Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 706
Nixon White House Tape 706 (April 11, 1972)
6 conversations · Oval Office
Featuring Nixon, Sanchez, Kissinger, United States Secret Service agents, Bull
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to coordinate their strategy regarding the North Vietnamese offensive and the management of domestic and international public opinion. They discussed the effectiveness of recent B-52 air strikes and the potential for expanded military pressure on North Vietnam, while simultaneously analyzing the muted reaction from the Soviet Union and China. The President decided to delay a formal public address on the conflict to avoid creating an artificial crisis that could hinder broader foreign policy objectives, emphasizing that military progress on the ground must remain their primary focus.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate the President's upcoming schedule, focusing on administrative changes, travel plans, and the finalization of a speech for his trip to Canada. The discussion moved to managing press relations for the upcoming Soviet summit, with Nixon expressing frustration over the administration's perceived tendency to court hostile media figures rather than supporting loyalist journalists. They also evaluated domestic policy messaging, particularly concerning food prices and the administration's response to the North Vietnamese offensive, while deciding to maintain a firm, proactive stance in their public communications.
Stephen B. Bull and U.S. Secret Service agents engaged in a brief, informal discussion regarding the President's schedule and location at the Executive Office Building. The dialogue also included casual remarks concerning the blooming of the cherry blossoms and the planning of the upcoming Arbor Day centennial celebration. The exchange concluded without any major policy decisions or significant administrative developments.
President Nixon met with Alexander Butterfield and John Ehrlichman to coordinate an upcoming briefing for prominent, hawkish Democrats including John Stennis, George Mahon, and F. Edward Hebert. Nixon emphasized that the session, led by Henry Kissinger, should avoid a strictly partisan tone to ensure effective engagement with these key legislators. The participants also briefly addressed scheduling concerns and administrative memoranda before concluding the meeting.
President Nixon met with a large group of cabinet members and advisors to discuss a wide-ranging agenda of domestic economic policy, including international trade strategies, energy infrastructure, and tax reform. The participants reviewed the implementation of commercial trade policies with the Soviet Union, analyzed the political and budget implications of environmental regulations, and addressed the status of the Productivity Commission. Nixon emphasized the need for his team to act as aggressive advocates for pro-business policies and job creation in the lead-up to the 1972 election. The meeting concluded with a review of potential Federal Reserve appointments and a discussion on managing public perception regarding inflation and food prices.
Secret Service agents and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office to discuss the current state of the American labor market and employment statistics. The participants addressed public misconceptions regarding unemployment and emphasized the record-breaking number of new jobs created. The discussion focused on contextualizing economic growth and social change, specifically highlighting that over 81 million people were employed at the time.