Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 655
Nixon White House Tape 655 (January 25, 1972 – January 26, 1972)
5 conversations · Oval Office · about 3 hr 11 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Butterfield, Ziegler, Colson, Haldeman
President Nixon and Charles Colson briefly discussed rescheduling a meeting with political analyst Richard Scammon due to the President's upcoming television address regarding his Vietnam peace proposal. Nixon prioritized preparing for the broadcast and indicated a desire to review recent political literature, specifically referencing Scammon and Ben Wattenberg’s work, *The Real Majority*. Colson was tasked with coordinating the scheduling change to accommodate the President's agenda.
President Nixon met with his Deputy Assistant Alexander P. Butterfield in the Oval Office to discuss the preparation and refinement of a specific speech draft. The conversation centered on administrative coordination regarding the document's content and finalization. No definitive policy decisions were recorded, as the dialogue focused on the logistical management of executive communication.
President Nixon met with his senior advisors and staff to finalize the details of his upcoming January 25, 1972, televised address regarding a new Vietnam peace proposal. The discussion focused on coordinating network scheduling, managing media speculation, and refining the tone of the speech to ensure it effectively presented the administration's negotiating efforts. Additionally, the participants reviewed staffing requirements for upcoming presidential trips and strategic political considerations for the 1972 election cycle, including Robert Finch's future political trajectory.
United States Secret Service agents and unidentified individuals met in the Oval Office to coordinate security logistics. The discussion, which included a segment redacted for national security, primarily concerned the President’s location and movement between the White House and the Executive Office Building. The exchange concluded abruptly after a brief, ambiguous comment regarding exit security.
President Nixon met with Mark I. Goode, William H. Carruthers, and Ronald L. Ziegler to coordinate the broadcast logistics and final presentation of his televised Vietnam peace proposal. The conversation focused on the technical nuances of the speech's delivery, including microphone placement and the handling of scripts, as well as the strategic scheduling of the address to maximize audience reach across television networks. Following these preparations, the President delivered the speech, which publicly detailed previously secret negotiations and offered a comprehensive plan for troop withdrawals, prisoner exchanges, and a ceasefire.