Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 788
Nixon White House Tape 788 (September 29, 1972)
22 conversations · Oval Office · about 4 hr 18 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Butterfield, Kissinger, Haldeman
President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and Maurice Schumann met to coordinate diplomatic strategy regarding the Vietnam War and US-French relations. The discussion focused on the ongoing Paris Peace Talks, with Nixon and Kissinger emphasizing that they were approaching the limit of possible concessions before the upcoming presidential election. They expressed a desire to resolve the conflict to pivot the administration’s focus toward strengthening the Atlantic community and broader foreign policy goals in 1973. Additionally, they reviewed technical aspects of monetary policy and the potential for increased cooperation with France in facilitating a diplomatic breakthrough with North Vietnam.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to review and finalize the guest lists for upcoming state dinners honoring British Foreign Secretary Sir Alexander F. Douglas-Home and Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei A. Gromyko. The discussion focused on coordinating the attendance of various cabinet members and political officials, including Melvin Laird, Richard Kleindienst, and Elliot Richardson. The session concluded with the President confirming administrative details regarding the invitations and confirming the status of preparations.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to coordinate scheduling logistics regarding upcoming diplomatic engagements. The brief discussion focused on the President’s meeting with British Foreign Secretary Sir Alec Douglas-Home, as well as the respective schedules of Henry Kissinger and William P. Rogers. No major policy decisions were reached, as the conversation remained restricted to administrative calendar management.
President Nixon met with Alexander Butterfield and Stephen Bull to coordinate logistics for several upcoming diplomatic and official engagements, including a visit with Sir Alexander Douglas-Home and a trip to Atlanta. The discussion also addressed scheduling requests from Arthur Burns, specifically concerning a follow-up conversation regarding Nixon's recent speech to the International Monetary Fund. The participants evaluated the timing of these various meetings and the availability of key staff members like Peter Flanigan to manage related administrative details.
President Nixon and Federal Reserve Chairman Arthur F. Burns met to discuss the international reception of U.S. economic policies, the challenges of managing money supply and interest rates, and the broader contrast between American and British labor discipline. The discussion also covered potential future travel itineraries for Burns to countries including Indonesia and Japan, as well as coordination regarding an upcoming meeting with British Foreign Secretary Sir Alec Douglas-Home. Stephen B. Bull joined briefly to assist with scheduling logistics for the President and Burns.
This recording consists of a brief, unidentified exchange occurring within the Oval Office. Due to the lack of clear audio or identifiable participants in the surviving record, the substantive content of the discussion remains unknown. The recording concludes abruptly, providing no actionable information or historical context regarding administration policy or events.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to coordinate his upcoming scheduling requirements, specifically regarding appointments and motorcade logistics. They discussed the timing for an October 5, 1972, meeting with Dr. W. Kenneth Riland and reviewed necessary preparations involving staff members H.R. Haldeman and Charles W. Colson. The discussion also touched upon the taping system's schedule and logistics related to the Opportunities Industrialization Centers.
President Nixon, H. R. Haldeman, Charles Colson, and Alexander Butterfield met to coordinate campaign strategy, focusing on press relations, counter-messaging against George McGovern, and the political fallout of the US-Soviet grain deal. They discussed using surrogates to attack McGovern on issues like defense spending and welfare, while strategizing on how to handle the media's coverage of the administration and the Watergate scandal. Additionally, the President reviewed his upcoming campaign schedule, emphasizing the importance of motorcades and targeted appearances in key battleground states to project strength and efficiency.
President Nixon met with unidentified individuals in the Oval Office to conduct discussions that remain obscured due to the lack of an available transcript. The interaction ended abruptly when the taping system cut off, leaving the specific agenda and any resulting policy decisions or administrative actions unrecorded. Given the limited documentation, the nature of this meeting remains a subject for further archival investigation.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to review a pending speech draft. The discussion focused on determining the appropriate length for the address, as the two assessed the timing requirements for the text. This interaction highlights the President's direct oversight of his communications strategy during the 1972 campaign period.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to discuss the strategic status of the ongoing Vietnam peace negotiations and the upcoming trip of General Alexander Haig to consult with South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu. The discussion focused on navigating complex political scenarios, including the potential for Thieu's resignation and the tension surrounding proposed changes to the South Vietnamese constitution and electoral processes. Nixon also expressed significant frustration regarding the inadequate supply of high-performance aircraft to the South Vietnamese military, attributing the shortfall to institutional opposition from the Department of Defense and military branches.
President Nixon met with Beurt and Cory SerVaas to discuss Indiana politics, the future of the Saturday Evening Post, and a proposed employment policy. The SerVaases suggested utilizing the draft board system to classify and place the handicapped and hard-core unemployed into the labor force. Additionally, they reviewed the challenges of securing advertising support for the Post, which the SerVaases argued was hindered by a liberal bias within major advertising agencies.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate logistical preparations for an upcoming meeting with British Foreign Secretary Sir Alexander Douglas-Home. The discussion also involved Henry Kissinger, likely regarding his role in facilitating the diplomatic encounter. The conversation focused on the scheduling and administrative arrangements necessary for the President to engage with the British official.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to finalize logistical arrangements for an upcoming state dinner honoring Sir Alexander F. Douglas-Home. The discussion centered on room selection and seating configurations, specifically navigating the usage of the Red and Blue Rooms for the small group. They agreed on a plan to maintain the group's proximity at the table to facilitate conversation throughout the event.
President Nixon met with Sir Alexander F. Douglas-Home and Henry Kissinger to discuss the necessity of strengthening communication and cooperative action within the Atlantic Alliance. The participants explored geopolitical concerns, specifically Soviet military expansion, the role of conventional forces, and the long-term strategic implications of the Sino-Soviet split. Nixon emphasized the importance of maintaining a united front with NATO allies while addressing internal domestic challenges, including inflation and the 1972 presidential election.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull reviewed the presidential schedule to coordinate meetings with key senior staff and advisors. The discussion focused on organizing upcoming briefings with John D. Ehrlichman regarding domestic policy, as well as H.R. Haldeman. Additionally, they arranged a session with Henry Kissinger and Alexander Haig to discuss the status of their current schedules and preparations for a forthcoming trip.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to review and coordinate upcoming appointments and travel logistics. The discussion focused on finalizing the daily schedules for key administration officials, specifically John D. Ehrlichman, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and Henry A. Kissinger. This administrative check-in ensured that the President remained informed of his staff's movements and departures from the White House.
President Nixon met with his senior aides and advisors to discuss a broad range of political and foreign policy issues, including congressional strategy regarding a spending ceiling and potential budget vetoes. The group examined the political impact of the recent U.S.-Soviet grain deal and reviewed recent polling data ahead of the 1972 election. Additionally, Henry Kissinger and Alexander Haig provided an update on ongoing Vietnam peace negotiations and finalized plans for Haig's upcoming mission to Saigon to consult with President Nguyen Van Thieu.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield and Stephen B. Bull to discuss the scheduling and administrative arrangements regarding Charles W. Colson. The brief conversation served to coordinate logistics for Colson’s upcoming activities. No major policy decisions were recorded during this short administrative review.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. This routine interaction served as a technical step to connect the President with another party for official communications. No significant policy discussions or substantive developments occurred during this brief exchange.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to discuss the scheduling of Charles W. Colson. The brief exchange focused on coordinating the logistics of Colson's upcoming appointments. The discussion was interrupted when the recording concluded prematurely.
Secret Service agents and unidentified individuals met in the Oval Office to discuss unspecified security or administrative matters. The recorded audio is predominantly unintelligible, consisting of background noise and muffled conversation. Consequently, no substantive policy decisions or actionable items were captured during this brief exchange.