Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 887
Nixon White House Tape 887 (March 22, 1973)
28 conversations · Oval Office · about 3 hr 14 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Sanchez, Scowcroft, Shepard
President Richard Nixon met with his valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Oval Office to receive personal refreshments. This brief interaction served as a routine service encounter within the President's daily schedule. No substantive policy or political matters were discussed during this exchange.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to facilitate the delivery of specific items or documents. The discussion centered on the logistics of these materials and Bull’s administrative responsibilities regarding their distribution. No further details are available, but the meeting served to coordinate staff-level support for executive tasks.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull reviewed the President's upcoming daily schedule, focusing primarily on a briefing for subcabinet officers. The discussion covered logistics for the briefing, including the room configuration, and addressed administrative tasks such as a scheduled call to Lindy Boggs and various meetings with staff and Cabinet members. Bull confirmed his attendance at the subcabinet briefing to assist with proceedings as the session commenced.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull discussed the logistics and strategic purpose of an upcoming briefing for subcabinet officers. The primary goal of the session was identified as a form of "therapy" for the attendees rather than a forum for substantive policy speeches. They addressed necessary coordination efforts, including the involvement of Secretary of State William P. Rogers, press coverage arrangements, and the structure of the agenda regarding budget and tax matters.
President Nixon and General Brent Scowcroft discussed the strategic deployment of an aircraft carrier to the Philippines and the potential psychological impact of this move following the Vietnam settlement. They analyzed reports of North Vietnamese foot-dragging, specifically regarding Pathet Lao activity in Southern Laos, and deliberated on the effectiveness of existing communication channels. Nixon instructed Scowcroft to coordinate with Henry Kissinger to address these developments and evaluate the Defense Department's notification requirements.
President Nixon met with Carlos Sanz de Santamaria and William J. Jorden to discuss the declining relevance of the Organization of American States (OAS) and the future of U.S.-Latin American relations. Santamaria proposed restructuring the OAS to prioritize economic development over obsolete security mandates and suggested creating an organization similar to the OECD to foster regional cooperation. Nixon expressed interest in reexamining institutional goals and indicated a willingness to work toward a new, pragmatic policy approach, provided it aligns with his 'Nixon Doctrine' of encouraging self-help and respecting national diversity.
President Nixon met with George H.W. Bush, William Timmons, William Brock, and Robert Michel to coordinate Republican strategy and candidate recruitment for the 1974 midterm elections. The President emphasized a shift in focus toward recruiting younger, high-quality candidates rather than relying solely on incumbents, while urging the attendees to improve organizational cooperation and resource sharing among campaign committees. Nixon also provided guidance on navigating complex state-level political dynamics, including advising a non-interventionist approach in certain gubernatorial races and streamlining fundraising efforts.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met briefly to review the President’s upcoming schedule and coordinate administrative logistics. The discussion focused on arrangements for meetings with Raymond P. Shafer, representatives from the Cable Television Association, and Clay T. Whitehead. The two also addressed the scheduling of a photo session involving photographer Oliver F. Atkins before concluding the meeting.
President Nixon met with Geoffrey C. Shepard to receive a formal presentation of the final report from the National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse. During this brief interaction, the President acknowledged the commission's work and provided them with presidential cufflinks as a gesture of appreciation. The discussion served as the official handover of the commission's findings to the executive office.
President Nixon met with Raymond P. Shafer and members of the National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse to express his appreciation for their work and discuss the commission's reports. The conversation focused on the challenges of addressing drug dependency, the necessity of moving beyond public controversy to prioritize substantive research, and the potential for future drug and alcohol studies. Nixon emphasized the importance of the commission's non-partisan contributions to national drug policy before concluding the meeting by presenting the members with commemorative presidential gifts.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull and Michael J. Farrell to verify the list of former presidents he had previously met for an upcoming photo opportunity with Mrs. Bruce Bedford. The participants confirmed that Nixon had encountered five former presidents, ranging from Herbert Hoover through Lyndon B. Johnson. They also discussed logistical arrangements for the meeting, including the specific seating configuration at the President's desk for the session.
President Nixon held a brief, ceremonial meeting with Mrs. Bruce Bedford, III and Michael J. Farrell, which included a photo session with members of the press. The discussion focused on pleasantries regarding Mrs. Bedford's longevity, her personal history with former presidents, and her general well-being. The President presented Mrs. Bedford with commemorative gifts, including items bearing the presidential seal, and exchanged well wishes for the future.
President Nixon met with Congressman Caldwell Butler and staffer Max L. Friedersdorf to facilitate the presentation of letters from school children and coordinate the distribution of photographs taken during the visit. The discussion centered on fostering community goodwill following Butler’s election and identifying specific needs for Hardy Road Elementary School. The participants concluded by briefly touching upon the logistical arrangements for Butler’s upcoming travel and social schedule.
President Nixon met with Representative Jack Edwards and an Alabama delegation to discuss regional development projects and demonstrate support for his administration’s policies. The participants highlighted the Tennessee Tombigbee River project and exchanged praise regarding the repatriation of prisoners of war, specifically citing the strength and patriotism of Captain Jeremiah Denton. Nixon also used the session to cultivate political ties in the South, discussing the recoveries of Senator John C. Stennis and Governor George Wallace while coordinating legislative outreach through Secretary George Shultz.
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, for a brief administrative discussion regarding the President's daily schedule. The conversation focused on logistical planning for upcoming appointments and obligations. No major policy decisions were recorded during this brief administrative interaction.
President Nixon hosted Herbert G. Klein, his wife, and the Hall family in the Oval Office for a brief social visit. The primary purpose of the meeting was to facilitate photographs taken by White House photographer Ollie Atkins and to arrange for copies to be sent to the guests. The conversation remained informal, touching upon family relations, the Hall family’s residence in San Diego, and lighthearted exchanges regarding the Spanish language.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met briefly in the Oval Office to coordinate the President's upcoming schedule. The primary focus of the discussion concerned the President's meeting with General Brent G. Scowcroft. Bull departed the office immediately following this administrative briefing.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, to coordinate a midday meal. The discussion centered on logistics for the President's lunch, specifically requesting cottage cheese to be delivered to his Executive Office Building (EOB) workspace. This brief interaction served to manage the President's immediate administrative and dietary arrangements.
President Nixon met with Gen. Brent Scowcroft to discuss the ongoing status of the Vietnam settlement, specifically focusing on the cease-fire in Laos, the handling of North Vietnamese provocations, and the critical importance of securing the return of American POWs. Following this, Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler joined the discussion to coordinate the administration's public messaging regarding these foreign policy challenges and to address domestic concerns, including rising food prices and media coverage of the White House. The participants emphasized the necessity of a unified communication strategy to maintain public support while finalizing troop withdrawals and managing sensitive negotiations.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to handle administrative tasks and manage the President's immediate agenda. During this brief encounter, they processed official papers and documents requiring signature. The meeting concluded with preparations for the President's subsequent appointment with George P. Shultz.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to conduct administrative business and manage the presidential schedule. The discussion focused on coordinating a scheduled telephone call with Canadian Prime Minister Pierre E. Trudeau and processing various official documents requiring the President’s signature. This brief interaction served primarily to facilitate executive workflow and ensure the President remained current with his immediate appointments.
President Richard Nixon met with Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in the Oval Office to facilitate a brief diplomatic exchange. During the conversation, Trudeau noted his busy schedule while managing parliamentary duties, and Nixon confirmed the delivery of a personal message sent via courier. The brief interaction served to maintain open channels of communication between the two leaders regarding ongoing bilateral correspondence.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. This brief interaction served an administrative purpose, functioning as a routine request to connect the President with an external party. No substantive policy discussions or policy-related decisions occurred during this brief communication exchange.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull in the Oval Office to conduct routine administrative business regarding his daily schedule. During the brief interaction, the two reviewed various documents requiring the President’s signature and discussed arrangements for an upcoming meeting with Treasury Secretary George P. Shultz. The conversation concluded immediately following these logistical updates.
President Nixon briefed Secretary of State William P. Rogers on the conclusion of a lengthy telephone conversation he had just held with Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. The exchange served primarily as a status update regarding the diplomatic communication, with no further substantive details recorded. The interaction concluded quickly after this brief notification.
President Nixon met with George Shultz, John Ehrlichman, and others to discuss various administrative and economic policy challenges, including the status of an industrial commission and potential adjustments to farm subsidy programs. The conversation emphasized a desire for proactive political positioning on upcoming legislative issues rather than reactive policymaking. Additionally, the group reviewed personnel matters, specifically the resignation of Henry Kearns and the potential reappointment of Pierre-Paul Schweitzer at the IMF.
President Nixon met with United States Secret Service agents in the Oval Office to coordinate logistics for a scheduled helicopter departure. The discussion focused on operational details, including the President's precise location and the status of communications equipment. The agents confirmed the necessary preparations for the upcoming movement.
President Nixon held an undocumented meeting with unidentified individuals in the Oval Office to address internal administrative matters. The discussion centered on an unspecified presidential request regarding personnel or operational logistics. The interaction concluded with a directive involving a call to a duty station, though the lack of a transcript prevents further clarification of the participants or specific policy objectives.