Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 759
Nixon White House Tape 759 (August 2, 1972)
11 conversations · Oval Office · about 2 hr 26 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Woods, Haldeman, Kissinger
President Nixon met with an unknown woman in the Oval Office to discuss a request for information from Life magazine. Specifically, the President was interested in a photograph of Thomas F. Eagleton's son, Terry Eagleton, with himself, which was taken by Oliver F. Atkins. The purpose of the meeting was to facilitate this information request.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discussed the content and purpose of films being produced for the Republican National Convention. They reviewed various segments, including footage of the President's trip to the Soviet Union, his family, and his interactions with foreign leaders, debating the effectiveness and potential use of specific scenes, such as the Tanya Savicheva story. The conversation also touched upon campaign budget controls, the General Accounting Office investigation, and the Watergate affair, with Mitchell expressing concerns about Martha Mitchell's behavior and potential treatment options.
President Nixon briefly spoke with an unknown woman in the Oval Office. The conversation touched upon Nixon's upcoming meeting with Henry Kissinger. The woman departed before 10:34 am.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to coordinate the administrative follow-up regarding a meeting with Senator Thomas F. Eagleton and his son, Terry. They discussed the logistics of providing an enlarged photograph from that encounter and the drafting of a personalized letter from the President to Terry Eagleton. Nixon specifically directed Bull to prioritize the correspondence over other potential requests.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to evaluate progress in Vietnam negotiations following a complex and lengthy session in Paris. Kissinger detailed a significant shift in the North Vietnamese position, including their newfound willingness to negotiate directly with the Saigon government and the abandonment of fixed withdrawal deadlines. While noting that the current proposal remains unacceptable, they discussed using these negotiations to create an appearance of imminent peace to benefit Nixon’s reelection campaign, while simultaneously planning to maintain pressure and avoid a perceived "sellout." The conversation also touched upon broader foreign policy, including potential Middle East diplomacy and trade agreements with the Soviet Union.
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, in the Oval Office to address administrative matters and logistics. The brief discussion facilitated the coordination of upcoming presidential engagements, including a scheduled photograph session with Terry Eagleton. Following these logistical arrangements, the conversation concluded as Bull departed the office.
President Richard Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office. The conversation remains largely inaccessible due to a withdrawn segment and a lack of transcribed content. Consequently, there are no documented developments or specific policy matters resulting from this brief interaction.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, discussed various administrative and political matters, including the handling of a note for Hubert Humphrey and the vetting of potential guests for the Republican National Convention. Woods expressed concerns regarding the attendance of individuals linked to the unfolding Watergate scandal, specifically recommending the exclusion of Robert C. Odle, Jr. from the President’s box. The pair also addressed the logistics of a sensitive CIA report, domestic remodeling projects, and the handling of personal gifts.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to review his upcoming schedule, which included meetings with John D. Ehrlichman and Harvey J. McFarland. During the brief discussion, Nixon expressed a desire for personal solitude away from his political responsibilities. The meeting concluded with coordination regarding a scheduled photograph session involving Rose Mary Woods.
President Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, and Harvey J. McFarland met in the Oval Office for a personal visit, during which McFarland presented the President with gifts, including cheese. The conversation centered on nostalgic anecdotes regarding Nixon's past travels and encounters as Vice President, particularly in Canada. The discussion briefly turned toward political topics, with McFarland expressing his views on the Vietnam War and criticizing the Bay of Pigs invasion during the Kennedy administration.
President Nixon, H.R. Haldeman, and Henry Kissinger discuss strategies for maintaining Senate support for the administration’s Vietnam policy, specifically regarding an amendment sponsored by Senator George D. Aiken. Nixon and Kissinger emphasize the sensitivity of ongoing Paris peace negotiations and the necessity of preventing congressional interference that might undercut their diplomatic leverage. The participants also coordinate the President’s upcoming schedule, including logistical details for a potential weekend trip to the McCabe residence and medical arrangements involving Dr. W. Kenneth Riland.