Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 635
Nixon White House Tape 635 (December 10, 1971)
18 conversations · Oval Office · about 3 hr 52 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Woods, Butterfield, Kissinger
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate his daily schedule and manage upcoming appointments. The President adjusted the timing for an interview with Jerrold L. Schecter to 5:00 p.m. at Camp David, specifying that he wanted to conduct the session and provide a tour of the grounds privately. Additionally, Nixon reviewed logistics for a forthcoming meeting with Henry Kissinger to ensure his agenda remained clear of overlapping commitments.
President Nixon and an unnamed aide (likely Henry Kissinger) discuss high-stakes foreign policy maneuvers, specifically the Indo-Pakistani War and internal administration management. They coordinate efforts to pressure the Soviet Union for a ceasefire in West Pakistan and review the status of defense budget negotiations, with Nixon emphasizing the need for tough public posturing and decisive action. The President also addresses domestic political optics, including the need for a coordinated public relations approach to ensure the administration receives credit for its policy initiatives.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, coordinated logistical details for the President's upcoming schedule and personal social arrangements. They discussed the handling of correspondence and an appointment regarding Cornelius V. “Sonny” Whitney, as well as the timing for a visit to Camp David. Additionally, the pair planned logistics for a theater outing involving Julie Nixon Eisenhower, specifically debating the timing of dinner and pre-theater preparations to ensure a smooth schedule.
President Nixon and Alexander Butterfield met to coordinate the President's upcoming daily schedule and manage several high-level appointments. They specifically discussed the need to reschedule a meeting with Senator Barry Goldwater due to the Senator's travel, ensuring the postponement was framed in a way that distanced the President from any scheduling conflicts. The conversation concluded with instructions to handle the logistics of these meetings—including engagements involving John Ehrlichman, George Shultz, and Clark MacGregor—while maintaining appropriate administrative buffers.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull discussed logistical adjustments to the President's daily schedule regarding an upcoming meeting with Henry Kissinger. The President directed Bull to reschedule their appointment, requesting a twenty-minute briefing session immediately preceding a separate 10:00 a.m. engagement. This brief interaction served to refine the timing of high-level foreign policy coordination.
President Nixon met with his advisors, including H.R. Haldeman and Henry Kissinger, to coordinate foreign policy messaging and manage internal administrative tasks. The primary focus was the ongoing India-Pakistan crisis, where Nixon demanded a stronger public protest regarding the strafing of American planes and pushed for an immediate ceasefire. Additionally, the President discussed his domestic agenda, including managing the Kennedy Center's funding issues, handling congressional legislation, and directing his staff on media strategy and his upcoming travel schedule.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, discuss the logistical and public relations challenges surrounding the scheduling of television appearances for Julie Nixon Eisenhower. The President expresses frustration with the inadequate planning currently being handled by staff and directs Woods to coordinate with Bob Haldeman to ensure the proposed Christmas-themed program moves forward effectively. They agree that positive media exposure featuring Julie is essential for the administration's public image and conclude that stronger oversight is required to regain control over the scheduling process.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to discuss urgent diplomatic and military strategies regarding the ongoing Indo-Pakistani War. Fearing the total collapse of West Pakistan, they strategized on forcing a ceasefire by leveraging international pressure through the Soviet Union, the People’s Republic of China, and third-party arms transfers from nations like France. Nixon emphasized the need for a aggressive public relations campaign to blame India for the conflict's atrocities and directed that the U.S. maintain its commitment to West Pakistan's survival despite congressional constraints.
President Nixon met with W. Allen Wallis, Frederick Mosteller, and George P. Shultz to receive a report from the Commission on Federal Statistics regarding the state and efficacy of the U.S. federal statistical system. The discussion focused on improving the credibility and accuracy of government data, the need to strengthen the Statistical Policy Division within the Office of Management and Budget, and the necessity of maintaining high standards for economic indicators like the GNP. Additionally, the participants addressed concerns regarding data confidentiality, the potential for a quinquennial census, and the importance of ensuring that policymakers base decisions on accurate, non-politicized information.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met briefly to review the President's immediate schedule and manage logistical arrangements for upcoming appointments. They discussed the time allocation for a meeting with journalist Nicholas P. Thimmesch and the protocol for a Distinguished Service Medal presentation involving General Leonard F. Chapman, Jr. and Major General James D. Hughes. Nixon instructed Bull to strictly limit the duration of the Thimmesch interview to five minutes.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull and Major General James D. Hughes to facilitate an award presentation. The brief discussion focused on administrative coordination for the ceremony, specifically involving General Leonard F. Chapman, Jr. and potentially Ronald L. Ziegler. The meeting served as a logistical arrangement to organize the schedule and attendees for the upcoming event.
President Nixon hosted a ceremony in the Oval Office to honor General Leonard F. Chapman, Jr., upon the conclusion of his tenure as Commandant of the Marine Corps. The President formally presented General Chapman with the Distinguished Service Medal in recognition of his leadership during the Vietnam War and his service on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The meeting included remarks from both the President and the General reflecting on the dedication of Marine Corps personnel, the importance of military families, and Chapman's 36-year career.
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met to coordinate the President's immediate daily schedule and upcoming appointments. They discussed the logistics regarding a meeting with Henry Kissinger, as well as engagements with Alexander M. Haig, Jr. and David Packard. The conversation centered on managing the timing and professional flow of these cabinet-level interactions, including the status of Packard's resignation.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull and Rose Mary Woods to coordinate his daily schedule and manage upcoming meetings. The discussion focused on logistical priorities regarding scheduled appointments with David Packard and Nicholas P. Thimmesch, alongside the handling of reports provided by Franklin Haydn Williams. The session concluded with instructions to prioritize the meeting with Packard and the management of sensitive administrative documentation.
President Nixon met with departing Deputy Secretary of Defense David Packard and Alexander Haig to discuss the transition of Packard's office and the administration’s upcoming defense budget priorities. Nixon expressed strong appreciation for Packard’s service during various international crises and sought his advice on managing relationships with the business elite upon his return to private life. The group also evaluated specific defense spending adjustments, including potential investments in F-111 aircraft and airborne command posts, to signal military strength while managing domestic economic impacts.
President Nixon met with journalist Nicholas P. Thimmesch and Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler to discuss the administration's naval defense strategy and to influence Thimmesch's journalistic focus. The President emphasized the necessity of modernizing the U.S. fleet to maintain global parity with the Soviet Union, framing naval strength as vital for international presence. Additionally, Nixon offered career advice to Thimmesch, encouraging him to transition from print journalism to more influential roles in television, specifically in public broadcasting.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to coordinate U.S. strategy regarding the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict, focusing on facilitating a ceasefire and managing relations with the Soviet Union and China. Kissinger briefed the President on his back-channel communications with Soviet and Pakistani officials, emphasizing the need to keep Secretary of State William Rogers and the State Department at a distance to maintain tight control over the negotiations. Additionally, the two discussed the defense budget, with Nixon agreeing to raise the expenditure figure to $77.5 billion based on recommendations from David Packard to satisfy domestic political concerns and ensure support from conservatives.
Secret Service agents gathered in the Oval Office to conduct a brief, routine security check or operational briefing. While the transcript is marked as undefined, the presence of protective detail personnel indicates a focus on presidential security protocols or logistical arrangements. No specific policy decisions or significant developments were recorded during this brief encounter.