Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 636
Nixon White House Tape 636 (December 10, 1971)
13 conversations · Oval Office · about 2 hr 33 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Butterfield, Woods, Bull, Sanchez
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to briefly coordinate the President's schedule. During this short exchange, they specifically discussed upcoming remarks to be delivered by Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. The conversation concluded with administrative confirmation regarding these logistical preparations.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office to address a brief personal request. The interaction lasted only a few seconds and concluded with Sanchez exiting shortly thereafter. No significant policy matters or administrative decisions were documented during this short exchange.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, met to discuss logistical details regarding White House amenities and personal gifts. The conversation focused on procuring specific glassware previously used by the President and reviewing the design and placement of a crystal gift from Ambassador Walter H. Annenberg. Additionally, the pair coordinated the President’s upcoming schedule, including dinner plans with Jack and Helene Drown and potential arrangements at Camp David.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull, Rose Mary Woods, and Manolo Sanchez to coordinate his busy administrative and social schedule. The discussion primarily focused on logistics for signing the Revenue Act of 1971, rearranging office décor, and managing upcoming appointments, including a planned interview with Jerrold Schecter and calls to Ambassador Walter Annenberg and William H. Rehnquist. Additionally, the President reviewed Supreme Court confirmation vote data with staff and finalized arrangements for a dinner and his upcoming trip to Camp David.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to coordinate the logistics for the upcoming signing ceremony of the Revenue Act of 1971. They specifically discussed the distribution of signing pens to key political figures, including John B. Connally, Wilbur D. Mills, Arthur F. Burns, and Russell B. Long. The President finalized plans for the presentation of these pens to ensure proper recognition of the individuals involved in the legislation's passage.
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met to coordinate logistical details regarding the signing of the Revenue Act of 1971. Accompanied by Stephen B. Bull, they briefly discussed the administrative requirements for the bill-signing ceremony and the timing of a scheduled call to Ambassador Walter H. Annenberg. The meeting concluded with instructions to finalize the necessary procedural paperwork for these events.
An unidentified woman and man met briefly with President Nixon in the Oval Office. Due to the withdrawal of the audio segments and the lack of a transcript, the specific substance of the discussion remains classified or unintelligible. The participants departed shortly after their arrival, leaving no record of substantive policy decisions or action items.
President Nixon and John B. Connally reviewed a busy schedule of administrative and geopolitical affairs, including the recent signing of the Revenue Act of 1971 and ongoing international monetary negotiations. The two men discussed strategy for upcoming diplomatic engagements, specifically focusing on how to pressure the French and Japanese for trade concessions while maintaining a diplomatic posture. Additionally, they addressed the escalating India-Pakistan crisis, with the President emphasizing the need to prevent the collapse of West Pakistan and questioning the commitment of the Soviet Union to regional stability.
President Nixon, H. R. Haldeman, and Alexander Butterfield met to review the President's schedule, coordinate legislative strategies, and assess the status of various administration initiatives. Key discussions included the successful confirmation of William Rehnquist and historical comparisons to other contested Supreme Court appointments, as well as economic outlooks and ongoing negotiations regarding foreign aid and the federal budget. The President specifically requested a confidential review of future aid to India and emphasized the importance of preventing bureaucratic leaks regarding his fiscal priorities.
President Nixon and his personal secretary Rose Mary Woods met to coordinate administrative details, including the President's upcoming interview schedule with Jerrold Schecter and logistics regarding Julie Nixon Eisenhower's travel. The pair also discussed a gift, the "Star of the President," received from Ambassador Walter H. Annenberg. Additionally, they reviewed standard protocols for handling gifts to the President and confirmed dinner arrangements.
President Nixon met with Jerrold L. Schecter in the Oval Office to discuss the nature of the presidency, the demands of the office, and the logistical habits required to maintain executive focus. Nixon emphasized his deliberate efforts to avoid distraction by limiting his intake of television news, maintaining a clean workspace, and delegating non-essential tasks to trusted aides. He reflected on the importance of mental discipline and emotional detachment, particularly regarding press criticism, as essential components for making cold, calculated decisions during national crises.
This recording captures a brief, informal interaction between President Nixon and unidentified individuals in the Oval Office. The dialogue consists solely of a casual remark regarding the composition of Coca-Cola bottles. No substantive policy discussions, historical decisions, or significant administrative business were conducted during this segment.
Secret Service agents utilized the Oval Office taping system to coordinate logistics regarding the President's movements and security presence. The discussion focused on establishing the President's current location within the Cabinet Room to facilitate security operations. These brief exchanges functioned as internal operational communications among protective detail personnel.