Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 562
Nixon White House Tape 562 (August 12, 1971)
7 conversations · Oval Office
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Kissinger, Haldeman, Ziegler
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met briefly to coordinate their schedules and manage upcoming staff interactions. The discussion focused on preparing for a press briefing involving John Ehrlichman concerning the Pentagon Papers. Nixon specifically requested the inclusion of key advisors to ensure a unified administrative message during the press engagement.
President Nixon met with his senior staff, including H. R. Haldeman, Henry Kissinger, and John Ehrlichman, to discuss a range of domestic and foreign policy priorities. Key deliberations focused on the national economy—specifically addressing textile import issues and preparations for a significant upcoming economic announcement involving potential wage-price freezes—alongside strategies for managing national security declassifications and press relations. The President also reviewed his schedule, including upcoming diplomatic trips to China and the USSR and various domestic scheduling concerns, while emphasizing the need for a cohesive administration stance on legislative and public communication strategies.
President Nixon met with Harold Passer and Charles Colson to discuss strategies for improving public perception of the national economy and managing media coverage. The participants evaluated recent positive developments, such as the resolution of labor strikes and the Lockheed bill, while criticizing the press for its persistent negativism regarding economic statistics. Nixon emphasized the need to contrast his administration's economic goals against the records of his predecessors, specifically arguing that the Kennedy and Johnson years were marked by high unemployment or inflation driven by wartime spending.
President Nixon, Manolo Sanchez, and Stephen B. Bull engaged in a brief discussion comparing the economic climate and unemployment patterns of the early 1960s with those of 1971. The participants analyzed the nature of unemployment, noting that the current situation involved more localized, structural issues compared to the broader economic distress of the prior decade. The conversation concluded with Nixon expressing resolve regarding his administration's ongoing economic policies and communication strategy.
President Nixon met with departing administration officials George Shultz and Arnold R. Weber to discuss their experiences in government and their future academic endeavors. The group reflected on the challenges of managing federal programs like the Job Corps and the difficulties of balancing political objectives with administrative realities. Before concluding the meeting, the President expressed his gratitude for their service and presented them with official White House gifts for their families.
President Nixon met with his senior advisors to strategize the timing and presentation of a major, upcoming national economic policy package. Discussions focused on whether to prioritize domestic measures like wage and price freezes or to address international monetary instability by closing the "gold window." Nixon expressed concern about appearing panicky and weighed the political benefits of delivering a televised address versus a more understated written announcement. Additionally, the group reviewed the success of a recent press briefing by Ehrlichman, which successfully shifted the media narrative regarding the declassification of government documents and the administration's stance on the Pentagon Papers.
Secret Service agents gathered in the Oval Office to discuss the strategic timing of delivering unpleasant information, characterizing it as a psychological advantage. The participants deliberated on adopting an offensive posture regarding international financial instability and speculative threats. The discussion focused on asserting greater control over economic actors to mitigate risks to national interests.