Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 557
Nixon White House Tape 557 (August 9, 1971)
7 conversations · Oval Office · about 3 hr 6 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Haldeman, Butterfield, Kissinger, Ziegler
President Nixon, H. R. Haldeman, and Henry Kissinger met to discuss foreign policy, specifically relations with the PRC, USSR, India, and Pakistan, while also coordinating their strategy regarding the Vietnam War. A central focus of the conversation was the hostile press coverage of the administration, which they analyzed using an Edith Efron media study to confirm network bias against the President. Nixon and his advisors decided to maintain a low profile on Vietnam while launching a more aggressive public relations effort to challenge the media's credibility and the liberal establishment's influence on government policy.
President Nixon met briefly with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office to discuss logistical arrangements. The conversation focused on the placement or installation of a specific, unspecified item. No major policy decisions were recorded during this brief administrative interaction.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield and Stephen B. Bull to coordinate logistical details for an upcoming public relations event involving the "Cyclemates II" bicycling group. The discussion focused on choreographing the group's route around the South Portico to ensure optimal media coverage and scheduling the President’s subsequent greeting. The meeting concluded with a plan to bring the participants into the Oval Office for a final photo opportunity with official photographer Oliver Atkins.
President Nixon initiates a brief administrative request to the White House operator to be connected with George P. Shultz. The conversation serves solely as a logistical bridge to facilitate communication with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. No policy discussions occur during this brief interaction.
President Nixon, George Shultz, and Alexander Butterfield met briefly in the Oval Office to coordinate logistics regarding the President's schedule. The conversation focused on the arrival of a bicycle and the necessity of follow-up communication. The participants concluded the meeting quickly to attend to these immediate administrative tasks.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate preparations for an upcoming press conference, specifically focusing on messaging regarding domestic economic policy. The pair reviewed the logistics and attendee list for a scheduled excursion on the presidential yacht Sequoia, which included key administration figures like John Mitchell, Henry Kissinger, and Donald Rumsfeld. Additionally, they discussed the development of briefing materials for the press event, with Patrick Buchanan tasked to assist in preparing potential questions.
Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office to coordinate logistics and positioning for an upcoming movement or security detail. The brief dialogue focuses on clarifying specific placement and instructions for the personnel involved. No major policy decisions were made, as the interaction was limited to immediate operational coordination.