Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 790
Nixon White House Tape 790 (October 2, 1972)
19 conversations · Oval Office · about 2 hr 43 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Haldeman, Butterfield, Kissinger
President Nixon met briefly with an unidentified woman in the Oval Office to discuss his daily schedule. The conversation focused on coordination regarding John D. Ehrlichman. The meeting concluded quickly, with the unidentified visitor departing shortly after her arrival.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman and later John Ehrlichman to coordinate administrative scheduling and legislative strategy. The discussions covered logistics for diplomatic credential presentations, Pat Nixon’s appearances at upcoming events, and the status of John Connally. Additionally, the group debated legislative strategy regarding a debt limit and expenditure ceiling bill, specifically evaluating the effectiveness of White House congressional liaisons and the necessity of direct presidential engagement with legislative leaders.
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met to finalize logistical arrangements for a reception honoring Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei A. Gromyko. They specifically discussed the protocol for the receiving line, the placement of tables, and the provision of refreshments in the State Dining Room. During the brief consultation, Nixon decided against personally receiving the guests, tasking Butterfield with managing the event's execution.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed the status of Vietnam peace negotiations, specifically reporting on Alexander Haig's recent meeting with President Nguyen Van Thieu regarding U.S. withdrawal proposals and the political implications of a constituent assembly. The two also coordinated strategy for Nixon's upcoming meeting with Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko, focusing on keeping Secretary of State William Rogers distanced from sensitive negotiation details. Finally, they finalized a timeline for initiating the second round of Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT II) to ensure the administration maintained control over the diplomatic announcement schedule.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to coordinate the agenda for an upcoming session with Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei A. Gromyko. During the brief discussion, they addressed the inclusion of Helmut Sonnenfeldt as the designated note-taker for the meeting. This consultation served to finalize personnel arrangements and ensure diplomatic preparations were set for the high-level engagement.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discussed strategies for managing press relations during the 1972 re-election campaign, specifically addressing concerns over media bias and unfavorable coverage. They evaluated the merits of holding an Oval Office press conference versus utilizing radio addresses to communicate directly with the public while avoiding the perceived pitfalls of traveling press events. The two men ultimately decided to prioritize scheduling a press conference for the coming week to preempt George McGovern's planned Vietnam speech and control the news cycle on issues like the campaign, foreign policy, and the Soviet grain deal.
President Nixon met with Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko and other high-ranking officials to review the state of U.S.-Soviet relations following the May 1972 Moscow summit. The discussion focused on progress in arms control, including the scheduling of upcoming SALT II talks, and the complexities of achieving peace in the Middle East and Vietnam. Nixon emphasized the constraints imposed by the ongoing U.S. election cycle, while both sides reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining the strategic course established during the Moscow summit despite lingering regional tensions.
President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and William P. Rogers met to coordinate foreign policy strategy ahead of the 1972 election, focusing on the potential political backlash from the American Jewish community regarding Soviet exit visas and trade agreements. The participants discussed the 'linkage' of these issues and debated the necessity of maintaining a firm stance against congressional amendments that would tie trade status to Soviet emigration policies. Additionally, the President and Kissinger reviewed the status of Vietnam peace negotiations, with Nixon emphasizing his resolve to use a post-election mandate to finalize a settlement while refusing to halt bombing operations without a clear agreement on the release of prisoners of war.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. This brief interaction served administrative purposes to connect the President with another party for official business. No substantive policy discussions or significant political decisions occurred during this brief exchange.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to review and coordinate the President's upcoming daily schedule. The discussion specifically addressed arrangements for a planned political meeting involving H.R. Haldeman. This brief consultation served to confirm logistical priorities and ensure the synchronization of the President's administrative and political engagements.
President Nixon held a brief, four-minute meeting with an unidentified woman in the Oval Office. The transcript for this interaction remains undefined, providing no record of the substantive topics addressed or specific decisions made. Consequently, the purpose and nature of this brief encounter cannot be determined from the available documentation.
President Richard Nixon met briefly with First Lady Pat Nixon in the Oval Office to discuss personal scheduling or private family matters. Given the extremely short duration of the meeting and the lack of a transcript, no significant policy developments or administrative actions were recorded. The encounter served as a routine interpersonal exchange within the private presidential residence and office space.
President Nixon met with Ronald Ziegler and H.R. Haldeman to discuss strategies for managing negative press coverage regarding his campaign activities and perceived lack of public visibility. The participants analyzed how to address media inquiries about the President's schedule and his refusal to directly confront opponent George McGovern. To neutralize media pressure, Nixon decided to hold an in-office press conference to address a range of domestic and foreign policy topics while maintaining control over the narrative.
Secret Service agents gathered in the Oval Office to coordinate logistics regarding the President’s location. The brief discussion primarily focused on security protocols and the movement of the President. The recording is incomplete and consists of largely unintelligible audio, yielding no significant policy developments or actionable outcomes.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to coordinate his personal schedule. The discussion centered primarily on arranging a haircut and determining the appropriate timing for the appointment. No other policy or administrative matters were recorded during this brief encounter.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull briefly conferred regarding the scheduling and availability of Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. The discussion centered on coordinating Ziegler’s movements and ensuring his return for a subsequent meeting. No major policy decisions were made during this brief administrative check-in.
President Nixon held a brief meeting with Zosimo T. Monzon in the Oval Office to address scheduling matters. The discussion focused on the President's upcoming activities at the Executive Office Building (EOB). No significant policy decisions were recorded during this short administrative session.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman and other staff to review logistics for upcoming meetings with Soviet officials at Camp David and to finalize political strategies for the general election. The discussion covered the administration's stance on congressional relations, specifically rejecting a "gimmicky" proposal to write individual letters to members of Congress regarding debt limit legislation. Additionally, Nixon and Haldeman analyzed polling data—including public sentiment on the U.S.-Soviet grain deal and Vietnam POW issues—to gauge the effectiveness of their campaign messaging against Senator George McGovern.
Stephen B. Bull met with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office to briefly discuss the President's current location. The encounter lasted less than one minute and appears to have been an administrative or logistical check regarding scheduling. No substantial policy matters were recorded during this brief exchange.