Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 701
Nixon White House Tape 701 (April 4, 1972)
17 conversations · Oval Office · about 4 hr 15 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Kissinger, White House photographer, Haldeman
President Nixon held a brief, undocumented meeting with one or more unidentified individuals in the Oval Office. The participants engaged in a fragmentary exchange regarding a document or written material that one party had reviewed. Due to the lack of transcript content, no specific policy decisions or significant administrative actions can be identified from this recording.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman, Henry Kissinger, and Admiral Thomas Moorer to coordinate the U.S. military and public relations response to the massive North Vietnamese invasion. Nixon expressed intense frustration with military reporting and the lack of aggressive action, ordering naval forces to prepare for a selective blockade and authorizing expanded air strikes and naval gunfire against the invasion force. The participants discussed strategies for managing the optics of the conflict, the potential for an orderly South Vietnamese retreat to better defensive positions, and the necessity of winning the engagement to maintain U.S. global credibility.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman and Henry Kissinger to discuss the administration's public relations strategy regarding the North Vietnamese offensive and the management of domestic political issues. The group addressed the need to counter defeatist rhetoric concerning the war and evaluated the effectiveness of recent bombing campaigns and news coverage. Additionally, they reviewed strategies for handling upcoming campaign contribution disclosure requirements and debated the drafting of a speech concerning aid to parochial schools.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull briefly coordinate the President's daily schedule and logistical arrangements for upcoming meetings. The discussion focuses on managing time constraints for appointments, including a meeting with Robert S. Ingersoll and the whereabouts of Admiral Thomas H. Moorer. Additionally, the pair touches upon the scheduling of a photo session involving Julie Nixon Eisenhower.
President Nixon met with Robert S. Ingersoll to provide final instructions and strategic guidance prior to Ingersoll's departure for his new post as Ambassador to Japan. The conversation emphasized the vital importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance, the necessity of maintaining personal channels of communication to bypass potential bureaucratic leaks, and the delicate management of economic competition between the two nations. Nixon also underscored the context of his recent opening to the People's Republic of China, assuring that this shift was not intended to undermine U.S.-Japanese relations but rather to secure regional stability.
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to coordinate the logistics of his upcoming schedule. The primary focus of the brief discussion was the timing of an appointment with Julie Nixon Eisenhower. Bull facilitated these scheduling arrangements to ensure the President's personal commitments were properly integrated into his daily agenda.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. This brief interaction served as a standard administrative maneuver to connect the President to a specific party. No further policy discussions or significant substantive developments occurred during this short exchange.
President Nixon and George Shultz discuss the successful recruitment of an unnamed individual for a significant government appointment. Nixon expresses high personal regard for the candidate's character and leadership potential, describing him as both soft-spoken and strong. The brief exchange concludes with confirmation that the administration is facilitating the hiring process through the delivery of private correspondence.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman engaged in a wide-ranging discussion about press relations, upcoming political strategies for the 1972 election, and public perception. They analyzed recent polls and discussed tactics to bolster the President's approval ratings, specifically through more personal media appearances and by cultivating relationships with smaller, regional news outlets rather than relying on hostile national journalists. The participants also touched upon campaign logistics, the handling of Democratic challengers, and concerns regarding public and media scrutiny of campaign contributions.
President Nixon met with representatives of the American Bar Association (ABA) to discuss their program providing legal assistance to the families of Prisoners of War (POWs) and those Missing in Action (MIAs). The ABA group sought a presidential endorsement and a White House liaison to facilitate state-level legislative efforts aimed at resolving civil and property title issues for these families. Nixon expressed his support for their legal mission while reiterating his administration's commitment to maintaining U.S. bargaining power and continued military pressure as the primary means of securing the eventual release of POWs.
President Nixon met with publishing executives, including Oscar Dystel and Samuel Schulman, to discuss the production and marketing of books documenting his historic trips to China and the Soviet Union. The President emphasized the geopolitical importance of these summits, comparing their potential impact to World War II, and explored strategies for distributing the China book through the Committee to Re-elect the President. Additionally, the group discussed logistical management of the press corps for future trips, while Nixon briefly addressed personal scheduling conflicts regarding his absence from the Gridiron Dinner.
President Nixon met with his personal aide, Stephen B. Bull, to review the details and attendance list for his upcoming daily schedule. The discussion focused on coordinating a series of meetings involving Secretary of Defense Melvin R. Laird, John H. Chafee, and LynRae McClintock. Nixon specifically noted the logistical arrangements regarding McClintock’s husband, a Justice Department lawyer, and their pending relocation to Los Angeles.
President Nixon met briefly with Stephen B. Bull, LynRae McClintock, and Gordon C. Strachan to facilitate a personal introduction. The conversation focused on McClintock's background, including her hometown of Riverside, California, and her upcoming departure to work for the campaign committee. The brief exchange concluded with the President presenting a small gift to McClintock.
President Nixon met with Henry Kissinger, Melvin Laird, and John Chafee to discuss the worsening North Vietnamese offensive and the military response required to protect South Vietnamese positions. Nixon emphasized the necessity of using intensified air and naval power to grind down invading forces, comparing the tactical retreat to historical battles like Ypres and Verdun to underscore his strategy of consolidation and counter-offensive. The President also discussed upcoming U.S.-Soviet relations and political messaging for his administration, while offering personal counsel to Chafee regarding his campaign for the U.S. Senate.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met briefly to address a scheduling conflict involving an unidentified individual's appointment with the President. The exchange served as a quick logistical coordination to manage the President's immediate agenda. No substantive policy matters were recorded, as the discussion focused primarily on the status of the upcoming meeting.
President Nixon met with his personal aide, Manolo Sanchez, to discuss logistics regarding his upcoming schedule. The conversation focused on coordination for a planned visit to the Old Executive Office Building. No further policy-related developments were recorded during this brief administrative exchange.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to discuss the intensifying North Vietnamese offensive and strategies to counter it, including the use of B-52 strikes and naval gunfire. Nixon expressed frustration with Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird’s pessimism and perceived lack of enthusiasm, contrasting him unfavorably with the supportive Kenneth Rush. The two leaders emphasized that the United States must project an image of unpredictable resolve to pressure the Soviet Union and China while maintaining that national security decisions remain independent of the upcoming 1972 election. Consequently, they directed preparations for expanded air operations and potential mining contingencies to signal American strength.