Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 717
Nixon White House Tape 717 (May 2, 1972)
19 conversations · Oval Office · about 1 hr 59 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Haig, Ziegler, Haldeman
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler held a brief, unscheduled meeting to coordinate the release of an official statement. Although the recording captures only a fragment of the discussion, the exchange centers on the administrative handling and public issuance of this document. The conversation concluded after one minute, marking a routine effort to manage the President's public communications.
President Nixon initiates a brief request to the White House operator to place a phone call to Mrs. Dexter. This administrative interaction serves as a routine directive to connect the President with an outside party. No further substantive policy matters or historical developments occur during this brief communication exchange.
President Nixon informs First Lady Pat Nixon of the passing of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, who died in his sleep the previous night. The brief exchange confirms the news and serves to ensure the First Lady is personally apprised of the death before it is publicly acknowledged. No further official actions or strategic decisions were discussed during this short interaction.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing telephone communication. The brief exchange focused on establishing a connection with an unspecified party. The conversation concluded with the President confirming his request for the operator to place the call immediately.
President Nixon directs the White House operator to manage his incoming communications by routing calls to Rose Mary Woods if he is unavailable. This brief interaction establishes protocol for handling priority calls during the President's potential absence from the office. No further policy or strategic developments were recorded during this brief administrative exchange.
President Nixon consulted with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, regarding the immediate need to notify former President Lyndon B. Johnson of J. Edgar Hoover’s passing prior to the official public announcement. Nixon instructed Woods to handle the incoming return call from Johnson if he remained unavailable, ensuring the former president learned the news directly from the administration. This coordination served to maintain protocol and personal courtesy regarding the death of the longtime FBI director.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler held a brief meeting to coordinate the official public response following the death of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. The two reviewed the administration's messaging and finalized the President's planned public statement regarding Hoover's passing. This discussion ensured that the White House's public stance was prepared immediately following the news of the Director's death.
President Nixon and former President Lyndon B. Johnson engaged in a brief discussion regarding the political risks of replacing leadership within a specific government agency during a contentious legislative period. Nixon expressed his reluctance to remove the current director, citing the need for institutional stability while facing a significant political struggle in the Senate. The conversation served as a moment of informal political alignment between the two presidents regarding the management of federal appointments.
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to facilitate the transition between scheduled appointments in the Oval Office. The primary purpose of this brief encounter was to coordinate the arrival of White House Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. Following this administrative exchange, Bull departed to allow the President to proceed with his next meeting.
President Nixon met with his senior aides and Alexander Haig to address the immediate logistical arrangements following the death of J. Edgar Hoover and to deliberate on the critical military and diplomatic situation in Vietnam. The group finalized plans for Hoover’s burial at Arlington National Cemetery and discussed the failure of recent negotiations with North Vietnam. Consequently, Nixon directed the intensification of U.S. military strikes, including B-52 operations, while planning to issue a statement to South Vietnamese President Thieu to reaffirm American support and dismiss rumors regarding a potential coalition government.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to coordinate administrative logistics regarding an upcoming appointment with Vernon A. Walters. The discussion centered on managing the President's schedule and ensuring the proper arrival protocols for Walters and his guest, Mrs. Laureen Jones. The brief interaction served as a logistical briefing to facilitate the President's immediate meetings.
President Nixon hosted a ceremony in the Oval Office for Vernon A. Walters to mark his promotion and official swearing-in as Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Joined by Walters's family, Judge Edward Tamm, and CIA Director Richard Helms, the President administered the oath of office and acknowledged Walters's 31 years of military service. The meeting concluded with a photography session and the distribution of presidential gifts to the attendees.
President Nixon met briefly with aides Alexander P. Butterfield and Stephen B. Bull to address logistical matters following the death of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. The discussion touched upon the ceremonial handling of the White House flag and the arrangement of materials to be provided to Clyde Tolson. The participants also briefly coordinated upcoming scheduling requirements for Henry Kissinger.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss the urgent need to install loyalist oversight at the FBI following J. Edgar Hoover’s death to secure sensitive government files. They weigh the appointment of L. Patrick Gray as an interim presence against the alternative of promoting internal administrators like John Moore. Stephen B. Bull briefly joins to coordinate the logistics for a scheduled meeting with the Rebild National Park Society of Denmark.
President Nixon met with a Danish delegation led by Erik Emborg and accompanied by U.S. Representative Ancher Nelsen to foster international goodwill and discuss American-Danish relations. The meeting, which included a formal photo session, focused on the President's personal memories of Denmark, including the country's farming culture and its people. Nixon concluded the visit by presenting the delegates with presidential mementos and arranging for a tour of the White House grounds.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to conduct a brief review of the President's daily schedule. The conversation focused on managing administrative arrangements and the logistics of upcoming appointments. No significant policy decisions were recorded during this brief logistical check-in.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to conduct a brief administrative review of his daily schedule. The primary focus of the discussion was the cancellation of a previously planned meeting between the President and Charles W. Colson. Following this brief briefing, Bull concluded the meeting and departed the Oval Office.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman and Stephen Bull to coordinate logistics for J. Edgar Hoover's funeral and discuss the administration's strategic response to the ongoing North Vietnamese offensive. Nixon decided to consider postponing the upcoming Soviet Summit rather than canceling it outright, framing the potential move as a response to continued communist aggression. The group also evaluated public relations strategies, weighing the risks of overexposure against the need to counter negative media narratives regarding Vietnam and economic concerns like unemployment and food prices.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig met to discuss the precarious military situation in Vietnam, specifically the South Vietnamese defense against a major North Vietnamese offensive. Nixon expressed deep skepticism regarding the upcoming Moscow summit, questioning the morality and political viability of hosting Soviet leaders while their military aid fueled the ongoing assault on U.S. allies. The two men evaluated the strategic options, including a potential intensification of American air strikes and the possibility of canceling the summit entirely to demonstrate resolve. Ultimately, Nixon emphasized that the primary objective was to bolster the South Vietnamese military's will to fight while acknowledging the significant risks and political fallout associated with their military response.