Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 661
Nixon White House Tape 661 (January 31, 1972)
15 conversations · Oval Office · about 4 hr 27 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Butterfield, Haldeman, Ziegler
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman to coordinate the administration's stance on welfare reform, including strategies to manage Senator Abraham Ribicoff's involvement. The group discussed managing negative media inquiries regarding F. Donald Nixon, specifically focusing on his ties to the Howard Hughes loan scandal and press relations for the upcoming trip to the People's Republic of China. Additionally, Nixon reviewed his personal financial and property arrangements, including the potential sale of his papers to a foundation, and finalized preparations for gift-giving and press coverage for the China summit.
President Nixon met with Dr. James R. Schlesinger and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. to discuss the management and strategic direction of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). The conversation focused on staff appointments, the political and environmental challenges surrounding nuclear projects like the 'Plowshare' natural gas program, and the importance of maintaining U.S. technological supremacy in nuclear applications and laser defense. Nixon urged Schlesinger to navigate political and environmental opposition strategically, particularly by timing controversial activities to avoid disrupting the 1972 election cycle.
President Nixon met with Alexander Butterfield and Ronald Ziegler to manage administrative logistics, including planning a formal reception for state governors and arranging for General Robert Cushman, Jr. to represent the White House at the funeral of two slain New York police officers. The discussion transitioned to media strategy, specifically the debate over including William F. Buckley, Jr. in the press contingent for the upcoming trip to the People's Republic of China. Additionally, Nixon directed staff to publicize his recent phone call to Senator Abraham Ribicoff regarding the administration's ongoing legislative strategy for welfare reform.
President Nixon requested that the White House operator place an outgoing call to Leslie Arch. He provided the operator with the specific contact name and telephone number to facilitate the connection. No further discussion or substantive policy matters were recorded during this brief administrative exchange.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to review the President's schedule and address a priority request from John D. Ehrlichman. The discussion focused on coordinating a meeting to deliberate the proposed renovation of the National Mall. No further actions were recorded before the brief meeting concluded.
President Nixon met with Leslye A. Arsht to express his personal gratitude for the extensive work she and her team performed on a new presidential summary document. He lauded the quality of the summary, describing it as a superior achievement compared to those provided to previous presidents. The President concluded the meeting by encouraging Arsht to continue contributing her talents to his administration.
President Nixon initiates a brief administrative request to the White House operator to place a telephone call. The interaction centers on facilitating communication with Congressman McKenzie. No further policy discussion or significant developments occurred during this brief exchange.
President Nixon summoned his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to request a meeting with White House Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. The discussion was centered on preparing for an impending administrative announcement. Bull was tasked with facilitating this coordination with Ziegler before departing the Oval Office.
President Nixon, Stewart McKinney, John Ehrlichman, and Ronald Ziegler met to discuss a wide-ranging domestic and political agenda, including welfare reform strategies, a proposed Mall renovation project, and environmental public relations. The President directed his staff to pursue a bipartisan approach to welfare reform through negotiations with Senators Ribicoff, Long, and Bennett, while also tasking them with developing high-profile environmental initiatives for the upcoming legislative session. The group further analyzed the 1972 Democratic presidential primary landscape and reviewed the administration's ongoing efforts to streamline Congressional relations and promote their policy goals through targeted briefings and literature.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate and manage Henry Kissinger’s upcoming travel schedule. The brief discussion focused on the logistics of Kissinger’s recent activities and travel requirements. Nixon provided instructions regarding communication protocols and the handling of the National Security Advisor's itinerary.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman and Henry Kissinger to discuss environmental planning, upcoming administrative scheduling, and the strategic management of public perception regarding Vietnam peace negotiations. Kissinger updated the President on recent North Vietnamese diplomatic maneuvers and the administration's efforts to rebut critics in the press, specifically focusing on the "nine-point" peace plan. Nixon directed his staff to maintain pressure on State Department officials to produce policy papers for the upcoming China trip while opting to meet with André Malraux to gain insights into Chinese leadership.
President Nixon met with Rose Mary Woods, H. R. Haldeman, and Alexander Butterfield to manage his schedule and handle administrative tasks, including a document signature request from John Dean. The group discussed preparations for an upcoming prayer breakfast, specifically expressing frustration over the excessive length of speeches and the need for the President to keep his own remarks brief. Additionally, they reviewed presidential gifts, including sculptures of Winston Churchill and John Foster Dulles, and briefly reflected on the deaths of prominent aging statesmen.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to review the presidential schedule, specifically regarding an upcoming meeting with Washington Governor Daniel J. Evans. The discussion also touched upon an undisclosed resignation letter and a brief administrative matter involving a telephone call between Rose Mary Woods and First Lady Pat Nixon, facilitated by Stephen B. Bull. The session concluded with brief logistical updates and coordination between the President and his staff.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger strategized on countering North Vietnamese propaganda efforts during ongoing Vietnam negotiations. They discussed the necessity of aggressively rebutting inaccuracies in the press to ensure public perception remains favorable to the administration. As part of this effort, they agreed to coordinate outreach to figures such as Max Frankel and Senator Mike Mansfield, while Rose Mary Woods briefly consulted on the President's schedule.
Alexander P. Butterfield met with Secret Service agents in the Oval Office to discuss administrative or logistical details regarding presidential scheduling. The recorded segment consists primarily of room noise and unintelligible background conversation, providing no substantive record of dialogue or specific decision-making. Consequently, the interaction remains historically opaque, yielding no discernible developments or action items.