Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 499
Nixon White House Tape 499 (May 12, 1971 – May 14, 1971)
24 conversations · Oval Office · about 2 hr 45 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Haldeman, Butterfield, Atkins
President Nixon met with David M. Kennedy and Peter G. Peterson to discuss international trade negotiations and domestic economic performance. The group reviewed the status of textile negotiations involving Japanese Minister Takeo Fukuda and analyzed updated first-quarter Gross National Product (GNP) figures. The participants noted that the upwardly revised GNP data, scheduled for public release that Friday, represented positive economic news for the administration.
President Nixon consulted with various staff and political allies, including H.R. Haldeman, Leslie Arends, and Frank Bow, to coordinate strategy regarding House legislative votes and foreign policy objectives. A primary focus was managing opposition to the Mansfield Amendment, which proposed significant reductions to NATO troop levels, and leveraging John Scali to organize effective public and legislative pushback. Additionally, Nixon reflected on his upcoming foreign policy address, contrasting his broader vision for the nation with the mechanical nature of domestic initiatives like revenue sharing.
President Nixon consulted with Nellie L. Yates to determine the current location of National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger. Yates informed the President that Kissinger was at the office of Vice President Spiro T. Agnew. This brief exchange served to facilitate communication between the President and his advisor during the workday.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate upcoming travel, press strategies, and the scheduling of First Lady Pat Nixon. The discussion centered on managing the President's public image and political capital regarding issues like the Supersonic Transport (SST) program and NATO, while ensuring administration goals remained insulated from unfavorable press coverage. They also reviewed various appointments and personnel matters, including strategies for Texas political races and the handling of sensitive meetings involving external groups.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to coordinate the scheduling of several upcoming appointments, including meetings for Pat Nixon and John McCowan. The President specifically inquired about the status and personal circumstances of certain guests to ensure appropriate meeting arrangements. The discussion concluded with adjustments to the President's daily agenda to accommodate these interactions.
President Nixon met with John McCowan, Alexander P. Butterfield, and White House photographer Oliver Atkins to facilitate a brief, cordial exchange of gifts and correspondence. During the meeting, the President presented McCowan with official pens and cufflinks while also arranging for the autographing of items for the visitor. The session concluded with the scheduling of a follow-up photograph and informal well-wishes regarding McCowan's travel plans.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull reviewed the President’s upcoming schedule to manage his time effectively. The discussion focused on coordinating a meeting with senior citizens organizations and adjusting the timing for an appointment involving Leonard Garment. They also briefly touched upon the President's engagement with the National Advisory Committee on Foreign Aid, resulting in instructions to shorten the duration of scheduled meetings.
President Nixon directs H. R. Haldeman to meet with Senator John Tower to discuss developments regarding John B. Connally and Texas politics. Nixon emphasizes that a significant deal involving Connally is reaching a critical stage and is being handled at the highest level. The President instructs Haldeman to ensure Tower is briefed on this matter and to discourage any potential political skepticism or complaints from the Senator.
President Nixon met briefly with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to coordinate administrative details. The discussion was limited in scope, focusing primarily on the specific scheduling arrangements for the mystery participant. No substantive policy matters or major decisions were recorded during this two-minute exchange.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to refine the wording and timing of a forthcoming public announcement regarding ongoing negotiations. The discussion also addressed the shifting geopolitical climate surrounding the Vietnam War, specifically analyzing confusing signals from Soviet and Chinese diplomatic channels regarding prisoner exchanges and potential military offensives. Furthermore, Nixon touched upon recent discussions regarding U.S. troop levels in Europe, expressing disdain for the perspectives of various establishment figures and reinforcing his intent to maintain firm control over foreign policy strategy.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate upcoming appointments on his daily schedule. The two discussed logistics for meeting with various individuals, specifically determining the appropriate location to host Max M. Fisher. Nixon finalized arrangements to see Fisher in a private office area to accommodate a brief discussion.
President Richard M. Nixon and personal aide Stephen B. Bull met briefly in the Oval Office to coordinate administrative logistics. The discussion focused on managing the President's upcoming schedule and coordinating the availability of his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods. Following these brief arrangements, the two departed the office to transition the President into a period of rest.
President Nixon held a brief, informal meeting in the Oval Office with unidentified individuals. The discussion was largely non-substantive, characterized by vague exchanges and fragmentary dialogue. No policy decisions, strategic developments, or administrative action items were recorded during this brief encounter.
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to discuss administrative logistics and the President's upcoming schedule. The conversation specifically addressed a planned meeting with Jacob A. Preus and concerns regarding related press coverage. The discussion concluded quickly as the participants coordinated these routine scheduling and public relations matters.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to coordinate administrative logistics regarding the President's daily schedule. The primary focus of the discussion was the arrangement of official photo coverage for an upcoming meeting with Jacob A. Preus. No other policy matters were addressed during this brief encounter.
President Nixon met with Jacob A. Preus, General James D. Hughes, and others to discuss diplomatic efforts aimed at securing the release of American prisoners of war (POWs) in Vietnam. Preus reported on his international travels, highlighting conversations with Swedish, Indian, and Vatican officials regarding the separation of humanitarian POW issues from the broader military conflict. The discussion underscored the strategic necessity of maintaining pressure on North Vietnam while navigating the complexities of international negotiations and countering negative public perceptions of U.S. efforts in Southeast Asia.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull briefly met to finalize details regarding the President’s upcoming schedule. The primary focus of the discussion concerned arrangements for an exhibition and a ceremony honoring individuals associated with the lunar space program. Bull departed immediately following this administrative briefing.
President Nixon met with Max M. Fisher and Paul W. McCracken to discuss strategies for improving the administration's relationship with the business community, which Fisher described as feeling isolated and harassed by regulatory policies. The participants analyzed the economic impact of rising interest rates on the housing industry, leading Nixon to direct Fisher to coordinate with Treasury Secretary John Connally regarding these concerns. Nixon expressed frustration with congressional pressure on environmental and consumerist legislation, specifically highlighting his personal efforts to curb mandates such as automobile air bags.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull coordinated logistics for a tree-planting ceremony and a tour for visiting Illinois Republican leaders. Nixon emphasized the political importance of the Illinois delegation and instructed Bull to streamline the transition between these events. They finalized a tight schedule to ensure the guests were handled efficiently without disrupting the First Lady's participation.
President Nixon and Donald Rumsfeld met briefly to discuss the swearing-in of Ellen McConnell and the performance of the Cabinet. They specifically reviewed the contributions of cabinet members John A. Volpe, George W. Romney, John B. Connally, and Clifford M. Hardin. Additionally, they coordinated on the President's upcoming schedule, including remarks to be delivered at a tree-planting ceremony involving Senator Charles H. Percy.
President Nixon met with M. Jean Robb, Jon M. Huntsman, and photographer Oliver F. Atkins to formally acknowledge Robb’s service. During this brief engagement, the President presented her with a commemorative gift as a gesture of appreciation. The participants also utilized the time to coordinate a photograph to memorialize the occasion before discussing Robb’s upcoming relocation to Florida.
President Nixon met with Landrum Bolling and D. Elton Trueblood to discuss their recent travels to the Middle East and the USSR, as well as their personal connections to Quakerism. During the discussion, Nixon emphasized his refusal to allow domestic political pressure from the American Jewish community to dictate his Middle East foreign policy or drag the U.S. into a conflict. The meeting concluded with the exchange of gifts, including correspondence regarding Abraham Lincoln, and plans for a future meeting with Quakers in October.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull reviewed logistical arrangements for an upcoming trip, specifically focusing on helicopter transport and landing times. The discussion centered on coordinating the President's schedule with Henry Kissinger’s involvement. Nixon provided clear instructions regarding his arrival and personal standing protocol for the departure.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met with Senator Edward Brooke to discuss the administration's strategic foreign policy, specifically focusing on the delicate negotiations regarding the People's Republic of China, Vietnam, and arms control. The President emphasized the need for discretion regarding ongoing initiatives to avoid undermining diplomatic efforts or domestic support, while urging Brooke to maintain a unified front against congressional efforts to impose troop withdrawal deadlines. The conversation served to align their messaging and ensure that legislative pressure, such as the Mansfield Amendment, would not jeopardize the administration's broader geopolitical objectives.