Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 705
Nixon White House Tape 705 (April 10, 1972)
19 conversations · Oval Office · about 3 hr 57 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Kissinger, Butterfield, Haldeman
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to review and finalize the President’s upcoming daily schedule. The discussion focused on the management of his appointments and administrative agenda for the day. No further significant policy decisions or developments were recorded during this brief administrative session.
President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and Alexander Haig met to analyze the North Vietnamese offensive and coordinate U.S. military and diplomatic responses. Nixon emphasized the necessity of using concentrated air and naval power to counter the invasion, explicitly rejecting a televised address to avoid signaling weakness or inviting domestic criticism. The participants discussed the progress of South Vietnamese forces, the effectiveness of B-52 strikes against North Vietnamese logistics, and the strategic importance of signaling resolve to the Soviet Union prior to the upcoming summit.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman, Henry Kissinger, and Alexander Butterfield to manage the administration's public relations, messaging, and political strategy. Key discussions included the ITT case and the selection of the Republican National Convention site, criticism of speechwriting staff, and the administration's aggressive approach to domestic issues such as busing, crime, and morality. Nixon emphasized the need to prioritize major issues and ordered a shake-up of his speechwriting team to ensure messaging aligned with his conservative agenda.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to review and finalize a formal statement regarding the death of former Supreme Court Justice and Secretary of State James F. Byrnes. The discussion focused on the President's personal oversight of the document's language prior to its official release to the press. The meeting concluded once the statement was prepared for dissemination.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discuss the political advisability of an Army voter participation project, which the President critiques as a poor idea similar to the Boy Scouts' civic engagement efforts. Concerned about the initiative's origins within his administration, Nixon questions if any staff members were responsible for the project's inception. Ultimately, the conversation shifts toward managing relationships with outside groups, concluding that the administration should focus on maintaining goodwill with established allies rather than pursuing questionable voter mobilization programs.
President Richard M. Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to facilitate internal administrative coordination. The primary purpose of the brief meeting was for the President to issue a request for a follow-up consultation with Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. Bull served as the liaison to ensure this meeting was scheduled.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discussed the administration's strategic messaging regarding the North Vietnamese offensive and the role of great powers. Nixon highlighted his recent remarks to an Associated Press reporter, emphasizing the responsibility of nations like the USSR to refrain from encouraging aggression. The President also analyzed the military situation in South Vietnam, expressing confidence that the ongoing North Vietnamese "Sunday punch" would fail while directing Ziegler to monitor media coverage closely.
President Richard Nixon met briefly with his valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office. This informal encounter consisted of brief greetings between the President and his personal staff member. No substantive policy discussions or administrative decisions occurred during this seven-second interaction.
President Nixon met with William J. Porter and Henry Kissinger to discuss the administration's strategy regarding the ongoing Vietnam War and the Paris peace negotiations. The President emphasized the need for a tough, firm public stance following the North Vietnamese offensive, specifically instructing Porter to expose the enemy's cynicism in breaking off talks while escalating military aggression. The group also reviewed current military intelligence, noting the poor performance of North Vietnamese forces and the significant increase in U.S. air and naval strikes intended to force a settlement. Additionally, the President expressed frustration with diplomatic formalities, reflecting on his recent signing of the Biological Warfare Treaty while criticizing Soviet support for North Vietnamese aggression.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield and Stephen B. Bull to coordinate a brief, ceremonial meeting with the directors of the American Historical and Cultural Society, Inc. The discussion focused on logistical arrangements for the event, specifically the distribution of individual photographs and gifts to attendees, including J. Willard Marriott, Jr. and Katherine Swim. Nixon emphasized the importance of the photography session as a gesture of goodwill and oversaw final preparations for the group's visit.
President Nixon met with a delegation of business and civic leaders to discuss non-partisan outreach initiatives, specifically regarding the 'Honor America Day' ceremonies and associated promotional films. The discussion touched on the administration's efforts to reduce crime in Washington, D.C., and the ongoing legislative challenges regarding the city's baseball team. The participants also shared updates on various administrative projects, including the distribution of gifts from the People's Republic of China, such as pandas and trees.
President Nixon met with his personal aide, Stephen B. Bull, for a brief administrative exchange in the Oval Office. The discussion concluded with the President dismissing a specific concern by instructing Bull not to worry about the matter. This interaction highlights the routine nature of the President's interactions with his staff regarding minor logistical or situational concerns.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed the logistical arrangements for upcoming U.S.-USSR relations, including a meeting between First Lady Pat Nixon and Mrs. Anatoliy Dobrynin, and the coordination of the President's planned Moscow summit. A significant portion of the conversation focused on the North Vietnamese offensive and the administration's strategic response, which included aggressive surveillance of Soviet ships and the potential use of naval mines. Kissinger and Nixon evaluated the geopolitical stakes of the Vietnam conflict, framing it as a critical test of U.S. credibility that could influence future Soviet actions in the Middle East and the viability of the Berlin treaties.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, to discuss the President's upcoming schedule. During this brief interaction, Nixon confirmed his intention to travel to the Executive Office Building for subsequent meetings. The exchange focused on logistics and movement rather than substantive policy matters.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate the administration's political strategy, scheduling, and public relations response to the North Vietnamese Easter Offensive. Nixon emphasized the necessity of a decisive, risk-heavy military posture to protect U.S. foreign policy credibility, explicitly instructing staff to maintain message discipline and avoid focus on domestic polling or political dissent. The discussion also covered managing the 1972 reelection campaign, the role of John Connally, and the importance of shielding the President from unnecessary domestic distractions during this critical foreign policy window.
President Nixon hosted Henry Kissinger’s father, Louis, and his wife, Paula, for a brief social visit to the Oval Office. The meeting served as a gesture of appreciation for Henry Kissinger’s service, during which the President formally commended the parents for their son’s achievements. Nixon presented the couple with commemorative presidential gifts, including a money clip and a compact, before concluding the session with a photo opportunity.
President Nixon met with aide Stephen B. Bull to finalize logistical arrangements for his brief remarks at a reception for the National Alliance of Businessmen. They discussed the schedule for the event and the dinner hosted by Secretary of Labor James D. Hodgson, clarifying that the President’s participation would be limited to welcoming the guests. Nixon also decided that First Lady Pat Nixon’s attendance was unnecessary for the brief appearance.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman met to discuss administration strategy regarding the Vietnam War, press relations, and upcoming domestic initiatives. Nixon expressed frustration with the State Department's perceived lack of long-term vision, contrasting their cautious, tactical approach with his own administration’s bold foreign policy maneuvers such as the opening to China. The conversation also touched upon the inefficiencies of Great Society social programs and transitioned into a wide-ranging, personal discussion regarding the political influence and historical shift of the Jewish American electorate.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman conducted a wide-ranging review of domestic and foreign policy priorities, including the administration's messaging strategy, upcoming travel, and staff management. They discussed organizational shifts within the Domestic Council under John Ehrlichman, the economic outlook provided by George Shultz, and the need for more aggressive public positioning on issues like busing and the environment. Additionally, the conversation covered debriefings on the recent Gridiron Dinner and logistical planning for press relations regarding the President’s upcoming trip to the Soviet Union.