Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 643
Nixon White House Tape 643 (December 24, 1971 – January 3, 1972)
16 conversations · Oval Office · about 3 hr 3 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, United States Secret Service agents, Sanchez, Bull, Butterfield
White House photographer Ollie Atkins, Alexander Butterfield, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office to coordinate logistics for a forthcoming photography session. The group focused on adjusting camera positioning and framing, specifically assessing the height of equipment and optimal angles for shots within the West Wing and the Yellow Room. This session served as a technical preparation to ensure the President's preferred aesthetic and style were captured during upcoming appearances.
President Richard M. Nixon met with White House photographer Oliver F. Atkins and others to conduct a formal portrait session in the Oval Office. The participants focused on technical aspects of the shoot, including lighting, film speed, and posing techniques designed to project a relaxed and positive presidential image. The discussion centered on coaching Nixon to provide specific expressions, such as a "campaign look" and a wide-open grin, for the photography team.
President Nixon met with Jack J. Dreyfus, Jr. and Stephen B. Bull to discuss personal matters, including physical fitness, sports, and scheduling a meeting with Kenneth R. Cole. The conversation also touched upon a gift from Ambassador Walter H. Annenberg and a portrait of George Washington. The President concluded the meeting by agreeing to review an article provided by Dreyfus during his upcoming trip to California.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, to discuss arrangements for an upcoming medical appointment. The brief interaction focused on logistics, specifically ensuring that medical staff were prepared for the President's scheduled visit to a facility referred to as 'Lego 3.' Sanchez confirmed his role in coordinating the preparations before departing.
President Nixon met with an unknown woman to oversee a photography session, discussing the importance of projecting a "smiling" and "fun-looking" image for upcoming political appearances and campaign optics. Following the shoot, the conversation shifted to internal personnel and administrative management, including instructions to keep the White House grounds clean and orderly for official guests. The President and the attendee also touched upon the necessity of maintaining professionalism among the staff and ensuring that various official projects were properly executed and reported.
President Nixon met with an unknown individual and Alexander P. Butterfield to discuss the President's upcoming schedule and administrative arrangements. The meeting was characterized by confusion regarding the necessity of Butterfield’s presence, resulting in a brief interaction before he departed. Discussions briefly touched upon Charles W. Colson’s role in the scheduling process.
President Nixon consulted with Stephen B. Bull regarding his upcoming schedule and the need for a briefing from Peter G. Peterson. The discussion focused on coordinating a private update from Peterson concerning a recent Council on International Economic Policy meeting and trade legislation prior to a larger scheduled gathering. Nixon approved the request for a pre-meeting session to review Peterson’s materials and ensure he was prepared for subsequent discussions with cabinet-level officials.
President Nixon met with Charles Colson and other staff members to review his recent television interview with Dan Rather, focusing on the public and political reception of his performance. Nixon discussed his strategy for handling hostile media, the necessity of maintaining dignity under pressure, and the benefits of appearing as a 'dignified statesman' compared to the 'sniping' nature of the interviewer. Additionally, the conversation touched upon the 1972 presidential campaign, the administration's stance on primaries, and concerns regarding office cleanliness and staff protocol.
This brief recording captures an encounter between United States Secret Service agents and unidentified individuals within the Oval Office. Due to the extremely short duration of the audio and the lack of a transcript, no substantive policy discussions, decisions, or political developments are discernible. The segment remains effectively unintelligible for historical analysis.
President Nixon met with Henry Ford II, Edwin D. Etherington, and others to discuss the funding, leadership, and programming of the National Center for Volunteer Action (NCVA), emphasizing the importance of private sector involvement to maintain the organization's credibility. Following their departure, Nixon met with Peter G. Peterson to strategize on trade legislation, specifically regarding the timing of gold price negotiations and the risks of protectionist measures in Congress. Nixon instructed the team to handle sensitive trade issues by utilizing an educational approach rather than risking legislative failures, while leveraging key aides to manage congressional and business expectations.
United States Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office to coordinate security logistics, though the specific details of the discussion remain largely unintelligible. The brief exchange appears to concern the physical presence and movements of the President as he transitioned toward the Cabinet Room. No significant policy decisions were recorded during this fragmentary interaction.
United States Secret Service agents and unidentified individuals met in the Oval Office to conduct logistical coordination regarding the President's movements. The dialogue primarily focused on confirming the President’s location, specifically noting his presence in the Cabinet Room with Stephen B. Bull. No further substantive policy matters or strategic decisions were recorded in this brief exchange.
President Nixon met with John Mitchell and H.R. Haldeman to manage several administrative and political crises, most notably the escalating conflict between National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger and Secretary of State William Rogers. The discussion focused on controlling leaks regarding the India-Pakistan War, resolving bureaucratic friction ahead of the upcoming Moscow summit, and managing the political fallout from Jack Anderson’s columns. Additionally, the participants addressed personnel appointments, including the search for a new Deputy Secretary of Defense and the handling of various regional primary elections.
President Nixon held a brief, one-minute meeting in the Oval Office with unidentified individuals. Due to the extremely short duration of the encounter and the absence of a transcript or log details, the specific substance of the discussion remains unknown. No policy decisions, developments, or action items can be discerned from this recording.
President Nixon met with Secret Service agents in the Oval Office to coordinate logistics and security regarding his family's holiday activities. The discussion focused on preparations for a forthcoming photo session involving Tricia Nixon Cox and Julie Nixon Eisenhower, as well as the distribution of gifts by the President. Following these arrangements, the agents concluded their briefing and departed the office.
Secret Service agents met with President Nixon in the Oval Office to discuss security logistics and the President's personal schedule. The brief conversation centered on the President's location and meal arrangements during the holiday. No significant policy decisions were recorded during this short security-related exchange.