Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 613
Nixon White House Tape 613 (November 2, 1971 – November 4, 1971)
17 conversations · Oval Office · about 5 hr 27 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Butterfield, Woods, Kissinger
President Nixon consulted with a White House operator to facilitate a communication connection. This administrative interaction served as a brief technical coordination to initiate a subsequent telephone call. No significant policy decisions were reached during this exchange.
President Nixon and George Shultz discussed the necessity of maintaining consistent communication and political alignment with a key official currently away from the White House. They emphasized the importance of keeping this individual fully informed of ongoing policy developments, particularly regarding pay adjustments, to ensure his future support and prevent potential political friction upon his return. The President stressed that proactive transparency is vital to avoid scenarios where the absent official could later claim ignorance or dissatisfaction with administration decisions.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discuss strategies for maintaining presidential control over the credit for major foreign policy successes, specifically regarding impending diplomatic trips to the People's Republic of China and the USSR. They express frustration with the press and intellectual liberals, whom Nixon characterizes as inherently inconsistent and prone to writing premature obituaries for his political career. The conversation emphasizes that while Henry Kissinger and William Rogers are instrumental to these foreign policy initiatives, all public credit must remain firmly centered on the President.
President Nixon consulted with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to clarify the specific dates and details regarding his past international travels to Australia. The President sought to verify whether he had visited the country in 1965 or 1967 to resolve a discrepancy in his historical itinerary. Woods was tasked with reviewing his scheduling records to confirm these details and report back to him.
In this Oval Office meeting, President Nixon, John Ehrlichman, and Henry Kissinger discussed various administrative and political priorities, including government reorganization, the replacement of Cabinet Secretaries, and the management of the Agriculture Department. The participants also reviewed strategies for handling the Pentagon Papers controversy, addressed the status of the FBI under J. Edgar Hoover, and debated the implementation of a Value Added Tax (VAT). Additionally, the group strategized on domestic legislative hurdles, specifically the pending Congressional vote on school busing, and coordinated their approach to upcoming meetings regarding Vietnam troop withdrawal policies.
President Nixon met with his legislative leaders and foreign policy advisor Henry Kissinger to discuss the precarious political situation in the House of Representatives regarding Vietnam troop withdrawal legislation and foreign aid. Facing pressure from the Mansfield Amendment and potential legislative deadlines, the President emphasized the need to maintain negotiating leverage—specifically to ensure the return of POWs—and urged his team to prevent the House from forcing an early withdrawal deadline. Nixon directed his allies to reward Democrats who supported his Vietnam policy while instructing them to leverage Justice Department intervention in the Grand Rapids school busing case to gain political favor.
Secret Service agents and White House valet Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office to coordinate logistics and security protocols for the President's schedule and an upcoming State Dinner. The discussion addressed concerns regarding functional issues with a workplace system and established movement plans. These logistical arrangements ensured the security and transition of the President to his next scheduled engagement.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to coordinate scheduling logistics for an upcoming trip involving unknown participants. The discussion focused on finalizing specific dates for the itinerary and managing expectations regarding potential counter-proposals from outside parties. The brief exchange concluded with an agreement to initiate the planning process while awaiting further feedback on the proposed timeline.
Secret Service agents met with unknown individuals in the Oval Office to coordinate logistics regarding the President’s evening schedule. The discussion focused primarily on movements related to the White House residence. No further details were recorded, and the conversation concluded before the end of the day.
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met to discuss the administration's policy regarding the use of the White House taping system. Nixon expressed a clear intent to restrict the recording of meetings, stating he would only authorize tapings for exceptionally urgent matters. This exchange reflects the President's growing concerns regarding the scrutiny and potential fallout associated with the secret recording apparatus.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to facilitate a meeting with key members of his administration. Nixon explicitly directed Butterfield to summon George P. Shultz and Charles W. Colson to the Oval Office. This brief interaction served as a logistical coordination effort to convene the President's advisors for immediate consultation.
President Nixon met with his senior staff and economic advisors to manage the ongoing national economic stabilization program, focusing specifically on the Pay Board's negotiations and the administration's messaging strategy. Amidst concerns regarding the money supply and Federal Reserve policy, Nixon dictated a firm memorandum to Arthur Burns, stressing the electoral importance of economic expansion and the dangers of restrictive monetary policy. The President also discussed diplomatic and personnel matters, including upcoming meetings with world leaders, media relations, and potential staffing changes within public broadcasting and the executive branch.
President Nixon, First Lady Pat Nixon, and Alexander Butterfield engaged in a brief, informal discussion regarding upcoming travel and communication preparations. The conversation touched upon language training programs and the potential use of instructional techniques to facilitate the President's ability to speak foreign languages. The participants concluded the meeting after confirming logistics for these preparatory efforts.
Secret Service personnel engaged in a brief check-in within the Oval Office. The exchange appears to be a routine wellness inquiry between agents. No policy matters or significant administrative decisions were recorded during this segment.
President Nixon met with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to discuss escalating tensions in South Asia, particularly the refugee crisis in East Pakistan and the potential for military conflict between India and Pakistan. Nixon sought to reassure Gandhi of U.S. commitment to humanitarian aid while explaining his administration's strategic efforts to maintain diplomatic channels with Pakistan, including pressure on General Yahya Khan to moderate his approach. The two leaders explored potential de-escalation measures, such as a mutual military pullback and the release of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, to stabilize the region and prevent wider instability involving China or the Soviet Union.
Maintenance staff entered the Oval Office for a brief two-minute session to perform cleaning duties, specifically involving the use of a steam iron. The conversation was largely unintelligible and served only to facilitate the physical upkeep of the room. No substantive political or administrative discussions took place during this meeting.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler coordinated the administration's public messaging following the President's meeting with Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The discussion focused on drafting a press statement that would emphasize American accountability regarding the refugee crisis and signal a commitment to avoiding military conflict. They also evaluated how to address geopolitical tensions involving Pakistani President Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan and potential public statements from Gandhi.