Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 517
Nixon White House Tape 517 (June 11, 1971)
25 conversations · Oval Office · about 5 hr 28 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Sanchez, Kissinger, Haldeman
This brief interaction involved unidentified individuals visiting the Oval Office to address the physical positioning of the office door. The dialogue was limited to a functional observation regarding the door's orientation. No substantive policy matters or significant administrative decisions were recorded during this two-minute exchange.
President Nixon met with his valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office for a brief, informal interaction. During this encounter, the President requested a cup of coffee. The meeting concluded quickly without any substantive policy discussions.
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to review the President’s daily schedule. The primary focus of the brief discussion was coordinating an upcoming appointment with National Security Advisor Henry A. Kissinger. This administrative exchange facilitated the immediate logistical planning for the President's morning agenda.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman and Henry Kissinger to discuss the administration's political strategy regarding the Vietnam War, press relations, and international economic policy. The group addressed criticism from figures like Clark Clifford and Senator Edward Kennedy, while emphasizing the importance of projecting positive movement in peace negotiations and foreign initiatives. Additionally, Nixon directed his staff to adopt a tougher stance on international loan policies and foreign leaders, specifically targeting Salvador Allende in Chile and bureaucratic resistance within the State Department.
President Nixon met with Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare Elliot Richardson and other officials to discuss the administration's health policy agenda, specifically focusing on Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and the rising national drug crisis. The President emphasized the need to repair the public image of the medical profession by encouraging doctors to take a proactive, non-moralizing role in public education regarding the dangers of drug abuse. Nixon and his advisors agreed to leverage the influence of the American Medical Association (AMA) to mobilize physicians as credible community voices to combat drug dependency among youth.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman, Henry Kissinger, John Sherman Cooper, and Clark MacGregor to discuss the necessity of maintaining secrecy regarding sensitive foreign policy negotiations, particularly those involving the Soviet Union, China, and the ongoing war in Vietnam. Nixon emphasized that he requires time to explore these diplomatic channels and urged Congressional leaders to support his administration's approach rather than forcing early legislative deadlines that could derail potential breakthroughs. The participants reviewed legislative strategy regarding the Vietnam War, including the potential for drafting a substitute to the Nedzi-Whalen Amendment based on Nixon's October 7, 1970, proposal to better reflect the administration's goals.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to finalize logistical details regarding Tricia Nixon’s upcoming wedding rehearsal and associated television coverage. They coordinated the timing of briefings with staff members Ronald L. Ziegler, William H. Carruthers, and Mark I. Goode to ensure the event schedule remained manageable. Alexander P. Butterfield briefly joined the President toward the end of the session to discuss preparations for a forthcoming meeting.
President Nixon met with Samuel L. Devine and William E. Timmons to discuss strategies for managing congressional relations, particularly regarding the administration's foreign policy and controversial domestic legislation. Nixon emphasized that his foreign policy, including arms control and diplomatic overtures to China, was strictly based on American self-interest and leveraged against Soviet and Chinese rivalries. The group also addressed the challenges of passing welfare reform (H.R. 1), the necessity of potential vetoes for fiscal control, and the political implications of managing demands from the Black Caucus. Nixon urged his guests to maintain a firm, principled stance in their respective districts to ensure the administration's legislative and diplomatic objectives were understood by the public.
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to coordinate logistical details regarding an upcoming appointment with Baron Guido Zerilli-Marimo. The discussion focused on scheduling the meeting and arranging for an appropriate gift for the visitor. This brief exchange served to finalize the protocol and administrative preparations for the President’s diplomatic encounter.
President Nixon met with Baron Guido Zerilli-Marimo to discuss the political and diplomatic situation in Italy, focusing on the need for effective U.S. representation in Rome. Zerilli-Marimo argued that the current U.S. ambassador lacked the necessary energy and networking capabilities to navigate Italy's complex political landscape and growing Communist influence. The conversation also touched upon broader geopolitical themes, including the necessity of a strong, unified Europe and a robust Japan to serve as counterbalances to Soviet influence and reduce the burden on the United States as the sole global policeman.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to review the immediate status of his daily schedule. The brief discussion focused on the arrival of Ambassador Robert C. Hill and the coordination of the President's upcoming barber shop appointment. No major policy decisions were made during this logistical briefing.
President Nixon met with U.S. Ambassador to Spain Robert C. Hill and aide Harry S. Dent to discuss political strategy and diplomatic concerns. The conversation centered on the potential political future of Ambassador Hill, particularly his interest in New Hampshire state politics, and the critical need to maintain stability in Spain following the eventual departure of General Francisco Franco. Nixon emphasized the importance of appointing a strong, reliable staff for Hill's successor and directed Hill to consult with Henry Kissinger and John Mitchell to ensure both diplomatic and domestic political objectives were effectively aligned.
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to coordinate his immediate schedule, specifically regarding an appointment with his barber. They also discussed an upcoming briefing with Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. The conversation concluded with the President deciding to proceed with his grooming appointment despite Ziegler’s wait.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met briefly in the Oval Office to coordinate the President's upcoming schedule. The primary focus of the discussion concerned the status and engagement of Robert C. Hill. This brief exchange served to finalize administrative arrangements regarding Hill's role and the President's immediate agenda.
President Nixon and Alexander Butterfield met in the Oval Office to briefly review the President’s upcoming daily schedule. The discussion addressed logistical details, including appointments involving Samuel L. Devine, William E. Timmons, H. R. Haldeman, and a barber. No major policy decisions were reached during this short administrative briefing.
This recording captures an unidentified group of individuals present in the Oval Office, likely involved in technical or logistical tasks related to the room's physical layout. The participants coordinate the movement of furniture or equipment, confirming that the area is clear of other personnel. No substantive policy or political discussions occurred during this brief exchange.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to conduct a brief review of the President’s upcoming schedule. The conversation focused on managing the logistics and priorities of the presidential calendar. No significant policy decisions were recorded during this routine administrative coordination.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman coordinated the arrangements and personnel for upcoming meetings, specifically focusing on the participation of Peter G. Peterson, John B. Connally, and Henry A. Kissinger. The President instructed Haldeman to ensure that key stakeholders were properly briefed, emphasizing the importance of candid discourse regarding trade policy. This discussion solidified the agenda and attendee list intended to address significant economic and trade-related priorities.
President Nixon met with his staff to finalize the intricate television production schedule and logistical planning for his daughter Tricia’s upcoming wedding at the White House. The participants reviewed the sequence for the ceremony, the receiving line, the first dance, and the cake-cutting, while also confirming policies to restrict specific journalists from the press pool. Additionally, the President briefly reviewed a statement regarding housing integration, expressing satisfaction that the language successfully balanced legal enforcement with assurances against forced suburban integration.
President Nixon met with Henry Kissinger and John Connally to coordinate a firm, unified U.S. foreign policy toward Latin American nations that have expropriated American assets. The discussion focused on leveraging international lending agencies, such as the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, to apply economic pressure or withhold loans from countries like Chile and Bolivia that pursue anti-American policies. The participants agreed to bypass bureaucratic hesitation from the State Department to ensure a more cohesive and hard-nosed strategy, including a potential policy shift regarding relations with the Chilean military.
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to issue a direct request for the presence of Henry Kissinger. The brief encounter served primarily as a logistical coordination for the President to consult with his National Security Advisor. No further substantive policy discussions were recorded during this session.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman and Henry Kissinger to discuss personnel changes within the State Department and strategic shifts in U.S. foreign policy. The conversation focused on the need for more "vigorous" and loyal leadership in diplomatic postings, specifically criticizing the performance of Graham A. Martin in Italy and exploring potential roles for Peter M. Flanigan. Additionally, the group reviewed the status of U.S. relations with China, the Soviet Union's internal leadership dynamics, and plans for managing international expropriation issues.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, met to discuss the logistics and success of recent and upcoming events related to Tricia Nixon’s wedding festivities. The conversation touched upon the attendance of various family members and friends, the scheduling of refreshments and travel, and the positive impressions made by Julie Nixon Eisenhower and the couple. The two concluded by acknowledging a sensitive personal situation regarding the First Lady, agreeing to defer addressing it until the following Monday to avoid unnecessary tension.
Secret Service agents met with President Nixon in the Oval Office to discuss administrative logistics, specifically regarding the current location of Rose Mary Woods. The brief meeting concluded shortly after the inquiry, with the agents departing the office. No significant policy decisions were recorded during this exchange.
President Nixon met with John Ehrlichman and Elliot Richardson to navigate the political strategy surrounding revenue sharing and welfare reform initiatives. The discussion focused on securing legislative support by managing relationships with key figures like Wilbur Mills and leveraging administration victories to appeal to the President's constituency. Additionally, they evaluated personnel shifts, specifically considering the potential reassignment of Robert Finch and the effectiveness of various cabinet members in implementing the administration's policy agenda.