Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 711
Nixon White House Tape 711 (April 18, 1972)
21 conversations · Oval Office · about 4 hr 6 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Kissinger, Butterfield, Haldeman
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield held a brief administrative meeting in the Oval Office to coordinate logistics. The discussion focused on the current location and availability of Secretary of State William P. Rogers. No specific policy decisions were finalized, as the meeting functioned primarily to facilitate executive scheduling and internal communications.
President Nixon consulted with a White House operator to facilitate a telephonic connection. This brief interaction served an administrative purpose to initiate communication with an unspecified party. No substantive policy discussions or major decisions were recorded during this brief exchange.
President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird met to evaluate the ongoing military situation in Vietnam and coordinate strategy ahead of Kissinger's upcoming summit preparations in Moscow. The participants expressed frustration over unauthorized press reports suggesting internal administration discord regarding air strikes, emphasizing the need for a unified front to project strength and pressure North Vietnam. Nixon sought to maintain leverage for his potential Moscow visit, specifically discussing the tactical efficacy of air campaigns, the strategic value of a potential naval blockade, and the importance of maintaining a firm stance against North Vietnamese aggression to ensure favorable negotiation outcomes.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman and Henry Kissinger to review administration messaging, political strategy, and foreign policy developments. Key discussions included orchestrating a media push against Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau following anti-U.S. demonstrations in Canada, managing the ITT controversy, and framing the administration's hardline stance on the Vietnam War. Nixon also prioritized controlling the narrative regarding D.C. crime statistics and discussed future protocols for staff reporting on international travel.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to evaluate the status of the Vietnam War and the strategic implications of increased U.S. bombing operations ahead of Kissinger’s upcoming trip to Moscow. They discussed the effectiveness of recent air and naval strikes, specifically noting the pressure being placed on North Vietnam and the diplomatic necessity of demonstrating strength to the Soviets. Nixon emphasized the importance of maintaining military momentum to ensure a strong bargaining position, while both men weighed the risks and potential fallout of a naval blockade on the upcoming Moscow summit.
President Nixon met with unidentified individuals in the Oval Office to briefly discuss an unspecified visual event or item presented to the group. The interaction lasted only eighteen seconds before the recording was terminated. No substantive policy discussions or significant presidential decisions were captured during this brief exchange.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to review the President’s upcoming schedule, specifically focusing on preparations for a meeting with the People's Republic of China table tennis team. Nixon requested that briefing materials for the event be condensed to a single page due to his limited time, while emphasizing a non-political approach. The discussion also addressed Agriculture Secretary Earl Butz’s upcoming trip to the USSR and the need to manage his press announcements in light of Henry Kissinger’s concurrent diplomatic efforts in Moscow.
President Nixon met with an unknown woman to discuss the scheduling of the American table tennis team's upcoming visit to the People's Republic of China. This engagement served as a high-profile element of the administration's ongoing diplomatic efforts to improve relations with the PRC. The brief meeting concluded with the departure of the participant following the logistical review of the team's itinerary.
President Nixon and his daughter, Tricia Nixon Cox, discuss recent public appearances at universities and the negative receptions faced by administration officials, specifically Secretary of State William Rogers. The President expresses his disapproval of officials attending campus events, characterizing his own staff's handling of these situations as inadequate. The exchange concludes with the President offering reassurance regarding Tricia's upcoming public engagements.
President Nixon held a brief, unscheduled meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified woman. Following her departure, Stephen B. Bull joined the President to facilitate the transition between appointments. Due to the lack of an available transcript, the specific nature of the discussion remains undocumented.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to coordinate the logistics for an upcoming White House visit by the People's Republic of China table tennis team. They discussed the specific protocol for the meeting, including plans for handshakes, translation requirements, and photo opportunities. Nixon emphasized his desire to limit interaction with the American table tennis delegation to maintain the focus on the Chinese guests.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate logistical details and preparations for an upcoming White House visit by the People's Republic of China table tennis team. The discussion centered on managing the President's engagement with the visiting athletes as part of the broader diplomatic efforts to improve U.S.-China relations. Following the brief consultation, the participants departed the Oval Office to proceed with the scheduled activities.
This brief recorded segment captures an interaction between President Nixon and an unidentified individual, potentially Manolo Sanchez, within the Oval Office. Due to the limited duration of the released audio and the absence of a transcript, the specific subject matter remains undocumented. The recording concluded prematurely, providing no evidence of substantive policy discussions or actionable decisions.
President Nixon, H. R. Haldeman, Henry Kissinger, and Charles Colson met to discuss domestic and foreign policy strategies amidst escalating public protests over the Vietnam War. They focused on leveraging public support for the administration's aggressive stance against the North Vietnamese offensive, while coordinating counterattacks against Democratic critics and media outlets perceived as hostile. A key decision was to maintain a firm, hawkish rhetoric regarding the war and to pressure congressional allies, such as Barry Goldwater, to introduce resolutions condemning North Vietnam to force Democrats into an indefensible political position. Additionally, the group analyzed the shifting Democratic primary landscape, concluding that the party's internal divisions and the rise of George McGovern's campaign played to the President's electoral advantage.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield for a brief discussion regarding the configuration and management of the President's daily schedule. This consultation focused on administrative logistics and upcoming appointments within the Oval Office. No major policy decisions were recorded during this brief administrative briefing.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. The interaction primarily focused on the mechanics of connecting the President to a specific party, serving as a brief administrative bridge to an external conversation. No substantive policy discussions or major decisions occurred during this exchange.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office. The brief interaction focused on the President's personal request for consommé. No significant political or administrative developments were recorded during this brief service-related exchange.
President Nixon and his daughter, Tricia Nixon Cox, discussed social logistics and protocol regarding upcoming public appearances and sports events. The President specifically requested that Tricia convey his personal best wishes and gratitude for a positive reception to an individual associated with David Eisenhower. This informal meeting focused on managing public relations and maintaining favorable personal connections.
President Nixon and Julie Nixon Eisenhower coordinated the logistics and timing for an upcoming photo session involving the First Family. The conversation centered on reconciling the President's immediate schedule, including a meeting with Secretary of Agriculture Earl L. Butz, with the arrangements for the photography session on the White House lawn. Ultimately, the discussion served to ensure the photo event could proceed without disrupting the President’s pending official appointments.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to reorganize the scheduling of upcoming appointments. The discussion focused primarily on adjusting the timing and duration of a meeting with Secretary of Agriculture Earl L. Butz. Nixon also addressed the coordination of Butz's visit in relation to the schedule of National Security Advisor Henry A. Kissinger.
President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz met to debrief on Butz's recent trip to the Soviet Union and coordinate messaging ahead of the President's upcoming Moscow summit. The discussion focused on the potential for U.S.-Soviet agricultural trade and grain deals, which Nixon insisted must be linked to broader geopolitical progress, specifically regarding the conflict in Vietnam. They agreed that while Butz should highlight positive, preliminary discussions, he must publicly emphasize that significant hurdles regarding credit terms and international political tensions remained unresolved to avoid appearing desperate for an agreement.