Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 726
Nixon White House Tape 726 (May 19, 1972)
16 conversations · Oval Office
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Kissinger, Haldeman, Ziegler
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman, Vice President Spiro Agnew, Henry Kissinger, and Admiral Thomas Moorer to coordinate administration responses to the Vietnam War and manage the public narrative surrounding the conflict. The discussion focused on the effectiveness of recent bombing campaigns and the blockade of North Vietnam, as well as the need to address internal military resistance regarding bombing targets. Nixon also received a briefing from Agnew on his recent diplomatic trip to Japan, Thailand, and South Vietnam, and coordinated plans for the Vice President to visit the recently wounded George Wallace.
President Nixon and Vice President Spiro Agnew met to coordinate logistics for an upcoming public event, specifically focusing on an escort to the press room. Stephen B. Bull and Ronald Ziegler participated in the discussion, which involved arrangements concerning Tricia Nixon Cox. The meeting served as a continuation of prior deliberations regarding administrative preparations for these individuals.
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met briefly to finalize details regarding the President's upcoming schedule. The primary focus of the discussion was a planned press reception, specifically addressing the participation and potential remarks of First Lady Pat Nixon. Ultimately, the President decided against receiving a specific group of attendees at the event.
President Nixon met with his senior staff, including H.R. Haldeman, Henry Kissinger, and John Ehrlichman, to coordinate messaging and strategy ahead of his upcoming Soviet Summit. The group discussed controlling the flow of information to the press—specifically managing William Rogers's public statements to ensure they did not conflict with the President's own summit briefings—and addressed Vietnam military policy, including the President's frustration with air strike performance. Additionally, the President and his staff reviewed domestic legislative priorities, such as the black lung bill veto, busing policy, and welfare reform, while also discussing the investigation into Arthur Bremer following the assassination attempt on George Wallace.
President Nixon met with George P. Shultz to discuss Shultz's transition into the role of Secretary of the Treasury and to outline administration priorities. The President urged Shultz to restructure the Treasury Department with a new, younger team while managing delicate congressional relationships, specifically with Wilbur Mills and Russell Long. They also discussed economic strategy, including tax reform, wage and price controls, and the recruitment of economist Milton Friedman to assist with policy development.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to discuss the coordination of international economic business, directing Bull to oversee Peter Flanagan in a manner similar to former Treasury Secretary John Connally. Nixon emphasized that Flanagan requires guidance in this field and stressed the need for strict adherence to the projected federal budget. Additionally, Nixon instructed that the administration must maintain a public stance favoring the removal of wage and price controls leading up to the election.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss the scheduling of upcoming meetings, including sessions with Henry Kissinger and Senator Jacob Javits. The conversation primarily focuses on managing the administration's public messaging regarding the upcoming Soviet summit, specifically addressing a press conference held by William P. Rogers. Nixon and Haldeman analyze a news report by Marvin Kalb, suspecting that information provided at a private dinner party involving the Kalb brothers and Kissinger served as the underlying source.
President Nixon met with William J. Porter and Henry Kissinger to discuss the deteriorating state of the North Vietnamese offensive and the resulting strategic opportunities for the U.S. in Paris peace negotiations. Nixon expressed significant frustration with military leadership regarding air strike restrictions and ceiling limitations, demanding that bombing missions against North Vietnamese supply lines continue aggressively. The group ultimately agreed that the U.S. should maintain its current pressure and refuse a plenary session in Paris until private negotiations yield substantive progress.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to discuss international objectives, specifically regarding the capabilities and motivations of the Soviet Union. The dialogue touched upon the perceived inefficiencies caused by Soviet bureaucracy and the tendency of media networks to engage in speculative reporting. Nixon emphasized the necessity of avoiding bureaucratic entrapment as they navigated these complex foreign policy challenges.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to review and adjust the presidential schedule for the day. The discussion primarily focused on coordinating the timing of a meeting with Henry Kissinger and arranging a barber's appointment. Nixon explicitly instructed Bull to prioritize his schedule, noting that Kissinger would be required to wait if the President's other commitments ran overtime.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman and Henry Kissinger to refine talking points and press strategy for the upcoming Soviet summit, including plans for post-summit reports to the American public and the Senate. The discussion also addressed frustrations with bureaucratic resistance to the President's directives, specifically regarding psychological warfare and the procurement of equipment for South Vietnam. Nixon and Kissinger further evaluated military operations in Vietnam, expressing dissatisfaction with the military's target limitations and their perceived efforts to avoid responsibility for the ongoing conflict.
President Nixon met with aide Stephen Bull to discuss the effectiveness of strategic aerial bombing campaigns during the Vietnam War. Nixon expressed frustration over public misconceptions regarding military restrictions, asserting that he had provided the military with full operational freedom. The discussion emphasized the psychological impact of B-52 strikes versus the limitations of smaller fighter aircraft like the F-4.
President Nixon met with Senator Robert C. Byrd, John Ehrlichman, and Clark MacGregor to discuss the pending black lung benefits bill. Acknowledging the fiscal concerns and potential budget implications, Nixon informed Byrd of his decision to sign the legislation, concluding that a veto would likely be overridden by Congress. They coordinated a public relations strategy for the announcement, agreeing that Byrd would signal his satisfaction with the meeting to the press while emphasizing the President's careful deliberation of the budgetary and humanitarian factors.
President Nixon met with Alexander Butterfield, Ronald Ziegler, and Rose Mary Woods to manage administrative tasks and scheduling priorities. The participants focused on reviewing items requiring the President's signature and coordinating necessary deliveries. Key actions included facilitating a call between Henry Kissinger and Senator John C. Stennis as well as coordinating with Dr. William M. Lukash.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to strategize the domestic political management of the upcoming Soviet summit and the pending Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) agreement. They discussed the necessity of lobbying skeptical lawmakers, such as Senator Henry "Scoop" Jackson, to ensure support for ABM and offensive weapons provisions. Additionally, they reviewed messaging for the President’s upcoming speeches and press briefings to ensure a cautious, balanced tone that would satisfy both congressional hawks and international concerns.
Alexander P. Butterfield met with U.S. Secret Service agents in the Oval Office to discuss logistics regarding the President’s location and movements. Due to the lack of an available transcript and the presence of withdrawn material, the specific tactical details remain restricted. The discussion served as an administrative coordination effort between the White House staff and the security detail.