Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 638
Nixon White House Tape 638 (December 15, 1971)
14 conversations · Oval Office · about 39 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Butterfield, Haldeman, Kissinger
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to coordinate his daily schedule. The primary focus of the brief discussion was the logistics regarding an upcoming meeting with an unidentified individual. Nixon sought to clarify his availability and readiness for this engagement.
President Nixon initiated a brief communication through the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. The interaction served as a procedural step to connect the President with another party for official business. No substantive policy matters or specific decisions were recorded during this brief exchange.
President Nixon met with an unknown individual to coordinate a brief, immediate briefing with Henry Kissinger. The primary objective was to ensure Kissinger’s prompt arrival at the Oval Office for an urgent consultation. The conversation concluded with instructions to expedite Kissinger's entry.
In this meeting, President Nixon and his senior advisors, including H. R. Haldeman and John B. Connally, finalized their strategy regarding the recently negotiated international monetary agreement, often referred to as the "Azores Doctrine." The participants focused on managing public perception of the deal, emphasizing that it represented a successful and fair realignment of currencies rather than a unilateral devaluation of the dollar. Furthermore, they discussed the necessity of coordinating a unified message to the press through the Treasury Department and prepared for a briefing with Congressional leadership to solidify legislative support for their economic initiatives. The conversation also touched upon sensitive foreign policy matters, specifically the India-Pakistan conflict and the need to maintain delicate diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union and France.
President Nixon met with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, and later aide Alexander P. Butterfield to discuss a range of personal, administrative, and political matters. The conversation covered the President's upcoming schedule and need for relaxation, the political threat posed by Democratic candidates—specifically Ted Kennedy and Edmund Muskie—and the ongoing efforts to secure Nixon's reelection. Nixon also discussed the importance of the Azores summit regarding international economic policy and authorized various administrative tasks, including follow-up meetings and correspondence with foreign dignitaries.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to coordinate logistical arrangements for his upcoming schedule. The discussion centered on managing the timing for a bill signing and preparing for a forthcoming meeting and helicopter trip. The President opted to postpone certain administrative tasks to ensure adequate time for meeting preparation.
President Nixon met with his Deputy Assistant Alexander P. Butterfield to review the logistics of the President's upcoming schedule. The brief discussion focused on finalizing arrangements for a forthcoming meeting. No further substantive policy matters were recorded during this session.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discussed press strategy regarding the Washington Redskins, specifically focusing on the team's turnaround and potential media coverage. They also coordinated the President's upcoming trip to the People’s Republic of China, evaluating various stopover options to minimize fatigue. Ultimately, they decided to prioritize a stay in Hawaii—potentially Maui—over California or Guam to allow for better relaxation and climate, while shifting the formal departure ceremony to Washington, D.C.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull discussed logistics regarding an upcoming trip, focusing on travel schedules and transit times to Hawaii and Guam. The brief exchange centered on managing the timing of departures and arrivals to ensure the President's itinerary was efficient. No major policy decisions were reached during this administrative review of travel arrangements.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate an urgent administrative task. The primary purpose of the meeting was to facilitate a direct communication channel with the Treasury Department. Nixon directed Bull to summon Under Secretary of the Treasury Paul A. Volcker to the Oval Office for an immediate consultation.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office for a brief session lasting less than four minutes. Due to the absence of audible dialogue or a transcript, the specific substance, objectives, and any potential action items from this encounter remain unknown. Archival review has determined that no discernible conversation occurred during this segment.
President Nixon consulted Paul Volcker to determine an appropriate figure for the number of major monetary crises experienced over the previous decade to cite in an upcoming speech. Volcker and others provided estimates ranging from three to seven, prompting Nixon to settle on the higher figure of seven to bolster his narrative. The discussion concluded with the President deciding to attribute this statistic directly to Volcker's expertise.
President Nixon met with his senior advisors, including Charles Colson and John Ehrlichman, to discuss a broad range of political, administrative, and strategic matters. The participants reviewed ongoing public relations efforts regarding economic performance and unemployment data, coordinated their stance on potential legislation such as H.R. 1, and touched upon personnel concerns. The conversation also included informal commentary on recent Washington Redskins football games and general holiday planning, highlighting a mix of high-level political maneuvering and casual staff engagement.
Secret Service agents met with unknown individuals in the Oval Office to discuss security-related matters. Following a brief segment of withdrawn material, the interaction concluded with the President moving to the Cabinet Room. The lack of a transcript prevents a more detailed analysis of the specific security protocols or personnel involved.