Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 709
Nixon White House Tape 709 (April 17, 1972)
22 conversations · Oval Office · about 3 hr 25 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Kissinger, Sanchez, Haldeman
President Nixon reviews genealogical background information regarding the Michener family, noting their Quaker roots and connections to his own maternal ancestry. The discussion also touches upon a recent interaction between Gordon Robertson and Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau concerning the merits of a permanent civil service. Nixon and his interlocutor contemplate the tension between maintaining institutional continuity and the need for administrative changes to mitigate entrenched bureaucracy.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to coordinate administration messaging and political maneuvering, specifically regarding ongoing negotiations with North Vietnam and domestic legislative concerns. The discussion centered on clarifying the administration's stance on negotiations to avoid undermining press secretary Ron Ziegler and managing potential political fallout from staff appointments and campaign-related controversies. Nixon also instructed his team to prepare contingency plans for troop withdrawals and to adopt a more aggressive posture on both international and domestic communications.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed strategies for managing the North Vietnamese Easter Offensive while maintaining the possibility of the upcoming Moscow summit. They agreed to adopt a "tough as nails" negotiating stance on Vietnam, rejecting North Vietnamese proposals that were contingent on halting U.S. bombing, while keeping the diplomatic channel to the Soviet Union open. Nixon emphasized his determination to protect the U.S. position, signaling his willingness to authorize a naval blockade if diplomatic pressure and military action failed to curb Hanoi's aggression. The President also directed his staff to maintain a calm, public-facing posture while intensifying criticism of political opponents who appeared to align with the enemy's interests.
President Nixon dictates a memorandum for the file reflecting on recent communications and his personal schedule. He notes a report from Billy Graham regarding minimal student unrest at the University of North Carolina concerning Vietnam bombing campaigns, as well as a supportive phone call from Nelson Rockefeller. Nixon also records personal reflections on recent calls with his daughters and his intent to take a brief period of rest after a working dinner.
President Nixon dictated his dissatisfaction with the quality and delivery method of a recent toast prepared for an Organization of American States event. He expressed a preference for an ad-libitum style in future remarks, noting that it better reflects his personal rapport with others. Nixon acknowledged, however, that prepared texts remain necessary for events in countries like China, where translation requirements and formal protocols necessitate closer adherence to a script.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate his daily agenda and upcoming appointments. The discussion focused on finalizing the schedule for a meeting with National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger and a luncheon with Representative William M. Colmer. No significant policy decisions were recorded during this brief administrative check-in.
President Richard M. Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office to dictate a series of memoranda for the executive record. This brief encounter served as a routine administrative session for the President to formalize notes or instructions for his files. The meeting concluded when Sanchez departed the office shortly before 9:00 am.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed the ongoing North Vietnamese offensive and the necessity of maintaining a firm, composed posture to ensure U.S. foreign policy credibility. They reviewed plans for a potential troop withdrawal, the administration's strategic response to Soviet and Chinese protests, and the military effectiveness of intensified bombing campaigns in North Vietnam. Nixon emphasized that he must act decisively regardless of domestic political consequences, viewing his leadership as essential to preventing future administrative weakness in foreign affairs.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate administration messaging during the North Vietnamese Easter Offensive, specifically emphasizing a tough public stance against the invasion and a refusal to apologize for increased military pressure. They discussed strategies for managing press relations, including a directive to ignore specific inquiries about the President’s decision-making process and to boycott certain journalists. Additionally, the President and his staff coordinated upcoming scheduling, including the President's trip to Camp David and efforts to manage the public relations fallout regarding the nomination of Richard Kleindienst.
President Nixon met with Witold Trampczynski to discuss the logistics and diplomatic significance of his forthcoming visit to Poland, emphasizing the importance of strong US-Poland relations due to the large Polish-American population. Prior to the meeting, Nixon and Henry Kissinger coordinated on sensitive Cold War geopolitical strategy, specifically regarding the precarious nature of the upcoming Soviet summit and the need to maintain a firm stance against the USSR. Following Trampczynski's departure, Nixon directed Kissinger to adopt a combative public messaging strategy, instructing his team to attack Democrats for their perceived lack of support for the South Vietnamese effort against the recent Northern invasion.
This recording captures a brief three-second encounter between President Nixon and unidentified individuals in the Oval Office. Due to the extremely short duration of the interaction and the lack of an available transcript, the specific purpose and content of the meeting remain undocumented. Consequently, no substantive discussions or policy decisions were captured by the taping system.
President Nixon met with unidentified individuals in the Oval Office to coordinate logistics regarding an arrival or movement. The brief discussion focused on relaying instructions to an unnamed party who was scheduled to return to the area. No substantive policy decisions were recorded during this brief encounter.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to strategize on the Vietnam War, focusing on managing domestic political fallout from North Vietnam's offensive and the potential for a negotiated settlement involving the Soviet Union. Nixon emphasized the need for a firm public stance against Democratic critics and discussed the potential for linking the upcoming Moscow summit to progress in Paris peace negotiations. Following Kissinger's departure, Ronald Ziegler joined the President to discuss press reporting on the Moscow trip itinerary and to coordinate scheduling adjustments for First Lady Pat Nixon's upcoming events, including a table tennis exhibition.
President Nixon met with Rose Mary Woods to discuss the planning and logistical execution of upcoming White House social functions, including events for retired members of Congress and Navy comrades. The President provided specific instructions regarding the integration of musical entertainment to ensure a more dynamic experience for guests, while expressing personal disapproval of modern dance performances. Additionally, the pair addressed staffing concerns, including tensions involving Constance Stuart, and the need for better public relations regarding the quality of cultural programming hosted by the administration.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman reviewed the ongoing Senate confirmation hearings for Richard G. Kleindienst and Secretary of State William P. Rogers's testimony regarding the Vietnam War. They expressed satisfaction with Rogers’s firm performance before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, particularly his defense of the administration's bombing policies and his rejection of North Vietnamese negotiation demands tied to halting military actions. Additionally, the President and Haldeman discussed strategies for managing White House staff departures, logistics for upcoming travel, and potential responses to diplomatic and political pressure, including the possibility of a naval blockade in Vietnam.
President Nixon met with Donald B. Rice, Caspar Weinberger, and George Shultz to discuss Rice's transition to a new position at the Rand Corporation. Following the personnel discussion, Nixon turned to the ongoing North Vietnamese invasion of South Vietnam, expressing resolve despite the potential impact on his upcoming Soviet summit. He emphasized a firm stance regarding potential retaliatory actions, including a blockade of Hanoi and Haiphong, while criticizing press coverage of the conflict.
President Nixon consulted with unidentified staff regarding the current locations and status of Henry Kissinger, Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, and Kenneth Rush. The dialogue focused on confirming logistical details and departures related to high-level diplomatic or military coordination. The discussion served as a brief administrative check-in to verify the whereabouts of key officials involved in sensitive governmental operations.
President Nixon consults with an unidentified staff member regarding scheduling logistics and the duration of an upcoming meeting. The discussion centers on ensuring a briefing with Henry Kissinger is completed before the President’s scheduled departure at 12:30 p.m. The exchange serves primarily as an administrative coordination effort to manage the President's tight midday itinerary.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to discuss strategy regarding the ongoing North Vietnamese offensive and the potential for a diplomatic interim agreement. Kissinger argued that while a blockade could be effective, an interim solution—bolstered by Soviet guarantees and a cessation of enemy offensives—could protect Nixon's political standing and ensure the success of the upcoming Moscow summit. Nixon emphasized his commitment to military toughness, including the possibility of a blockade, and expressed strong approval of recent South Vietnamese military performance as reported by General Alexander Haig. They concluded that maintaining a firm posture while keeping the Moscow summit intact remained their primary objective.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to coordinate logistical details regarding his upcoming schedule and travel arrangements. The conversation focused on the President's planned meeting with Representative William M. Colmer and the management of travel to and from Capitol Hill. Nixon also instructed Bull to facilitate a phone call with Secretary of State William P. Rogers to discuss ongoing administrative matters.
President Nixon held a brief, three-minute meeting with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office. The discussion centered on matters related to the President's schedule. Due to the lack of a transcript or documentation regarding the participant, the specific nature of the scheduling adjustments remains unknown.
Manolo Sanchez, President Nixon's personal valet, meets with unidentified individuals within the Oval Office. The brief interaction consists of logistical exchanges and routine communication typical of the President's personal staff operations. No substantive policy matters or major historical developments were recorded during this segment of the tape.