Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 631
Nixon White House Tape 631 (December 7, 1971 – December 8, 1971)
12 conversations · Oval Office · about 3 hr 59 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Haldeman, Ziegler, Bull, Butterfield
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discussed internal administrative friction, specifically the professional rivalry between Secretary of State William Rogers and National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger. They analyzed the impact of recent negative press coverage regarding the India-Pakistan war and the management of foreign policy, with Nixon expressing frustration over Rogers' perceived lack of vigor in confrontational matters. Ultimately, the two decided to refrain from immediate intervention in the Rogers-Kissinger conflict, opting to let the situation rest while monitoring the fallout from ongoing media narratives.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discussed the administration's public messaging regarding the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict and the flow of refugees. They considered having Henry Kissinger provide a press briefing to explain the White House position and counter criticisms from figures like Senator Edward Kennedy. The goal was to establish a more effective diplomatic posture at the United Nations without directly engaging in a political confrontation with Kennedy.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discussed the escalating tensions regarding the India-Pakistan conflict and Henry Kissinger's frustration with the State Department's perceived obstructionism. Kissinger specifically cited Secretary of State William P. Rogers's recent speech as a "disastrous" act that undermined ongoing diplomatic efforts and threatened his broader negotiation strategy regarding the Middle East and the Soviet Union. The participants evaluated the necessity of a Kissinger-led media backgrounder to clarify the administration's position, while also briefly coordinating the President's upcoming schedule with Maurice Stans.
Maurice Stans briefed President Nixon and Henry Kissinger on his recent 17-day trade exploration mission to the Soviet Union, Poland, and Sweden. Stans detailed positive, high-level discussions with Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin regarding potential economic cooperation, including grain sales, industrial equipment credit, and the establishment of joint fact-finding groups. President Nixon directed Stans to maintain a low profile with the press to avoid prematurely committing to specific trade concessions while the administration maneuvers through ongoing geopolitical tensions in South Asia.
President Nixon met with Harold H. Saunders to ascertain the current location of National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger. The brief encounter served solely as a logistical check to locate Kissinger within the West Wing complex. No policy discussions occurred, and the exchange concluded immediately once Kissinger's whereabouts were confirmed in the outer office.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate communication between Henry Kissinger and Harold H. Saunders. The brief discussion focused on facilitating a return call from Saunders to Kissinger regarding ongoing foreign policy matters. Bull confirmed Saunders' availability to ensure the contact could be established immediately.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss a range of strategic concerns, focusing heavily on National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger’s volatile state of mind and his frustration regarding U.S. policy toward India, Pakistan, and the Soviet Union. The conversation explores Kissinger's suggestions of resigning and his desire to have taken a tougher stance on the Soviets weeks earlier, which Nixon and Haldeman analyze as a byproduct of personal disillusionment. Additionally, they review current polling data, the health of labor leader George Meany, and the scheduling of meetings with John Connally to address administrative and political strategy.
President Nixon met with Daniel P. Moynihan and John D. Ehrlichman to discuss the ongoing India-Pakistan war and domestic political strategy, specifically regarding school desegregation and busing. The participants evaluated international developments, including the search for a new UN Secretary General, before transitioning to a lengthy discussion on how the administration could frame education reform as a means to move past the divisive issue of busing. Nixon and his advisors explored rebranding these policies as a 'new era' of American education that emphasizes school choice and equality of opportunity while distancing the White House from the volatile desegregation debates of the past.
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met to coordinate logistics for an upcoming White House dinner and manage the President's schedule. The discussion focused on reviewing the guest list, which included prominent figures such as W. Averell Harriman and Nelson A. Rockefeller, and ensuring specific individuals like Ron Paul were accommodated. Nixon also requested an additional photograph session with Sergeant Davis to conclude his daily activities.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield in the Oval Office to discuss administrative logistics and adjustments to the President's upcoming schedule. The brief conversation also involved coordination regarding Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. No major policy decisions were reached during this administrative briefing.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman to coordinate the administration's response to the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict and review the performance of his cabinet, particularly Secretary of State William P. Rogers. They discussed managing congressional and media reactions to the war, specifically highlighting the favorable perspectives of some senators versus the criticism from others like Edward Kennedy. Additionally, the President and Haldeman reviewed upcoming polling strategies for the 1972 election and addressed concerns regarding the composition of entertainers invited to White House social events.
Stephen B. Bull met with an unidentified woman in the Oval Office for a brief, informal encounter. The conversation remains largely unintelligible, consisting primarily of room noise and muffled exchanges. No substantive policy discussions or significant administrative actions were recorded during this brief meeting.