Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 808
Nixon White House Tape 808 (October 27, 1972)
16 conversations · Oval Office · about 2 hr 30 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, White House photographer, Haldeman, United States Secret Service agents
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to review and finalize details regarding the President’s upcoming daily schedule. The discussion focused specifically on the inclusion of Harold Lee within the day's appointments. Following the brief consultation, Bull departed the Oval Office to facilitate these administrative arrangements.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discuss the political landscape regarding public opposition, specifically focusing on the intensity of anti-war sentiment among student demonstrators. The conversation centers on the controversy surrounding amnesty, with the President concluding that the general public strongly opposes the concept despite the advocacy of activist groups. They also touch upon broader cultural and political tensions, noting the hostile slogans and diverse grievances—ranging from environmental concerns to abortion—expressed by protesters at institutions like Harvard.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to finalize administrative tasks regarding the President's daily schedule and pending document signings. The discussion focused on the processing of specific legislative items, including a memorandum of disapproval for a vetoed bill and House Resolution 1. The session concluded with instructions for the scheduling of these formal actions.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met briefly to review the President's upcoming daily schedule. The discussion focused on logistics, specifically concerning an appointment with Harold Lee. The meeting concluded immediately after these administrative details were addressed.
President Nixon met with Harold Lee to discuss international relations, specifically emphasizing the strategic importance of engaging with the People's Republic of China to maintain a balance of power against the Soviet Union. The conversation touched upon the future of U.S.-Japan security arrangements, the expected conclusion of the Vietnam War, and the administration's political standing among American voters heading into the 1972 election. Nixon articulated his pragmatic approach to foreign policy, noting the necessity of focusing on mutual interests rather than trust when dealing with global adversaries.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler held a brief meeting to coordinate logistics regarding the President's radio address scheduled for that day. They discussed media coverage, specifically focusing on the wire service reports and a forthcoming photographic session with the press. The conversation functioned primarily as a final scheduling update to ensure synchronized press engagement following the broadcast.
President Nixon met with members of the Committee on the Health Services Industry, along with administration officials including Herbert Stein and Donald Rumsfeld, to address the escalating costs of medical care. The discussion centered on balancing price controls with the need to maintain quality, specifically debating how to curb the proliferation of unnecessary services and the duplication of facilities without stifling the voluntary health system. Nixon emphasized the administration's goal of fostering cooperation with the medical profession to ensure federal health spending remains efficient and avoids a shift toward socialized medicine.
President Nixon met with various staff and visitors, including H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman, to coordinate end-of-campaign activities and legislative priorities. Key decisions included the veto of the Older Americans bill and the strategic timing of further bill signings to maintain positive press coverage. The group also discussed campaign surrogates, including Senator Robert Dole, and planned polling efforts to gauge public sentiment on the Vietnam War and presidential approval ratings.
Michael J. Farrell and Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office to discuss the architectural history and interior structural changes of the White House. The participants reviewed the building’s construction timeline, specifically regarding the area's original geography near Tiber Creek and the 1810 site work. They also examined recent modifications to the Oval Office, including the 1969 replacement of the flooring.
President Nixon met with Senator Robert J. Dole and Charles W. Colson to devise campaign strategies for the final stretch of the 1972 presidential election. The discussion focused on countering George McGovern's campaign, managing the fallout from anti-war protests and hecklers, and framing the Vietnam peace negotiations as a victory for peace with honor rather than surrender. Additionally, the participants addressed public perception regarding the Watergate break-in, attempting to minimize its political impact by characterizing it as a misguided security operation.
President Nixon hosted Phillip V. Sanchez and his wife, Josefina, in the Oval Office for a brief photo session and gift presentation. During the meeting, the President presented Josefina Sanchez with a presidential seal pin and praised the couple, specifically noting the administration's appreciation for Phillip Sanchez’s work. The encounter concluded with a short interaction regarding the President's schedule with Stephen B. Bull.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler coordinated logistics for a requested film segment for the television adaptation of Theodore H. White's 'The Making of the President.' Nixon approved a five-minute silent filming session aboard Air Force One with Al Wasserman, while strictly prohibiting any interviews. Furthermore, the two discussed managing the press pool during upcoming trips to Ohio and California, with Nixon opting to personally engage with specific journalists during transit.
President Nixon met with Prime Minister Souvanna Phouma of Laos, accompanied by Henry Kissinger and Ambassador William Sullivan, to discuss the implications of the impending Vietnam peace settlement on the Laotian conflict. Phouma expressed concern that a ceasefire in Vietnam might allow North Vietnamese forces to exploit a timing lag to increase military pressure on Laos, and he requested continued U.S. military assistance to maintain defensive capabilities. Nixon reaffirmed U.S. commitment to regional stability and the independence of Southeast Asian nations, while both leaders agreed on the necessity of maintaining skepticism regarding North Vietnamese intentions despite any formal agreements.
Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office to discuss logistical details regarding the President’s location and movements. Due to a withdrawn segment and unintelligible audio, the specifics of the security arrangements remain undisclosed. The conversation concluded abruptly shortly after it began.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to discuss the scheduling of upcoming national defense radio speeches and to review insights from Haldeman’s recent conversation with Billy Graham. The discussion focused on the political climate, including the impact of the Vietnam peace initiative, concerns regarding North Vietnam's potential interference with the 1972 election, and campaign strategy. Toward the end of the meeting, Stephen Bull joined the President to coordinate a reception for ethnic press and Heritage group leaders, emphasizing the need for efficiency in the President's schedule.
United States Secret Service agents convened in the Oval Office to discuss unspecified operational matters. Due to the lack of a transcript and the brevity of the recording before the participants departed, the specific substance of their deliberations remains unknown. The recording concludes shortly after the meeting began, leaving no record of finalized decisions or actionable directives.