Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 853
Nixon White House Tape 853 (February 8, 1973)
18 conversations · Oval Office · about 3 hr 47 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Sanchez, White House photographer, Shultz
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to place an outgoing telephone call to Lyndon K. "Mort" Allin. This interaction served to facilitate direct communication between the President and Allin. No further details regarding the substance of the intended conversation were captured on the recording.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate the delivery of specific reading materials to Alice Roosevelt Longworth. The President requested that Charles W. Colson facilitate sending a copy of Henry Fairlie's book, *Great Expectations*, along with a Vermont Royster column regarding the Vietnam settlement. This administrative task aimed to ensure that Longworth received the correct press commentary as part of the President's ongoing media outreach efforts.
President Nixon met with Lyndon K. Allin to offer birthday congratulations on Allin's 64th birthday. The brief discussion touched upon the administration's relationship with the media and the necessity of maintaining a strategic perspective on public perception. Nixon concluded the meeting by encouraging Allin to take the rest of the day off to celebrate.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to coordinate logistical details for upcoming presidential travel and high-level diplomatic hosting. Their discussion primarily focused on scheduling for an impending trip to California and arranging entertainment for the official visit of Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. Notable guests considered for the entertainment program included renowned musicians such as Van Cliburn, Benny Goodman, and Lionel Hampton, with input from First Lady Pat Nixon.
President Richard M. Nixon met with his personal aide, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office to receive refreshments. The interaction was limited to the provision of coffee during the President's morning schedule. No substantive policy matters or administrative decisions were documented during this brief encounter.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate upcoming discussions with Treasury Secretary George Shultz and Senator Russell B. Long regarding legislative priorities. Nixon directed Bull to arrange the schedule so that welfare reform is addressed as the primary topic before pivoting to tax and trade issues. The President emphasized a need for 25 minutes of dedicated time for welfare reform before allowing Shultz and Long to join the conversation.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, to discuss logistical preparations for an upcoming trip. The conversation focused on procuring essential supplies, specifically batteries and additional recording tapes for the President's use. The two also briefly touched upon arrangements for refreshments.
President Nixon dictates his reflections on the Vietnam settlement, emphasizing the need for caution in dealings with Congress and the press. He discusses the emotional impact of meeting with families of missing soldiers, such as the Nolde family, while warning against allowing personal grievances or political agendas to undermine loyalty. Additionally, Nixon evaluates Henry Kissinger's 'Peace is at Hand' statement, characterizing the resulting media interpretation as a misunderstanding of Kissinger's original intentions.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to coordinate his daily schedule and manage incoming appointments with key officials. The discussion focused on logistics regarding meetings with Senator Russell B. Long and Treasury Secretary George P. Shultz, including instructions for a scheduled telephone call. Additionally, Nixon utilized the time to record private notes and finalize the arrival arrangements for his upcoming visitors.
President Nixon met with Senator Russell Long, John Ehrlichman, and George Shultz to coordinate administration strategy regarding welfare reform, tax policy, and trade legislation. The discussion focused on securing Congressional support for the administration's agenda while maneuvering around bureaucratic interference and the influence of partisan groups like Common Cause. Nixon emphasized the need for a collaborative approach with Congressional leadership, particularly regarding trade negotiations and energy policy, while also reflecting on the importance of maintaining strength and respect in foreign policy.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull discussed the President's upcoming schedule and the coordination of meetings with Secretary of the Treasury George P. Shultz. Nixon specifically instructed Bull to ensure that E. D. Kenna and W. Richard Howard were excluded from the follow-up meeting with Shultz. The conversation serves to manage access to the President and refine the roster of attendees for high-level administration deliberations.
President Nixon met with representatives from the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and later George Shultz to discuss strategies for promoting administration policies, specifically regarding federal spending, trade, and energy. The President emphasized the need for NAM to mobilize its grassroots membership to pressure Congress on fiscal responsibility and trade policy, while Shultz provided an update on the chaotic international monetary situation and the administration's defensive stance. Additionally, the President and Shultz consulted on personnel management, focusing on the need for Labor Secretary Peter Brennan to appoint loyal and competent managers and evaluating potential candidates like Patricia Hitt for administration roles.
President Richard M. Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to discuss the handling of a specific package. The interaction was brief, concluding shortly after the exchange began. No further policy or administrative decisions were documented during this limited segment of the recording.
The meeting began as a farewell session for John L. Campbell, who was departing his administrative role, followed by a transition to a policy briefing. President Nixon then met with Charles J. DiBona, George P. Shultz, John D. Ehrlichman, and Brent G. Scowcroft to discuss DiBona's new role as a special consultant on energy. The group analyzed complex domestic and foreign policy issues regarding energy security, including Middle Eastern oil dependence, the political influence of environmental advocacy groups, and the need for a coordinated interagency strategy.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull briefly conferred regarding the status of Daniel P. Moynihan's confirmation, noting that a unanimous voice vote had been secured. The discussion also addressed the President’s upcoming schedule, specifically coordinating a meeting with Secretary of the Interior Rogers C. B. Morton. The exchange concluded with the participants acknowledging the necessity of finalizing the pending votes.
President Nixon met with incoming Ambassador to India Daniel P. Moynihan to discuss the strategy and tone required for his diplomatic mission, emphasizing the need for a cool, pragmatic relationship that balances U.S. interests in India with those in Pakistan and the People's Republic of China. Nixon instructed Moynihan to circumvent standard bureaucracy by using private, secure channels for sensitive communication while maintaining a non-partisan stance as a Democrat to signal U.S. bipartisan support. They also addressed specific policy issues, including the restriction of military arms sales to South Asia, the management of surplus wheat, and the resolution of long-standing debt and foreign aid agreements.
President Nixon met with Secretary of the Interior Rogers C. B. Morton to discuss Morton’s upcoming medical leave for radiation treatment following a prostate health diagnosis. The two men coordinated plans for Morton to work remotely from Palo Alto while undergoing his five-week treatment regimen. Additionally, they briefly touched upon political strategy, specifically emphasizing the need for the administration to communicate its policy goals effectively to the American public and maintain support in Congress.
President Richard Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office to discuss routine logistical matters. The brief interaction focused on the President's upcoming departure and current weather conditions. The conversation concluded with the two men exiting the office together.