Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 505
Nixon White House Tape 505 (May 26, 1971 – May 28, 1971)
21 conversations · Oval Office · about 6 hr 13 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Kissinger, Haldeman, Rogers
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to discuss administrative tasks and personnel matters. The conversation centered on assigning specific responsibilities to Charles W. Colson, particularly regarding his activities from the previous day and the processing of incoming correspondence. This brief interaction served as a coordination meeting to ensure follow-up on outstanding staff assignments.
President Nixon dictates a highly sensitive, 'eyes-only' memorandum for Secretary of State William P. Rogers outlining his strategic vision for U.S. Middle East policy. He emphasizes that U.S. national security interests must take precedence over domestic political pressures, specifically criticizing the influence of the 'Jewish lobby' on American foreign policy and past humanitarian neglect of Arab refugees. Nixon instructs Rogers to aggressively pursue an interim peace agreement with Israeli leaders by mid-summer 1971, warning that failing to secure a settlement will force the U.S. to rebalance its regional military support to prevent a broader conflict.
President Nixon held a meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual to discuss scheduling matters. The discussion remained brief and focused on logistical coordination regarding the participant's calendar. No substantive policy decisions were documented during this exchange.
President Nixon, H.R. Haldeman, and Henry Kissinger discussed the recent killings of police officers in New York and Washington D.C., with Nixon expressing strong support for law enforcement and frustration over perceived inaction. They also covered upcoming presidential travel, including potential trips for Vice President Agnew and Kissinger's own international engagements, as well as the ongoing Vietnam War and the complex diplomatic situation regarding the People's Republic of China. A decision was made to schedule a press conference for Tuesday, May 25th, and Nixon emphasized the need for a strong statement on marijuana policy.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to finalize the logistical and protocol arrangements for an upcoming working lunch with King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. Nixon directed Butterfield to increase the guest list to approximately 40 congressional members and industry figures, including those from the oil sector, to maximize political engagement. The President also established specific rules for the event, including a strict three-course menu, a champagne-only beverage policy, and a directive that the interpreter should not translate his English remarks during the toast.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman and other staff members to review administrative operations and discuss public relations strategies. They evaluated the success of a recent trip to Alabama, debated the appropriate use of motorcades and podiums to maintain presidential dignity, and addressed upcoming personnel appointments, including a potential position for Albert Watson. Additionally, Nixon emphasized his preference for controlling his media appearances and artistic portraiture, insisting that staff streamline his briefing materials and limit his direct physical engagement with crowds.
President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and David K. E. Bruce met to discuss the terms of Bruce's resignation from his role in the Vietnam negotiations and his future potential as a presidential consultant. The participants reviewed the status of the Paris peace talks, including the challenges regarding prisoner of war issues and the need for a graceful exit strategy for Bruce. Additionally, Nixon and Kissinger solicited Bruce’s insights on potential diplomatic outreach to the People's Republic of China, emphasizing that his future involvement would be most effective after he had officially left his current position.
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield held a brief meeting to coordinate the President's upcoming schedule. The primary focus of the discussion was a specific telephone call involving Edward J. Kiernan at the Executive Office Building. Butterfield prompted the President to review details regarding this communication, which concluded the short session.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to place a telephone call to Edward Kiernan, the president of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association of New York. The President provided the contact's professional affiliation to assist the operator in locating the correct number. This brief interaction served solely as an administrative request to facilitate direct communication between the President and the police union leader.
President Nixon met with his secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to address a variety of administrative tasks and personal correspondence. They discussed the logistics of book presentations, the potential for Nixon to author a book on past presidents, and the management of his future presidential papers. Additionally, the pair touched upon public sentiment regarding the funding of presidential libraries and the political climate surrounding recent police funerals.
President Richard M. Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to coordinate administrative matters regarding the President's schedule. The discussion focused specifically on logistical arrangements for an upcoming meeting between Nixon and Charles W. Colson. No major policy decisions were made during this brief administrative briefing.
President Nixon held a brief, four-minute meeting with an unidentified male visitor in the Oval Office. The limited audio record indicates the conversation included a personal exchange regarding an individual mentioned by the visitor. No substantive policy decisions or administrative actions were documented during this short interaction.
President Nixon and Charles Colson met to discuss the administration's political strategy regarding the recent killing of police officers, with Nixon expressing frustration over the Justice Department's failure to take aggressive legal action or project a sufficiently firm image. The two strategized on how to exploit the issue to court public support and push for new federal legislation against police killings, while also reviewing current polling data and congressional maneuvering on the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) and the Antiballistic Missile (ABM) program. Nixon emphasized his desire for a hard-line, proactive stance to contrast with Democratic candidates, ultimately tasking Colson with finding ways to leverage these issues for electoral advantage.
President Nixon met with Hong Kong-based businessman Harold Lee and Henry Kissinger to solicit an expert perspective on the shifting geopolitical landscape in Asia. The discussion focused on U.S.-China relations, the motivations behind the People's Republic of China's recent diplomatic openness, and the broader, even-handed foreign policy Nixon intended to pursue between the USSR and China. Nixon and Kissinger also discussed the difficulties of maintaining U.S. alliances, specifically regarding Taiwan, while managing the pragmatic realities of global power dynamics.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met in the Oval Office to facilitate the presidential dictation of an official memorandum. The discussion focused on the drafting of this specific document to record executive instructions or observations. No further policy deliberations or significant administrative actions were recorded during this brief encounter.
President Nixon held a meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual, the majority of which remains restricted or withdrawn from the public record. Due to the lack of a transcript and the presence of personal material in the record, the specific subject matter and any actionable outcomes of this brief engagement are currently inaccessible to researchers. The interaction concluded prior to 9:08 am.
President Nixon and Secretary of State William P. Rogers met to coordinate their public messaging strategy ahead of an upcoming presidential press conference. They discussed the political implications of recent comments regarding Middle East policy and the administration's stance toward Israel. Nixon instructed Rogers to maintain a low-key approach regarding these diplomatic sensitivities to ensure consistent communication.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman, Henry Kissinger, and other staff members to strategize on administration messaging, foreign policy initiatives, and political tactics. The conversation centered on managing the upcoming press conference, refining the administration's stance on drug policy by shifting focus toward youth rather than just veterans, and monitoring polling data regarding China and the United Nations. Nixon and his advisors also reviewed plans for an upcoming speech at West Point and discussed sensitive diplomatic maneuvering regarding potential summits and China-related negotiations.
President Nixon met with Puerto Rican Governor Luis A. Ferre, accompanied by Rosario Benigno Trigo and John C. Whitaker, to discuss political and economic developments in Puerto Rico and its role as a bridge to Latin America. Governor Ferre highlighted his "North-South Center" initiative, designed to foster democratic cooperation and social technology exchange with neighboring countries, while also addressing challenges related to federal funding, education, and regional stability. Nixon expressed support for Ferre’s efforts to promote Puerto Rico as a model of peaceful democratic transition and pledged continued cooperation regarding the island's Commonwealth status and legislative needs.
President Nixon met with Stephen Hess, Dr. Edward Zigler, and Kenneth R. Cole, Jr. to discuss the government's response to public concerns regarding children, particularly following the White House Conference on Children. Nixon emphasized the necessity of humanizing the administration by genuinely addressing citizen inquiries rather than providing rote form responses, and he tasked the group with establishing a 'Children's Concern Center' to improve government accessibility. Additionally, the President stressed the need for creative policy development outside of established bureaucratic structures, using his administration's cancer research restructuring as a model for achieving actual results.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met with the departing Danish Ambassador, Torben Ronne, to mark the conclusion of his six-and-a-half-year tenure. The meeting focused on formal farewells, with Ronne expressing his appreciation for the cooperation he received during his time in Washington. The participants briefly discussed Ronne's transition back to Denmark and his future aspirations to continue his public service.