Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 696
Nixon White House Tape 696 (March 29, 1972)
2 conversations · Oval Office
Featuring Nixon, Butterfield, Haldeman, Kissinger, Eisenhower
In this extensive Oval Office meeting, President Nixon and his close advisors, including H.R. Haldeman and Henry Kissinger, managed a dense agenda ranging from current legislative crises to upcoming high-stakes international diplomacy. The participants coordinated their strategy regarding the ongoing ITT hearings and confirmation battles, while simultaneously planning the logistics and public relations for the President's scheduled trips to the Soviet Union, Poland, and Canada. A significant portion of the discussion focused on managing the President's public image, refining his travel itinerary to maximize political impact, and carefully controlling the messaging surrounding his foreign policy initiatives, particularly regarding Vietnam and China.
Secret Service agents and unidentified individuals met in the Oval Office to discuss security logistics or administrative matters. The recording consists largely of withdrawn material and brief, ambiguous exchanges, providing no substantial insight into policy or political decision-making. The interaction concludes with a brief mention of the President’s location in the Executive Office Building.