Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 571
Nixon White House Tape 571 (September 11, 1971 – September 13, 1971)
11 conversations · Oval Office · about 4 hr 26 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Butterfield, Haig, Haldeman
President Nixon met with Robert Dole, Alexander Haig, and H. R. Haldeman to discuss political strategy, the administration's wage and price freeze, and foreign affairs. A significant portion of the conversation centered on the Attica state prison riots, where Nixon expressed support for Governor Nelson Rockefeller's refusal to grant amnesty to the rioters. Additionally, the participants reviewed Dole's recent trip to the Far East and evaluated potential Democratic opponents and general campaign messaging for the 1972 election.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to coordinate logistical details for an upcoming meeting. The discussion focused on establishing the guest list of participants and finalizing the expected duration of the session. These administrative arrangements were intended to maintain the efficiency of the President's schedule.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to finalize the logistics for a forthcoming meeting involving Peter Peterson, Albert L. Williams, and Isaiah Frank. Bull outlined the protocol for an initial photo opportunity followed by a transition to the Cabinet Room for the official discussion. The President instructed Bull to await his signal before proceeding with these arrangements.
President Nixon met with Peter G. Peterson, Albert L. Williams, and Isiah Frank to facilitate a brief photo opportunity with the press regarding the Williams Commission. The session served to highlight the commission's recent work through staged photography in the Oval Office. Following the brief media appearance, the group departed to continue their official discussions in the Cabinet Room.
Secret Service agents gathered in the Oval Office to coordinate security logistics and verify the President's location. The primary objective of the brief meeting was to confirm that Richard Nixon had relocated to the Cabinet Room. Following this status update, the agents departed the office.
President Nixon and Secretary of Agriculture Clifford M. Hardin discussed Hardin’s potential resignation and transition to a private sector role at Ralston Purina. Nixon encouraged Hardin to make his career move before the 1972 election to ensure a smooth transition for his successor and to secure his personal financial future. The two also addressed current administration economic initiatives, farm policy, and the recent Attica state prison riots, with Nixon expressing support for Governor Nelson Rockefeller's handling of the crisis.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to discuss the President's upcoming schedule. During this brief interaction, Nixon requested access to the full register of appointments. This administrative discussion centered on coordinating logistics regarding Alexander M. Haig, Jr.'s availability.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig met to discuss the status of ongoing Vietnam War negotiations, specifically focusing on the challenges of achieving a stable withdrawal before the 1972 election. They analyzed North Vietnamese strategies, the political situation in Saigon, and the necessity of managing U.S. public opinion regarding troop levels and POW releases. Nixon expressed skepticism toward Henry Kissinger's optimism regarding diplomatic breakthroughs, urging Haig to maintain a firm, cautious stance. The conversation also briefly addressed an unauthorized media leak concerning a potential 'accidental war' agreement with the Soviet Union.
President Nixon met with an unknown man, identified as a member of his staff, to coordinate the logistics of his Irish setter, King Timahoe. The President requested that the aide facilitate the dog's movement, specifically asking for the door to be opened for the animal. This brief interaction serves as a routine administrative request regarding the President's personal pet.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discuss a wide range of political and administrative strategies, including the use of the IRS to target political enemies and the management of media relations. They review the success of the President's recent economic address and television appearance, noting that such broadcasts serve as effective propaganda against the "liberal establishment" media. Additionally, they discuss personnel appointments, the handling of the Attica prison riot, and the necessity of keeping the President's schedule focused on presidential duties rather than excessive political campaigning.
Alexander P. Butterfield and Terry L. Decker convened in the Oval Office for an informal discussion regarding administrative or personal matters. The brief exchange includes an expression of surprise from an unidentified participant, though the lack of a substantial transcript prevents a determination of specific policy or action items. The meeting concludes with both individuals departing the office together before the end of the recording session.