Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 492
Nixon White House Tape 492 (May 5, 1971)
8 conversations · Oval Office · about 3 hr 4 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Haldeman, Sanchez, Ziegler, Bull
President Nixon held a brief, unscheduled meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual. The interaction was limited to a brief greeting, lasting less than one minute before the visitor departed. No substantive policy discussions or administrative actions were recorded during this encounter.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to review the details of his upcoming daily schedule. The primary focus of the discussion concerned the timing and coordination of meetings with Peter M. Flanigan and Caspar Weinberger. No further policy or strategic developments were recorded during this brief administrative briefing.
President Nixon met with key advisors and congressional leadership to strategize on economic stimulation and political coalition-building. The discussion prioritized directing federal funds and public works projects—particularly in California—to combat unemployment and secure electoral support. Concurrently, Nixon and his aides explored strategies to form a coalition of Republicans and conservative Southern Democrats in Congress to advance key administration goals, including the revival of the Supersonic Transport (SST) program and countering anti-war legislative efforts.
President Nixon met with John B. Connally and George P. Shultz to discuss the international monetary crisis and the political strategy for securing Congressional approval for the Supersonic Transport (SST) and Lockheed funding. Nixon emphasized his refusal to sacrifice the domestic economy to stabilize the dollar, asserting that the administration should maintain a firm stance while allowing European nations to manage their own monetary issues. Furthermore, the participants strategized on building a coalition of Republicans and Southern Democrats to advance the administration's legislative agenda, specifically focusing on the upcoming appropriations votes.
President Nixon met briefly with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office. The exchange lasted less than one minute and involved only brief, perfunctory remarks. No substantive policy matters or official decisions were discussed during this interaction.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing connection. The brief exchange served as an administrative step to place a telephone call to an unnamed party. No substantive policy matters or major developments were recorded during this short interaction.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman, and Ronald Ziegler to coordinate the administration's response to the anti-war "May Day" protests in Washington, D.C., and to strategize on key legislative priorities. The participants discussed public relations efforts regarding the recent mass arrests, specifically aiming to project a unified, firm stance of support for local law enforcement. Additionally, Nixon directed efforts to secure sufficient support in Congress for the Supersonic Transport (SST) funding bill, linking its success to future technological defense initiatives like the B-1 bomber program.
President Richard Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, held an informal consultation in the Oval Office to discuss personal or administrative matters. The brief and fragmented dialogue centers on an unidentified third party’s assessment of expectations or specific information. No formal decisions were finalized during this exchange, as the conversation remains incomplete.