Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 672
Nixon White House Tape 672 (February 15, 1972 – February 16, 1972)
8 conversations · Oval Office
Featuring Nixon, Woods, Butterfield, Haldeman, Ehrlichman
President Nixon met with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to provide detailed instructions on editing and marking passages within specific books, including a copy of André Malraux's 'Anti-Memoirs.' The President directed Woods to highlight specific sentences and paragraphs regarding China while omitting other sections. Additionally, the pair briefly touched upon scheduling matters related to his office's Valentine's Day activities.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discuss logistical arrangements for the upcoming trip to the People's Republic of China, emphasizing the need for strict control over media coverage to prevent unauthorized exclusives. They decide against granting early commitments to networks like ABC, opting instead to utilize a White House-contracted film unit to manage output. Additionally, the President deliberates on his post-trip schedule, specifically debating whether to stop in Anchorage to allow for a prime-time arrival in Washington, D.C., and expresses his personal disdain for hosting social dinners as a political outreach tool.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman met to discuss administrative coordination, specifically reviewing recent interactions between John Connally, Arthur Burns, and George Shultz. The discussion touched on personnel management and the strategic handling of upcoming statements, particularly concerning busing and welfare reform. Nixon emphasized the need for clear accountability within his staff to ensure key policy objectives were effectively communicated.
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield consult on administrative scheduling and personnel matters, specifically addressing potential judicial appointments and the political optics of the Supreme Court. Nixon expresses deep concern regarding the predictability of his own appointees and contemplates the necessity of a constitutional amendment to override potential judicial opposition. The discussion underscores the President's anxieties about maintaining control over the judiciary's direction and his desire to avoid the political liability of a partisan-branded court.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman discussed the scheduling of administrative meetings and logistics involving Richard G. Kleindienst. The conversation focused on arranging a specific time for Kleindienst to meet with the President at Camp David and coordinating a separate lunch engagement. No substantive policy matters were addressed, as the dialogue remained restricted to calendar management and internal protocol.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull and Manolo Sanchez to coordinate his daily schedule and manage logistical arrangements, including the transport of personal items like books between the Oval Office and the Executive Office Building. The President focused on scheduling a meeting with Richard Kleindienst and sought to confirm the availability of an associate, identified in the transcript as Clayton, for a discussion regarding upcoming professional commitments. These routine administrative exchanges underscored the President's efforts to maintain control over his calendar and internal workflow.
President Nixon, H. R. Haldeman, and various staff members met to finalize the logistics and scheduling for the upcoming presidential trip to the People's Republic of China. The discussion focused on managing the President's daily schedule, including meeting times with Chou En-lai and Mao Tse-tung, while ensuring adequate downtime and physical recovery. Additionally, the participants reviewed domestic political concerns, including public reaction to the President's recent Vietnam peace proposal and potential strategies for handling press coverage and political opponents like Edmund Muskie.
United States Secret Service agents convened in the Oval Office to discuss logistical details regarding an individual's personal preferences and travel habits. The brief, fragmentary exchange focused on the subject's affinity for specific outdoor activities and his ability to maintain a positive demeanor during these excursions. Due to the limited and largely unintelligible nature of the audio, no formal policy decisions or official actions were recorded.