's daily schedule. The primary focus of the discussion concerned an upcoming meeting with Henry A. Kissinger. This administrative check-in served to facilitate the flow of personnel and high-level briefings for the President.
President Richard M. Nixon met briefly with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office. The recording consists entirely of a withdrawn segment, precluding any substantive discussion of policy or administrative action. No significant decisions or developments were captured during this brief interaction.
President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, H.R. Haldeman, and John Dean discussed strategies for managing political fallout from the ongoing Vietnam War, particularly regarding public and congressional perception. The President expressed frustration with military leadership and the impact of war protests, deciding to prioritize a definitive end to U.S. ground combat and the draft to stabilize his political position. Additionally, the group reviewed internal polling data and economic messaging, agreeing to leverage improved consumer price index figures to bolster support among Republican legislators and conservative constituencies.
Secret Service agents met with President Nixon in the Oval Office to discuss security logistics related to his movements. The discussion primarily focused on the President's transition to the Executive Office Building. Due to the presence of withdrawn material and unintelligible audio, the specific operational directives from this exchange remain undocumented.