Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 647
Nixon White House Tape 647 (January 13, 1972)
22 conversations · Oval Office
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Ziegler, Haldeman, Sanchez
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman briefly conferred regarding the President's upcoming schedule, specifically focusing on a meeting with Neil H. McElroy. During the discussion, they addressed the necessity of ensuring John B. Connally's attendance at the session. The brief exchange concluded with the President confirming the inclusion of this item in his agenda.
President Nixon met with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, and aide Stephen B. Bull to address routine administrative tasks and correspondence. The participants reviewed documents requiring the President’s signature, discussed the proper handling of presidential gifts such as custom flag cufflinks, and coordinated upcoming scheduling matters regarding Camp David. Stephen B. Bull joined the session briefly to assist with organizing gift inventories for official visitors.
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to manage the scheduling of an upcoming appointment with Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. Bull updated the President on current time constraints, specifically noting the necessity to provide Nixon with a fifteen-minute window to review materials before the meeting. The conversation focused on clearing the President’s agenda to ensure he was adequately prepared for the subsequent briefing.
President Richard Nixon met with his valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office for a brief, private discussion. The brief duration and the classification of the segment as a personal, returnable item indicate that the exchange was strictly private in nature rather than related to official government business or policy. No substantive political developments or administrative decisions resulted from this interaction.
President Nixon held a brief, unscheduled meeting with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office. The primary purpose of the gathering was to coordinate a subsequent meeting with Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. The interaction concluded quickly when the visitor departed shortly before 10:34 am.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler met to coordinate the public communication strategy regarding upcoming U.S. troop withdrawals from Vietnam. They established a procedure where Nixon would deliver a brief announcement following an introduction by Ziegler, after which Secretary of Defense Melvin R. Laird would handle subsequent press questions. Ziegler committed to providing the President with a status report prior to the official announcement.
President Nixon met with Melvin Laird, Alexander Haig, and later Ronald Ziegler to coordinate the public messaging strategy for an upcoming announcement regarding U.S. troop withdrawals from Vietnam. The participants focused on framing the reduction as a sign of confidence in the progress of Vietnamization and the South Vietnamese military's defensive capabilities, while minimizing concerns over North Vietnamese tactical maneuvers. They also prepared responses for anticipated press questions concerning prisoners of war, the end of the U.S. ground combat role, and the potential future use of American air and sea power.
United States Secret Service agents and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office to coordinate logistical arrangements regarding the President’s upcoming schedule and movements. The discussion focused on rearranging furniture or equipment to create additional space, specifically identifying the Briefing Room as the location of interest. This brief exchange served to finalize immediate setup requirements for presidential activity.
President Nixon, H.R. Haldeman, and Ronald Ziegler discussed various administrative concerns and public relations strategies, including potential leaks involving the Anderson papers and investigations into a cabinet official. The group evaluated Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird's recent successful press briefing on Vietnamization and the positive media reception of Pat Nixon's African trip. Additionally, Nixon and Haldeman strategized on how to manage Henry Kissinger's desire for a high-profile press conference regarding his foreign policy initiatives, ultimately favoring a more controlled, low-key interview with journalist Max Frankel to avoid unwanted media speculation.
President Nixon met with Vice President Agnew and members of the McElroy Commission and the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (ACIR) to discuss the pressing issue of school finance reform. The discussion focused on the potential shift toward state-level funding to reduce reliance on regressive local property taxes, as well as the feasibility of implementing a Value Added Tax (VAT) as a federal revenue source to support educational equalization. Nixon directed both the McElroy Commission and the ACIR to prioritize the study of these funding models and their implications for intergovernmental relations and local school control.
President Nixon met with his personal aide, Stephen B. Bull, to review and finalize the President's upcoming daily schedule. The brief discussion focused on coordinating a meeting with H.R. Haldeman immediately preceding a scheduled swearing-in ceremony. Bull also presented a book for the President to sign as part of his administrative duties.
President Nixon hosted a swearing-in ceremony in the Oval Office for John E. Sheehan as a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The event was attended by Sheehan’s family, Federal Reserve Chairman Arthur F. Burns, various governors, and several U.S. Senators, including John Sherman Cooper. Following the formal oath and a photographic session, the President engaged in a private discussion with Senator Cooper regarding the political landscape, including U.S. foreign policy toward the Vietnam War, upcoming trips to China and the Soviet Union, and international conflicts.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull briefly discussed administrative logistics regarding a school group from Ascension Academy and the handling of presidential gifts. The conversation touched upon managing press interest in these events and navigating political perceptions of the administration. They concluded by briefly addressing the necessity of managing political adversaries to maintain the administration's momentum.
President Nixon hosted a group of students and their teacher in the Oval Office to celebrate his birthday and engage in an informal, educational visit. During the meeting, the attendees recited poems, presented gifts to the President, and participated in a photo session. Nixon discussed his upcoming trip to the People's Republic of China, emphasizing the importance of international relations for the younger generation, and concluded by distributing souvenir pens to the students.
President Nixon held an Oval Office meeting with Stephen B. Bull, Edwin M. Fauver, and several guests to honor Fauver upon his retirement. The group engaged in brief social pleasantries and a photo session while Nixon presented the guests with official White House gifts, including a money clip and cufflinks. The encounter served as a gesture of appreciation for Fauver’s service before he transitioned into retirement.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met briefly to review the President's afternoon schedule, specifically focusing on an upcoming meeting of the Neil H. McElroy Commission. They discussed the expected duration of the session and the potential participation of Vice President Spiro T. Agnew. The brief consultation served to address and manage logistics regarding schedule delays for the remainder of the day.
President Nixon met with Robert O. Anderson, J. Erik Jonsson, and other advisors to discuss the creation of an "Institute for National Goals," a project designed to help cities and the nation engage in long-term, consensus-based planning. The group explored using computer modeling and systems analysis to identify societal priorities, contrasting this pragmatic, goal-oriented approach with the perceived indecisiveness of traditional foundations and academic idealists. Nixon expressed support for the concept and directed his team to coordinate with George P. Shultz and David J. Mahoney to evaluate the initiative's feasibility, potential funding, and government role.
President Nixon met briefly with White House aide Stephen B. Bull to review his daily schedule, specifically regarding an upcoming appointment with Jon M. Huntsman. Following Bull's departure, the President spoke with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, to coordinate a request for food. These brief interactions reflect the administrative and logistical management of the President's immediate agenda and personal needs.
President Nixon met with Jon M. Huntsman, his family, and Alexander P. Butterfield to formally bid farewell to Huntsman as he concluded his tenure with the administration. The session included introductions, a brief photo opportunity with the family, and the presentation of gifts. The President offered parting advice and pleasantries before the family departed the Oval Office.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to facilitate the delivery of specific items or documents. The brief exchange consists primarily of informal pleasantries as the materials are handed over to the President. No substantive policy discussions or major administrative decisions occurred during this interaction.
President Nixon met briefly with Alexander P. Butterfield, Stephen B. Bull, Ronald L. Ziegler, and Secret Service personnel to offer brief words of encouragement to the group. Following the departure of most participants, Nixon held a short, private discussion with Bull regarding the President's schedule and a request for a specific report. The interaction concluded shortly thereafter with Bull exiting the Oval Office.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman and Stephen B. Bull to finalize logistical arrangements for his departure to the Executive Office Building and upcoming travel plans. The discussion focused on coordinating schedules and assessing the viability of a trip to Camp David in light of current weather conditions and transportation requirements. The meeting concluded with the President and Haldeman departing the Oval Office together.