Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 652
Nixon White House Tape 652 (January 20, 1972)
19 conversations · Oval Office · about 2 hr 39 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, United States Secret Service agents, Butterfield, Woods
United States Secret Service agents gathered in the Oval Office for a brief, routine check-in with the President. The exchange consists only of brief, reassurances regarding the agents' readiness or well-being. Due to the extremely short duration and lack of audible substantive content, no significant policy decisions or strategic developments were recorded.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, to manage administrative and logistical tasks within the Oval Office. During the brief interaction, the President requested refreshments and directed the relocation of his briefcase to the Executive Office Building. The exchange focused primarily on these routine personal services and the management of confidential documents.
President Nixon met with his personal secretary Rose Mary Woods to discuss the reception of his recent State of the Union Address and administrative strategy. The two analyzed the reactions of political opponents, specifically Senator Edward Kennedy, and reviewed the logistics of promoting the Equal Rights Amendment to ensure the administration's position was clear. Additionally, the President discussed personal matters, including securing funding for his daughters, Julie and Tricia, to purchase campaign-appropriate clothing to bolster their public appeal.
President Nixon consulted with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to coordinate the schedules of Charles W. Colson and Clark MacGregor. The President instructed Bull to verify if either individual was available to meet immediately. The conversation resulted in Bull taking action to confirm the availability of these staff members for an impromptu briefing.
President Nixon met with his senior advisors and staff to debrief on the reception and political impact of his January 1972 State of the Union address. The participants analyzed media commentary and the reactions of congressional Democrats, specifically noting the effectiveness of the President's shift toward a more statesmanlike, moderate tone. Nixon and his team developed a strategy to pressure Congress by highlighting legislative inaction through daily congressional floor reminders, aiming to frame Democrats as obstructionists ahead of the 1972 election. They also discussed future messaging, emphasizing the importance of focusing on tangible economic results over rhetoric.
President Nixon directed Stephen B. Bull to arrange a meeting with Henry Kissinger, provided Kissinger was available and not currently engaged in social plans. The President specifically requested that the interaction remain separate from lunch engagements or other pre-existing commitments. This discussion served to coordinate Kissinger's schedule in relation to an upcoming Cabinet meeting and his planned trip to Florida.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met briefly to coordinate logistics regarding Henry Kissinger's current location. Bull provided information about a specific building to facilitate the President's upcoming travel plans. Following the exchange, the President directed a move to the location.
President Nixon met briefly with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office. The exchange was limited to the President requesting a serving of coffee. No substantive policy discussions or significant political developments occurred during this short interaction.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to address administrative paperwork requiring presidential signature. The discussion focused on documents prepared in anticipation of a forthcoming Cabinet meeting. The brief encounter concluded after the President completed the necessary tasks.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, discuss the recent death of Harold O. Lovre. The President instructs Woods to ensure that a wreath is sent on his behalf, specifically coordinating with a military aide to handle the arrangement. This brief administrative exchange serves to ensure a proper expression of presidential condolences for the late former congressman.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman and Ronald Ziegler to coordinate the White House's political strategy regarding the fallout from his recent State of the Union address and upcoming labor legislation. The group discussed attacking Democratic critics like Edmund Muskie for their perceived partisanship while managing media coverage and potential responses to a dock strike. Nixon specifically instructed staff to employ aggressive, memorable rhetoric to characterize labor strikers as selfish and irresponsible in order to pressure Congress into taking action.
Secret Service personnel engaged in a brief administrative exchange while coordinating security arrangements near the Cabinet Room. The dialogue primarily concerned the logistical movements and current location of the President. No substantive policy decisions were made during this routine operational check.
President Nixon met with Cardinal Cooke, administration officials, and military leadership to discuss several pressing national and international issues. The conversation covered the morale of U.S. troops in Vietnam, the administration's efforts to provide government aid to private and parochial schools, and upcoming high-level diplomatic trips to China and the Soviet Union. Nixon also coordinated with General Westmoreland regarding the strategic importance of U.S. military security assistance programs, specifically for Indonesia and Latin America, as a means to maintain global influence.
President Nixon consulted with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, regarding his immediate schedule and the presence of Henry Kissinger. Nixon directed Bull to inform Kissinger that he required 15 minutes to attend to document signing before their meeting. Consequently, Bull was instructed to reschedule the appointment for 6:15 pm.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to handle routine administrative tasks, including the signing of official documents and coordination regarding H. R. Haldeman’s schedule for an upcoming Cabinet dinner. The President also engaged in a brief, informal telephone conversation with Robert H. Finch concerning his health and recovery. The interaction concluded with the President emphasizing the need for strategic political momentum heading into the upcoming months.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to review and refine his upcoming executive schedule. The discussion focused specifically on managing the President's interactions and appointments with Henry A. Kissinger. This brief administrative consultation was intended to ensure the proper organization of the President's calendar regarding key foreign policy engagements.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to coordinate strategy for the President's upcoming peace plan speech, evaluate the North Vietnamese military build-up, and discuss diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union and China. They concluded that while the U.S. would not immediately launch new bombing campaigns to avoid complicating the peace proposal, they would prepare for a firm military response should the North Vietnamese offensive escalate. Additionally, the pair reviewed the success of the recent State of the Union address and finalized preparations for Kissinger’s forthcoming meeting with Soviet Ambassador Anatoliy Dobrynin.
Secret Service agents entered the Oval Office to coordinate logistics regarding the President’s location. The brief exchange functioned as an operational check, with the agents serving as messengers to confirm movement plans. Following the interaction, the agents exited the office to proceed with their security duties.
Secret Service personnel met in the Oval Office to coordinate security logistics and personnel deployment for an upcoming event or location. The discussion focused on the necessity of advancing a security agent to the site before others arrived. This exchange highlights the routine operational planning and preparation required for presidential protection details.