Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 641
Nixon White House Tape 641 (December 23, 1971)
10 conversations · Oval Office · about 1 hr 17 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Woods, Haldeman, Raimondi
President Nixon met with his personal aide, Stephen B. Bull, to provide specific directives regarding Henry A. Kissinger. Although no transcript exists for this brief encounter, the discussion centered on formal instructions for Kissinger. The meeting concluded with Bull departing the Oval Office to carry out these administrative tasks.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, met to discuss personal scheduling arrangements, upcoming holiday travel to Florida, and administrative tasks for the Christmas season. The conversation focused on managing the President's correspondence, coordinating phone calls, and finalizing logistics regarding Woods's time away. They also exchanged seasonal well-wishes and brief updates concerning mutual acquaintances, including Elmer H. Bobst.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to coordinate the scheduling of an upcoming meeting with Archbishop Luigi Raimondi. The discussion focused on aligning the Archbishop’s visit with a formal bill signing ceremony to ensure optimal press coverage. Nixon emphasized the need for precise timing to avoid logistical complications or negative optics.
President Nixon met with Apostolic Delegate Luigi Raimondi and White House aide Peter M. Flanigan to receive a personal message of peace from Pope Paul VI. The brief session included a photo opportunity and a general exchange regarding global peace efforts and holiday well-wishes. Nixon acknowledged the Vatican's diplomatic mission, reflecting on the persistent challenges of achieving world peace.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to discuss logistics and concerns regarding the President’s upcoming trip to the People's Republic of China, specifically expressing frustration over excessive sightseeing and unproductive gaps in the schedule proposed by Henry Kissinger. Nixon directed Haldeman to coordinate revisions to the itinerary—aiming to cut unnecessary travel days and prioritize substance over tourism—while instructing him to handle these changes without directly confronting Kissinger initially. The two also briefly touched upon Henry Kissinger's concerns regarding media leaks and tension with the State Department.
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to review and finalize details regarding the President's upcoming daily schedule. The conversation focused on managing logistical arrangements for the President's itinerary to ensure his time remained flexible. No major policy decisions were reached, as the discussion was limited to routine administrative planning.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to review and manage his daily schedule. The primary focus of the discussion concerned the timing and logistics of an upcoming meeting with Henry Kissinger and the Washington Special Actions Group (WSAG). Bull coordinated these appointments to ensure the President's availability for these key foreign policy sessions.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to coordinate logistics for an upcoming trip to Key Biscayne, specifically focusing on dinner arrangements, wine selections, and lodging accommodations with Charles “Bebe” Rebozo. The discussion also touched upon a potential communication from Charles Colson to an unnamed recipient, possibly George Meany. This meeting served to finalize personal travel details and manage pending administrative correspondence.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, discuss personal holiday arrangements and the welfare of various acquaintances experiencing health issues. The conversation focuses on coordinating the delivery of Christmas gifts and cards, as well as checking on the condition of several mutual friends, including Ben Freeman. Woods concludes the meeting by coordinating the placement of holiday packages under the President's tree.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman to discuss a serious security breach involving a yeoman who leaked classified information to columnist Jack Anderson. The participants addressed the existence of an unauthorized channel between the National Security Council staff and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which allowed for the improper dissemination of internal decision-making documents. Nixon directed his staff to shut down this channel and strategy was discussed regarding how to handle the leaker and potentially confront Anderson, while carefully avoiding direct involvement from Henry Kissinger in the ongoing investigation.