Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 551
Nixon White House Tape 551 (July 29, 1971)
12 conversations · Oval Office · about 4 hr 58 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, White House photographer, Sanchez, MacGregor
President Nixon held a series of meetings involving staff and administration officials to coordinate on several pressing domestic and economic policy matters. The participants discussed legislative strategy regarding the Lockheed Corporation, the political risks associated with school busing and desegregation litigation in Texas, and the appointment of William D. Eberle as the new Special Trade Representative. Nixon emphasized a transition toward prioritizing domestic interests in international trade negotiations and sought to align his team on messaging regarding the administration's stance on school integration compliance.
In this Oval Office meeting, President Nixon met with Manolo Sanchez and an unknown individual to discuss various political and administrative matters. The conversation touched upon the management of domestic programs, concerns regarding Vice President Agnew's frustrations with White House staff, and the strategic handling of the China situation. Additionally, the participants addressed personnel issues within the administration and the need for improved coordination to ensure the President's policy goals were effectively executed.
President Nixon met with Murray Chotiner to discuss the growing instability and grievances of Vice President Spiro Agnew. Chotiner reported that Agnew felt marginalized by White House staff, particularly regarding his exclusion from domestic policy discussions and his desire to visit both Peking and Taiwan. Nixon and Chotiner acknowledged the need to manage Agnew’s volatile state of mind to prevent public embarrassment or a potential rift, with Nixon emphasizing the necessity of maintaining strict secrecy regarding his initiatives in China.
President Nixon met with administration officials, including George Shultz and Donald Johnson, along with Congressmen Charles and Olin Teague to discuss the status and long-term needs of the veterans' healthcare system. The discussion focused on balancing budget constraints with the necessity of upgrading aging VA hospital facilities and addressing the specific health and reintegration challenges faced by Vietnam-era veterans. Nixon emphasized his commitment to providing veterans with an 'edge' in public life and directed the participants to coordinate efforts between the VA and other agencies to develop a comprehensive, long-term health strategy, particularly regarding drug abuse treatment and facility utilization.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to review and manage his upcoming daily schedule. The discussion focused on coordinating appointments for Ambassador Agha Hilaly and Martin Anderson, with particular emphasis on navigating scheduling conflicts regarding Anderson’s availability. Bull was tasked with managing these logistics and determining if Anderson could be successfully relocated to the Oval Office despite his ongoing crisis.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met with Pakistani Ambassador Agha Hilaly to express gratitude for Pakistan's pivotal, secret role in facilitating the administration's opening to the People's Republic of China. The discussion addressed the diplomatic handling of the PRC's upcoming UN membership, the search for a new UN Secretary General, and the ongoing regional tensions between India and Pakistan. Nixon encouraged the Pakistani government to improve its public relations efforts regarding the humanitarian situation in East Pakistan to better counter critical Western press coverage while pledging continued, though constrained, U.S. economic support.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to review logistical arrangements for upcoming meetings with George P. Shultz, Martin Anderson, and a group of officers from the Distributive Education Clubs of America. They discussed the protocol for the student group's visit, focusing specifically on the details of a planned photo opportunity and the management of presidential gifts. The brief exchange ensured that the presentation and schedule were prepared to the President's satisfaction.
President Nixon met with representatives from the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), accompanied by Henry C. Cashen II, to discuss the organization's work and receive commemorative gifts including a plaque and a blazer. During the exchange, the President presented the group with official presidential gifts and pens while briefly commenting on the challenges of national service and global leadership. The meeting concluded with an invitation for the President to attend an upcoming DECA conference in Salt Lake City.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to review and refine the President's daily schedule. The discussion focused on coordinating upcoming appointments with key staff members, including John D. Ehrlichman, George P. Shultz, and Martin Anderson. The interaction served as a logistical planning session to finalize the attendance and sequencing of these internal briefings.
President Nixon met with John Ehrlichman and Martin Anderson to discuss staffing needs and the strategic direction of domestic policy, specifically emphasizing the need for conservative viewpoints to balance his administration's economic and social programs. The discussion focused on reforming or dismantling Great Society-era initiatives, such as the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) and various model city programs, while addressing challenges in housing integration and international trade. Nixon encouraged Anderson to rejoin the White House staff to provide essential input on the 1973 federal budget and to ensure that his administration's policy development reflects a more distinct ideological alternative to existing bureaucratic approaches.
President Nixon and George Shultz met to conduct an extensive review of the U.S. economy, focusing on current inflation, potential labor unrest in the steel and railroad industries, and upcoming international monetary policy decisions. Shultz updated the President on negotiations to prevent strikes, while Nixon urged caution regarding drastic administrative actions like wage-price freezes or ending gold convertibility. They also discussed federal budget strategy, specifically targeting defense spending, personnel salary grade inflation, and shifting the political blame for excessive government spending onto Congress.
Secret Service agents briefly gathered in the Oval Office for a routine administrative or logistical exchange. The dialogue consists entirely of non-substantive acknowledgments and professional courtesies. No specific policy decisions, security intelligence, or actionable instructions were recorded during this brief encounter.