Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 566
Nixon White House Tape 566 (August 17, 1971)
23 conversations · Oval Office
Featuring Nixon, Butterfield, Woods, Haldeman, Bull
President Nixon met with his senior advisors, including John B. Connally and H.R. Haldeman, to formulate a strategy for promoting his newly announced "New Economic Policy" and to address political fallout. The participants discussed the necessity of maintaining a unified, aggressive message, specifically targeting Democratic critics like Hubert Humphrey and labor leaders who might oppose the administration's wage and price freeze. Connally was tasked with representing the administration's economic message to the media and Congressional leaders, while the group emphasized the importance of framing these economic measures as essential for bipartisan national interest and international monetary stability.
President Nixon hosted a social gathering in the Oval Office for Dr. James R. Schlesinger, his family, and the Doub and Radcliffe families. The meeting primarily served as a ceremonial visit featuring a photographic session and the presentation of presidential gifts, including cufflinks and Apollo viewers, to the guests. Following the departure of the families, the President briefly discussed his schedule, specifically regarding the Oakland A's and Henry Kissinger, with Alexander P. Butterfield, Gerald R. Ford, and Robert P. Griffin.
President Nixon met with Gerald Ford and Robert Griffin to briefly discuss the administration's national economic program and legislative scheduling. Following this brief policy exchange, the focus shifted to a ceremonial visit by members of the Oakland Athletics baseball team. Nixon presented gifts, including golf balls, to the athletes to commemorate their recent on-field achievements.
President Nixon hosted the Oakland Athletics, led by owner Charles O. Finley and manager Dick Williams, for a ceremonial visit to the Oval Office. The meeting served as a social meet-and-greet where the President engaged with players, discussed various professional baseball teams and notable past games, and shared anecdotes regarding his grandson, David Eisenhower. Nixon concluded the brief visit by presenting the players with official presidential golf balls as keepsakes.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to coordinate his official schedule. The brief discussion primarily focused on logistical arrangements regarding an upcoming meeting with Representative Gerald R. Ford. No further actions or policy decisions were recorded during this scheduling consultation.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield in the Oval Office to handle brief administrative duties. During this brief encounter, they addressed an incoming call from an unidentified businessman and processed an item requiring the President's signature. The discussion concluded quickly after these tasks were completed.
President Nixon met with key advisors and members of Congress to discuss the administration's new economic program and strategy for securing legislative support. The participants emphasized the need to maintain political momentum, project unity, and avoid excessive amendments from Democrats that could derail the administration's tax and economic goals. The conversation also covered the effective use of rhetoric to blame political opponents for partisanship, as well as the personnel requirements for managing the newly established wage and price controls under the Cost of Living Council.
President Nixon held a brief, unscheduled meeting with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office. Due to the lack of an available transcript or audio clarity, the specific subject matter and any resulting policy decisions remain undocumented in the historical record. This encounter serves as a placeholder within the White House taping system logs, reflecting the presence of unrecorded private consultations during the administration.
President Nixon met with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to coordinate his upcoming schedule and address preparations for an impending speech. The discussion focused on the involvement of speechwriters Raymond K. Price, Jr. and William L. Safire in drafting the address. This brief administrative consultation ensured that Woods remained informed of the President's immediate agenda and staffing priorities.
President Richard Nixon met briefly with his daughter, Tricia Nixon Cox, in the Oval Office. The discussion primarily focused on personal matters, although specific details remain limited due to the withdrawal of one segment of the recording. No major policy developments or significant political decisions were recorded during this brief exchange.
President Nixon met with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to discuss the preparation of an upcoming presidential address. The conversation centered on the status and review of a speech draft originally prepared by speechwriter Raymond K. Price, Jr. This meeting served to facilitate the administrative handling and revision process required for the President's public remarks.
President Nixon met with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to review draft materials for his upcoming address to the Knights of Columbus. The discussion focused on refining the speech's content and phrasing, specifically evaluating drafts prepared by speechwriters Raymond K. Price, Jr. and William L. Safire. The brief meeting served to coordinate administrative priorities ahead of the President's public appearance.
President Nixon held a brief, ten-minute meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified participant. As no transcript is available for this encounter, the specific subject matter and any resulting decisions remain undocumented. The interaction reflects the routine private scheduling of the President's office during this period.
President Nixon consulted with H.R. Haldeman regarding upcoming travel schedules and the need for a series of speeches to maintain public momentum for his new economic program. Following Haldeman's departure, Henry Kissinger joined the discussion to coordinate the timing of upcoming summit announcements with the Soviet Union and China. The participants strategized that these diplomatic breakthroughs would provide a necessary psychological lift to the nation and effectively distract from media criticism regarding Vietnam and the economy.
President Nixon met with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to discuss personal administrative matters, including the handling of a note for Chicago White Sox announcer Bob Elston and his family. The discussion also touched upon preparations for a forthcoming presidential speech. Additionally, the participants briefly addressed strategic considerations regarding the potential withdrawal schedule for ongoing negotiations.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office to coordinate logistics regarding the President's personal belongings. The primary focus of the discussion concerned the location and retrieval of a briefcase currently held in the Executive Office Building. Sanchez subsequently departed the office to address these administrative arrangements.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, discuss the preparation and handling of materials for upcoming presidential engagements, specifically a consumer business meeting and a Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) address. The President issues instructions to Woods regarding the organization of specific documents, including drafts prepared by William Safire and a recording, to be secured in his briefcase. These materials were intended to facilitate the President's scheduled travel and speaking requirements in New York.
President Nixon, H.R. Haldeman, and Alexander Butterfield met to coordinate the President's public messaging strategy and administrative appointments. The discussion centered on the importance of repetitive, consistent messaging across upcoming speeches to ensure the administration's core economic policies resonated with the public. Additionally, the group reviewed potential personnel assignments, specifically evaluating the roles of Peter G. Peterson and Donald Rumsfeld regarding the wage and price freeze and the Office of Emergency Preparedness.
President Nixon contacted the White House operator to facilitate an immediate meeting with Charles W. Colson. The primary purpose of the communication was to secure Colson's presence in the Oval Office. No further policy discussions or substantive developments were recorded during this brief administrative exchange.
President Nixon met with Treasury Secretary John Connally to strategize the implementation of the administration's new national economic program, including potential interest rate adjustments and a wage and price freeze. They evaluated the public and political reception of these policies, specifically discussing reactions from Congressional leaders and labor figures like George Meany. Additionally, the pair assessed international market volatility, including the status of the dollar and gold prices in response to the President's economic initiatives.
Secret Service agents gathered in the Oval Office to coordinate security logistics regarding President Nixon's movements. The discussion centered on the President's scheduled relocation to the Cabinet Room. The agents successfully finalized these operational arrangements before departing the office.
Secret Service agents met with President Nixon in the Oval Office to conduct a technical check of the newly installed taping system. The participants focused on verifying the equipment's recording capabilities and ensuring that audio feedback was monitored correctly on available screens. No policy or political matters were discussed during this brief, logistical meeting.
Secret Service agents gathered in the Oval Office to discuss the recruitment and vetting of a highly partisan and disciplined individual for a specialized team. The speakers emphasized the candidate's professional expertise and his capacity to function effectively within a rigid, politically driven framework. This discussion reflects efforts to organize a dedicated unit capable of executing specific operational tasks.