Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 822
Nixon White House Tape 822 (December 13, 1972)
16 conversations · Oval Office · about 3 hr 8 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Sanchez, Haldeman, Haig
President Nixon and Alexander Haig met to discuss the status of ongoing Vietnam peace negotiations. The conversation focused on evaluating potential compromises regarding the peace process, specifically touching upon the role and efforts of Henry Kissinger. This discussion highlights the administration's strategic deliberations aimed at resolving the conflict as the negotiations reached a critical juncture.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, to discuss and reconcile his upcoming presidential schedule. The two reviewed a discrepancy regarding the President's availability, ultimately confirming his agenda for the first three days of the week. No further policy or administrative actions were recorded during this brief administrative check-in.
President Nixon met with unidentified individual(s) in the Oval Office to discuss his upcoming schedule. While the specific details of the conversation were not recorded in a transcript, the brief meeting focused exclusively on administrative planning and logistical arrangements for the President's calendar. No further policy decisions or significant developments were noted during this short interval.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to review upcoming scheduling logistics, specifically focusing on an appointment with Dwight L. Chapin and Ronald H. Walker. The discussion centered on providing a gift for Chapin and reviewing the organizational structure of the National Park Service in relation to the White House. They also discussed the role and utilization of the U.S. Park Police during the 1972 presidential campaign.
President Nixon met with Ronald H. Walker and Dwight L. Chapin to discuss reforming the National Park Service by eliminating special privileges and private facilities previously reserved for members of Congress. Nixon expressed disapproval of the exclusive use of government-maintained properties, such as Coco Lobo, and directed his staff to repurpose these assets for public use as an economy measure. Additionally, the President criticized the agency's lack of promotional support for his administration and emphasized the need for better public relations and the promotion of loyal personnel within the organization.
President Nixon, Anne Armstrong, and H.R. Haldeman met to discuss staffing for the administration's second term, specifically focusing on a new, high-level role for Armstrong within the White House. The participants considered placing Armstrong in a senior advisory position—rather than the Chief of Protocol—to better leverage her political skills, manage the Bicentennial Commission, and address criticism regarding the representation of women. Nixon emphasized the need for a specific, authoritative title and an office within the White House complex to ensure Armstrong had the necessary proximity and influence to manage key policy and political initiatives.
President Nixon directed Stephen B. Bull to rearrange his daily schedule by delaying a meeting with Senator Henry M. Jackson. To facilitate this shift, Nixon instructed Bull to coordinate with the Secretary of Defense to ensure a preceding meeting with George P. Shultz concluded promptly. The primary goal of these adjustments was to restrict access to Jackson and manage the timing of high-level briefings regarding international travel and oil policy.
President Nixon met with George Shultz, Edwin Cohen, and Lewis Engman to discuss tax policy strategy and congressional relations following the 1972 election. The group deliberated on how to approach key legislative figures, such as Wilbur Mills, regarding property taxes, private school aid, and potential tax code reform. The President emphasized a pragmatic approach to working with Congress to advance administration priorities while maintaining flexibility on controversial issues like the value-added tax.
President Nixon initiated a brief exchange with the White House operator to inquire about the staff's status. The interaction serves as a routine check-in between the President and support personnel. No formal policy decisions or substantive political matters were addressed during this short communication.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met briefly in the Oval Office to coordinate the timing and logistics of a scheduled meeting with Senator Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson. The conversation centered on the potential negative impact that interrupting or delaying the senator might have on their professional relationship and mutual trust. No further policy decisions were recorded during this short exchange.
President Nixon met with Senator Henry "Scoop" Jackson to discuss a range of foreign policy issues, including Jackson's recent travels to the Middle East and Eastern Europe, energy policy, and personnel appointments for the second term. They shared concerns about Soviet influence in the Persian Gulf and the need for a unified U.S. energy strategy, with Nixon tasking Jackson to coordinate with John Connally on regional developments. Additionally, the two discussed strategies for dealing with an uncooperative Senate, the importance of personnel loyalty in defense and arms control appointments, and potential roles for figures like John Sherman Cooper.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman to discuss personnel and organizational strategy for his second term. The participants focused on the importance of appointing a high-profile woman to the White House staff to handle political and PR tasks, with Anne Armstrong identified as a prime candidate due to her toughness and political savvy. They also addressed concerns regarding cabinet performance, the management of congressional relations, and the necessity of re-instituting regular staff meetings to prevent unauthorized end-runs by officials like George Shultz.
Stephen B. Bull met with an unidentified individual in the Oval Office for a brief, informal exchange. The conversation consisted primarily of standard greetings and an inquiry regarding the President's current location. No significant policy discussions or administrative decisions were recorded during this brief encounter.
Stephen B. Bull met with unidentified individuals in the Oval Office to coordinate administrative logistics or private matters late in the evening. Given the lack of a transcript or specific context, the discussion likely focused on routine presidential scheduling or staff briefings following the standard workday. No specific policy decisions or significant developments are documented for this encounter.
This recording captures an unidentified meeting held in the Oval Office during a period of intense diplomatic and political activity. Due to the lack of available transcripts or descriptive logs, the specific participants and the substance of the dialogue remain undocumented. Consequently, no definitive policy decisions or developments can be attributed to this exchange.
Secret Service agents gathered in the Oval Office to coordinate security logistics regarding the President's status and location. The discussion centered on operational movements, specifically confirming the President’s presence at the White House residence. No further strategic directives were recorded as the agents concluded their briefing and departed the office.