Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 688
Nixon White House Tape 688 (March 18, 1972)
20 conversations · Oval Office · about 3 hr 59 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Butterfield, Sanchez, Kissinger
President Nixon met with aides Alexander P. Butterfield and Stephen B. Bull to address logistical matters regarding the functionality of the White House taping system. The discussion focused on the technical operation and control of the recording equipment installed in the Oval Office. This meeting served as an internal administrative review concerning the maintenance and oversight of the President’s secret recording apparatus.
President Nixon met with his personal aide, Stephen B. Bull, to discuss the contents and handling of his briefcase. The brief interaction focused on the management of sensitive presidential materials. No further actions or developments were recorded beyond this administrative coordination.
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office to briefly discuss the scheduling arrangements for Alexander M. Haig, Jr. The dialogue centered on logistical coordination regarding Haig's professional calendar. No major policy decisions were recorded during this short administrative briefing.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed sensitive foreign policy and electoral strategy ahead of the upcoming Soviet summit. They deliberated on the complex technical aspects of the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT), particularly regarding radar and missile site configurations, while seeking to prevent the bureaucracy and negotiator Gerard C. Smith from securing unfavorable terms. The pair also coordinated plans to have Secretary of State William P. Rogers conduct European diplomatic outreach to bolster the administration's position, while simultaneously managing the political risks associated with potential agreements in the Middle East and Vietnam during an election year.
President Richard Nixon met briefly with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office. The discussion concerned the logistics and coordination regarding the movement of a personal item. No further substantive policy matters were recorded during this brief interaction.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to discuss the administration's official stance on the Equal Rights Amendment. The President focused on finalizing a letter to Senator Hugh Scott to formally reaffirm executive support for the legislation. Nixon coordinated the messaging efforts with Clark MacGregor to ensure the administration's position was clearly communicated.
President Nixon met briefly with Alexander P. Butterfield to arrange for the immediate delivery of a specific memorandum. The interaction served solely as a functional exchange to ensure the document reached its intended recipient. No other policy matters or substantive discussions occurred during this one-minute encounter.
President Nixon held a brief, informal interaction with the White House operator while concluding a session with other unidentified individuals. The exchange serves as a transition moment within the Oval Office as the President prepares to depart or conclude his current business. No substantive policy discussions or administrative decisions are recorded during this brief recording.
President Nixon and Julie Nixon Eisenhower briefly met in the Oval Office to coordinate logistics regarding an upcoming engagement or meeting. The conversation primarily focused on confirming the timing of a group's departure. No significant policy decisions were recorded during this short personal exchange.
President Nixon consulted with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, regarding upcoming adjustments to his presidential schedule. The discussion centered on the feasibility of travel to Camp David and the Executive Office Building. Nixon concluded the brief meeting by confirming that a planned trip would likely be canceled, relieving Sanchez of further logistical preparations.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman met briefly in the Oval Office to coordinate their respective schedules. The discussion focused on current work priorities and managing the President’s agenda for the day. No substantive policy decisions were reached during this short interaction.
President Nixon met with John Ehrlichman and Henry Kissinger to discuss international strategy and domestic political challenges. The group reviewed the potential for a Secretary of State trip to Europe to bolster ties before the Soviet summit, as well as plans to reorganize the State Department to better align with presidential goals. A significant portion of the discussion focused on managing the political fallout from Nixon's recent speech on busing, with action items assigned to staff to influence Southern conservatives and local press. The participants also explored strategies to handle the ITT controversy and the investigation into Dita Beard's memorandum.
President Nixon met briefly with Marjorie P. Acker to discuss the personal schedule of his private secretary, Rose Mary Woods. The conversation focused on informing the President that Woods would be unavailable for a period during the afternoon. No further substantive policy matters were addressed before Acker departed.
President Nixon consulted with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to coordinate his daily schedule and manage the availability of staff members. The conversation focused on the arrival of Charles W. Colson and whether the President would depart for Camp David. Ultimately, Nixon decided against visiting Camp David himself but signaled that staff members were free to use the retreat if they desired.
President Richard Nixon met briefly with Marjorie P. Acker in the Oval Office. The meeting lasted only one minute, during which Manolo Sanchez was also present. No official transcript exists for this interaction, and the specific substance or purpose of the brief exchange remains undocumented.
President Richard Nixon met briefly with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office. The interaction was limited to a brief exchange, with no substantive policy or political matters recorded. The conversation concluded within seconds, indicating a routine or personal administrative interaction.
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield discussed the upcoming White House church service and the candidacy of Fred B. Rhodes for the presidency of the Southern Baptist Convention. The participants reviewed Rhodes' professional background as a Veterans Administration official and confirmed his status as a preacher. The brief exchange served to finalize arrangements for the involvement of Rhodes and VA Administrator Donald E. Johnson in the scheduled religious activities.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss their strategy for responding to the ITT controversy, primarily focusing on discrediting the leaked memorandum and its source, Dita Beard. They prioritize painting the memorandum as a fraudulent effort orchestrated by Jack Anderson to damage the administration, while concurrently using typewriter analysis and other investigative techniques to challenge the document's authenticity. The conversation also touches on broader political maneuverings, including managing upcoming Senate hearings, countering the negative press, and reinforcing the administration's position on busing.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to conduct administrative business and finalize the President's upcoming schedule. The discussion focused on coordinating appointments, specifically concerning Henry A. Kissinger’s itinerary. Following the brief administrative review and the signing of documents, the session concluded with Bull departing the office.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to review the physical specifications and illustrative content of a forthcoming book project involving Ronald S. Berman. The discussion touched upon the book's size and the potential inclusion of French language components. Additionally, the two briefly coordinated the President's upcoming schedule regarding appointments at the Executive Office Building.