Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 677
Nixon White House Tape 677 (March 6, 1972)
20 conversations · Oval Office · about 3 hr 21 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Haldeman, Woods, Bull, Kissinger
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, briefly coordinated the President’s morning schedule regarding an upcoming meeting with H.R. Haldeman. Nixon provided instructions for Woods to facilitate a follow-up discussion once a presentation by Mr. Holland concluded. This exchange functioned primarily as an administrative adjustment to ensure the availability of key staff for internal deliberations.
President Nixon met with aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate logistical arrangements for an upcoming trip. The discussion focused on scheduling details regarding H. R. Haldeman and plans to rendezvous in St. Paul. Bull confirmed the timeline for their meeting later that afternoon.
President Nixon arranges a meeting with Dr. Kittman while mindful of potential scheduling conflicts during breakfast hours. The conversation centers on coordinating the President’s daily schedule and ensuring the arrival of necessary personnel. This brief interaction reflects the logistical management required to prepare for upcoming briefings, including an anticipated session with Henry Kissinger.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to discuss the positive domestic public reaction to the President's recent trip to the People's Republic of China, which they contrasted with the skepticism and criticism from political opponents and some media figures. They analyzed various media critiques of the Shanghai Communiqué, dismissing claims of secret deals and asserting that the administration achieved its strategic objectives without conceding Taiwan. Additionally, the pair coordinated their response to press inquiries and considered how to manage further reporting on the trip while maintaining momentum for potential diplomatic progress regarding Vietnam.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman, and other staff members to discuss political strategy, staffing concerns, and crisis management related to the ITT anti-trust controversy. The group focused on controlling the public relations fallout from the ITT affair, determining the President's upcoming travel and meeting schedule, and assessing the political impact of the China trip and current primary elections. Nixon expressed a desire to distance the White House from the ITT scandal, emphasizing that any necessary clarifications should come from the Justice Department rather than the President or his staff.
President Nixon consulted with an unknown participant to prepare for an upcoming meeting with Congressional leadership. The discussion focused on coordinating legislative strategy regarding welfare reform and revenue sharing. William E. Timmons and Clark MacGregor were identified as key figures necessary for advancing these administration policy priorities.
President Nixon held a brief, informal meeting with an unidentified individual to discuss scheduling matters. The conversation was limited in scope, concluding quickly without significant policy developments or substantive political debate. The interaction primarily served to coordinate upcoming calendar arrangements for the unknown participant.
President Nixon and unidentified participants engage in a brief, administrative exchange regarding the location and status of a specific individual. The discussion serves as a logistical coordination effort to locate this person for an unspecified purpose. No substantive policy or political decisions are addressed in this short segment.
President Nixon consulted with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, regarding the current location and availability of John D. Ehrlichman. The brief exchange focused on locating Ehrlichman for an unscheduled meeting. Bull departed shortly thereafter to facilitate the interaction between the President and his domestic policy advisor.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman to discuss political strategy, including his administration's position on a busing moratorium and the status of his forthcoming meeting with the Cabinet Committee on Education. The group addressed internal staff tensions, specifically regarding Pat Buchanan's potential resignation over disagreements with the Shanghai Communiqué and his frustration with the administration's perceived failure to satisfy conservative interests. Additionally, the President and his advisors reviewed the escalating ITT antitrust controversy, evaluating the political risks associated with the Justice Department's settlement and allegations involving Dita Beard and Jack Anderson.
President Nixon held a brief, ten-minute meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified male visitor. Due to the lack of an available transcript or audio clarity, the specific subject matter and any resulting policy decisions remain undocumented. Consequently, no substantive developments or action items can be verified from this encounter.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate the logistics and strategic approach for an upcoming meeting with Taiwanese Ambassador James C.H. Shen. The discussion focused on the urgency of the Ambassador's concerns regarding the Republic of China and the President's desire to gain a nuanced assessment of the diplomat's temperament. They also reviewed Henry Kissinger's role in the broader context of these diplomatic engagements.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to coordinate administrative logistics and manage public relations regarding upcoming cabinet appearances and press engagements. The discussion centered on controlling the optics surrounding diplomatic interactions, specifically emphasizing that ambassadors should not be granted high-profile access to the White House. Nixon directed Kissinger to finalize specific memorandums and manage expectations for upcoming meetings with foreign representatives and administration officials.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman met to discuss ongoing administrative work and the management of recent polling data. The brief consultation focused on strategic adjustments to how incoming poll results should be utilized or refined. No definitive policy shifts were recorded, but the exchange centered on the tactical handling of political information.
President Richard Nixon met with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to discuss aspects of his executive schedule. The brief ten-minute engagement focused on the management and coordination of presidential appointments and commitments. No specific policy actions or formal decisions are documented in the available records for this interaction.
President Nixon dictated a memorandum to the Secretary of State and other key agencies to establish strict guidelines regarding the recent summit with the People's Republic of China. He emphasized the need for a disciplined, restrained public messaging strategy across the bureaucracy to protect the delicate nature of the new bilateral relationship. Consequently, he ordered an immediate halt to any further commentary or elaboration on the substance of the talks or the official communiqué.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to review and refine official public messaging following the President’s recent trip to the People’s Republic of China. The discussion focused on coordinating consistent talking points, specifically regarding the President's remarks at Andrews Air Force Base and Kissinger’s previous background briefings in Shanghai. To ensure administrative alignment, Nixon directed the drafting of a formal memorandum to Secretary of State William P. Rogers to dictate how officials should characterize the trip in future public statements.
President Nixon dictated a memorandum to the Secretary of State and other officials regarding the management of public messaging following his recent trip to the People’s Republic of China. He instructed that all official comments regarding the trip must be confined strictly to the framework established in his arrival remarks at Andrews Air Force Base on February 28, 1972. This directive served to ensure administrative consistency and control the narrative surrounding the diplomatic breakthrough.
President Nixon met with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to discuss administrative directives and his recent travel to Florida. The conversation touched upon the logistics of the trip, including weather conditions and the involvement of Julie Nixon Eisenhower. Additionally, the pair addressed the handling and placement of specific gifts and personal items within the office.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to review recent polling data assessing the public impact of the President’s historic trip to China. They analyzed approval ratings compared to Gallup and Harris polls, noting a solid, consistent level of support and a decline in disapproval. The discussion also covered voter sentiment on foreign policy issues and the perceived political efficacy of the summit, with the participants concluding that the trip provided a favorable benchmark despite some lingering skepticism regarding secret agreements.