Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 77
Nixon White House Tape 77 (September 24, 1971 – September 28, 1971)
5 conversations · Cabinet Room · about 1 hr 38 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Rogers, Shultz, Agnew, Cabinet officers
President Nixon, Vice President Agnew, and members of his Cabinet met to coordinate a unified administration strategy ahead of critical International Monetary Fund (IMF) meetings and ongoing global trade negotiations. The discussion emphasized the necessity of maintaining the recently imposed 10% import surcharge and a firm bargaining stance to address the nation's economic balance of payments and reshape the international monetary system. Nixon and his advisors agreed that while foreign partners would likely criticize U.S. policy, maintaining domestic political support and correcting long-standing trade imbalances remained the administration's primary objective.
George P. Shultz and Milton Friedman met to deliberate on economic policy, foreign trade strategies, and the potential legal implications of forthcoming administration actions. The discussion centered on specific trade matters, including wheat deals and unilateral actions coordinated with Peter G. Peterson, alongside preparations for a significant economic policy announcement scheduled for October 15, 1971. The participants examined legal alternatives to current regulatory constraints while also briefly addressing scheduling matters for the President.
Stephen B. Bull met with maintenance or facilities personnel in the Cabinet Room to coordinate necessary floor refinishing work. The primary concern involved managing the project schedule around the President's availability to avoid exposing occupants to the strong, noxious odors associated with the chemical finishing process. Ultimately, the group decided to postpone the refinishing until a time when the Cabinet Room would not be in use by the President or staff.
In this meeting, President Nixon and his staff discuss the United States' strategy regarding international trade, specifically addressing the recent import surcharge and the need for a firm, united front during upcoming negotiations with global trading partners. Nixon emphasizes that the U.S. can no longer afford to be as generous as it was in previous decades and must prioritize its own economic and political interests to avoid domestic isolationism. Additionally, the President hosts a delegation from the Organization of African Unity, where they discuss decolonization efforts in Southern Africa, the U.S. position on Rhodesian chrome, and the importance of continued diplomatic dialogue between the U.S. and African nations.
President Nixon met with a delegation from the Organization of African Unity (OAU), led by Mauritanian President Moktar Ould Daddah, to discuss African decolonization and the liberation of southern Africa from minority rule. The delegation advocated for U.S. support in implementing UN resolutions regarding Namibia, South Africa, Rhodesia, and Portuguese territories, while specifically expressing concern over potential U.S. legislation to purchase chrome from Rhodesia. Nixon reaffirmed the administration's opposition to the legislative amendment and emphasized his personal commitment to African affairs, while the delegates expressed gratitude for the open, diplomatic dialogue.