Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 607
Nixon White House Tape 607 (October 29, 1971)
21 conversations · Oval Office · about 4 hr 39 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Sanchez, White House photographer, Butterfield
President Richard M. Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield for a brief one-minute session in the Oval Office. The majority of the recorded duration consists of a withdrawn segment classified as personal and returnable. No substantive policy discussions or administrative actions were captured or documented during this interaction.
President Nixon and Senator Hugh Scott discuss the political fallout regarding a recent UN vote concerning Taiwan's representation and the expulsion of the Republic of China. Nixon expresses frustration over the perceived humiliation of the United States by smaller nations that benefited from American support. Consequently, the President signals a shift in foreign policy, suggesting the administration should retaliate by reconsidering its relationships and diplomatic stance toward those nations.
President Nixon held a brief, ten-minute meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified individual. The participants engaged in a short discussion regarding the provision of anonymous assistance or support. Due to the limited transcript and the brief duration of the exchange, no specific policy decisions or significant administrative actions were recorded.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman and Henry Kissinger to navigate complex foreign and domestic policy challenges, including the recent UN vote to expel Taiwan and the administration's strategic approach to the People's Republic of China. The participants analyzed the political fallout of the UN vote, debated the professional conduct of Secretary of State William Rogers, and discussed strategies for the upcoming presidential trips to China and the Soviet Union. Nixon emphasized the necessity of maintaining control over sensitive diplomatic negotiations while managing public relations and domestic conservative opinion, ultimately directing his staff to streamline communication and prioritize the administration's primary foreign policy objectives.
President Nixon initiates a brief administrative interaction with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. The discussion serves a purely logistical purpose, functioning as a bridge to connect the President with another party for a separate, subsequent conversation. No policy matters or substantive political topics are addressed during this brief exchange.
President Nixon met briefly with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office. The primary purpose of the interaction was for Sanchez to bring the President’s Irish Setter, King Timahoe, into the room. The conversation consisted of lighthearted praise and interaction with the dog.
President Nixon and Secretary of State William P. Rogers discuss intelligence gathered regarding the geopolitical anxieties of Yugoslavian officials. The conversation centers on Yugoslavia's fear of Soviet encroachment following the eventual departure of President Josip Broz Tito. Nixon reaffirms his commitment to respecting Yugoslavian independence and leveraging U.S. influence to deter external interference in the region.
President Richard Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to review and discuss the President's upcoming daily schedule. The brief consultation specifically focused on an appointment involving Winton M. "Red" Blount. No further actions or major policy decisions were recorded during this short administrative exchange.
President Nixon and his valet, Manolo Sanchez, briefly discuss King Timahoe, the President’s Irish Setter. This informal exchange appears to be a casual interaction regarding the dog, likely related to a reference from a film or media production. No policy decisions or significant administrative actions were taken during this very short encounter.
President Nixon met with Postmaster General Winton M. "Red" Blount to discuss the confirmation of Post Office Board of Governors appointments and potential political strategies for Blount's planned Senate run in Alabama. The President offered instructions for Bryce Harlow to negotiate with Senator Hiram Fong to expedite the stalled confirmation process, while also evaluating the political viability of Alabama Senators John Sparkman and James B. Allen. They concluded by discussing the logistics of Blount’s impending resignation announcement and his electoral prospects, punctuated by informal remarks on Alabama college football.
President Nixon and Federal Reserve Chairman Arthur F. Burns met to discuss the national economy, international monetary policy, and upcoming personnel appointments to the Federal Reserve Board. The conversation focused on managing economic indicators, navigating liquidity concerns, and coordinating with Henry Kissinger on international financial diplomacy. They also strategized on handling labor relations and potential wage-price policy announcements, while Burns presented candidates for upcoming Board vacancies.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met briefly to coordinate the President’s upcoming schedule and administrative engagements. The discussion focused on finalizing arrangements for meetings with John D. Ehrlichman and Clifford M. Hardin. Additionally, Bull briefed the President on an upcoming session with John Rawlings to review logistics for impending official discussions.
President Nixon directs the White House operator to place a telephone call to Congressman Glenn Davis of Wisconsin. This brief exchange serves as a routine administrative request to facilitate executive communication with a member of the legislative branch. No further substantive discussion or policy developments occur during this brief interaction.
President Nixon met with William Ruckelshaus, John Ehrlichman, John Whitaker, and later Clifford Hardin to discuss administrative personnel changes and pending agricultural policies. The group focused heavily on managing the timing of Secretary of Agriculture Hardin’s resignation and selecting a successor while avoiding political fallout from various farm interest groups. Additionally, Nixon directed his staff to resolve labor disputes and facilitate a grain sale to the Soviet Union, prioritizing the deal's completion despite resistance from unions.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to review his upcoming schedule, specifically regarding a planned meeting with Marjorie "Miss Wool" Sharp and Representative Sherman P. Lloyd. During the brief interaction, the President also issued direct instructions to Bull to install wiring within the Oval Office walls despite reservations. This exchange highlights the President's personal oversight of office logistics and surveillance-related technical modifications.
President Nixon held two separate brief, informal meetings in the Oval Office to host visitors including Sherman P. Lloyd, Marjorie Sharp, and the family of journalist Carroll Kilpatrick. These sessions primarily served ceremonial purposes, involving the exchange of gifts, photography sessions, and light conversation about regional backgrounds and university experiences. The President also engaged in casual discussions regarding medical practice, specifically emphasizing the importance of bedside manner and the high prevalence of psychosomatic illnesses in patient care.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull briefly met to discuss the potential placement of a sheepskin, weighing whether it should be utilized in one of the presidential cabins or if it might otherwise go to waste. The conversation reflects a casual administrative check-in regarding the disposition of personal or office items. No significant policy decisions were made during this brief exchange.
President Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, and John R. Price, Jr. discuss Price's political future and the complexities of running for Congress in New York. The President emphasizes that unlike in California, New York politics requires working closely with local party leaders and organizations, even if it requires compromise. Nixon advises Price to secure support from party figures like Joseph M. Margiotta while maintaining his own ideological stance, and the group reviews strategies for handling specific political rivals and redistricting issues. The meeting concludes with the President presenting gifts to Price in appreciation of his service to the administration.
President Nixon met briefly with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office to coordinate logistics regarding the President's upcoming schedule. The discussion focused on Nixon's movement to the Executive Office Building. The meeting concluded quickly with no substantive policy developments.
President Nixon met with James D. ("Don") Hughes and General Brent G. Scowcroft to discuss administrative transitions, specifically Hughes's forthcoming military assignment at Bergstrom Air Force Base and his departure from the White House staff. The conversation touched upon the management of military aides, including the recent addition of a Coast Guard representative, and the importance of maintaining staff relations with key personnel like H.R. Haldeman. Additionally, the group briefly addressed preparations for the President's upcoming trip to the People's Republic of China, confirming the inclusion of personnel to ensure continuity.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed a variety of administrative and personnel matters, including the potential appointment of a new Secretary of Agriculture and the administration's preference for utilizing younger staff members for operational roles. The pair also assessed foreign policy challenges, specifically touching upon the United Nations vote regarding Taiwan and concerns over Secretary of State William P. Rogers's handling of Middle Eastern affairs. The conversation concluded with discussions regarding upcoming social engagements and the President's need for a brief respite.