Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 81
Nixon White House Tape 81 (October 22, 1971 – November 2, 1971)
3 conversations · Cabinet Room · about 2 hr 30 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Ehrlichman, Shultz, Pay Board and Price Commission, Boldt
President Nixon met with members of the newly formed Pay Board and Price Commission to discuss the administration's strategy for curbing inflation through the wage-price freeze. Nixon emphasized his preference for a system reliant on voluntary public support rather than the rigid, expansive government controls characteristic of the Office of Price Administration. He thanked the board members for their service and sacrifice, acknowledging that their mission to stabilize the economy without long-term government intervention presented a significant challenge. The President also contextualized these domestic economic efforts within his broader foreign policy agenda, highlighting the importance of managing relations with the Soviet Union and China to maintain global peace.
President Nixon met with his budget and domestic policy advisors, including John Ehrlichman and John Mitchell, to evaluate the political and economic feasibility of a proposed Value Added Tax (VAT) as a mechanism to fund public and private education. The primary objectives of the plan were to provide federal relief for local property taxes, address the California Supreme Court’s school funding ruling, and extend aid to parochial schools to appeal to blue-collar Catholic voters. The participants debated the political risks of proposing a new federal tax in an election year versus the potential benefits of offering tangible relief to homeowners and securing support from key constituencies.
President Nixon met with his Cabinet Committee on Executive Reorganization to coordinate strategy for the administration's departmental restructuring proposals. The discussion focused on overcoming bureaucratic resistance, navigating complex Congressional committee jurisdictions, and addressing concerns regarding constituency-based programs like the Rural Electrification Administration. To advance these reforms, Nixon directed his Cabinet members to personally engage with key Congressional leaders and exert stricter control over their respective bureaucracies to ensure support for the legislative agenda.