Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 485
Nixon White House Tape 485 (April 21, 1971)
5 conversations · Oval Office · about 2 hr 29 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Shultz, McCracken, Flanigan
President Nixon met with his personal aide, Stephen B. Bull, in the Oval Office to address administrative or logistical matters. The interaction consisted of routine brief exchanges, resulting in no major policy developments or recorded substantive discussions. The meeting concluded quickly after a brief check-in between the President and his staff.
President Nixon met with his economic and policy advisors to refine his upcoming energy message to Congress, focusing specifically on promoting the breeder reactor program as a centerpiece to generate public excitement. The participants discussed the geopolitical implications of energy negotiations with Canada, the potential for deregulating natural gas pricing to address fuel shortages, and strategies for managing Congressional relations, particularly with Representative Chet Holifield regarding government reorganization. Nixon directed his team to prioritize the breeder reactor project while navigating political sensitivities surrounding government appointments and the scheduling of future administration initiatives.
An unidentified visitor met with President Nixon in the Oval Office to conclude a discussion or administrative task. The brief dialogue centers on the visitor's request for the President to step away from current duties or conclude his present activity. The exchange serves as a transition point in the President's afternoon schedule before the visitor departs.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman, John Mitchell, and other administration officials to coordinate political strategy regarding ongoing anti-war demonstrations and personnel appointments. The group discussed ensuring peaceful compliance with court orders concerning protestors, while Mitchell provided an update on staffing, including plans to recruit Ken Rush and Vernon Walters for key administration roles. Nixon also instructed Mitchell to delay antitrust litigation against television networks to avoid negative political fallout following the Pentagon Papers controversy, while maintaining his overall goal of aggressively challenging the media establishment.
Secret Service agents met with President Nixon in the Oval Office for a brief, undocumented discussion. Due to the minimal duration of the preserved audio and the absence of a transcript, the specific nature and intent of the meeting remain unknown. The recording consists of short segments that provide no actionable intelligence or record of policy decisions.