Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 526
Nixon White House Tape 526 (June 18, 1971)
4 conversations · Oval Office · about 1 hr 40 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Butterfield, Haldeman, Senghor, De Seabra
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield in the Oval Office to receive and review an item delivered by National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger. The brief two-minute session served as a logistical exchange of sensitive materials. No further details regarding the nature of the document or subsequent actions were recorded during this interaction.
President Nixon, H.R. Haldeman, and Alexander Butterfield met to coordinate the administration's strategic response to the publication of the Pentagon Papers. The President decided to avoid immediate personal public statements to steer clear of ongoing judicial proceedings, opting instead to have National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger attack the media and the leaks through background briefings. The group concluded that they should shift the political narrative by highlighting the documents' inclusion of actions by previous Democratic administrations while emphasizing that the release of classified information threatens national security and ongoing delicate diplomatic negotiations.
President Nixon met with Senegalese President Léopold Sédar Senghor to discuss the geopolitical landscape in Africa, specifically the threats posed by Chinese and Soviet communist influence. Senghor emphasized Senegal's commitment to Western-aligned development and his belief in a pluralistic future where African nations contribute to a global civilization. The leaders also addressed economic development priorities, including agricultural infrastructure, fishing rights, and the importance of U.S. investment in the region.
The participants discuss an apparent administrative or security oversight regarding the verification of individuals or materials within the Oval Office. The exchange suggests a brief, pointed disagreement over whether a proper check had been performed prior to the meeting. No further substantive policy matters are addressed in this short, fragmented segment.