Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 498
Nixon White House Tape 498 (May 12, 1971 – May 13, 1971)
19 conversations · Oval Office · about 5 hr 25 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Haldeman, Bull, Ehrlichman, Kissinger
President Nixon met with John B. Connally and other advisors to discuss legislative strategy, particularly regarding the House of Representatives' progress on H.R. 1 and efforts to influence the Senate. Connally was identified as a key political strategist, with the President praising his ability to lobby lawmakers on issues such as Lockheed funding and to secure support from diverse coalitions. The conversation also touched upon the necessity of shaping public image and the strategic use of media appearances to strengthen the administration's political standing.
President Nixon met with Henry Kissinger and H.R. Haldeman to coordinate strategy regarding the Mansfield Amendment, which sought to withdraw U.S. troops from Europe. The President emphasized his firm opposition to the amendment, arguing that such decisions must be handled through executive negotiation rather than legislative mandate. The discussion also covered the delicate geopolitical maneuvering regarding a 'two-China' policy at the United Nations, domestic welfare reform messaging, and the management of economic news to combat negative public sentiment.
President Nixon met with Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare Elliot Richardson, incoming official Dr. Merlin K. "Morty" DuVal, and senior staff to discuss the administration's health care reform strategy and the challenges of managing federal health bureaucracies. The President emphasized the need for DuVal to establish firm control over autonomous agencies like the NIH and NIMH while cautioning him against being co-opted by the entrenched bureaucracy. The group also strategized on how to secure political support from the medical profession for the administration's health plan, framing it as a pragmatic, centrist alternative to the more radical proposals championed by Senator Edward Kennedy.
President Nixon met with his personal aide, Stephen B. Bull, for a brief administrative check-in at the Oval Office. The primary focus of the discussion was reviewing John D. Ehrlichman's upcoming schedule. No significant policy decisions were recorded during this short briefing.
President Nixon met with key staff and Mayor Richard J. Daley to coordinate administrative policy, discuss political strategies for the 1972 election, and address urban issues. The conversation covered the management of welfare reform, the privatization of legal services, and the handling of social issues like narcotics and homosexuality. Nixon specifically emphasized establishing a direct, cooperative relationship with Mayor Daley to navigate urban housing challenges, reinforce law enforcement support, and promote federal initiatives at the local level.
President Nixon held a brief, informal meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual to discuss his daily schedule. The conversation focused on the logistical management of an incoming phone call, though the dialogue remained fragmentary and lacks substantial policy content. No significant decisions or developments were recorded during this brief administrative interaction.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to coordinate scheduling details regarding a meeting with James M. Roche. The discussion focused on managing the President's upcoming commitments and the internal logistics of the meeting's participants. Butterfield sought clarification on the agenda, while Nixon provided brief updates regarding the status of the planned appointment.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman reviewed various administrative matters, including the President's upcoming schedule, Mrs. Nixon's travel engagements, and the potential security risks associated with a presidential visit to Bohemian Grove. They discussed political strategy, specifically regarding the Supersonic Transport (SST) project, the influence of communist organizers in anti-NATO protests, and the political efficacy of public demonstrations. The conversation concluded with an evaluation of Vice President Spiro Agnew’s role in public outreach and a critique of contemporary media depictions of the American working class, such as the television show 'All in the Family.'
President Nixon met with journalist Walter Trohan to discuss administrative matters, including the dictation of a personal letter. The pair reviewed comparisons between Nixon's presidency and that of Herbert Hoover, while also addressing concerns regarding press coverage and security. Additionally, the conversation touched upon lighthearted topics such as sports and the Bohemian Grove.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull reviewed the President’s upcoming daily schedule, focusing on coordination for a series of high-level meetings. The discussion specifically addressed the logistics for upcoming appointments with Henry Kissinger, Barber, and James M. Roche. John D. Ehrlichman and Peter G. Peterson were identified as additional participants for the scheduled meeting with Roche.
In this meeting, President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed the delicate status of SALT negotiations, specifically weighing whether to press for further wording changes with the Soviets or accept the current draft to avoid diplomatic irritation and potential leaks. Following Kissinger's departure, Nixon met with John Ehrlichman, Peter Peterson, and James Roche to address the challenges facing the American automobile industry. The group focused on mitigating overly rigid safety and environmental regulations that threatened the industry's competitiveness against foreign imports, while exploring broader strategies to maintain America's technological and economic dominance in an increasingly globalized market.
President Nixon initiates a brief administrative interaction with the White House operator to place an outgoing telephone call. The exchange serves solely as a functional request to connect the President to another party. No substantive policy discussions or decisions are recorded during this brief connectivity process.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate a telephone connection with Senator Glenn Beall of Maryland. The operator confirmed the Senator's current location at Sacred Heart Hospital in Cumberland, Maryland. This administrative exchange served as the necessary logistical precursor to establish direct contact between the President and the Senator.
President Nixon and Dwight L. Chapin discuss logistics for an upcoming event involving Tricia Nixon and her mother, specifically regarding hotel accommodations. The conversation focuses on ensuring the arrangements meet the President’s expectations for the guests' attendance. No major policy decisions were made during this brief exchange.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman, John Connally, and others to discuss strategies for securing Senate support for the supersonic transport (SST) project and to coordinate political appointments. The group analyzed the legislative landscape, focusing on shifting the framing of the SST from a purely environmental issue to a matter of jobs and economic impact. Furthermore, Nixon emphasized the need for a loyal, aggressive leader within the IRS to ensure the administration could effectively utilize the agency to monitor political enemies and friends alike.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discussed a strategic plan to secure public support for a forthcoming presidential statement by utilizing endorsements from former Cabinet members. The discussion focused on coordinating these endorsements, specifically involving Dean Acheson and William P. Rogers, to bolster the administration's position. Haig outlined the procedure for staging these endorsements to ensure maximum political impact for the President's signature.
President Nixon held a brief meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual to discuss the scheduling of National Security Advisor Henry A. Kissinger. The exchange lasted less than two minutes and concluded with the departure of the guest. The primary focus of the session appears to have been limited to logistical coordination regarding Kissinger's availability.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to discuss legislative strategy regarding the Mansfield resolution on U.S. troops in Europe and the upcoming announcement of the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT). Kissinger updated the President on sensitive negotiations with Soviet Ambassador Anatoliy Dobrynin and emphasized the political value of Nixon leading the 'establishment' on foreign policy to neutralize congressional opposition. The conversation underscored the President's goal of securing a bipartisan consensus to bolster his foreign policy agenda ahead of the upcoming congressional recess.
Secret Service agents met with President Nixon in the Oval Office to coordinate logistics regarding his movements to the Cabinet Room. The brief exchange reflects routine security operational discussions between the protective detail and the President. No major policy decisions or significant events occurred during this brief encounter.