Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 739
Nixon White House Tape 739 (June 21, 1972)
11 conversations · Oval Office · about 44 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Butterfield, Haldeman, Welch, Shultz
President Nixon directs the White House operator to place a call to Moon Landrieu, the newly elected mayor of New Orleans, whom the President incorrectly identifies as Mayor Welch. The call is intended to establish communication with the incoming administration of the city. No further substantive policy discussions occur as the recording is limited to the President’s request for the operator to initiate the connection.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate a phone call with Louie Welch, the mayor of Houston. The discussion centered on identifying the mayor's current location, as the operator initially suggested he was in New Orleans. The brief interaction concluded with a clarification of the mayor's status to ensure the call could be properly routed.
President Nixon met with Houston Mayor Louie Welch to congratulate him on his appointment as head of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and to solicit continued support for administration policies. The discussion focused on securing political backing for the war in Southeast Asia and navigating the legislative hurdles facing revenue sharing initiatives in the Senate. Nixon further emphasized the necessity of his foreign policy stance and engaged in a brief, informal exchange regarding the performance of the Houston Astros.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to discuss various administrative priorities, including economic indicators, the upcoming Senate debt ceiling vote, and the political fallout from the Watergate break-in. Regarding Watergate, they evaluated legal strategies to contain the investigation, specifically considering whether to have G. Gordon Liddy take responsibility to avoid broader inquiries and depositions that could implicate the White House. They also discussed concerns over negative media coverage and potential links between former consultant E. Howard Hunt and sensitive operations, weighing how to minimize political damage as the story gained national traction.
President Nixon met briefly with Alexander P. Butterfield and Stephen B. Bull to coordinate administrative logistics. The discussion focused on scheduling a photo opportunity in the Oval Office. No major policy matters were addressed during this short administrative engagement.
President Nixon met with his economic advisors, including George P. Shultz, Arthur F. Burns, Caspar Weinberger, and Herbert Stein, to review the status of the U.S. economy, specifically focusing on inflation, unemployment rates, and price stability. The discussion covered the political implications of economic indicators ahead of the 1972 election, particularly regarding potential campaign issues against George McGovern, and touched upon international currency problems and foreign policy matters involving Latin America. The group debated the efficacy of various economic interventions, including wage and price controls and potential actions to address rising meat prices, while weighing the impact of these policies on business and public perception.
President Nixon met with Zosimo T. Monzon to arrange the procurement of a specific type of tobacco he had previously obtained from Robert H. Abplanalp. Nixon directed Monzon to retrieve a sample from his briefcase to serve as a reference for a local tobacco shop. The President requested that Monzon locate this product locally or coordinate a mail-order purchase if the specific brand was unavailable.
President Nixon and his daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, coordinate travel logistics for her upcoming trip to Chicago, which involves timing her departure with David Eisenhower’s schedule. The conversation also briefly touches on personal matters, with the President offering praise for the quality of pictures and the selected cover for an upcoming book project. No major policy decisions were made, as the dialogue focused primarily on family arrangements and light social updates.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to review the President's upcoming schedule, specifically focusing on a meeting with Nelson A. Rockefeller. Following this consultation, Nixon placed a brief call through the White House operator. The conversation concluded with the President directing the cancellation of a scheduled telephone call.
President Nixon met with New York political and business leaders, including Nelson Rockefeller and John Volpe, to discuss federal mass transit grants and funding for new subway cars in New York City. The conversation expanded into a wide-ranging policy discussion covering international relations, the defense budget, and the procurement of military hardware like the F-14 fighter jet. In the final portion of the meeting, Nixon and John Ehrlichman reviewed legislative priorities, specifically focusing on welfare reform, the higher education bill, and political strategy regarding the 1972 presidential campaign against George McGovern.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman, Ronald Ziegler, and other staff members to discuss political strategy for the 1972 election and administrative responses to ongoing controversies. The participants analyzed the candidacy of George McGovern, reviewed public relations tactics regarding the Watergate break-in, and evaluated the administration's contentious relationship with the news media. Nixon also addressed logistical planning for his upcoming schedule, potential campaign staffing, and the framing of his policies for future press conferences.