Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 531
Nixon White House Tape 531 (June 28, 1971 – June 29, 1971)
32 conversations · Oval Office · about 4 hr 41 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, White House photographer, Butterfield, Haldeman
H. R. Haldeman met with unidentified participants in the Oval Office to conduct administrative business. Due to the lack of an available transcript, the specific subjects addressed remain unknown. No clear decisions or significant developments can be attributed to this brief, uncatalogued exchange.
President Nixon met with departing economic advisor Henrik S. Houthakker and Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Paul W. McCracken to express appreciation for Houthakker’s service. The meeting primarily served as a farewell, featuring a photograph session and the presentation of gifts. The President concluded the brief engagement by acknowledging Houthakker's contributions to the administration's economic efforts.
President Nixon met with Jane Dart and John D. Ehrlichman, accompanied briefly by a White House photographer, for a social visit to arrange a photograph and exchange gifts. The conversation included brief discussions regarding Dart’s upcoming travel plans to New York and the health and activities of her husband, Justin W. Dart. The meeting concluded cordially after the participants finalized their photographic arrangements.
President Nixon met with Barbara Kilberg and John Ehrlichman to discuss Kilberg’s recent professional experiences and future career plans following her time at the White House. The conversation touched upon the challenges of navigating legal and professional sectors, including anecdotes regarding Supreme Court Justices Abe Fortas and Hugo Black. The meeting concluded with the President presenting a gift to Kilberg as she transitioned to her next professional role.
President Nixon met with Jerome Rosow, James Hodgson, John Ehrlichman, and George Shultz to discuss Rosow's departure and future professional plans. The meeting included the presentation of gifts to Rosow and a brief photograph session with the White House photographer. The participants also touched upon broader administration goals regarding the environment and increasing employment figures.
President Nixon met with his personal aide, Stephen B. Bull, to discuss administrative logistics and the President's upcoming schedule. The brief conversation focused on coordinating appointments with C. Fred Bergsten and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. The meeting concluded quickly after the necessary scheduling details were addressed.
President Nixon met with C. Fred Bergsten, Alexander Haig, and Stephen Bull to discuss Bergsten’s transition out of the White House. The President expressed appreciation for Bergsten's service and encouraged him to maintain professional ties with the administration, specifically mentioning Peter G. Peterson and the Brookings Institution as he prepares to write a book. The brief meeting concluded with the President commending Bergsten’s contributions and past work.
President Nixon met with T. Warren Parker, facilitated by Charles W. Colson, to commend Parker's upcoming plans to attend the University of Maryland and his service in the Marine Corps. The brief meeting included a formal photo opportunity and the presentation of a presidential gift to honor Parker's service. During the exchange, Nixon shared personal reflections on his own World War II military experiences and expressed a desire to keep Parker out of future combat.
President Nixon met with William E. Casselman II and William E. Timmons to discuss Casselman’s transition into a role at the General Services Administration (GSA). The President also consulted with Timmons regarding recent legislative strategy, specifically focusing on a Vietnam-related vote and anticipated outcomes in a House-Senate conference committee. The discussion highlighted the administration's ongoing efforts to influence congressional leadership and committee members on key policy matters.
President Nixon met with William E. Kriegsman, Stephen B. Bull, and John C. Whitaker to facilitate a photo opportunity and sign an autograph for a staff member. During the brief exchange, the participants discussed the ongoing political counsel provided by Bryce N. Harlow. The meeting concluded after these logistical arrangements were settled.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield, Stephen B. Bull, and Ronald A. Harley to recognize Harley's twenty-five years of service. During this brief encounter, the President presented Harley with a gift and briefly discussed his professional tenure. The meeting concluded after a formal photograph was taken to commemorate the occasion.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate the scheduling of an upcoming meeting with Terry McGinnity. The two confirmed that McGinnity was currently in the White House and prepared to meet with the President and H.R. Haldeman. Bull facilitated the logistics for this immediate appointment, ensuring the President's schedule was adjusted to accommodate the guest.
President Nixon directs Henry Kissinger to aggressively restrict access to classified information by cutting off institutions like the Brookings Institution, RAND Corporation, and the Council on Foreign Relations. The President mandates a 90% reduction in the number of personnel cleared for top-secret documents across the government, including embassies and the Departments of State and Defense. This directive serves as a strategic move to secure sensitive information and limit external exposure to government intelligence.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to discuss adjustments and logistical details regarding the President's upcoming daily schedule. The conversation focused on coordination with staff members H.R. Haldeman and Terry McGinnity. The participants reached an understanding on the handling of schedule-related materials to ensure the President maintained control over his appointments.
President Nixon met with Treasury Secretary John Connally and Federal Reserve Chairman Arthur Burns to coordinate the administration's economic policy and messaging. The discussion focused on establishing a unified stance on wage and price controls, tax legislation, and fiscal stimulation to combat inflation. They emphasized the need for disciplined public communication, specifically designating Connally as the primary administration spokesman to prevent conflicting signals from officials like Burns.
President Nixon met with Treasury Secretary John Connally and Federal Reserve Chairman Arthur Burns to address growing public confusion and political friction caused by conflicting economic signals from the administration. The President emphasized the need for a unified public stance on economic policy, specifically urging Burns to avoid statements that undermine official administration decisions, despite Burns' insistence on his duty to provide independent, candid testimony as an economist. The meeting resulted in a tentative agreement for Burns to clarify in future congressional testimony that his views represent his own, rather than the administration's, while Connally committed to better coordinating the administration's economic messaging.
President Nixon met with his personal valet Manolo Sanchez and aide Stephen B. Bull to address logistical arrangements for a scheduled barber appointment. The brief discussion centered on managing the President's immediate availability and coordinating his personal schedule. The interaction concluded quickly as the participants departed to facilitate the President's next engagement.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to connect him to the "dirt shop," a colloquial term used by the administration to refer to the Special Investigations Unit. This brief directive highlights the President's direct involvement in tasking the unit, which was responsible for conducting sensitive and covert intelligence-gathering operations. The exchange underscores the secretive communication channels maintained between the Oval Office and the investigative team.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed administrative staffing, the need for simpler, more direct public communication, and concerns regarding foreign policy secrecy. They reviewed potential speechwriting candidates and criticized current drafts for being too profound or "deep" for the public to grasp. Additionally, they assessed the political implications of Henry Kissinger's clandestine negotiations and managed upcoming legislative challenges concerning Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers.
President Nixon communicated with a White House operator to facilitate a telephone connection. The brief exchange served as a functional interaction to initiate an outgoing call. No significant policy discussions or substantive developments occurred during this brief administrative bridge.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to discuss administrative matters regarding the scheduling of writers. The meeting was brief, lasting less than a minute, and concluded with the arrival of an unidentified individual. No major policy decisions were recorded during this interaction before Bull's departure.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to review administrative details regarding the President's upcoming schedule. The discussion focused specifically on arrangements for the Chowder and Marching Society, with particular attention given to Gerald R. Ford's involvement. This brief exchange served to coordinate protocol and logistics for the group's activities.
President Nixon and Clark MacGregor discuss the political challenges facing members of Congress regarding the Vietnam War, acknowledging the pressure representatives face from constituents to vote for withdrawal. To bolster support and show appreciation, the President decides to personally call several members of Congress, including John Jackson, Glenn Davis, and Keating. The meeting serves as a logistical coordination session for these outreach efforts to key legislative allies.
President Nixon met with Charles W. Colson to discuss the administration's political strategy regarding the ongoing Pentagon Papers controversy and the prosecution of Daniel Ellsberg. Nixon emphasized the importance of keeping the focus on Ellsberg’s theft of government documents to damage the credibility of the Democratic Party and potential 1972 challengers. They also analyzed the political impact of economic performance and polling data, with Nixon deciding to enforce tighter message discipline within his administration to prevent unauthorized leaks from economic advisors.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss the damaging impact of administration leaks on public confidence and the necessity for a more decisive, unified executive presence. They assess the reactions of cabinet members, specifically Peter G. Peterson, to the President's recent directives regarding discipline and interdepartmental policy. Haldeman is tasked with briefing the White House staff to reinforce these expectations and ensure a stronger, more confident public posture for the administration.
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met briefly to review the President's upcoming schedule and confirmed the readiness of four key individuals for scheduled engagements. The discussion centered on finalizing arrangements for meetings involving William P. Rogers, George H.W. Bush, and John D. Ehrlichman. The participants confirmed that all necessary preparations for these briefings were in order before concluding the meeting.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to coordinate the delicate logistics and strategic sequencing of potential summits with the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China. They discussed the diplomatic risks of managing these two major powers simultaneously, specifically aiming to secure a Soviet summit while maintaining the initiative on China through a high-level emissary. The participants emphasized the need for a major July 15 announcement to exert pressure on North Vietnam and agreed to reconvene later in the week to finalize their approach.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discussed a wide range of administrative and political concerns, focusing heavily on strategies for addressing the leaking of the Pentagon Papers and tightening government security classification systems. The President emphasized his desire to drastically reduce the number of individuals with top-secret clearances and instructed staff to implement a more restrictive, "Presidential" level of classification. Additionally, they reviewed the President's upcoming schedule, including trips and public appearances, and deliberated on personnel matters such as the appointment of an NLRB counsel and potential roles for Marty Anderson.
President Nixon met with James D. Hodgson and George P. Shultz to discuss the National Commission on Productivity, focusing on leveraging the commission to foster support for administration economic and research initiatives. The participants deliberated on strategies to bypass environmental hurdles for major projects, the potential for private-sector research investment, and the appointment of Peter G. Nash as NLRB General Counsel. Nixon emphasized his administration's philosophy regarding the appropriate balance between government intervention and private enterprise, tasking his aides with identifying government functions that could be effectively privatized to improve efficiency and symbolic impact.
President Richard M. Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to facilitate a telephonic communication regarding F. Edward Hébert. The brief discussion served to connect the President with the Representative for an urgent or scheduled call. Following the transition of this information, the meeting concluded immediately.
President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, Alexander Haig, and Representative F. Edward Hébert met to discuss congressional strategy regarding the draft and the influence of legislative language on ongoing Vietnam peace negotiations. The President tasked Hébert with reviewing specific amendment language to ensure it aligned with White House objectives while avoiding problematic deadline constraints. The discussion also addressed the administration's high-stakes diplomatic maneuvering, specifically balancing potential summits with the Soviet Union and China.
Stephen B. Bull met with an unidentified individual within the Oval Office to discuss undisclosed administrative or logistical matters. The interaction was extremely brief, lasting only ten seconds before the participants departed. Due to the lack of available audio content or documentation, no substantive topics, decisions, or action items could be determined from the recording.