Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 786
Nixon White House Tape 786 (September 25, 1972)
25 conversations · Oval Office · about 2 hr 4 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, White House photographer, Woods, Haldeman
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, discussed personnel management and the public perception of the President's recent work at Camp David. The conversation centered on the job performance of press secretary Ronald Ziegler and the necessity of maintaining a disciplined, composed public image during the 1972 election campaign. Nixon expressed high regard for Ziegler's “cool” demeanor and effectiveness in handling press interactions, while Woods emphasized the importance of public messaging regarding the President’s focus on economic policy and speech preparation.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to discuss managing the public narrative regarding North Vietnam's recent release of three American prisoners of war (POWs). Nixon directed his staff to counter George McGovern's criticisms by presenting the facts through press secretary Ron Ziegler rather than engaging in direct political combat. Additionally, the pair coordinated future diplomatic and military strategy, with Kissinger outlining his plan to warn North Vietnamese negotiators that continued exploitation of POWs for propaganda would result in severe U.S. repercussions, including intensified bombing campaigns post-election.
President Nixon met with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to request the retrieval of a specific document he previously asked her to copy. The brief exchange focused on locating and returning this particular draft or file to the President's desk. No further policy or political discussions were recorded during this interaction.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, met to discuss the formatting and finalization of a speech draft. The brief exchange focused on administrative instructions regarding indentation and editing procedures. The interaction concluded with the two sharing a brief toast before Woods departed the Oval Office.
President Nixon met with Ronald Ziegler and Henry Kissinger to coordinate public messaging, campaign strategy, and foreign policy initiatives. They finalized plans for a Cabinet-level anti-terrorism committee to bolster the administration's image ahead of the President's meeting with Jewish leaders. Additionally, they strategized on how to address the 1972 election, emphasizing a disciplined response to George McGovern's comments on POWs and reinforcing the President’s commitment to supporting Israel through arms policy rather than public rhetoric.
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to coordinate administrative logistics regarding H.R. "Bob" Haldeman's schedule. The discussion centered on planning for a specific political meeting involving the Chief of Staff. This brief interaction served to facilitate the internal management of the President's senior staff agenda.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate the timing and logistics of upcoming appointments. The discussion focused primarily on the schedules of H.R. Haldeman and Charles W. Colson, specifically regarding an ongoing political meeting. Bull provided updates on the meeting's status to ensure the President's schedule remained synchronized with his senior staff.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to discuss the scheduling and activities of Charles W. Colson. The conversation focused on managing Colson's upcoming agenda and coordinating his future appearances. No major policy decisions were recorded during this brief administrative briefing.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to finalize guest lists for upcoming state dinners, specifically honoring Alexander F. Douglas-Home and Soviet diplomat Andrei Gromyko. The discussion focused on balancing the number of Soviet and American attendees, ensuring appropriate Cabinet-level representation, and limiting the presence of White House staff at the events. Nixon provided specific directives regarding guest substitutions, including the potential inclusion of John Hay Whitney and the removal of Peter G. Peterson and George H.W. Bush from certain slots to manage the total headcount and organizational flow.
President Richard Nixon met with his valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office for a brief, private discussion. The recording primarily consists of a withdrawn segment categorized as a personal, returnable matter. No significant policy decisions or official administrative actions are documented during this interaction.
President Nixon, H.R. Haldeman, and Stephen Bull discussed personnel management and potential budget cuts for various government agencies. The President expressed a desire to significantly reduce the budgets of policy-creating agencies, such as the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, by 50% through attrition rather than layoffs. They also touched upon personnel management within the White House itself, specifically regarding lower-level staff like stenographers and waiters, contrasting it with cuts at higher levels.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met briefly to discuss the aftermath of the President's recent speech before the International Monetary Fund. The two men coordinated on strategies to manage public reception, specifically referencing the role of Treasury Secretary George P. Shultz and the influence of the New York Times. The discussion focused on maintaining a controlled pace regarding upcoming policy announcements to ensure favorable media coverage.
President Nixon met with a delegation from the Order of American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) to accept a commemorative gold medal marking the organization's 50th anniversary. During the brief visit, the group participated in a photo session, and the President shared personal reflections on his 1947 trip to Greece and the resilience of the Greek people. The meeting concluded with an exchange of gifts, as Nixon presented the delegation members with silver medals and presidential cuff links.
President Nixon consulted with Alexander P. Butterfield and Stephen B. Bull regarding a brief appearance to greet staff from the Finance Committee for the Re-election of the President. He also conferred with John D. Ehrlichman to discuss the structure of the Cabinet Committee to Combat Terrorism. The President ultimately decided that the FBI should be included in the committee, citing the bureau's superior intelligence capabilities.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to finalize preparations for a meeting with representatives from the Finance Committee of the Committee for the Re-election of the President (CRP), including Maurice Stans. The discussion focused on the distribution of presidential gifts to major corporate donors. Nixon concluded the brief session by expressing his intent to personally meet with the committee members.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to briefly review the President’s upcoming schedule, including a photograph session with Republican congressional candidates and a meeting with Dr. Charles A. Hoffman. During the discussion, they addressed a personnel matter regarding an individual's health status, with Nixon suggesting the individual be removed from their current position if they were not expected to recover from cancer. The exchange served as a quick logistical coordination of presidential appointments and staffing concerns.
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to discuss the scheduling and coordination of Dr. Charles A. “Carl” Hoffman. The brief meeting focused on managing logistical arrangements regarding Hoffman's upcoming itinerary. No further policy or significant political actions were recorded during this short engagement.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed strategies to improve the quality and impact of presidential communication, specifically targeting the reduction of speech lengths to ensure messages are concise, memorable, and pithy. Nixon expressed frustration with the "mental laziness" of excessively long drafts produced by staff and established a strict 1,000 to 1,500-word limit for written remarks. They further decided to prioritize short radio addresses over frequent television appearances for routine administrative actions, such as veto messages, to effectively communicate policy decisions to the public.
President Nixon met with a group of Republican political candidates and advisor Harry Dent to discuss campaign strategy and national policy. The discussion touched upon shared military experiences in the South Pacific during World War II, as well as current political issues in South Carolina. The participants specifically focused on the administration's foreign policy initiatives regarding China, the Soviet Union, and Japan, framing them as key themes for the upcoming election.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull briefly discussed the President's daily schedule and logistical arrangements regarding a preceding meeting with representatives from the American Medical Association, specifically Dr. Charles A. Hoffman. The exchange served as a routine administrative coordination of the President's appointments. No policy decisions were recorded during this short transition.
President Nixon met with Dr. Charles A. Hoffman and administration officials to discuss strategies for addressing the medical profession's public relations challenges and the potential implementation of catastrophic health insurance. The conversation focused on the necessity of countering the Kennedy health insurance plan, improving rural physician distribution, and establishing international medical research cooperation, particularly with the Soviet Union and China. The participants also shared personal anecdotes regarding medical history and family health to emphasize the urgency of refining the U.S. healthcare system to protect citizens from financial ruin due to severe chronic illness.
Manolo Sanchez and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office to discuss administrative or personal matters, though the substantive content of the discussion remains inaccessible due to the withdrawal of the audio segment. The meeting was brief, lasting only six seconds, and concluded with both participants departing shortly thereafter. No significant policy developments were recorded during this interaction.
President Nixon met with International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) leaders Thomas W. Gleason and John Bowers, along with White House staff, to discuss labor support for his policies and upcoming trade agreements with the Soviet Union. The discussion centered on the maritime industry, the potential economic benefits of increased trade, and the President's commitment to national defense and maintaining an open-door policy with labor unions. Nixon successfully sought to solidify the ILA's backing for his administration's diplomatic strategy, while addressing union concerns regarding foreign competition and the release of prisoners of war.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate the President's upcoming schedule. The brief discussion focused on arranging meetings with Charles W. Colson and H.R. Haldeman. Bull facilitated these administrative updates before departing the Oval Office.
President Nixon met with Charles Colson and Stephen Bull to discuss political messaging for his 1972 reelection campaign and the staffing philosophy of his administration. Nixon critiqued the language used in upcoming public statements regarding immigration and terrorism, insisting on avoiding divisive racial and religious categorizations. Furthermore, the President emphasized the need to surround himself with tougher, more street-smart advisors—particularly from the labor movement—who are not easily influenced by the liberal media or elite intellectual circles.