Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 490
Nixon White House Tape 490 (April 29, 1971 – May 4, 1971)
24 conversations · Oval Office · about 3 hr 43 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Haldeman, United States Secret Service agents, Ziegler
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, in the Oval Office to address administrative matters and logistics regarding the President's daily schedule. The conversation focused on managing presidential workflow and prioritizing upcoming appointments. No major policy shifts or substantive developments were recorded during this brief administrative briefing.
President Nixon met with a group of female appointees and staff members to discuss the role of women in government, the importance of equal opportunity, and the necessity of incorporating diverse viewpoints into his administration. During the discussion, Nixon emphasized his preference for professional, pragmatic female voices who maintain their distinct identity rather than emulating men. The latter portion of the meeting involved coordinating logistics for a *Look* magazine cover photo shoot featuring Tricia Nixon and adjusting the President's upcoming travel schedule to California.
Secret Service agents entered the Oval Office to coordinate logistics while President Nixon was located on the patio with Tricia Nixon. The brief interaction focused on the President's immediate movements and the management of his surroundings. No significant policy decisions were recorded during this security-related exchange.
President Nixon met briefly with unidentified Secret Service agents in the Oval Office to discuss logistical concerns regarding the President’s location. The participants also referenced the Press Secretary and an individual named Bill during the short exchange. The meeting concluded quickly, leaving the specific operational details largely unintelligible.
President Nixon met with professional photographer Howell Conant in the Oval Office for a brief farewell session. This interaction served as a concluding engagement for Conant before his departure from the White House. No policy matters or substantive political decisions were addressed during this social meeting.
President Nixon met briefly with Alexander M. Haig, Jr. in the Oval Office to coordinate his official daily schedule. The conversation focused on logistical arrangements regarding upcoming presidential meetings. No further policy developments or complex issues were addressed during this short interaction.
President Nixon met with Alexander Haig and H.R. Haldeman to coordinate strategy for an upcoming press conference, focusing heavily on countering North Vietnamese propaganda regarding Prisoners of War (POWs) and ceasefire proposals. They discussed correcting public misinterpretations of Secretary of State William Rogers' recent statements on China, emphasizing the need to keep diplomatic rhetoric low-key to avoid unnecessary friction. Additionally, the President and his staff reviewed concerns over television production techniques and public image management, balancing the importance of authentic substance over staged performance.
Secret Service agents entered the Oval Office to coordinate security logistics and internal access protocols. The discussion focused primarily on managing door security and the President's transit between the Oval Office and the Executive Office Building. The exchange ended abruptly before further operational directives were issued.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to discuss the status of anti-war protests and arrests in Washington, D.C., alongside the performance of the stock market. The President also reviewed procedures for an upcoming meeting with Republican congressional leadership, expressing a desire to avoid lengthy, unproductive sessions in favor of efficient, agenda-driven discussions. Nixon drew on his past experience with the Eisenhower administration to structure these meetings, aiming to maintain rapport with leadership while minimizing wasted time.
Stephen B. Bull and Alexander P. Butterfield meet to coordinate the President's morning schedule, specifically focusing on an upcoming session in the Cabinet Room. The discussion centers on the logistical arrangements for this meeting and the involvement of H.R. Haldeman. The exchange remains brief and administrative in nature before the recording is cut off.
President Nixon met with Republican congressional leadership, including Hugh Scott and Gerald Ford, to coordinate the administration’s messaging on key domestic and economic issues. The discussion focused on framing the recent mass arrests of anti-war protesters as a necessary measure to maintain public order against vandalism. Additionally, the President urged the leaders to publicly support the Lockheed loan guarantee as a critical initiative for protecting peacetime jobs, aiming to preempt political opposition from Democratic rivals.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discuss the political fallout and public reception of the ongoing anti-war demonstrations in Washington, D.C. They express satisfaction with the perceived public backlash against the protesters' disruptive tactics and the firm handling of the situation by the local police. The President and Haldeman analyze the strategic benefit of highlighting the extremism of the demonstrators to bolster public support for the administration's policies.
Stephen B. Bull met with United States Secret Service agents in the Oval Office to discuss unspecified operational matters. The recording consists primarily of ambient room noise and muffled background conversation, rendering the content historically inconclusive. No significant decisions or developments were captured during this brief segment.
President Nixon met with Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, David Packard, and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. to discuss the proposed reorganization of U.S. military command structures, specifically the potential dissolution of the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) in Panama. Nixon argued that moving responsibilities to Washington would better align with his goal of reducing the U.S. military footprint in South America, while Moorer and the Joint Chiefs expressed concerns that such a shift could signal weakened regional ties and harm diplomatic rapport. The conversation also touched upon the need for the administration to publicly defend the military against media criticism regarding the conduct of officers in Vietnam and investigations like My Lai.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office for a brief, one-second exchange. The interaction consisted of a short verbal instruction from the President to his aide. No substantive policy matters or administrative decisions were documented during this encounter.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman and Charles Colson to discuss the administration's political strategy regarding recent anti-war protests and civil demonstrations in Washington, D.C. They focused on discrediting Democratic rivals—specifically Hubert Humphrey, Ted Kennedy, and Edmund Muskie—by highlighting their earlier endorsements of these movements, which the President characterized as hypocritical in light of the resulting violence and disorder. Additionally, the participants reviewed the effectiveness of local police leadership, discussed Rose Mary Woods’ recent trip to the Kentucky Derby, and touched upon logistical details for an upcoming meeting with Jeane Dixon and a gift donation from Walter Annenberg.
President Nixon met with renowned astrologer Jeane L. Dixon and his personal secretary Rose Mary Woods to discuss Dixon's recent evangelical and outreach activities among American youth. Dixon recounted her interactions with student protesters and shared her views on political leadership, spirituality, and the President's public image. The conversation concluded with discussions regarding Dixon's professional schedule, her connections to media figures like the Wallaces of Reader's Digest, and the President expressing appreciation for her patriotic efforts.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office to address administrative logistics. Their discussion centered on the President’s daily agenda, specifically concerning his upcoming movements to and from the Executive Office Building. The two also exchanged brief remarks regarding the current weather conditions before departing together.
Secret Service agents entered the Oval Office to perform technical preparations, likely involving the testing or calibration of the White House taping system. The brief recording consists primarily of room noise and muffled background chatter, indicating that no substantive policy discussions occurred. This exchange was purely operational in nature, serving as an equipment check rather than an administrative or political meeting.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, to briefly discuss the President's upcoming schedule. The conversation was exceptionally brief, consisting of a short inquiry regarding the timing of an engagement. No major policy decisions or significant administrative actions were recorded during this interaction.
President Nixon met with staff members Stephen Bull and Alexander Butterfield to discuss logistical arrangements and administrative details regarding his upcoming schedule. The conversation focused on the maintenance of the Oval Office, specifically addressing concerns about a window, and reviewed protocols for an upcoming document signing ceremony with Roy Ash. Additionally, the group clarified the prestige of an upcoming federal civilian service award presentation.
President Nixon met with his senior advisors, including Ronald Ziegler and H. R. Haldeman, to discuss managing public opinion regarding anti-war demonstrations, the potential release of North Vietnamese prisoners of war (POWs), and upcoming administration events. Nixon emphasized the need for a more aggressive public relations strategy, specifically suggesting the use of television coverage to highlight the voluntary return of 507 sick and wounded POWs across the demilitarized zone. The participants also explored strategies to frame the recent mass arrests of protesters as a necessary maintenance of law and order, while aiming to politically damage Democratic candidates who supported the demonstrations.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to conduct a brief administrative review of the presidential schedule. This encounter focused primarily on logistical arrangements and the management of Nixon's upcoming appointments. The brief interaction concluded as Bull departed immediately following the synchronization of the day's agenda.
President Nixon convened an extensive afternoon meeting in the Oval Office with his key economic advisors, including George Shultz, John Connally, Arthur Burns, and Paul Volcker, to deliberate on pressing fiscal and monetary policy issues. The discussion focused on addressing the nation's ongoing economic instability, involving high-level strategy sessions with administration officials and cabinet members. These deliberations were critical in shaping the Nixon administration's approach to inflation and international monetary concerns, ultimately informing the direction of domestic economic policy.