Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 558
Nixon White House Tape 558 (August 9, 1971)
14 conversations · Oval Office
Featuring Nixon, Woods, White House photographer, Butterfield, Bull
President Nixon met with his staff and political advisors to discuss his upcoming schedule, including preparations for a press conference and strategies regarding upcoming Republican National Committee meetings. The discussion focused heavily on political optics, specifically planning disruptive tactics to target Democratic rivals Edmund Muskie, Hubert Humphrey, and Edward Kennedy at an AFL-CIO convention in Dallas. Nixon and his team strategized using public protests, such as anti-busing demonstrations, to manipulate press coverage and create political friction for his opponents.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to coordinate administrative logistics regarding his daily schedule. The discussion centered on the location and arrangements for a meeting with Attorney General John N. Mitchell in the Situation Room. Additionally, the two addressed matters pertaining to the President's personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods.
President Nixon met with John Mitchell, H.R. Haldeman, and Henry Kissinger to address serious unauthorized leaks of sensitive government documents, specifically a Kissinger memorandum regarding talks with Chou En-lai and a proposed "gold window" economic policy. The President expressed intense frustration over the disclosures in Paul Scott’s column and directed his staff to identify the sources, suspecting potential leaks from the Treasury Department or the Council of Economic Advisers. Additionally, the group discussed political strategies for managing the Kent State grand jury announcement, handling the Teamsters' request for Jimmy Hoffa's pardon, and balancing the President's public appearances before veterans' organizations.
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met briefly in the Oval Office to coordinate logistics for an upcoming photograph session in the mess. The discussion focused on scheduling preparations and the necessity of planning the event effectively. The conversation concluded with the President confirming his availability to accommodate these arrangements.
President Nixon met with a group of newly appointed assistant secretaries and administrators from various federal agencies to formally welcome them into his administration. During the brief gathering, the President emphasized the importance of their public service roles, distinguishing those who serve to 'do something' from those who merely seek status. The meeting concluded with Nixon presenting the appointees with presidential gifts, including golf balls and cufflinks, as a gesture of appreciation for their upcoming work on key domestic and foreign policy issues.
President Nixon met with Deputy Assistant Alexander P. Butterfield to review and coordinate the President's upcoming schedule. The discussion centered on finalizing arrangements for meetings with key figures, including Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers Paul W. McCracken and Ambassador Ellsworth F. Bunker. This session served to ensure the President's administrative agenda remained aligned with his strategic priorities.
President Nixon met with economic advisor Paul W. McCracken to discuss the precarious state of the national economy and the impending crisis in international monetary affairs. McCracken provided a memorandum outlining potential responses to the weakening dollar, including the possibility of closing the gold window and allowing the currency to float. Nixon emphasized the need for extreme secrecy regarding these plans to prevent leaks and indicated his desire for a deliberate, rather than reactive, approach to handling the potential economic instability.
President Nixon met with an unknown individual in the Oval Office to briefly discuss the scheduling arrangements for George P. Shultz. The meeting lasted no more than two minutes and focused exclusively on coordinating the Director of the Office of Management and Budget's availability. No further policy discussions or significant strategic decisions were recorded during this brief encounter.
President Nixon met with George P. Shultz to orchestrate a comprehensive and dramatic economic package, including a wage-price freeze, the closing of the gold window, and potential import taxes. The President emphasized the need for strict message control to prevent leaks from officials like McCracken, Peterson, and Connally, which could trigger a run on the dollar. Shultz was tasked with preparing materials for Congressional testimony and coordinating with Arthur Burns regarding the implementation of the Wage and Price Board, with the President stressing that the effort must appear decisive to restore public confidence.
President Nixon met with Ellsworth Bunker and Henry Kissinger to discuss the volatile political and military situation in South Vietnam, specifically focusing on the upcoming elections and the strained relationship between President Nguyen Van Thieu and Duong Van Minh. The participants reviewed the effectiveness of U.S. military aid, the status of ongoing negotiations with North Vietnam, and the broader geopolitical implications of Nixon's planned trip to China. Nixon emphasized the necessity of maintaining robust military support for South Vietnam, including the provision of M-48 tanks, despite expected domestic political opposition.
President Nixon met with his personal aide, Manolo Sanchez, for a brief, informal discussion regarding his schedule and personal matters. The conversation shifted between lighthearted observations about diplomatic appointments and a brief, cryptic reflection on maintaining resolve in the face of ongoing challenges. The meeting concluded with Nixon extending a social invitation for lunch to Sanchez's wife.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met briefly in the Oval Office to coordinate administrative logistics regarding the President's upcoming schedule. The discussion focused on arrangements for a bill signing ceremony and the procurement of a specific chair for the event. This meeting served as a routine planning session to ensure protocol was maintained for the President's public engagements.
President Nixon met with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, and aide Stephen B. Bull to review his upcoming schedule and manage personal administrative tasks. The discussion included brief coordination regarding upcoming meetings with key staff members, including Alexander Butterfield, Ronald Ziegler, H. R. Haldeman, and Charles Colson. A significant portion of the session involved personal matters, which were subsequently withdrawn from public record.
Secret Service agents gathered in the Oval Office to conduct security-related briefings or logistical coordination in the President's absence. Although the specific dialogue remains unrecorded, the meeting reflects standard protective operations and internal administrative protocols managed by the security detail. The session underscores the continuous oversight and maintenance of presidential security infrastructure during the Nixon administration.