Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 707
Nixon White House Tape 707 (April 12, 1972)
12 conversations · Oval Office
Featuring Nixon, Butterfield, Bull, Manfield, United States Secret Service agents
President Nixon utilized the White House operator to place a personal congratulatory call to Ann Mansfield, the daughter of Senator Mike Mansfield, on the morning of her wedding. The President expressed his well wishes for the occasion and offered his congratulations for the couple's future. This brief exchange served as a courteous gesture toward the Senate Majority Leader’s family.
President Nixon held a brief, informal meeting with Anne Mansfield to discuss personal matters and upcoming travel plans. Their conversation touched upon recent family discussions and the logistics of an impending wedding. The President concluded the interaction with a lighthearted request for souvenirs from the trip.
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to conduct a brief administrative review of his daily schedule. The discussion focused on coordinating the President's upcoming appointments and logistics. No major policy decisions were recorded during this short meeting, which served primarily to manage the President's workflow.
Stephen B. Bull met with Secret Service agents to coordinate logistics and security for upcoming White House events involving President Nixon and members of Congress. The discussion focused on managing the arrival and greeting of prominent Democratic lawmakers, including individuals like George Mahon and John Stennis. Bull emphasized the necessity of these meetings to ensure proper protocol for the visiting congressional groups.
President Nixon met with Congressional leaders Hugh Scott, Gerald Ford, Clark MacGregor, and William Timmons to coordinate messaging regarding the ongoing Vietnam War and upcoming travel to the People's Republic of China. Nixon emphasized the necessity of projecting strength, instructing the group to underscore the administration's willingness to negotiate while firmly rejecting any appearance of negotiating a surrender under duress. The participants also discussed the importance of highlighting South Vietnamese resilience and Soviet support for the North Vietnamese offensive to ensure a unified public stance.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to review administrative scheduling and finalize official documentation. The discussion centered on prioritizing specific executive actions, specifically focusing on the selection of candidates for nominations. Nixon provided direct instructions regarding his preferences for these appointments, directing Butterfield to proceed with the chosen candidate.
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met to coordinate logistics and gift-giving protocols for the President's upcoming diplomatic trip to Canada. They discussed the appropriate presentation of gifts for Governor General D. Roland Michener and Prime Minister Pierre E. Trudeau, including questions regarding the Governor General's family. Nixon directed Butterfield on how to distinguish the gift distribution between the two Canadian officials.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull discussed a controversial Justice Department lawsuit challenging Texas’s established ten-mile fishing rights, which conflicted with prior legislative and judicial precedents. Concerned by the political implications and the inquiries from Texas Supreme Court Justice Price Daniel, Nixon directed Bull to investigate the origin and rationale behind the filing. The President expressed frustration with the litigation, emphasizing the need to clarify why the administration pursued a suit that appeared to contradict settled state maritime boundaries.
President Nixon initiates a brief administrative interaction with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. The conversation serves primarily as a logistical step to connect the President with another party. No substantive policy discussions or major strategic decisions occurred during this brief exchange.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman, John Connally, John Ehrlichman, Henry Kissinger, and other staff to coordinate administration strategy on several fronts. Key discussions included efforts to quash a Department of Justice fishing rights lawsuit against Texas, the management of congressional briefings on Vietnam and domestic issues, and tactical adjustments for the upcoming election campaign. Nixon emphasized the need for more persuasive, memorable speechwriting and directed his team to adopt a more aggressive, "hard-hitting" political posture against Democrats on issues like busing and food prices.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to coordinate the final drafting and review process for an upcoming speech concerning Canadian relations. The discussion focused on incorporating feedback from Henry A. Kissinger and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. while finalizing the President's personal revisions. The meeting functioned as an administrative check-in to ensure the speech was ready for delivery.
An unidentified participant expresses a dismissive attitude toward a proposal, stating they are indifferent to the source's intentions. The speakers engage in a brief discussion regarding a document that requires further review, suggesting a potential willingness to consider new ideas from the unnamed party. The recording is incomplete and ends abruptly, leaving the specific subject matter and ultimate decision-making regarding the document unresolved.