Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on American Bar Association
26 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Mitchell, Haldeman, Ziegler
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler met to coordinate the White House's public response to the first anniversary of the Kent State and Jackson State shootings, specifically addressing how to handle critical CBS media coverage. Nixon directed Ziegler to maintain a firm, low-profile posture regarding these events while reiterating previous statements of sorrow to avoid inciting further media agitation. They also discussed debunking rumors of a meeting between the President and Judge Reid Kennedy regarding the William Calley case and reviewed the status of a potential invitation for the President to speak before the American Bar Association.
President Nixon and Attorney General John Mitchell discuss strategy for upcoming Supreme Court nominations, specifically focusing on the potential candidacy of Senator Robert C. Byrd and the reactions of various political figures. They coordinate the timeline for submitting names to the American Bar Association and the Senate while considering the use of a "smokescreen" to manage political optics. The two decide to inform Chief Justice Warren E. Burger in advance about the nomination of Mildred L. Lillie to maintain professional relations and ensure a smooth confirmation process.
President Nixon and Attorney General John Mitchell discuss their strategy for upcoming Supreme Court nominations following an unauthorized leak of potential candidates to the American Bar Association (ABA). To mitigate negative press and manage public perception, the President instructs Mitchell to provide additional, diverse names to the ABA to create confusion and dilute criticism. They finalize a plan to delay the formal announcements to avoid media focus on specific appointees—particularly a potential female candidate—by introducing them in a staggered manner on television to maintain control of the narrative.
President Nixon, John Mitchell, and John Ehrlichman met to strategize on upcoming Supreme Court nominations, specifically evaluating candidates like Lewis Powell, William French Smith, and Herschel Friday. They discussed the complications of appointing a woman to the Court, focusing on the potential for the American Bar Association (ABA) to deem a female candidate unqualified, which the President sought to avoid to prevent political backlash. Ultimately, Nixon decided to prioritize the nomination of Lewis Powell, aiming to finalize the selection while managing the ABA's evaluation process through Mitchell's liaison, Lawrence Walsh.
President Nixon, John Mitchell, and H.R. Haldeman met in the Oval Office to strategize on impending Supreme Court nominations and the administration's relationship with the American Bar Association (ABA). The discussion centered on vetting candidates—specifically Lewis F. Powell, Jr., Howard H. Baker, Jr., and various women—while navigating potential political fallout and media criticism regarding judicial qualifications. The President decided to prioritize Powell and expressed a willingness to move forward with nominees like Baker even if they did not receive full ABA approval, aiming to limit the influence of the organized bar and avoid public controversies similar to past nomination failures.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discuss the potential judicial appointment of an individual referred to as 'Buster.' The dialogue centers on the strategic handling of Chief Justice Warren Burger regarding the candidate's professional qualifications and his standing with the American Bar Association. The participants evaluate whether Burger would approve the nomination if confronted directly about the candidate's credentials.
President Nixon and John Mitchell discuss efforts to secure Lewis F. Powell, Jr. as a Supreme Court nominee, with the President instructing Mitchell to press Powell aggressively to accept. They also coordinate their strategy regarding the American Bar Association and potential opposition to other candidates like Mildred L. Lillie. Additionally, Mitchell reports difficulty in contacting Howard H. Baker, Jr. and outlines efforts to manage the political fallout and appointment timeline.
President Nixon and Attorney General John Mitchell discuss ongoing efforts to appoint conservative judges to the Supreme Court, specifically focusing on the status of Senator Howard Baker and Lewis Powell. They discuss plans to bypass the American Bar Association (ABA) review process for these candidates to avoid political obstacles and public scrutiny. Additionally, the two explore strategies to improve the administration's image regarding female judicial appointments by identifying potential candidates like Sylvia Bacon for future openings in the federal district or appellate courts.
President Nixon met with Richard Moore, John Mitchell, and Alexander Butterfield to discuss the selection process for upcoming Supreme Court vacancies. Nixon expressed frustration with the American Bar Association's influence and affirmed his intention to bypass them to avoid leaks and public criticism of his nominees' ideologies. The group evaluated several candidates, including Lewis Powell, Howard Baker, William Rehnquist, and William French Smith, ultimately favoring a strategy to nominate highly qualified conservatives to preempt opposition. Additionally, the President discussed concerns regarding negative press coverage of his personal finances involving Charles Rebozo and strategized on managing political messaging regarding the Vietnam War and POW issues.
President Nixon and John Mitchell discuss potential Supreme Court nominees, confirming Lewis F. Powell, Jr.'s acceptance and weighing the qualifications and political implications of appointing William H. Rehnquist and Howard H. Baker, Jr. The two men deliberate on the strategic timing of public announcements and the management of the American Bar Association committee's review process. Throughout the discussion, they evaluate the professional reputation and perceived political benefits of their candidates, while briefly joking about Rehnquist’s religious background.
President Nixon and Attorney General John N. Mitchell discuss the selection process for upcoming Supreme Court appointments. The conversation centers on evaluating potential candidates, including Lewis F. Powell, Jr., William H. Rehnquist, and Howard H. Baker, Jr., while addressing concerns regarding American Bar Association (ABA) feedback. They also coordinate the timing and strategy for public announcements and potential press statements regarding these judicial nominations.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler strategized on how to manage media speculation regarding the upcoming nomination of two Supreme Court candidates, Herschel H. Friday and Mildred L. Lillie. Nixon instructed Ziegler to maintain a vague public posture to keep the press guessing about the timing of the announcement while protecting his own credibility. They agreed that Ziegler would deflect inquiries by stating that the President had not yet made a final decision, citing the pending American Bar Association report as the primary reason for the delay.
President Nixon and an unknown associate met to discuss strategy regarding pending Supreme Court nominations. The conversation focused on the timing for announcing these judicial appointments and addressed the American Bar Association's evaluation of Mildred L. Lillie. No definitive consensus or final action plan was established during the brief exchange.
President Nixon and John Mitchell coordinate the final strategy for upcoming Supreme Court nominations, specifically discussing candidates Lewis F. Powell, Jr., Howard H. Baker, Jr., and William H. Rehnquist. Mitchell briefs the President on the American Bar Association’s negative evaluations of other potential nominees, prompting Nixon to decide to publicly challenge the ABA's influence. Nixon directs Mitchell to finalize the selection of either Baker or Rehnquist to pair with Powell, and concludes that he will make a primetime televised announcement the following evening to control the narrative.
President Nixon and Richard A. Moore discuss the political fallout from the American Bar Association (ABA) rating Mildred L. Lillie as unqualified for the Supreme Court, with plans to leak the ABA's contradictory acknowledgment that she was nonetheless the best-qualified woman available. The President also seeks confirmation of John Ehrlichman’s support for William H. Rehnquist as a potential fallback candidate should Howard H. Baker, Jr. decline the nomination. Nixon expresses a clear intention to bypass the ABA's approval process for the Rehnquist appointment.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed strategy regarding upcoming Supreme Court nominations, specifically focusing on managing the vetting process and the influence of the American Bar Association (ABA). The President emphasized the need for strict confidentiality, instructing staff to avoid leaks and to withhold information from the press, including directives for Ronald Ziegler to remain noncommittal regarding potential nominees. They also addressed the necessity of compiling detailed biographical data on candidates while asserting the administration's intention to proceed with appointments regardless of ABA approval.
President Nixon consulted with John N. Mitchell regarding the selection and public announcement of new Supreme Court nominees. The discussion focused on coordinating the nomination of William H. Rehnquist and Lewis F. Powell, Jr. while managing potential political fallout and vetting concerns from the American Bar Association. Mitchell was tasked with leveraging key congressional contacts to facilitate the process and handle media inquiries surrounding the candidates.
President Nixon and John Mitchell discuss the finalization and strategic rollout of two forthcoming Supreme Court appointments. Nixon emphasizes maintaining strict confidentiality—excluding even top staff—until a coordinated notification process begins to inform key Congressional leaders. They finalize communication plans, including how to address potential opposition from the American Bar Association and how to manage the media narrative surrounding the nominees, William Rehnquist and Lewis F. Powell, Jr.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate White House administrative matters and media strategy. The discussion touched upon the scheduling of the President, interactions with the Attorney General, and potential outreach involving the American Bar Association. The two assessed the status of ongoing preparations to ensure that current executive initiatives remained on track.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman and Ronald Ziegler to coordinate the public relations strategy and press messaging regarding his forthcoming Supreme Court nominations. The discussion focused on managing the American Bar Association’s (ABA) role and its reported leaks regarding potential candidates like Mildred L. Lillie and Herschel H. Friday. Nixon explicitly instructed Ziegler to maintain a position of ignorance regarding the specific nominees during press briefings and emphasized that Richard A. Moore should handle the primary communication strategy for the announcement.
President Nixon and Secretary of the Treasury John Connally discussed ongoing economic developments, including the stock market and upcoming testimony before Congress. They coordinated their strategy for dealing with Japanese officials regarding trade policy and surcharges, with Nixon designating Connally as his primary representative for these discussions. Finally, they expressed frustration with the American Bar Association’s rejection of judicial nominees, with Nixon planning to challenge the ABA's influence and proceed with his own appointments.
President Nixon and Ronald Ziegler met to strategize on the messaging for forthcoming Supreme Court nominations, specifically focusing on the selection of Lewis F. Powell, Jr. and the role of John N. Mitchell in the vetting process. They discussed the importance of managing public perception regarding the American Bar Association’s influence and the administration’s internal decision-making criteria. Additionally, the President provided specific instructions to Ziegler on how to frame the vetting process and the consideration of diverse candidates during upcoming media briefings.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss strategies for securing the confirmation of Supreme Court nominees William H. Rehnquist and Lewis F. Powell, Jr. following the President's recent announcement. They weigh the political challenges posed by opposition from groups like the American Bar Association and individual Democrats, specifically Edward M. Kennedy. Nixon emphasizes the nominees' superior academic and professional credentials as a defense against criticism and stresses the importance of maintaining momentum for their confirmation.
President Nixon consulted with Hobart D. Lewis to celebrate the successful announcement of his Supreme Court nominees, Lewis F. Powell Jr. and William H. Rehnquist. Nixon expressed satisfaction with his strategy of misleading the press and the American Bar Association to secure appointments that prioritized conservative ideology over typical vetting pressures. The two discussed the long-term impact of these appointments on the Court's ideological balance, agreeing that the move successfully trapped critics who previously demanded judicial excellence.
President Nixon met with representatives of the American Bar Association (ABA) to discuss their program providing legal assistance to the families of Prisoners of War (POWs) and those Missing in Action (MIAs). The ABA group sought a presidential endorsement and a White House liaison to facilitate state-level legislative efforts aimed at resolving civil and property title issues for these families. Nixon expressed his support for their legal mission while reiterating his administration's commitment to maintaining U.S. bargaining power and continued military pressure as the primary means of securing the eventual release of POWs.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman met with Jewell R. LaFontant to discuss her recruitment for a high-level role in the Justice Department as part of the administration's second-term reorganization. Nixon offered LaFontant the position of Deputy Solicitor General to build her federal legal experience, explicitly framing this appointment as a stepping stone toward a future nomination to the federal judiciary. The meeting also addressed the administration's desire to appoint more minority and female judges, the strategic challenges of navigating the American Bar Association, and coordination with legal staff to facilitate her transition to Washington, D.C.