Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 708
Nixon White House Tape 708 (April 13, 1972)
13 conversations · Oval Office
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Hess, Cole, White House photographer
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to address various administrative and scheduling matters, including the handling of a report from the White House Conference on Youth. The discussion touched upon the coordination of an executive branch response and the release of that document. Additionally, the President reviewed plans for an upcoming meeting, managed autograph requests, and discussed staffing transitions involving Rayburn D. Hanzlik and Robert H. Finch.
President Nixon met with leaders of the White House Conference on Youth, including Michael Dively and Stephen Hess, to discuss their ongoing efforts and the federal government's response to the conference's recommendations. The participants reviewed the distribution of demonstration grants and discussed strategies for ensuring their policy concerns gained traction within the upcoming Republican and Democratic party platforms. Nixon encouraged the group to present their proposals to platform committees to maximize publicity and influence, drawing on his own past experiences with such committees.
President Nixon hosted Stephen Hess and his family in the Oval Office for a brief, informal meeting. The discussion focused on pleasantries, the exchange of presidential gifts, and photographs of the Hess children. Nixon also shared personal reflections with the children regarding the value of travel, the importance of experiencing the world while young, and anecdotes concerning his recent outreach to China.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to coordinate administrative details regarding his upcoming schedule and the handling of a specific briefcase. The discussion focused on finalizing arrangements for a scheduled meeting involving Frank DeMarco, Jr. and John W. Dean III. No major policy decisions were reached, as the brief interaction served primarily to manage the President's immediate agenda and logistical tasking.
President Nixon held a brief, undocumented meeting in the Oval Office with one or more unidentified individuals. Due to the lack of available transcripts or descriptive logs, the specific topics, decisions, and outcomes of this discussion remain unverified. This recording serves as a historical record of an private interaction within the Nixon administration that lacks accompanying contextual detail.
President Nixon met with his attorney Frank DeMarco, Jr. and White House Counsel John W. Dean, III to finalize personal tax-related matters. The participants discussed the closure of specific financial or legal business, with DeMarco expressing relief upon the conclusion of the affair. No further substantive policy matters were recorded during this brief encounter.
President Nixon utilized this session to rehearse portions of an upcoming speech in French ahead of his diplomatic visit to Canada. The brief meeting focused exclusively on linguistic preparation for the international trip. No substantive policy matters or broader political strategies were addressed during this practice session.
President Nixon utilized this session to rehearse the French-language opening remarks for his upcoming diplomatic visit to Canada. He focused specifically on refining his greetings upon arrival in Ottawa. The President confirmed a minor edit by removing a specific sentence from his prepared speech text.
President Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, and Henry Kissinger met to finalize the President's upcoming speech for his trip to Canada and coordinate congressional relations. Following Woods's departure, Kissinger briefed the President on securing public and congressional support for the war in Vietnam, specifically regarding the efforts of Representatives F. Edward Hebert, George H. Mahon, and John C. Stennis. The discussion focused heavily on the strategic necessity of upcoming air strikes against petroleum, oil, and lubricant (POL) dumps in Haiphong, with Kissinger detailing operational plans and the perceived effectiveness of previous military actions in Laos and Cambodia.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to coordinate the arrival of Lieutenant General Vernon A. Walters. The brief interaction served primarily to facilitate the logistical arrangements for the General's visit. No further substantive policy matters were recorded during this session.
President Nixon utilized this session to rehearse French-language segments for his upcoming address before the Canadian Parliament. The discussion involved a review of his intended remarks and a brief assessment of his oratorical performance in previous international engagements. No major policy decisions were made, as the primary focus remained on refining the linguistic delivery of his speech.
President Nixon met with Lt. Gen. Vernon A. Walters to receive coaching and practice the pronunciation of French phrases for an upcoming address to the Canadian Parliament. The session involved detailed linguistic drills, with Rose Mary Woods assisting in the logistics of the speech drafts and Alexander P. Butterfield briefly joining to deliver documents. The discussion also touched upon ongoing military concerns in Vietnam, including North Vietnamese movements and the status of diplomatic efforts.
Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office to conduct internal business or security coordination. Due to the withdrawal of the audio content for security or non-historical reasons, the specific nature of the discussions remains undocumented. No actionable policy decisions or substantive administrative developments are preserved in the historical record of this meeting.