Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 670
Nixon White House Tape 670 (February 14, 1972)
23 conversations · Oval Office · about 5 hr 22 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Kissinger, Ehrlichman, Ziegler
President Nixon met with Marjorie P. Acker in the Oval Office to organize and categorize photographic materials. The discussion focused on the classification of specific images described as vanity and casual shots. Acker processed these marked copies as part of an administrative task to manage the President's personal or official portrait collection.
President Nixon met with George P. Shultz and John D. Ehrlichman in the Oval Office to coordinate administrative priorities and staffing assignments. The participants briefly discussed personnel matters and the progression of specific agenda items. The meeting concluded with Nixon providing instructions on the handling of these key subjects.
President Nixon consults with an unidentified staff member to review the guest list for an upcoming dinner with French author and statesman André Malraux. The conversation focuses on refining the list of invitees to ensure appropriate attendance for the event. The meeting concludes with the President finalizing the composition of the guest list for the evening's proceedings.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discuss strategies for managing public perception and military policy regarding the Vietnam War, particularly concerning the intensity of airstrikes in South Vietnam. Nixon stresses the importance of projecting strength and explicitly warns against government officials signaling "flexibility" in negotiations with the North Vietnamese, arguing that such rhetoric is counterproductive and fails to satisfy critics. The pair also touches upon the upcoming trip to the People's Republic of China, with Nixon emphasizing a firm negotiating stance to avoid appearing weak or apologetic.
President Nixon met with John Ehrlichman and George Shultz to discuss administrative strategy regarding the economy and the unpredictable behavior of Federal Reserve Chairman Arthur Burns. The President expressed frustration with Burns's independent posturing on international monetary convertibility and his management of the money supply, while the group evaluated the political risks of ongoing wage and price controls. Nixon and his advisors decided to push for a stronger, unified economic narrative while avoiding further public controversy, eventually planning a private post-China trip meeting to reassess their strategy for exiting the system of wage and price controls.
President Nixon met with Ronald Ziegler and Stephen Bull to coordinate strategy for the upcoming presidential trip to the People's Republic of China, specifically focusing on press management. They discussed maintaining an upbeat tone with the press corps to avoid frustration and deliberated on how to handle potential inquiries involving Henry Kissinger and Secretary of State William P. Rogers. The President ultimately decided against allowing Kissinger to conduct Q&A sessions with the press to prevent substantive leaks or conflicts, opting instead for controlled briefings that avoid policy details.
President Nixon, John Ehrlichman, and Arthur Burns met to discuss a wide-ranging agenda including the President's upcoming trip to the People's Republic of China, domestic economic management, and the politics of school busing. Nixon emphasized the necessity of tracking federal budget expenditures more strictly to stimulate the economy, demanding weekly status reports from his Cabinet officers. The participants also explored strategies to address tax withholding concerns and discussed potential ambassadorial appointments. Finally, Nixon and Burns aligned their opposition to forced busing, framing it as detrimental to both neighborhood stability and quality education.
President Nixon met with Rose Mary Woods and Stephen B. Bull to coordinate scheduling for upcoming congressional meetings regarding busing, followed by a brief discussion with Henry Kissinger regarding diplomatic strategy. Kissinger and the President analyzed a recent communication from Le Duc Tho concerning potential peace negotiations and the impact of an upcoming trip to the People's Republic of China. The participants deliberated on whether to accept the invitation for further meetings and established the need for a private consultation to finalize their policy approach before traveling.
Manolo Sanchez and a United States Secret Service agent met in the Oval Office to coordinate security logistics and personnel movements. The conversation centers on verifying communication with the control center to ensure proper site monitoring while President Nixon was located in the Cabinet Room. The brief interaction concluded with the participants departing the office to continue their operational duties.
President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and Stephen B. Bull met to coordinate the scheduling of upcoming diplomatic engagements. The discussion focused on finalizing the timing for meetings with foreign representatives Jaime Arguelles and Sladeddine El Goulli. These arrangements were intended to manage the President's calendar effectively regarding these specific international visitors.
President Nixon met with departing Spanish diplomat Jaime Arguelles and Henry Kissinger to bid farewell and acknowledge Arguelles’s service. The discussion focused on fond memories of the President’s 1970 visit to Spain and the selection of Angel Sagaz as Arguelles's successor. The participants concluded the meeting by reaffirming the importance of maintaining strong diplomatic ties between the two nations.
President Nixon and Rose Mary Woods discussed preparations for the upcoming trip to the People's Republic of China, specifically focusing on wardrobe choices and official gifts. The President expressed a clear preference against wearing hats during the visit, despite inquiries from Secretary of State William P. Rogers. Additionally, the group reviewed logistics regarding portrait signatures and the distribution of watches as diplomatic gifts.
President Nixon, H. R. Haldeman, and Henry Kissinger met to discuss strategy for the upcoming trip to the People’s Republic of China, emphasizing the need to manage the press corps' expectations and prepare briefings for First Lady Pat Nixon. The participants also reviewed the sensitive status of Vietnam peace negotiations, noting that recent military actions and the President's diplomatic outreach had pressured Hanoi into requesting a private meeting. Finally, they discussed the upcoming resignation of Attorney General John Mitchell and plans for trade-related announcements regarding Moscow.
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to review and finalize the details of the President’s upcoming daily schedule. The discussion centered on administrative coordination and managing the executive calendar for the following days. No further actions or major policy shifts were recorded during this brief logistical consultation.
President Nixon and Alexander Butterfield met to coordinate logistics regarding the President’s schedule and upcoming official engagements. The discussion focused on arrangements for a dinner and a photo opportunity featuring French author André Malraux, with photographer Oliver F. Atkins tasked to document the event. They also briefly addressed the technical status of a photograph intended for display.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman and Ronald Ziegler to coordinate press strategy regarding his upcoming trip to the People's Republic of China, including the production of a promotional film and the logistics of the presidential schedule. The discussion also addressed the administration's stance on school busing, with Nixon expressing a firm opposition to mandatory busing to achieve racial balance while critiquing the positions of political rivals. The participants decided to hold a leadership meeting to announce the China trip and opted to utilize the Cabinet Room for a more dramatic, televised presentation.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met briefly to coordinate logistics for an upcoming meeting with Slaheddine El Goulli. The discussion focused on the involvement of Henry Kissinger and the necessity of arranging a formal photograph session for the visitor. The exchange served as a short administrative check to ensure proper protocol was followed for the scheduled appointment.
President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and Senator James L. Buckley met to discuss the geopolitical implications of the President's upcoming trip to the People's Republic of China and the broader execution of the Nixon Doctrine in Asia. Senator Buckley provided observations from his recent Far East tour, highlighting the need to reassure U.S. allies—particularly Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan—regarding American security commitments amidst changing strategic balances. The conversation also touched upon military operations in Vietnam, the potential for North Vietnamese offensives, and domestic policy issues, including federal housing and the ongoing conflict in Northern Ireland.
President Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met briefly in the Oval Office to coordinate their schedules. The primary purpose of this encounter was to facilitate a formal meeting between the two men. No substantive policy discussions occurred during this brief exchange.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to discuss staffing arrangements for an upcoming meeting involving André Malraux and Henry Kissinger. Nixon explicitly expressed his opposition to utilizing female interpreters, directing Butterfield to ensure a male interpreter is selected for the assignment instead. This exchange reflects the President’s rigid preferences regarding professional protocol and the composition of his diplomatic staff.
President Nixon met with John Ehrlichman to coordinate administration messaging on several contentious issues, particularly busing and the economy. They discussed developing a clear, unambiguous policy statement and potential constitutional amendment regarding school busing to gain political advantage ahead of the Florida primary. Additionally, Nixon directed Ehrlichman to manage and align key officials, including John Connally, George Shultz, and Donald Rumsfeld, to ensure consistent economic policy and address personnel concerns within the Department of Justice.
President Nixon met with his personal aide, Stephen B. Bull, in the Oval Office shortly after the departure of an unidentified visitor. The discussion was brief and appears to be a routine administrative exchange regarding the President's immediate schedule or logistical coordination. No major policy decisions or significant political developments resulted from this brief encounter.
President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and French author Andre Malraux engaged in a wide-ranging discussion regarding international relations and the geopolitical landscape of the early 1970s. The conversation centered on the internal dynamics of the People's Republic of China, the Sino-Soviet split, and the role of the United States in the Pacific. Malraux shared his insights on Mao Zedong's leadership and the nature of Chinese foreign policy, while the participants explored the potential long-term implications of American engagement with China and Japan.