Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 592
Nixon White House Tape 592 (October 14, 1971)
12 conversations · Oval Office
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Tkach, Haldeman, Butterfield
President Nixon and John Mitchell discuss political strategy for the 1972 election, focusing on undermining Democratic opponents and capitalizing on the President's public approval ratings. They analyze the impact of Nixon’s recent foreign policy initiatives—specifically planned visits to China and the Soviet Union—and their effect on demoralizing the Democratic field. The conversation also touches on media management, emphasizing the need to keep the administration's narrative focused on domestic prosperity and presidential leadership while minimizing the political damage caused by negative press coverage.
President Nixon and his physician, Dr. Walter R. Tkach, briefly reviewed the political landscape regarding the 1972 election and current media commentary. The discussion centered on Democratic primary struggles, including the perceived weakness of potential candidates like George McGovern and Edmund Muskie in the wake of the President's judicial maneuvering. Tkach also brought to the President's attention a provocative column by Mike Royko that contrasted Nixon’s public image with the political standing of Edward Kennedy.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull discussed strategies for managing political optics and public perception regarding Senator Ted Kennedy. The conversation centered on leveraging negative press coverage of Kennedy—specifically regarding his recent remarks—to bolster the President's image and neutralize opposition. Nixon expressed frustration over delays in receiving the latest Gallup polling data, emphasizing the need to track public sentiment and the cumulative impact of anti-Kennedy narratives.
President Nixon held a brief two-minute meeting with his personal physician, Dr. Walter R. Tkach, in the Oval Office. The encounter consisted entirely of a withdrawn segment classified as personal and returnable, indicating a private discussion regarding the President's health or personal medical matters. No further policy or administrative actions were recorded during this brief visit.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate administrative scheduling. The primary purpose of the brief encounter was to arrange a meeting between the President and Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. Bull subsequently acted on this request to facilitate the briefing.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman to coordinate administration strategy regarding agricultural policy, specifically addressing corn prices and the potential replacement of Secretary of Agriculture Clifford Hardin. The participants also discussed the difficulty of managing Republican legislators and the need for a more centralized, proactive approach to securing legislative support. Additionally, they reviewed potential Supreme Court nominees and debated the administration's response to media inquiries regarding the President's personal finances and business dealings involving Charles G. Rebozo.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull and personal valet Manolo Sanchez to coordinate upcoming appointments. The brief session focused primarily on the logistics of the President’s daily schedule, specifically involving a meeting with Charles W. Colson. The participants concluded the discussion quickly, leading to the departure of Bull and Sanchez shortly thereafter.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to address administrative matters regarding the President's daily schedule. The discussion focused specifically on coordinating upcoming engagements and meetings involving Charles W. Colson. Bull received instructions or updates relevant to managing the President's calendar and staff interactions.
President Nixon met with Henry Kissinger and an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to discuss foreign policy matters. The brief meeting, lasting less than eight minutes, focused on ongoing international concerns managed by the National Security Council. No specific decisions were recorded due to the lack of an available transcript.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman and Charles Colson to discuss media relations, public opinion, and political strategy heading into the 1972 election cycle. The conversation focused on efforts to promote favorable literature, manage network coverage of the administration's foreign policy initiatives, and monitor the activities of political rivals like Edward M. Kennedy. The participants also evaluated the performance of Republican spokesmen and considered adjustments to the President's schedule to bolster public support for his economic and diplomatic agendas.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to review his upcoming official schedule and process various administrative documents requiring his signature. A significant portion of the discussion focused on the operational mechanics and implementation of the Autopen machine for executing presidential signatures. The meeting concluded after these routine logistical matters were addressed.
President Nixon met with unidentified individuals in the Oval Office to discuss his upcoming schedule. The primary focus of the conversation was the coordination of the President's movements and activities at the Executive Office Building. No further details regarding the specific nature of these appointments were recorded.