Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 550
Nixon White House Tape 550 (July 28, 1971)
4 conversations · Oval Office · about 1 hr 20 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Haldeman, Bull, Butterfield, Ehrlichman
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to discuss various personnel assignments, including potential roles for Robert Finch and Donald Rumsfeld, and to coordinate the President's upcoming schedule, specifically events surrounding the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction. They reviewed the political implications of Arthur Burns's public comments on the economy and discussed managing relations with conservative figures such as William F. Buckley Jr. and J. Daniel Mahoney. The conversation also touched upon intelligence gathering and the administration's strategic handling of various political outreach initiatives.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman briefly conferred regarding the removal of John S. Davies from a specific assignment or post. The discussion centered on confirming that Davies had been successfully removed and ensuring that he would not be permitted to carry weapons. This interaction serves as a follow-up to personnel decisions aimed at restricting Davies's official duties and access.
President Nixon and his advisors discussed the scheduling of various domestic and international political meetings, including an upcoming engagement with Ronald Reagan. Much of the conversation focused on managing the public relations challenges surrounding Vice President Spiro Agnew’s recent foreign travel, with the participants expressing frustration over his negative relationship with the press and his preference for recreational activities over substantive engagement. The group also touched upon economic strategy, the upcoming federal budget, and ongoing labor concerns in the steel and shipping industries.
United States Secret Service agents gathered in the Oval Office to conduct a brief, informal coordination session regarding presidential security details. The recording captures disjointed dialogue characterized by routine logistical directives and procedural acknowledgments among the protection team. No major policy shifts or strategic decisions are documented in this fragment, as the discussion remains limited to immediate operational instructions.