Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 518
Nixon White House Tape 518 (June 12, 1971 – June 13, 1971)
9 conversations · Oval Office · about 2 hr 35 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Haldeman, Woods, Butterfield, Sanchez
President Nixon met with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, for a brief administrative consultation in the Oval Office. While no transcript exists to detail the specific content, such meetings typically involved coordinating the President's private schedule, managing confidential correspondence, or handling sensitive personal files. No major policy developments were recorded during this brief three-minute interaction.
President Nixon met briefly with Alexander P. Butterfield and Ronald L. Ziegler to coordinate his daily schedule and review logistics for an upcoming event. The discussion centered on final preparations for a White House lawn ceremony, specifically addressing the weather forecast and the physical appearance of the site. The participants ensured that all arrangements were set to proceed as planned for the day's activities.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed the ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the Vietnam War, focusing on the strategic movements of North Vietnamese negotiator Le Duc Tho and the potential for a breakthrough in negotiations. Kissinger briefed the President on logistics for secret travel to facilitate these talks, while both men assessed the impact of the domestic political climate and media opposition on their foreign policy initiatives. Additionally, they reviewed progress regarding upcoming summits with the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China, emphasizing the need for discretion and timing to maintain diplomatic leverage.
President Nixon initiates a brief request to the White House operator to be connected to a specific individual. The interaction serves as a functional communication bridge to facilitate an upcoming call. No substantive policy matters or broader administrative decisions were addressed during this brief exchange.
President Richard Nixon met with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to briefly discuss a prior telephone communication. The exchange remains largely obscured due to withdrawn material, but the dialogue suggests a follow-up on a specific matter previously handled via phone. Further context for this brief interaction is linked to a subsequent conversation, 5-20.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman met to discuss sensitive foreign policy and political strategy, specifically regarding the Middle East, the Vietnam War, and the role of Secretary of State William P. Rogers. They reviewed reports from John N. Mitchell concerning Israel, the Jewish community’s political influence, and Henry Kissinger’s covert diplomatic backchannels. Nixon expressed frustration with Rogers' management of the State Department, questioning his effectiveness and loyalty, while contemplating how to utilize his staff to better monitor foreign affairs.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to discuss various political and administrative issues, specifically focusing on the upcoming wedding of Tricia Nixon Cox and the associated media management. The conversation moved to strategic foreign policy concerns, including the status of Vietnam negotiations, the potential for a breakthrough with China, and the management of sensitive Middle East relations despite friction with Secretary of State William Rogers. Additionally, they reviewed domestic political tactics, such as the strategy for handling the hostile press establishment and the use of the drug initiative to build public support.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to discuss a wide-ranging agenda of administration business, primarily focusing on managing press relations, staffing decisions, and public perception. A significant portion of the discussion centered on logistics and symbolic management of Tricia Nixon Cox's upcoming White House wedding, including strategies for handling potential rain and maximizing positive television coverage. The participants also reviewed internal friction regarding Secretary of State William P. Rogers, the expansion of the speechwriting office to better appeal to 'Middle America,' and strategies to improve the administration's image through carefully coordinated events and outreach to specific interest groups.
President Nixon met with White House photographer Oliver F. Atkins and personal valet Manolo Sanchez to review and discuss personal photographs from the recent wedding of his daughter, Tricia Nixon. The participants examined various candid and official images, sharing positive feedback on the visual documentation and the favorable media coverage surrounding the ceremony. Nixon directed that specific photographs be delivered to his daughter, reflecting the informal and personal nature of the gathering.