Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 549
Nixon White House Tape 549 (July 28, 1971)
26 conversations · Oval Office · about 5 hr 17 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Haldeman, Bull, Butterfield, Sanchez
President Nixon held a brief, two-minute meeting with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office. Due to the lack of a transcript or recording content, the specific purpose and subject matter of the discussion remain unknown to historical researchers. No policy decisions, developments, or action items can be verified from this interaction.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to place an outgoing call to First Lady Pat Nixon. The brief exchange served as a routine administrative request to facilitate communication with his wife. No substantive political or policy matters were discussed during this short interaction.
President Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon held a brief exchange regarding logistical arrangements for police presence at an upcoming event. The dialogue focused on ensuring security coordination at a specific location referred to as 'W.' No major policy decisions were made, as the conversation served primarily as a functional briefing on security deployment.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discussed media management, scheduling, and the political optics surrounding Vice President Spiro Agnew’s recent trip. They focused on refining the President's public image, specifically regarding press access at events and the potential political fallout from his relationship with Agnew. The pair also addressed the President's upcoming schedule, staff appointments for the First Lady, and the development of economic messaging to be managed by the administration’s key fiscal advisors.
This recording captures a brief, largely unintelligible encounter in the Oval Office between President Nixon and unknown visitors. Despite the historical record noting the presence of unidentified participants, the audio consists primarily of ambient room noise and muffled conversation. Due to the poor quality of the recording, no substantive policy discussions, decisions, or actionable directives can be discerned from the segment.
President Nixon met with unidentified individuals in the Oval Office to briefly discuss the status of various building projects. The conversation remained largely unintelligible, consisting primarily of speculative remarks regarding the physical presence and location of these structures. No substantive policy decisions or actionable directives were recorded during this brief exchange.
President Nixon, H. R. Haldeman, and Henry Kissinger discussed strategies for managing public and congressional expectations regarding the upcoming diplomatic initiative with the People's Republic of China. The conversation centered on neutralizing political opposition, balancing relations with Japan, and ensuring the PRC summit serves as a strategic maneuver against the Soviet Union. Nixon emphasized the necessity of a cold-blooded approach, maintaining that foreign policy successes should be used to strengthen his domestic political position and re-election prospects.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, discussed administrative details regarding White House social scheduling and guest list management. The conversation focused on inviting Lowell Watham, acknowledging Frank McCarthy, and organizing an upcoming dinner featuring Pat Nixon, Patrick and Shelley Buchanan, Raymond Price, and William Safire. Nixon instructed Woods to consult with the First Lady regarding these specific guest invitations and seating arrangements.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield in the Oval Office to address administrative duties regarding pending paperwork. The discussion focused primarily on the review and signature of official documents, including a judicial appointment. The meeting concluded after these items were processed and Butterfield departed.
President Nixon consulted with a member of John D. Ehrlichman's staff to coordinate scheduling and determine the staffer's current location. The discussion focused on establishing a protocol for the staffer to provide a status update via telephone upon their arrival. This brief exchange served to facilitate administrative communication within the White House during a period of shifting availability.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate an upcoming meeting with John D. Ehrlichman. The discussion focused on securing Ehrlichman's presence in the Oval Office for a private briefing. Bull was instructed to locate Ehrlichman, who was situated in the Presidential Library room, and escort him to the President.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman met in the Oval Office to coordinate administration strategy across several fronts, including legal actions related to the Pentagon Papers and the Daniel Ellsberg case. They discussed personnel shifts to strengthen economic policy management, the implementation of a new children's park project on the National Mall, and intelligence-gathering efforts concerning political opponents and internal leaks. Nixon also provided directives on foreign economic policy, emphasizing a shift toward bilateral negotiations to prioritize domestic interests over foreign aid commitments.
President Nixon, H.R. Haldeman, and Alexander Butterfield met to coordinate administration strategy regarding economic messaging, legislative priorities, and personnel assignments. They discussed the tactical use of senior officials like John Connally and the management of staff roles, including potential diplomatic or special ambassador assignments for Charles Rhyne and others. A significant portion of the discussion focused on managing conservative opposition to the administration's foreign policy initiatives, specifically the opening to China and arms control, with Nixon directing that Henry Kissinger engage with key conservative figures like Ronald Reagan to maintain their support.
President Nixon held a brief, recorded session in the Oval Office with one or more unidentified individuals. While the specific transcript is unavailable, the meeting served as an official consultation within the executive office. No substantive policy developments or decisions can be confirmed due to the lack of available documentation regarding the dialogue.
President Nixon met briefly with his personal aide, Stephen B. Bull, to discuss administrative matters regarding the President's daily schedule. The exchange was exceedingly short, lasting only one minute, and focused on managing the President's immediate agenda. No major policy decisions or significant developments were recorded during this brief logistical consultation.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman briefly discussed political management strategies concerning conservative figures, specifically mentioning J. Daniel Mahoney, William F. Buckley, Jr., and Senator Charles Percy. The President expressed a desire to limit Percy's influence within the organizational structure while advocating for a strategy of leveraging John Mitchell and other loyalists to counterbalance dissenting conservative factions. The discussion concluded with a focus on utilizing executive power to navigate and neutralize potential political opposition.
President Nixon met with Secret Service agents in the Oval Office to discuss logistical details regarding his upcoming travel and vehicle arrangements. The conversation focused on the President's personal transit plans and the security protocols associated with his movements. The interaction concluded with informal exchanges between the President and the protective detail before they departed.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discuss managing conservative opposition regarding the administration's burgeoning initiative with the People's Republic of China. Ziegler assesses the potential for backlash from right-wing figures and publications like the National Review, noting that while vocal critics exist, they represent a relatively small segment of the political spectrum. Nixon concludes that the administration should avoid proactively addressing these critics, opting instead to maintain a firm stance against the anticipated political fallout.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, engage in a brief, informal exchange concerning Manolo Sanchez. The dialogue centers on a lighthearted or anecdotal observation regarding a dark road and limited visibility. No policy decisions or significant administrative actions are documented during this short interaction.
President Nixon met with his valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office to discuss lunch arrangements. The President requested rye crisps and milk to be served during his upcoming meeting with Vice President Spiro T. Agnew. The brief exchange focused solely on these personal dietary preferences and logistical preparations for the afternoon schedule.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to coordinate the logistics for the arrival of Vice President Spiro T. Agnew. Bull confirmed he would personally notify the President the moment the Vice President’s vehicle entered the White House grounds. The discussion ensured that the President would be present to greet Agnew upon his arrival.
President Nixon held a brief, informal meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual. The interaction was primarily social or logistical in nature, involving requests for refreshments such as coffee and tea. No substantive policy discussions or significant political developments occurred during this brief encounter.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to coordinate the logistical arrangements for Vice President Spiro T. Agnew’s upcoming arrival at the White House. The discussion focused on establishing the specific protocols and entry procedures required to ensure the smooth reception of the Vice President. The meeting concluded with the two men departing to facilitate the implementation of these arrival plans.
Secret Service agents briefly entered the Oval Office to provide President Nixon with a security update regarding his imminent departure. They alerted the President that he was expected at his vehicle and that a crowd was beginning to form. This report served as a final logistical coordination point to ensure the President's safe transition to his next destination.
President Nixon, Vice President Agnew, and Secretary of State Rogers met to debrief on Agnew's recent diplomatic tour of Africa and the Middle East, while also discussing the administration's ongoing initiative to open relations with the People's Republic of China. The participants expressed frustration with press coverage—specifically in Newsweek—regarding the Vice President's trip and the China policy, and they strategized on how to manage the ensuing public and congressional reactions. Additionally, the President and his staff discussed personnel changes, including the potential replacement of Ambassador Joseph Farland in Pakistan, and reviewed the broader geopolitical implications of the unfolding China initiative.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office to discuss minor domestic arrangements. During this brief interaction, the President requested a serving of consommé and additional eggs. No major policy discussions or administrative decisions were addressed during this exchange.