Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 679
Nixon White House Tape 679 (March 7, 1972)
17 conversations · Oval Office · about 5 hr 44 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Ehrlichman, Butterfield, Haldeman
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman met to prepare for an upcoming session with Republican Congressional leadership regarding welfare reform, revenue sharing, and the ongoing ITT controversy. Nixon instructed Ehrlichman to lead the presentation on policy matters while avoiding direct engagement on the ITT scandal. They further discussed political strategy to discredit columnist Jack Anderson and manage the testimony of Dita Beard, focusing on evidence that the Republican Party had previously rejected ITT contributions.
President Nixon met with H. Allen Smith, Clark MacGregor, and William E. Timmons to strategize on legislative priorities and congressional scheduling ahead of the upcoming national conventions. The participants discussed the feasibility of a constitutional amendment regarding school busing and coordinated efforts to finalize key appropriations bills before the Republican National Convention. Nixon emphasized the need for a small group of senior leaders to reach a consensus on legislative tactics to maximize efficiency during the tight three-to-four-month window before the party conventions.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to finalize logistics for an upcoming meeting with Secretary of Agriculture Earl L. Butz and Richard E. Lyng. The primary focus of the discussion was the timing and structure of the presentation regarding the National Advisory Committee on Child Nutrition report. They specifically coordinated the duration of the meeting and the scheduling of a subsequent press briefing.
President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and H.R. Haldeman met to discuss the administration's strategic handling of the People's Republic of China, upcoming foreign policy challenges, and media narratives surrounding Secretary of State William Rogers. A significant portion of the conversation focused on the President’s frustration with negative press regarding the recent China trip and perceptions of the State Department’s morale and loyalty. The participants addressed the need to manage internal bureaucratic friction while maintaining a strong, unified image for upcoming international negotiations and domestic political stability.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate logistical arrangements for an upcoming meeting with the National Advisory Committee on Child Nutrition. The brief discussion focused on planning a 15-minute session that included a photo opportunity and handshaking. Bull was tasked with facilitating the execution of these scheduling details.
President Nixon met with members of the National Advisory Committee on Child Nutrition to receive a formal report on the committee's two-year progress in managing national school lunch programs. The discussion highlighted the administration’s commitment to improving child nutrition and the logistical successes of the program in serving millions of students. Nixon expressed appreciation for the committee's efforts, distributed commemorative gifts, and briefly discussed the importance of government support for rural populations.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. This routine interaction served to connect the President to a specific party, as indicated by a cross-reference to another recorded conversation. No substantial policy discussions or administrative decisions were documented during this brief exchange.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman, Henry Kissinger, and others to manage the fallout and public relations surrounding the recent trip to the People's Republic of China, specifically addressing Secretary of State William P. Rogers' perceived alienation from the process. The participants discussed strategies to neutralize negative press coverage and mitigate perceived leaks from the State Department, while also deliberating on the upcoming US-Soviet summit. Additionally, the conversation touched on various domestic political matters, including the ITT case, busing policy, 1972 campaign financing, and the political maneuvers of Democratic candidates.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate the scheduling and logistical arrangements for an upcoming meeting with General Motors chairman Richard C. Gerstenberg. Accompanied by John D. Ehrlichman, the session was planned to include a photo opportunity with the executive. The participants briefly discussed the protocols for Gerstenberg’s arrival and his entry into the Oval Office.
President Nixon and his valet, Manolo Sanchez, discuss the logistics of the President’s upcoming schedule and movements within the White House complex. The conversation centers on whether to transport a briefcase to the Executive Office Building and the timing of a planned meeting with Richard C. Gerstenberg. Nixon ultimately decides to cross to the EOB and coordinates his itinerary to accommodate the pending appointment.
President Nixon met with General Motors executives James M. Roche and Richard C. Gerstenberg, alongside John D. Ehrlichman and George P. Shultz, to discuss administration relations and corporate matters. The conversation briefly touched upon Nixon’s recent trip to the People's Republic of China, as well as antitrust concerns regarding GM. The participants also addressed a recent New York Times article comparing the Nixon administration's handling of GM to previous policies under the Johnson administration, while briefly noting production and productivity trends.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to coordinate administrative logistics regarding his upcoming schedule and legislative priorities. They specifically discussed arrangements for a briefing with George P. Shultz and reviewed a busing proposal submitted by William E. Timmons. This brief interaction focused on streamlining the President's engagement with key policy issues and staff scheduling.
President Nixon met with John Connally, George Shultz, and Herbert Stein to coordinate administration strategy on key economic policy issues, particularly rising concerns over Social Security, the federal budget deficit, and minimum wage legislation. The group discussed maintaining a hard-line stance against excessive spending increases, including a potential 20% Social Security hike that they viewed as inflationary, while also preparing contingency plans to address a possible longshoremen's strike. Nixon emphasized the necessity of a unified administration position that favors economic discipline and reaffirmed his refusal to return to currency convertibility.
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, for a brief logistical discussion regarding the President's upcoming schedule. The primary focus of the meeting was to finalize arrangements for an imminent appointment with Secretary of State William P. Rogers. The conversation served as a routine administrative coordination to ensure the President's daily agenda remained on track.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discussed concerns regarding low morale at the State Department and the perceived marginalization of Secretary of State William P. Rogers following the China summit. They addressed the need to improve Rogers' public image, the upcoming Moscow trip, and the importance of ensuring Rogers plays a visible, substantive role in foreign policy to counter press narratives. The President also discussed the need to manage bureaucratic resistance and maintain control over trip logistics and public announcements to ensure they remain centrally directed from the White House.
United States Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office to coordinate security logistics regarding the President's location. The brief exchange focused on procedural caution as the President moved to the Cabinet Room. No further substantive policy matters were recorded during this short security-related interaction.
United States Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office to coordinate security logistics and communicate updates regarding the President’s movements. The dialogue, which includes a brief reference to the Executive Office Building and a telephone exchange, remains largely fragmentary. No significant policy decisions were recorded during this brief administrative encounter.