Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 620
Nixon White House Tape 620 (November 17, 1971)
15 conversations · Oval Office · about 4 hr 7 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Haldeman, Butterfield, Sanchez
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discussed a wide range of administrative and political concerns, including the management of White House dinner invitation lists and the potential political risks associated with a proposed address to the AFL-CIO. The President expressed skepticism about the value of speaking to labor leaders, weighing the potential for building support against the risk of appearing desperate or being misinterpreted. Additionally, the pair evaluated the political standing of Governor Ronald Reagan and reviewed personnel management strategies for the Cabinet and White House staff, emphasizing the need to recruit high-performing individuals for a potential second term.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate logistical details and review the scheduling for upcoming high-level meetings. The discussion focused on finalizing arrangements for impending consultations with Henry Kissinger, Ronald Reagan, and Attorney General John Mitchell. Nixon emphasized the need for careful preparation to ensure these appointments were managed effectively.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield in the Oval Office to discuss administrative or scheduling matters regarding John D. Ehrlichman and Ronald W. Reagan. The brief meeting concluded within six minutes, though specific details regarding the nature of the deliberations remain undocumented due to the lack of an available transcript. No clear record of final decisions exists, as the interaction focused on high-level personnel coordination.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. This brief interaction served as a logistical necessity to connect the President with a third party. No substantive policy or political discussions were recorded during this exchange.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office to discuss logistical details regarding an upcoming trip. The conversation centered on the status and maintenance of a clock relevant to the travel itinerary. This brief exchange served to coordinate personal arrangements for the President's scheduled movements.
President Nixon held a brief administrative interaction with the White House operator to facilitate a telephonic connection. This routine contact served the logistical purpose of managing the President's communications during his morning schedule. No substantive policy matters or major developments occurred during this brief exchange.
President Nixon and John B. Connally met to discuss upcoming diplomatic strategies, specifically the President's plan to engage with key allies in France, Germany, and Great Britain prior to his scheduled trips to China and the Soviet Union. Nixon proposed a series of individual meetings with foreign leaders rather than a large multilateral summit to avoid being outnumbered, while also coordinating a separate diplomatic effort involving Latin American nations for January. Additionally, the pair discussed the need for better internal coordination between Connally, George Shultz, and Henry Kissinger to align their political and economic objectives.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed domestic political management, specifically addressing concerns raised by Ronald Reagan regarding conservative alienation and administrative patronage. The two also coordinated on filling high-level ambassadorships, including efforts to recruit David Kennedy for a NATO post and potential candidates for the Japan ambassadorship. Finally, they formulated a hardline strategy for upcoming Vietnam peace negotiations, directing U.S. representatives to walk away from talks lacking high-level North Vietnamese authority while considering a resumption of bombing to counter North Vietnamese military buildups.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to discuss the strategic handling of a pending military appropriations bill. The pair coordinated the release of a formal press statement to be issued by Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler regarding the legislation. This brief consultation focused on aligning the administration's messaging concerning the bill's advancement.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman, Ronald Ziegler, and Stephen Bull to coordinate strategy regarding his potential speech to the AFL-CIO convention and to manage personnel matters. The discussion centered on timing the announcement of the President's attendance to maximize media impact while maintaining operational secrecy. Additionally, the President issued directives to limit the number of White House officials speaking on international economic issues, specifically instructing Peter Peterson to cease unauthorized communications.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate upcoming logistical arrangements for the President's schedule. The discussion focused on managing the timing for an appearance by Attorney General John N. Mitchell, specifically regarding the inclusion of a formal press photograph. The meeting served as a brief operational briefing to ensure the smooth transition of scheduled events within the Oval Office.
President Nixon met with California Governor Ronald Reagan to discuss the governor's recent Far East diplomatic trip and the administration's ongoing domestic and foreign policy challenges. They reviewed Reagan's interactions with leaders in Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, and Japan, focusing on reassuring these allies regarding U.S. treaty commitments and the President's planned visit to the People's Republic of China. Additionally, the pair coordinated strategies for negotiating welfare reform experiments in California, addressing anti-trust concerns for U.S. firms in Asia, and solidifying support among conservative Republicans ahead of the 1972 election.
President Nixon and John Mitchell met to discuss strategies for managing relations with conservative political factions and address the political standing of California Governor Ronald Reagan. They examined the challenges of integrating right-wing supporters into the 1972 campaign organization while tempering their expectations, specifically noting the need to keep campaign management professional. Additionally, the pair discussed potential vetoes for legislation concerning child care, with Nixon expressing ideological opposition to federal interventions he believed would undermine the traditional family structure.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman met to review recent polling data, discuss political appointments, and address various scheduling items. They analyzed a drop in the President's approval ratings, speculating on the impact of Phase II economic policy implementation and the recent United Nations vote regarding Taiwan. Additionally, the President reviewed a request to visit the Washington D.C. subway construction site to influence a forthcoming congressional vote, and Haldeman provided updates on upcoming labor-related meetings.
Secret Service agents and unidentified individuals met in the Oval Office to discuss operational security or administrative logistics. While the specific nature of the conversation remains obscured due to the lack of a transcript, the session pertains to internal White House security protocols or logistical arrangements handled by the Secret Service. No definitive outcomes or policy decisions are documented in the remaining audio fragment.