Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 503
Nixon White House Tape 503 (May 21, 1971)
24 conversations · Oval Office · about 3 hr 40 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Butterfield, Bull, Haldeman, Kissinger
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman, Henry Kissinger, and other advisors to review his upcoming schedule, including appearances at the INTELSAT conference and a National Medal of Science ceremony. The discussion covered the President’s recent surprise visit to a Tulane alumni dinner, various domestic policy issues such as school desegregation and environmental regulations, and potential personnel moves within the administration. Additionally, the President and his staff strategized on handling media coverage of the SALT agreement and discussed the importance of presenting a confident, coordinated economic policy in anticipation of upcoming meetings in Europe.
President Nixon initiates a brief administrative request to the White House operator to terminate a current connection. This exchange serves as a logistical instruction regarding telephone communications. No broader policy or political matters are addressed in this short interaction.
President Nixon consulted speechwriter William Safire to refine remarks for an upcoming presentation of science medals. The President requested that Safire incorporate a paraphrase of Thomas Jefferson regarding the preference of hope over fear to ensure the speech resonated with the audience. Nixon finalized the messaging strategy, intending to utilize the draft for an event scheduled for early June.
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met to coordinate the logistics and presentation strategy for the National Medals of Science awards ceremony. They discussed the physical handling of the medals, specifically debating the most effective way to present the awards to recipients without creating awkward or cumbersome visual moments. The discussion focused on streamlining the protocol to ensure the ceremony proceeded smoothly and with proper decorum.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office to address personal service needs. The interaction was brief and limited to a request for coffee. No substantive policy or political discussions were recorded during this engagement.
President Nixon met with his SALT delegation, including Henry Kissinger and Gerard C. Smith, to strategize for upcoming negotiations in Helsinki and manage public and bureaucratic expectations. The discussion focused on maintaining a firm stance on the 'Safeguard' ABM program while emphasizing the need to keep details confidential to prevent premature leaks and political opposition. Nixon stressed that the delegation should project strength and avoid defensiveness, ultimately aiming to finalize a comprehensive treaty that would serve American security interests.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield for a brief discussion regarding a Senate request. The two men addressed the procedural or administrative handling of this legislative inquiry. No further substantive details regarding the nature of the request or specific action items were recorded during this brief interaction.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met briefly to discuss adjustments to the President's daily itinerary. Bull informed the President that his schedule was running slightly behind, necessitating revisions to accommodate upcoming appointments. The two finalized the timing for the President to return to his planned sequence of events.
President Nixon met with Secretary of State William P. Rogers to discuss complex foreign policy strategies involving the Soviet Union, the People's Republic of China, and the Middle East. Nixon emphasized the importance of leveraging the Soviet Union's underlying anxiety regarding China while maintaining a careful, high-level approach to diplomatic overtures with the PRC. Regarding the Middle East, the President instructed Rogers to take a firm stance in negotiations, expressing personal willingness to apply pressure on Israel to reach a settlement while critiquing the current Israeli leadership.
President Nixon met briefly with Secretary of State William P. Rogers and aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate scheduling and logistics for upcoming appointments. The participants finalized the arrangements for an impending meeting and confirmed the availability of staff support. The discussion concluded with the parties departing to continue their daily schedules.
President Nixon met with Olympic swimmer Donald Schollander and Jonathan Rose to express his appreciation for Schollander’s achievements and dedication. The conversation centered on the societal value of athletics, the importance of discipline and leadership in sports, and comparisons of coaching styles across various disciplines. During the meeting, President Nixon presented Schollander with a pair of presidential cuff links.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to coordinate logistics for a film screening in the White House Family Theatre. The brief discussion focused on the physical setup and preparation of the theater space for the upcoming showing. No major policy decisions were made during this administrative interaction.
President Nixon met with Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Stevens, Mr. and Mrs. Alex D. Steinkamp, and Robert H. Finch for a social visit in the Oval Office. The discussion included the guests' recent tour of the Treasury Department and a proposal from the guests to simplify federal revenue sharing by utilizing local county treasurers. The President concluded the meeting by presenting the guests with commemorative gifts and discussing upcoming events at the White House.
President Nixon met with his personal aide, Stephen B. Bull, in the Oval Office to discuss the details of the President’s upcoming daily schedule. The two reviewed logistical arrangements and planning for official engagements. No major policy decisions or significant developments were recorded during this brief administrative briefing.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman, George Shultz, John Ehrlichman, and Henry Kissinger to discuss several pressing domestic and foreign policy issues. The team reviewed Peter Peterson's potential new roles in intelligence and government reorganization, addressed political concerns regarding environmental regulations, and formulated plans to require an "economic impact statement" for future agency decisions. Additionally, the President and Kissinger finalized plans for a diplomatic meeting with South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu, deciding to prioritize the regional impact over potential negative reactions from American liberals.
President Nixon met with Herbert Stein, George Shultz, John Connally, and Arthur Burns to discuss the state of the U.S. economy, specifically focusing on inflation, sluggish recovery, and steel industry negotiations. The group debated the potential risks of government intervention, including wage-price freezes, while also planning a strategy to better communicate budget deficits and fiscal policy to the American public. Additionally, Nixon emphasized the need for a unified administration voice on economic policy ahead of upcoming international monetary conferences, urging his team to maintain a confident and assertive posture regarding U.S. domestic economic strength.
President Nixon met with Robert D. Murphy and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. to discuss the geopolitical implications of the United States' shifting China policy, particularly regarding Taiwan's status in the United Nations. The participants analyzed the political stability and leadership of Chiang Kai-shek and explored the feasibility of a 'two-China' policy versus the risks of abandoning a long-standing ally. Nixon expressed concern that tactical maneuvering within the UN would fail to win respect from Peking and might instead signal a loss of American resolve to the international community.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to coordinate preparations and review remarks for the President's upcoming schedule on May 22, 1971. The brief discussion focused on finalizing the details of the President's public messaging and agenda for the following day. No significant policy decisions were recorded during this short administrative consultation.
President Nixon met with unidentified individual(s) in the Oval Office to conduct a brief review of his upcoming daily schedule. The discussion focused on logistical planning and the arrangement of his official commitments. No significant policy decisions or substantive developments were recorded during this brief administrative interaction.
President Nixon, H.R. Haldeman, and Alexander Butterfield met to coordinate upcoming presidential remarks and review scheduling logistics. The discussion included planning for an honorary dinner for Nicaraguan President Anastasio Somoza Debayle and television arrangements for the upcoming Lyndon B. Johnson library dedication ceremony. Nixon also expressed his personal preference to avoid future use of a presidential library, favoring his office in San Clemente instead.
President Nixon met with Ronald Ziegler and Alexander Butterfield to coordinate the President's upcoming schedule and social engagements. The discussion focused on logistics regarding a scheduled lunch and a planned meeting with Charles "Bebe" Rebozo. The participants concluded the brief session by clarifying the availability and whereabouts of the individuals involved in these meetings.
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met to review specific materials, including a speech draft and a press conference transcript. The discussion focused on finalizing the text and organization of these documents for upcoming use. No major policy decisions were reached, as the meeting served primarily as an administrative review of White House communications.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to coordinate his personal and professional schedule. The discussion focused primarily on arranging a meeting with Charles G. "Bebe" Rebozo. The interaction served as a brief logistical briefing to manage the President's evening appointments.
President Nixon met with his close friend Charles G. "Bebe" Rebozo to discuss personal logistics and preparations for an upcoming social gathering. The conversation included arrangements for Billy Graham's arrival in Florida, the scheduling of the President's speech for the following day, and coordination with First Lady Pat Nixon regarding dinner plans and guest etiquette. These discussions focused on balancing professional obligations with personal travel and private hospitality.