Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 501
Nixon White House Tape 501 (May 19, 1971)
31 conversations · Oval Office · about 6 hr 10 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Kissinger, Haldeman, Butterfield
President Nixon directs Alexander M. Haig, Jr. to meet with him immediately to discuss recent developments regarding Henry Kissinger's negotiations with Gerard Smith. The President intends to consult with Haig regarding the status of these talks before proceeding to a scheduled meeting with Secretary of State William P. Rogers. This brief exchange serves to coordinate administration strategy and brief the President on critical diplomatic updates.
President Nixon held an extremely brief, one-second meeting with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office. The interaction consisted solely of a request for coffee. No substantive policy matters or administrative decisions were addressed during this exchange.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to refine the messaging and strategy for the upcoming public announcement regarding the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT). They discussed the content of the President's public statement, debating whether to emphasize personal involvement in initiating negotiations with Soviet leadership versus keeping the announcement brief and formal. To manage potential skepticism and ensure support, they also planned a background briefing for key columnists and a meeting with the verification panel to solidify Congressional and public confidence.
President Nixon and Secretary of State William Rogers discussed strategies for advancing peace negotiations in the Middle East and the status of Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) with the Soviet Union. Rogers provided an update on his recent diplomatic tour, noting promising overtures from Egyptian President Anwar el-Sadat regarding a potential interim settlement and the future removal of Soviet personnel. The President emphasized a firm stance toward Israel, arguing that the U.S. must leverage its military and economic support to pressure Israel into serious negotiations, while also planning to coordinate closely with Congressional leaders on the upcoming SALT announcement regarding anti-ballistic missile (ABM) systems.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to conduct brief administrative business. During this short interaction, the President issued a specific request for an item to be retrieved or handled by Bull. The meeting concluded quickly with Bull departing shortly thereafter to carry out the task.
President Nixon held a brief, informal meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual. The interaction, lasting less than ten minutes, primarily concerned the provision of refreshments. No substantive policy discussions or significant administrative decisions were recorded during this encounter.
President Nixon, H. R. Haldeman, and Henry Kissinger met to coordinate the upcoming public announcement of a breakthrough in the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT). A primary concern for the participants was managing the ego and professional expectations of Secretary of State William P. Rogers, who was reportedly frustrated by his exclusion from these sensitive negotiations. The group decided to present the achievement as a collective effort involving the State and Defense Departments, while privately acknowledging that such high-level diplomatic channels are uniquely the President's responsibility. They also finalized the schedule for briefing congressional leaders and Cabinet members to ensure the announcement was handled with appropriate gravitas and controlled messaging.
President Nixon held a brief, three-minute meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual. The discussion was limited to logistical matters regarding the President’s daily schedule. No substantial policy decisions or significant developments were recorded during this brief encounter.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to review and coordinate the President's upcoming schedule. The primary focus of the brief discussion was the logistics regarding Nixon's planned meetings with the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) delegation. No major policy decisions were reached during this short administrative consultation.
President Nixon held a brief, five-minute meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual. The discussion centered on Rose Mary Woods' schedule and logistics. No further substantive policy developments were recorded during this brief exchange.
President Nixon met briefly with an unidentified woman in the Oval Office to address an unspecified request. The conversation lasted less than five minutes and concluded with the woman's departure. Due to the lack of transcript detail, the specific nature of the request and any subsequent administrative actions remain undocumented.
President Nixon held separate discussions with Rose Mary Woods and Henry Kissinger regarding social, political, and strategic matters. Woods reported on her recent travel and media appearances, while Kissinger briefed the President on delicate negotiations involving Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT), Soviet relations, and potential leaks regarding Vietnam defense policies. The President provided guidance on managing various political associates and addressed concerns regarding Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird’s communication tactics.
President Nixon held a brief, two-minute meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual. Due to the extremely short duration of the interaction and the lack of discernable context in the recorded audio, the specific substance of the discussion remains unintelligible. No substantive policy decisions, directives, or significant historical developments were documented in this transcript.
President Nixon, H. R. Haldeman, and Henry Kissinger discussed how to manage Secretary of State William Rogers' frustration regarding his exclusion from sensitive SALT negotiations. The participants aimed to develop a unified 'party line' for Rogers to use with Congress and the press, framing the breakthrough as a successful presidential initiative while shielding the specifics of the diplomatic channels used. They agreed that Rogers must be reassured of his standing and protected from appearing uninformed, even as they emphasized that maintaining secrecy was essential to the negotiation's success.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office for a brief, informal discussion. The interaction focused on personal or household matters rather than substantive policy issues, as evidenced by the extremely short duration of the recording. No major political decisions or official actions were initiated or recorded during this exchange.
President Nixon, H. R. Haldeman, and Henry Kissinger met to coordinate the announcement of a breakthrough in the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT), emphasizing that the agreement was a presidential initiative. They strategized on how to manage key Cabinet members, particularly William Rogers and Melvin Laird, to ensure they felt included and supportive without revealing the sensitive details of the negotiation process. Additionally, the President discussed his plans to brief legislative leaders and handle potential leaks, while Kissinger briefed the group on secret diplomatic efforts involving China and North Vietnam.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate the scheduling of upcoming meetings with key administration officials. The discussion focused on finalizing arrangements for discussions with National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger and Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird. The primary outcome was the administrative preparation required to facilitate these high-level consultations.
President Nixon, Melvin Laird, and Henry Kissinger discussed the administration's strategic approach to upcoming NATO defense meetings, emphasizing the need to avoid being pressured into premature agreements regarding Mutual and Balanced Force Reductions (MBFR). The participants reviewed the status of the SALT negotiations, highlighting the necessity of maintaining the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) program as a critical bargaining chip against Soviet offensive weapons. They also addressed personnel changes within the Department of Defense, including potential replacements for Deputy Secretary David Packard and the Secretary of the Army, while coordinating strategy for managing Congressional relations and ongoing military assistance in Vietnam and Cambodia.
President Nixon met with Henry Kissinger, Gerard C. Smith, and a group of defense and foreign policy advisors to discuss the status of the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT). The group reviewed the progress toward an Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) agreement with the Soviet Union, evaluating verification concerns, technological competition, and the potential impact of troop reductions in Europe. Additionally, the President emphasized the importance of maintaining a neutral, balanced diplomatic stance toward both the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China while exploring minor trade gestures to improve relations with the Soviets.
President Nixon consulted with his aide Stephen B. Bull regarding the scheduling of an upcoming meeting with Robert H. Finch and Donald H. Rumsfeld. The President expressed flexibility regarding the timing of the appointment, noting that a meeting the following day would be acceptable if the participants faced scheduling conflicts. Bull was directed to coordinate the arrangements without signaling to the attendees that the President’s schedule was easily adjustable.
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield held a brief meeting in the Oval Office to coordinate administrative matters regarding the President’s upcoming schedule. The discussion touched upon sensitive legal or political concerns alluded to in the cryptic reference to potential jail time. No formal policy decisions were finalized during this exchange, which primarily served to manage the President's immediate operational agenda.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to discuss logistical adjustments to the President's upcoming schedule. The brief discussion focused on reviewing and finalizing specific appointments or commitments for the executive calendar. No major policy decisions were reached, as the meeting served primarily as an administrative check-in.
President Nixon consulted with Alexander P. Butterfield and Stephen B. Bull regarding updates on the Charles McC. Mathias amendment and the progress of pending legislative votes. The President sought information on these developments to coordinate his upcoming schedule with Robert H. Finch and Donald H. Rumsfeld. The meeting concluded with Nixon tasking staff to secure information before his 5:00 pm deadline.
President Nixon met with Henry Kissinger to finalize the announcement of a breakthrough in the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT), emphasizing the need for a brief and controlled public presentation. Following this, the President convened a broader group of officials to address domestic policy, specifically focusing on expanding agricultural drought relief for Texas and Oklahoma and managing national economic policy, including interest rates and housing market stability. The meeting concluded with a review of upcoming congressional votes, where administration staff expressed confidence in defeating the Mathias Amendment.
President Nixon held a brief, informal meeting with an unidentified individual to discuss personal or logistical matters rather than official government business. The conversation centers on the logistics of obtaining specific items, including the acquisition of a tent and apartment-related arrangements. No policy decisions or significant administrative actions were recorded during this brief exchange.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield and Stephen B. Bull to review pending administrative paperwork and finalize the President's upcoming schedule. The discussion specifically addressed preparations for a 5:00 p.m. meeting involving key advisors including Henry Kissinger, H.R. Haldeman, and Ronald Ziegler. During the exchange, Nixon also gave instructions regarding the visual presentation of staff in photographs, specifically requesting that images of individuals with cigarettes be excluded.
President Nixon met with his personal aide, Stephen B. Bull, to conduct a brief administrative review of the President's upcoming schedule. The discussion served as a routine logistical check-in to manage the President's time and engagements. No further policy-related actions or major decisions were recorded during this brief encounter.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed the legislative maneuvering surrounding the Charles McC. Mathias amendment, which threatened to impact the administration's foreign policy agenda. To address the precarious vote count, Nixon and Kissinger strategized on how to influence key senators. As a direct result, Kissinger committed to contacting Senator John Sherman Cooper to lobby for his support against the amendment.
In this Oval Office meeting, President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman, Henry Kissinger, and other key staff to coordinate the rollout of a major breakthrough in the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) with the Soviet Union. The President emphasized the need to maintain secrecy regarding the specific channels used to achieve this diplomatic progress while ensuring that the public message highlighted his personal initiative and the transition to simultaneous negotiations on offensive and defensive weapons. Additionally, Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Finch reported on their recent foreign tour, discussing European perceptions of U.S. foreign policy, the status of U.S. ambassadors, and the challenge of managing drug usage among military personnel abroad.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss legislative strategy regarding upcoming Senate votes on the Mathias and Mansfield amendments. The conversation centers on timing the floor votes to minimize opposition success, specifically noting that the Mansfield amendment is expected to be defeated. Nixon consults with Secretary of State William P. Rogers to coordinate communication with Senator Mike Mansfield, aiming to manage the debate schedule and ensure favorable outcomes for the administration.
President Nixon held a brief, unscheduled meeting with an unidentified woman in the Oval Office. The discussion concerned a specific item on the President's daily agenda. No further details regarding the nature of the meeting or specific action items were recorded due to the brevity and lack of transcript for the interaction.