Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 508
Nixon White House Tape 508 (June 2, 1971)
20 conversations · Oval Office · about 4 hr 13 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Butterfield, Woods, Haldeman
President Nixon dictates a letter reflecting on his past interactions with the press while preparing for an upcoming press conference. He specifically discusses the performance of Ronald L. Ziegler and John A. Scali, evaluating their roles in managing media relations. The President further analyzes his own strategic approach to public appearances, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining a cooperative persona when addressing the White House press corps.
President Nixon dictates a letter to an unidentified professional shortstop struggling with an extended hitting slump. Drawing a parallel to his own political career, the President offers encouragement regarding the necessity of perseverance during periods of professional failure. Nixon frames the letter as a gesture of support, urging the athlete to maintain confidence despite his current lack of performance.
President Nixon directed John D. Ehrlichman to prepare a detailed cost analysis of the legislative agenda proposed by the Congressional Black Caucus. Nixon emphasized the urgency of the request, demanding a comprehensive evaluation of the total projected costs within a 24-hour window. This initiative aimed to quantify the fiscal impact of all sixty recommendations to better inform the administration's political response.
President Nixon dictated a memorandum to Egil “Bud” Krogh, Jr., tasking him with gathering reliable data on the correlation between marijuana use and subsequent heroin addiction. He directed Krogh to leverage research held by federal agencies, specifically identifying the National Institute of Mental Health and its director, Dr. Bertram S. Brown, as key sources. The President’s objective was to acquire concrete statistics to bolster his administration’s drug policy messaging.
President Nixon dictates a memorandum to John Ehrlichman instructing him to investigate the role of physician over-prescription in the nation's drug abuse crisis. The President directs Ehrlichman to consult with the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and the Secretary of Health regarding the misuse of amphetamines and other controlled substances. The primary objective is to obtain a formal study and actionable recommendations on how to restrict the ability of medical professionals to facilitate drug abuse through excessive prescribing practices.
President Nixon dictated a memorandum to John D. Ehrlichman and Egil Krogh, Jr. tasking them with developing recommendations to increase criminal penalties for drug suppliers and pushers. Nixon specifically expressed a willingness to consider extreme measures, including the death penalty, for major narcotics traffickers despite potential judicial resistance regarding stiff sentencing. He requested an urgent review of federal statutes to determine how they might be utilized to address the trafficking of hard drugs like heroin.
President Nixon dictates a memorandum for John D. Ehrlichman regarding the urgent need to address rising urban unemployment. Concerned that unemployment rates exceeding 6% would create severe political repercussions and irreparable economic damage, Nixon directs Ehrlichman to coordinate with George P. Shultz to develop a strategy for the summer months. The discussion focuses on evaluating Pierre Rinfret’s economic forecasts and formulating proactive policy measures to mitigate potential civil and political instability.
President Nixon dictates a memorandum to General Alexander M. Haig, Jr. regarding the creation of a memorial at West Point honoring both Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant. He suggests that commemorating prominent generals from both sides of the Civil War could help heal lingering regional divisions and address sensitivities in the American South. The President directs Haig to explore the feasibility of such a tribute to foster national reconciliation.
President Nixon discusses a personnel matter regarding a formal letter of recommendation for an individual, identified as 'Mel.' He expresses high praise for the individual's performance over the previous two and a half years and explicitly requests a positive addition to their official employment record. The discussion reflects the President's personal interest in ensuring this associate receives formal recognition and long-term professional credit.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to discuss administrative logistics regarding the President’s daily schedule and the management of White House tape recordings. The primary focus involved coordinating tasks with Alexander P. Butterfield to ensure the proper handling and documentation of presidential activities. This meeting served as a procedural session to maintain the integrity of the White House internal record-keeping systems.
President Nixon consulted with Alexander P. Butterfield and Rose Mary Woods to address equipment malfunctions regarding his dictation process. The group also coordinated logistical details for upcoming events, specifically planning protocol for a meeting with Anastasio Somoza Debayle and organizing gifts and arrangements for the 80th Congressional Club reception. Additionally, Nixon prepared for an upcoming congressional briefing on international economic policy involving Peter G. Peterson.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield and Rose Mary Woods to address logistical arrangements for upcoming events and resolve technical issues with his dictation equipment. The discussion covered protocols for a meeting with Anastasio Somoza Debayle, ensuring the encounter remained informal and strictly limited in scope. Additionally, they coordinated the physical arrangements and gift selection for the 80th Congressional Club reception and finalized the scheduling and venue logistics for a bipartisan congressional briefing on international economic policy.
In this extensive meeting, President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman, later joined by Henry Kissinger and other staff, discussed a broad range of administrative, political, and foreign policy matters. The conversation focused heavily on the President's recent press conference, strategies for managing the press and domestic public opinion, and the imperative to achieve foreign policy breakthroughs in Vietnam, relations with the USSR, and potential overtures to the People's Republic of China. Significant developments included internal planning for clandestine diplomatic channels and a firm resolve to maintain a "law and order" stance against anti-war demonstrators and critics of the administration.
President Nixon, Pat Nixon, and Stephen Bull met with William J. Hopkins and his guests to coordinate a Medal of Freedom ceremony. The participants discussed the logistics and sequence of events for the presentation, including the role of Commander Craig Campbell. Following brief social conversation regarding their shared experiences growing up in small towns, the group departed the Oval Office to proceed to the formal ceremony.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to review and adjust his daily schedule regarding upcoming appointments with Robert H. Finch and H. R. Haldeman. Nixon specifically sought to avoid a lunch meeting with Finch, preferring to shift the appointment to a different time slot. The brief discussion concluded with a decision to finalize the logistics of these encounters.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate and review the upcoming schedule of Robert H. Finch. The brief session focused on logistical planning regarding Finch's official engagements. No further administrative actions were recorded beyond this scheduling discussion.
President Nixon met briefly with Alexander P. Butterfield to coordinate the President's daily calendar and administrative logistics. The discussion focused specifically on the scheduling of a meeting with Robert H. Finch. This interaction served to finalize administrative arrangements for the President's upcoming appointments.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to conduct a brief review of his daily schedule. The primary focus of the discussion concerned the timing and arrangements for upcoming meetings with Robert H. Finch and H.R. Haldeman. Following this administrative coordination, Bull concluded the meeting and departed.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman, Robert Finch, Ronald Ziegler, and Alexander Butterfield to coordinate 1972 re-election strategy, focusing specifically on California politics and the management of Republican primaries. The group discussed the potential for Caspar Weinberger to run for mayor of San Francisco to boost the President's standing in the state, while also strategizing on how to handle potential stand-in candidates and primary challenges. Nixon emphasized a desire to minimize his direct campaign travel during the primaries, delegating tactical operations to a small, loyal team including Haldeman, Finch, and Bryce Harlow, while expressing distrust toward Charles Colson’s political judgment.
President Nixon held an Oval Office meeting with an unidentified individual to discuss matters pertaining to the President's official schedule. While the specific identity of the participant and the details of their conversation remain unrecorded, the discussion focused on logistical or planning requirements for the executive office. The interaction concluded when the individual departed the office shortly before 9:20 am.