Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 678
Nixon White House Tape 678 (March 6, 1972)
8 conversations · Oval Office
Featuring Nixon, Butterfield, Haldeman, Bull, Kissinger
President Nixon and HUD Secretary George Romney met to discuss the administration's urban policies and the potential for a non-partisan "Citizens for America" movement to address fundamental national issues. Romney, drawing on his experiences in Michigan, proposed a structure for building public consensus on housing, racial equity, and the "real city" concept, while acknowledging the political challenges of dealing with controversial topics in an election year. Nixon expressed support for Romney’s vision and the necessity of such advocacy, though both men agreed that any such initiative would need to remain independent of the upcoming presidential campaign.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to coordinate administrative tasks and manage the President's schedule. The discussion centered on the handling of specific correspondence, with the President instructing Butterfield to prioritize a formal letter over other pending paperwork. This interaction served to streamline workflow efficiency regarding office documentation and outgoing communication.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. This routine interaction served to connect the President with an external party via the White House switchboard. No further substantive policy matters or administrative decisions were captured during this brief exchange.
President Nixon met with his staff to manage the growing political fallout from the ITT antitrust case, specifically focusing on coordinating a formal statement for John N. Mitchell and managing the public narrative surrounding Dita Beard. Following these internal deliberations, the President met with James C. H. Shen, the Republic of China's ambassador, to address concerns regarding the administration's recent diplomatic outreach to the People's Republic of China. Nixon sought to reassure the Taiwanese government of the U.S. commitment to their security while emphasizing the need for patience and peaceful resolution in the region.
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met to coordinate the scheduling and logistics of upcoming personal reunions. The conversation focused on organizing gatherings for the President's World War II service associates and his Duke Law School classmates. Nixon decided to prioritize the law school class reunion for June at the request of an associate, effectively pushing back other planned events.
President Nixon summoned John D. Ehrlichman to the Oval Office for a brief, five-minute meeting. While no transcript or detailed record of the dialogue exists, the encounter served as a direct consultation between the President and his chief domestic policy advisor. The meeting highlights the frequent, informal nature of communication between the two men during this period of the Nixon administration.
President Nixon met with his senior advisors and Henry Kissinger to navigate several political and diplomatic challenges, including the ongoing ITT controversy, the management of the 1972 presidential campaign, and the implications of his recent trip to the People's Republic of China. The group discussed strategies to handle public and congressional inquiries regarding potential conflicts of interest, with Nixon emphasizing a policy of non-comment on political issues. Additionally, Kissinger briefed the President on North Vietnamese stalling tactics in peace negotiations, which were potentially influenced by Chinese pressure, and reviewed the administration's delicate balancing act regarding Taiwan and Vietnam in foreign policy communications.
Secret Service agents gathered in the Oval Office to discuss sensitive diplomatic maneuvers regarding Cambodia and internal administration strategies. The participants deliberated on blocking State Department officials like Sullivan from pushing Cambodians toward a separate deal, proposing instead a directive to warn them against such negotiations. The discussion included plans to edit official dispatches and generate a memorandum to formalize these instructions while navigating broader foreign policy concerns.