Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 587
Nixon White House Tape 587 (October 8, 1971)
10 conversations · Oval Office · about 2 hr 32 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Ehrlichman, Butterfield, Haldeman
President Nixon held a brief, one-minute meeting with John D. Ehrlichman in the Oval Office. Due to the lack of an available transcript or audio clarity, the specific subject matter and any resulting directives remain undocumented in the historical record. This session reflects the routine, often rapid nature of executive consultation between the President and his senior staff.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to review the public and media reception of the President's recent economic speech, concluding that the coverage across major television networks was unexpectedly positive. They discussed the administration's ongoing negotiations with labor leader George Meany regarding the structure of the Wage Board and the Cost of Living Council, with Nixon expressing frustration over Meany's opposition and considering whether to proceed without labor union cooperation. The conversation also touched upon logistical preparations for upcoming travel to West Virginia and the scheduling of events at Camp David for visitors.
President Nixon met with John Mitchell and John Ehrlichman to discuss high-level personnel and policy matters, specifically focusing on potential Supreme Court nominees, school busing legislation, and tensions regarding FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. The group evaluated candidates such as Robert C. Byrd and Howard H. Baker Jr., while also debating the merits of a constitutional amendment versus legislative action to address court-ordered busing. Additionally, the President and his advisors addressed the secure handling of sensitive files related to the Pentagon Papers investigation and contemplated how to manage Hoover’s increasingly difficult tenure.
President Nixon met with Charlotte T. Reid and her family, along with several officials including Donald Rumsfeld and Dean Burch, to conduct a swearing-in ceremony for Reid. During the proceedings, the President offered formal congratulations and presented gifts to commemorate the occasion. Nixon also took the opportunity to explain his rationale for Reid's appointment, emphasizing that it was based on merit and capability rather than gender.
President Nixon met with Alexander Butterfield to discuss the logistics of an upcoming engagement involving CIA Director Richard M. Helms. The brief exchange focused on coordinating the Director's return and ensuring the administration's readiness for a significant, unspecified event. The conversation emphasizes the President's reliance on Butterfield to manage the sensitivities and execution of this task.
President Nixon met with John Ehrlichman and CIA Director Richard Helms to discuss the President's access to sensitive, classified intelligence documents, specifically concerning past operations like the Bay of Pigs and the assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem. Nixon emphasized his need for full information regarding historical foreign policy and intelligence "dirty tricks" to prepare for upcoming diplomatic negotiations and to manage political exposure. Following this, Nixon met with David Kennedy, Henry Kissinger, and Peter Peterson to strategize on high-stakes textile trade negotiations with Japan, where they aimed to secure an agreement by applying pressure while maintaining the credibility of the U.S. position.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull and H. R. Haldeman to coordinate the President's upcoming schedule and manage press relations regarding Wayne Hays. The discussion also included administrative logistics involving Charles E. Lucet and a scheduled lunch briefing with F. Edward Hebert. The meeting focused primarily on operational scheduling and the handling of key political figures.
President Nixon met with a delegation of French legislators and U.S. Congressman Wayne Hays in the Oval Office to discuss the relationship between French and American legislative bodies. The President extended a formal welcome, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation and sharing his perspectives on the legislative process. The brief meeting concluded with informal pleasantries and the President discussing his upcoming travel schedule to West Virginia.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull and Alexander P. Butterfield to coordinate logistics for a scheduled appearance with college presidents. Butterfield provided a briefing regarding an event involving Dr. Jerome H. Jaffe and the students assembled at the South Portico. The participants finalized the sequence of movements to ensure the President was positioned to observe the group before his formal arrival.
This recording consists of a brief, 103-second segment of audio captured in the Oval Office involving unidentified participants. Due to significant background noise and technical interference, the substance of the meeting remains inaudible. Consequently, no specific policy topics, strategic decisions, or actionable items were recovered from this segment.