Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 546
Nixon White House Tape 546 (July 26, 1971)
5 conversations · Oval Office · about 1 hr 50 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Haldeman, Bull, Peterson, MacGregor
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate upcoming appointments and resolve personal logistics for Charles G. “Bebe” Rebozo. The discussion included scheduling meetings with John Mitchell and Peter G. Peterson, as well as managing the details of Rebozo's hotel accommodations through discreet channels. The participants also touched upon the Pentagon Papers case and the expected return of Henry Kissinger.
President Nixon and Peter G. Peterson met to discuss the deteriorating U.S. balance of payments and the potential for a bold, secret economic initiative to address rising unemployment and trade deficits. Peterson argued that traditional economic measures were insufficient and politically risky, instead proposing a temporary import surcharge and export rebate system to stimulate the economy. The President authorized Peterson to coordinate with John Connally, George Shultz, and Paul McCracken to develop a confidential plan, while emphasizing the need for absolute secrecy to prevent market instability.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to coordinate his upcoming schedule and address administrative priorities. The discussion focused primarily on a meeting request from Clark MacGregor, specifically regarding strategy surrounding the Mansfield Amendment. This brief interaction served to manage the President's calendar in light of pressing legislative concerns.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman, Clark MacGregor, and John Ehrlichman to coordinate the administration's legislative strategy, focusing on the draft extension bill, busing, and the People's Republic of China initiative. The participants discussed managing the political fallout from school desegregation and housing issues, as well as the potential impact of Eugene McCarthy's 1972 candidacy on the political left. Additionally, the President and his advisors reviewed economic policy, the handling of government leaks like the Pentagon Papers, and the personal conduct of the President's brother, Donald Nixon.
Secret Service agents met with President Nixon in the Oval Office to discuss physical security protocols regarding access to the room. The President issued direct instructions to ensure personnel were properly stationed at the door for controlled entry. This interaction highlights the heightened focus on internal security and access management within the White House during this period.