Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 556
Nixon White House Tape 556 (August 6, 1971)
20 conversations · Oval Office
Featuring Nixon, Butterfield, Haldeman, Kissinger, White House photographer
President Nixon met with Henry Kissinger and H.R. Haldeman to coordinate high-level foreign policy initiatives, specifically focusing on the status of Vietnam peace negotiations, potential US-China relations, and ongoing diplomatic channels with the Soviet Union. The discussion addressed the political implications of Vietnam POW releases, the management of sensitive communications through unofficial channels, and strategic defense budgetary concerns regarding anti-ballistic missile limitations. Additionally, the participants touched upon Nixon's domestic popularity and the perceived conservative shift in the national mood, which they viewed as favorable for the President's upcoming political prospects.
President Nixon held a brief meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual to discuss matters related to his official schedule. The exchange was extremely short, concluding at the very start of the recorded interval. No further details regarding the substance of the discussion are available due to the brevity of the encounter and the lack of a transcript.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman met to coordinate the logistical arrangements for upcoming meetings with John B. Connally, Rudolph A. Peterson, and Congressional leadership. The pair focused on the spatial organization of the Oval Office, specifically discussing the optimal seating placement for the Congressional leaders. They ultimately decided to move the leadership seating to the left bench to better accommodate the group.
President Nixon met with his senior advisors, including John Connally and H. R. Haldeman, to formulate a strategy for addressing the U.S. economic crisis, specifically focusing on potential wage and price controls, import taxes, and fiscal policy. The group discussed the importance of timing their economic announcements to maximize psychological impact and manage congressional and international reactions. Later in the meeting, Nixon met with George H. W. Bush and Rudolph A. Peterson to discuss Peterson’s appointment to the UN Development Program and the need for better coordination of U.S. international economic and foreign aid policies.
President Nixon met with Republican congressional leadership, including Gerald R. Ford, Hugh Scott, and Robert P. Griffin, to coordinate legislative strategy on pressing domestic economic issues and sensitive foreign policy matters. The discussion focused on securing congressional cooperation for trade and tax policies, addressing unemployment and inflation, and managing public perception regarding the Vietnam War. Additionally, Nixon emphasized the necessity of maintaining strict confidentiality in diplomatic negotiations, particularly regarding his administration’s opening to the People's Republic of China and future discussions with the Soviet Union.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to review the logistics of an upcoming signing ceremony for the Council on Environmental Quality report. They discussed the expected attendance, including John C. Whitaker, and the management of press involvement for the event. This discussion served to finalize the President's schedule and administrative preparations for the ceremony.
President Richard Nixon met with Alexander Butterfield in the Oval Office to review the President’s daily schedule and prepare necessary documentation. The discussion focused on organizing materials intended for signature, specifically referencing the contents of the President's briefcase. This brief administrative consultation served to finalize the President's immediate operational agenda.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate a communication with Congressman Adam of Dixie Street. The brief exchange served primarily as a logistical request to place a telephone call to the representative. No further policy discussions or significant political developments occurred during this brief administrative interaction.
President Nixon met with members of the Council on Environmental Quality, including Russell E. Train and John C. Whitaker, to express his appreciation for their work. The meeting began with a brief photo session, followed by casual conversation regarding the President's upcoming travel plans, pop culture references, and historical anecdotes. The meeting concluded with Nixon presenting commemorative paperweights to the council members.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield in the Oval Office to address the administrative task of signing official documents. The discussion specifically concerned the use of pens for these signatures, including arrangements for Senator Michael J. Mansfield. This brief encounter served to finalize procedural details regarding presidential correspondence.
President Nixon initiated a brief contact with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. The interaction served administrative purposes to connect the President with a third party. No substantive policy discussions or significant political decisions occurred during this brief exchange.
President Nixon met briefly with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to address administrative matters regarding his daily schedule. The two reviewed an unspecified memorandum concerning the President's itinerary. The meeting concluded quickly after a brief exchange of pleasantries.
President Nixon held a brief introductory meeting with Congressman Wright Patman, the influential Chairman of the House Banking and Currency Committee. The discussion served as a preliminary touchpoint between the administration and the committee leadership regarding upcoming legislative priorities. No formal policy decisions or specific legislative actions were finalized during this momentary exchange.
President Richard Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to discuss administrative details regarding the President's upcoming schedule on the presidential yacht, Sequoia, including menu selections. The conversation also touched upon official matters concerning Henry A. Kissinger and specific instructions to be relayed to Charles W. Colson. This brief administrative meeting functioned primarily to coordinate executive logistics and staff communications.
President Nixon contacted the White House operator to personally offer birthday greetings and express appreciation for her dedicated service. He acknowledged her role as a hardworking member of the White House staff and encouraged her to take time off to celebrate the occasion. This brief interaction served as a gesture of executive recognition for a member of the support staff.
President Nixon held a brief, informal exchange with the White House operator to discuss an unspecified matter of importance. The conversation served as a routine communication check between the President and the operator. No specific policy decisions or significant administrative actions were recorded during the brief duration of this interaction.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate an urgent communication. The brief exchange was initiated to connect the President to a specific party, indicating an immediate need for outreach. No further policy-related deliberations occurred during this brief logistical coordination.
President Nixon held a brief meeting with Linda Davis to discuss a matter of apparent urgency, as indicated by the repeated emphasis on the importance of the subject matter. The dialogue suggests an ongoing task or project that Davis committed to continuing, with a mutual desire to avoid any delays. No specific policy decisions were finalized, but the participants confirmed their shared commitment to moving the work forward.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to discuss sensitive foreign policy issues, primarily focusing on ongoing Vietnam peace negotiations and the strategic implications of recent press coverage. They evaluated North Vietnamese positions, including North Vietnamese demands for U.S. withdrawal and economic aid, while also considering how these developments affected the administration's leverage with South Vietnamese leader Nguyen Van Thieu. Additionally, the participants touched upon regional crises, including the India-Pakistan situation and evolving diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China.
President Nixon met with United States Secret Service agents in the Oval Office to discuss security-related matters. While no transcript exists to detail specific action items, the meeting focused on operational protocols and protection strategies for the President. The discussion served as a routine coordination session between the commander-in-chief and his protective detail.