Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 628
Nixon White House Tape 628 (December 2, 1971)
19 conversations · Oval Office · about 5 hr 45 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Kissinger, White House photographer, Ziegler
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull and Manolo Sanchez to coordinate his daily agenda and prepare for an upcoming meeting with Henry Kissinger. The participants briefly discussed administrative scheduling and logistical details regarding the President's personal affairs, including the behavior of his dogs during a potential trip to Florida. The exchange focused primarily on managing the President's time and ensuring that his upcoming engagement with Kissinger proceeded as requested.
President Nixon met with Henry Kissinger and H. R. Haldeman to coordinate foreign and domestic policy priorities. Key discussions included managing Middle East negotiations ahead of the upcoming U.S.-USSR summit, finalizing the appointment of David M. Kennedy as Ambassador to NATO, and addressing administrative failures regarding trade licenses for India. Nixon also emphasized his desire to bypass the establishment in his diplomatic efforts, specifically regarding the opening of relations with the People's Republic of China, while coordinating appearances to maintain support for his economic policies.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate a phone call to an individual who was reportedly ill and potentially hospitalized. The operator provided the President with a specific contact number and room location for the party. This brief interaction served solely to coordinate the placement of a private or official call.
President Nixon met briefly with Frances Bennett to inquire about the health of her husband, Senator Wallace F. Bennett, who was hospitalized due to an ulcer. Expressing a personal and political need for the Senator's return to work, Nixon offered words of encouragement regarding his recovery. The discussion served as a gesture of support during the Senator's medical absence.
President Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, and Stephen B. Bull met to coordinate the President's upcoming travel schedule and discuss various administrative logistics. The conversation included planning for a dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, reviewing Rose Mary Woods' personal schedule, and evaluating potential staff roles for Robert L. King. Additionally, the President briefly addressed a tax-related inquiry from Clark MacGregor during the session.
President Nixon and Clark MacGregor met to discuss the legislative strategy for the tax bill currently stalled in conference, specifically focusing on the controversial political campaign "check-off" provision. Nixon maintained a firm stance against the check-off on principle, ultimately deciding that he would oppose any version of it, request its repeal in the next legislative session, and veto any associated appropriation bills. Additionally, the pair briefly discussed administrative actions to support corn prices and noted the declining health of George Meany.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to address a telephone communication from his daughter, Tricia Nixon Cox. During the brief exchange, the two discussed a matter involving Clark MacGregor, a senior administration official. The meeting served as a quick briefing to ensure the President was kept informed regarding these personal and political inquiries.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman, Clark MacGregor, and others to discuss key administrative and political matters, including the successful confirmation of Earl Butz as Secretary of Agriculture despite opposition, and the management of legislative issues such as the tax bill. The group also coordinated the President’s upcoming diplomatic schedule, the logistical handling of his planned trip to the People's Republic of China, and strategies for improving the quality and impact of presidential speeches. Finally, Rose Mary Woods joined the President to review his personal schedule, correspondence, and various staffing concerns.
President Nixon consulted with a White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. The brief exchange focused on establishing a connection with a specific, yet unnamed, individual. No substantive policy discussions occurred during this brief administrative interaction.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler coordinated public relations strategies regarding upcoming administration events, including a Business Council meeting and an appearance by Assistant Secretary of Labor Arthur Fletcher. They finalized plans for press coverage and photo opportunities, weighing the necessity of multiple media appearances against the risk of overexposure. Nixon ultimately approved the proposed schedule, trusting that the distinct nature of each event would prevent negative overlap in media coverage.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss legislative strategy regarding tax policy and potential Senate opposition. Nixon outlines a plan to maintain a firm public stance against unfavorable tax legislation, suggesting that if it passes, he will signal his disapproval and commit to seeking its repeal in the upcoming legislative session. The conversation reflects the administration's focus on managing political optics and controlling the economic agenda heading into the 1972 election year.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to conduct a brief review of the President's daily schedule. The primary focus of the discussion was the President's upcoming meeting with Gordon M. Metcalf. Bull concluded the meeting by departing immediately following this coordination.
President Nixon met with retail executives Gordon Metcalf and William Batten, along with George Shultz and other staff, to review economic performance, retail sales trends, and the potential impact of wage-price controls. The discussion shifted toward the American political system, specifically addressing the President’s staunch opposition to tax-funded political campaign check-offs. Nixon expressed his intent to leverage his veto power if necessary to prevent the inclusion of these campaign financing provisions in pending tax legislation.
In this meeting, President Nixon first met with Arthur A. Fletcher and Kenneth R. Cole, Jr. to discuss the promotion of an economic development initiative aimed at supporting schools and securing campaign funding for the 1972 election. Following a brief photo opportunity, Henry A. Kissinger joined the President to address diplomatic frustrations regarding the State Department's resistance to executive directives concerning the conflict between India and Pakistan. The two concluded that the President would reassert his authority to ensure that his administration's policy, which favored a less pro-Indian stance, was implemented without further bureaucratic obstruction.
President Nixon met briefly with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to coordinate logistics or preparations for an upcoming meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. The conversation was limited in scope, serving primarily to facilitate executive scheduling and engagement with the Israeli leadership. No further substantive policy decisions were recorded during this one-minute encounter.
President Nixon met with Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, Henry Kissinger, and Yitzhak Rabin to discuss the status of U.S.-Israel relations and the ongoing Middle East peace process. The discussion focused on military support, specifically the delivery of Phantom aircraft, while balancing Israel's security needs against the diplomatic necessity of exploring political negotiations. Nixon reassured Meir of the U.S. commitment to maintaining a military balance in the region and outlined a strategy to pursue both military preparedness and diplomatic outreach simultaneously.
President Nixon met briefly with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to discuss scheduling matters. The interaction was brief, lasting less than two minutes, and primarily consisted of logistical exchanges regarding the President's calendar. Due to poor audio quality and limited recorded dialogue, no substantive policy decisions or political developments were captured.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed complex diplomatic strategies regarding the Middle East, focusing on the implications of recent negotiations with Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir and the necessity of managing US-USSR-PRC relations. They strategized on how to stall formal settlement processes until at least 1973 to avoid political fallout and potential conflicts while maintaining the balance of power. Additionally, the conversation touched upon personnel matters, including the potential appointment of David M. Kennedy and the handling of the ongoing India-Pakistan crisis.
President Nixon hosted a large gathering in the Oval Office, including Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz, several members of Congress, and various agricultural officials, to discuss the state of the American agricultural sector. The President highlighted the efficiency of American farmers and the affordability of food for domestic consumers as a significant national achievement. The meeting served as a public relations event to underscore the importance of agriculture to the nation's overall well-being and to reinforce support for administration policies.