Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 831
Nixon White House Tape 831 (January 3, 1973)
20 conversations · Oval Office · about 4 hr 46 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Haldeman, Timmons, Ziegler
President Nixon met with his personal aide, Stephen B. Bull, to conduct a comprehensive review of his upcoming daily schedule and manage logistical priorities. The discussion centered on coordinating travel and meeting logistics for Henry Kissinger and Alexander Haig, as well as addressing funeral arrangements and various awards ceremonies involving the Teamsters and media organizations. Nixon explicitly directed Bull to clear his schedule of non-essential ceremonial obligations following the upcoming inauguration to reduce his workload.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to discuss administrative logistics and scheduling. The primary focus of the brief meeting was the President's request for the immediate presence of Henry A. Kissinger. Bull proceeded to facilitate this request, marking the extent of the documented interaction.
President Nixon met with Ronald Ziegler and Henry Kissinger to coordinate the administration's public and congressional messaging regarding ongoing Vietnam peace negotiations and recent military actions. They discussed refuting media narratives of presidential indecisiveness by emphasizing the consistency of the "May 8th policy" and the necessity of pressure tactics to achieve a "peace with honor." Nixon also expressed his deep resentment toward critical members of the press, academia, and Congress, instructing staff to exclude hostile media outlets from White House social functions while preparing to consolidate negotiating authority ahead of further Paris talks.
President Nixon consulted with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to arrange a retirement or appreciation gift for Alexander M. Haig, Jr. He requested that Woods prepare an inscribed music box to be presented to Haig during a scheduled ceremony at the White House where Haig would receive the Distinguished Service Medal. The president specified that the gift's inscription should convey gratitude for Haig's dedicated service to the nation.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to review White House staffing, administrative protocols for the upcoming second term, and the logistical planning for the 1973 Inauguration. They discussed the President’s frustrations regarding staff interference in policy areas outside their purview, particularly concerning the Vietnam War, and reaffirmed the need for disciplined messaging from administration officials. The conversation also centered on streamlining the Inauguration schedule, including reducing the length of the parade and inaugural luncheon, and finalizing the selection of clergy for the various ceremonies.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman to discuss a wide-ranging set of administrative tasks, including second-term staff reorganization, the reassignment of various White House personnel, and the streamlining of the President's schedule. A significant portion of the discussion addressed concerns over potential Watergate involvement by staffers like Charles Colson and the necessity of managing internal information flows, including the President's news summaries. They also reviewed diplomatic and domestic challenges, specifically evaluating Henry Kissinger's recent morale, his relationship with the press, and the political fallout from the recent bombing campaigns in North Vietnam.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman, Stephen Bull, and Ronald Ziegler to discuss a strategic shift in the administration's public relations and political outreach for the second term. They emphasized moving away from trying to appease critics and the liberal press, focusing instead on projecting executive strength and conducting events on the President's own terms. Key organizational decisions included streamlining White House social events to reduce administrative costs and demands, refining the process for handling Congressional and donor relations, and implementing a new protocol for press interactions and gift-giving.
President Richard Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office to discuss personal services and domestic arrangements. The conversation focused on the routine logistical needs of the White House residence. No major policy decisions or historical developments were recorded during this brief encounter.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator during an afternoon meeting in the Oval Office to address administrative communication needs. The discussion focused on coordinating outgoing calls and managing internal switchboard operations. No specific policy decisions were recorded during this brief administrative interaction.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull discussed the scheduling and logistics of an upcoming dinner engagement. The conversation specifically addressed the confirmation of Alexander M. Haig, Jr.'s acceptance of the President's invitation. The pair reviewed the timing for the event to ensure proper planning for the evening.
President Nixon and Richard A. Moore discuss organizing a financial contribution to a memorial fund associated with John Kenneth Galbraith. Nixon instructs Moore to initiate the effort with a symbolic personal donation and to encourage other White House staff members to contribute. The conversation focuses on establishing momentum for the fund and coordinating how the President's support will be communicated to organizers.
President Nixon met with his valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office to receive refreshments. This brief interaction served as a routine moment of personal service for the President during his workday. No substantive policy discussions or administrative actions were recorded during this encounter.
President Nixon met with William E. Timmons and Stephen B. Bull to coordinate his upcoming legislative outreach efforts. The discussion centered on facilitating phone calls to congressional leaders, specifically Tip O'Neill and Gerald Ford. These interactions served as part of the administration's strategy for maintaining communication with key members of Congress.
President Nixon consulted with a White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. This brief interaction served an administrative purpose to establish a connection with a party outside the Oval Office. No substantive policy discussions or decisions were recorded during this brief bridge to a separate conversation.
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to overhaul the management of his daily schedule and limit the number of unnecessary ceremonial meetings. Nixon expressed frustration with routine requests from outside groups, such as teachers and truck drivers, and directed Bull to restrict engagements to those that serve the administration's strategic goals rather than the visitors' interests. The President instructed that meetings should be strictly limited to one per day, prioritizing efficiency and exclusivity to protect his time.
President Nixon met with House Majority Leader Tip O'Neill and House Minority Leader Gerald Ford to foster rapport and discuss upcoming legislative agenda items. The President informed the congressional leaders of his decision to prioritize his inaugural address over a traditional State of the Union address to avoid redundant messaging. Nixon extended an invitation to both men for a follow-up breakfast meeting to further coordinate on the administration's legislative priorities.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull reviewed the President’s upcoming schedule of meetings and photo sessions. They discussed the logistics for hosting Senator J. Bennett Johnston’s group, David M. Abshire, and various guests including baseball players and the 'Truck Driver of the Year.' Nixon provided instructions on trimming the guest list, specifically noting that Abshire's attendance was not required for the session.
President Nixon held a brief, social meeting in the Oval Office with Senator J. Bennett Johnston, Jr., his family, and guests. The primary purpose of the gathering was to facilitate a formal photograph session with the family, coordinated by White House photographer Oliver F. Atkins. During the visit, the President provided informal conversation regarding the history of the Oval Office, his family's philanthropic projects, and pleasantries regarding the Senator's recent election.
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, for a brief administrative check-in regarding the President's daily schedule. The discussion centered on arrangements for an upcoming meeting with David M. Abshire. No further policy decisions were recorded during this brief encounter.
President Nixon met with David M. Abshire and William E. Timmons to discuss Abshire’s departure from the State Department to lead the Georgetown Center for Strategic and International Studies. The participants explored ways to leverage the Center to counter the influence of liberal-leaning institutions like the Brookings Institution and the Ford Foundation in foreign policy discourse. Nixon emphasized the need to improve the foreign policy knowledge and effectiveness of Republican legislators through specialized travel and structured briefings to ensure stronger support for his administration's agenda.