Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 721
Nixon White House Tape 721 (May 8, 1972)
13 conversations · Oval Office · about 1 hr 17 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Kissinger, Butterfield, Haldeman, Ehrlichman
President Nixon and Alexander Butterfield review logistical details and attendance figures regarding an upcoming Duke Law School reunion. They specifically discuss the inclusion of key administration figures such as John Dean, Egil Krogh, and Charles Colson, as well as William Brown of the EEOC. The exchange focuses on finalizing the guest list and calculating the total number of confirmed attendees.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman discuss the political fallout and potential friction surrounding a letter concerning abortion policy in New York. The President expresses concern that the administration's involvement in the issue could complicate relationships between the Conservative Party and Nelson Rockefeller Jr. during a legislative battle. Ehrlichman is tasked with investigating the origins of the correspondence to ensure the White House avoids appearing to intervene in state-level political disputes.
President Nixon held an brief meeting in the Oval Office with an unidentified woman to discuss political or diplomatic positioning. The conversation touched upon the administration's firm stance regarding an unnamed individual, explicitly stating that no concessions or allowances would be granted to them. Shortly thereafter, Henry Kissinger joined the President to continue discussions.
President Nixon met with Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler to coordinate administrative messaging and press strategy regarding upcoming national security matters. They discussed Ziegler's inclusion in a National Security Council meeting and the timing for an imminent presidential speech. The brief exchange served to align the White House communications team on the disclosure of sensitive policy details.
President Nixon consults with an unidentified woman regarding the scheduling of a brief meeting with Vice President Spiro Agnew. The primary objective is to intercept the Vice President before he attends a 9:00 a.m. National Security Council meeting. They determine to monitor Agnew's location and wait for his arrival to ensure the unscheduled interaction occurs.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to discuss the implementation of a naval blockade of North Vietnam in anticipation of an upcoming presidential address. They reviewed the internal bureaucratic resistance to the plan, specifically noting opposition from intelligence officials and concerns regarding the military's logistical capabilities. The discussion emphasized that the blockade was necessary to bolster South Vietnamese morale, stress North Vietnamese command systems, and secure a stronger bargaining position regarding U.S. prisoners of war.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met briefly to address administrative arrangements for an upcoming National Security Council meeting. The conversation touched upon the participation of Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler and concerns regarding potential leaks. No final decisions were reached during this exchange, which primarily served to coordinate internal attendance and security protocols.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to facilitate a requested meeting with National Security Advisor Henry A. Kissinger. This brief interaction served as a logistical bridge to ensure coordination with Kissinger regarding ongoing diplomatic or national security matters. No further details regarding the specific intent or outcome of the requested appointment are preserved in the available record.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman coordinate a strategy to locate and secure a meeting with John B. Connally. The President instructs Haldeman to find Connally, bring him to his office, and hold him there until Nixon can initiate a telephone call. This interaction emphasizes the urgency of establishing direct communication with Connally to discuss pending matters involving Henry Kissinger.
President Nixon held a brief, six-second meeting with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office. Due to the extremely short duration of the encounter and the lack of available transcripts, the specific substance and purpose of the meeting remain undocumented. No policy decisions, actionable items, or substantive topics can be discerned from the existing record.
President Nixon met with Henry Kissinger, John Connally, and H. R. Haldeman to finalize the decision to initiate a naval blockade and increased bombing campaign against North Vietnam. Despite dissenting opinions from Secretary of State William Rogers and Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird, the President, strongly supported by Connally, determined that the operation was necessary to prevent a collapse in South Vietnam and to preserve American credibility. The group discussed the political risks, including the potential cancellation of the upcoming Soviet summit, and coordinated the logistics for notifying key cabinet members and Congressional leaders before the President's public announcement.
President Nixon hosted a tour of the White House facilities for unknown guests, providing commentary on his workspace and historical offices. The conversation focused on the layout and utility of the Oval Office, the Executive Office Building, and the Roosevelt Room, while also touching upon the President’s past Senate campaign. No policy decisions were made during this informal walkthrough, which concluded with logistical coordination regarding departure schedules.
Stephen B. Bull met with United States Secret Service agents in the Oval Office to discuss routine logistical or operational arrangements. The conversation consists primarily of brief, non-substantive affirmations rather than policy deliberations. No specific decisions or historical actions were recorded during this brief administrative exchange.