Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on Arthur Burns
31 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Haldeman, Connally, Ehrlichman
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman reviewed internal confusion regarding the attendance and frequency of meetings involving the Construction Wage Council. Haldeman provided updates from his discussions with George P. Shultz and John D. Ehrlichman, specifically addressing conflicting accounts from George Romney, Arthur Burns, and Paul McCracken. The exchange focused on resolving discrepancies in participant lists to clarify administrative oversight of the committee's wage negotiations.
President Nixon and Treasury Secretary John Connally discussed economic policy and the need for better coordination with Federal Reserve Chairman Arthur Burns. Connally reported on a private meeting with Burns, during which he advised the Chairman to maintain closer cooperation with the administration and avoid public statements that undermined the President's economic program. They agreed to hold the administration's current economic course until April 15, while exploring ways to manage public perception and push back against international criticism of U.S. monetary and balance-of-payments policies.
President Nixon met with his senior advisors, including H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman, to discuss domestic economic policy and management of cabinet officials. The discussion focused on addressing maneuvering by cabinet members, such as Arthur Burns and Maurice Stans, who were attempting to bypass the established Domestic Council system regarding economic issues. Nixon decided that these matters should be handled exclusively through the formal Domestic Council process rather than through uncoordinated committee meetings, effectively asserting control over his economic advisors and cabinet structure.
President Nixon initiates a request for the White House operator to place a telephone call to Dr. Arthur Burns. This brief exchange serves strictly as a procedural instruction to facilitate communication between the President and the Chairman of the Federal Reserve. No substantive policy discussions or further actions occurred during this brief interaction.
President Nixon consults with the White House operator to verify the status of a scheduled communication with Dr. Arthur Burns. The brief exchange confirms whether the President had already personally placed the call to the Federal Reserve Chairman. The interaction highlights the administrative coordination required for Nixon to manage his high-level professional correspondence.
President Nixon dictates a memorandum for George Shultz to solicit Milton Friedman’s professional opinion on a letter from Arthur Burns regarding economic policy. Nixon seeks an evaluation of the administration’s current anti-inflation efforts, specifically questioning whether the current strategy is ineffective and if a six-month wage and price freeze would serve as an appropriate corrective measure. This request reflects the administration’s mounting concerns over inflation and their consideration of more drastic fiscal interventions.
President Nixon, H.R. Haldeman, and Alexander Butterfield met to discuss personnel and strategic planning for a new administration project focused on the systematic declassification of historical national security documents. The participants reviewed potential candidates to lead this effort, emphasizing the need for an individual with an aggressive, "bear-cat" personality capable of navigating institutional resistance from the CIA, Department of State, and Joint Chiefs of Staff. Additionally, the President and Haldeman briefly touched upon economic indicators, specifically unemployment targets, and expressed frustration regarding Arthur Burns's lack of cooperation.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman, and Egil Krogh to discuss strategies for curbing unauthorized leaks of government information and managing economic policy. The President directed that high-level officials and staff with top-secret access undergo polygraph examinations to identify leakers, specifically targeting a suspected individual within the Department of Defense. Additionally, the participants discussed the administration's strained relationship with Federal Reserve Chairman Arthur Burns, ultimately deciding to adopt a 'cool treatment' strategy to pressure him, while also considering efforts to influence the Federal Reserve's composition and independence.
President Nixon met with John Connally and Peter Peterson to strategize a bold, coordinated plan to address U.S. economic instability, specifically the trade deficit and the defense of the dollar. The participants discussed potential measures such as the cessation of gold convertibility, the floating of exchange rates, and the implementation of wage and price controls. They emphasized the need for strict confidentiality, the importance of maintaining Arthur Burns’ cooperation, and the political necessity of framing these actions as a display of strong, decisive leadership.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to discuss various personnel assignments, including potential roles for Robert Finch and Donald Rumsfeld, and to coordinate the President's upcoming schedule, specifically events surrounding the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction. They reviewed the political implications of Arthur Burns's public comments on the economy and discussed managing relations with conservative figures such as William F. Buckley Jr. and J. Daniel Mahoney. The conversation also touched upon intelligence gathering and the administration's strategic handling of various political outreach initiatives.
President Nixon and Secretary of the Treasury John Connally discussed a strategy to exert political pressure on Federal Reserve Chairman Arthur Burns regarding monetary policy. Connally reported that their coordinated 'tactic' of feigning ignorance had successfully gotten Burns' attention and prompted a shift in his outlook. They agreed to maintain pressure while maintaining a posture of plausible deniability, with Connally planning to press Burns for more positive public statements during a future meeting.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss their recent, contentious interaction with Federal Reserve Chairman Arthur Burns, focusing on the need to manage his influence and public messaging. The conversation shifts to evaluating positive indicators in the economy, such as strong retail sales data, which Colson reports from recent industry meetings. Nixon instructs Colson to distill these economic findings into concise flash bulletins rather than lengthy reports to better communicate the administration's economic narrative.
President Nixon met with speechwriter William Safire and secretary Rose Mary Woods to refine the text of his upcoming address regarding significant economic policy shifts. The discussion focused on drafting adjustments and incorporating input from advisors like Henry Kissinger and Arthur Burns, particularly concerning foreign economic aid and dollar stabilization measures. The primary goal of the session was to ensure the linguistic precision and strategic clarity of the speech.
President Nixon and Federal Reserve Chairman Arthur Burns discuss the immediate aftermath of the announcement of the wage-price freeze, expressing relief that the plan remained secret during its development at Camp David. The two leaders strategize on managing international monetary policy, with Nixon tasking Burns to maintain close control over Paul Volcker and Dewey Daane to ensure alignment with administration objectives. Finally, they plan to secure political support from Representative Wilbur Mills by offering him full credit for the initiative to ensure the program's success.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed the exclusion of Arthur Burns from an invitation list for a Japanese dinner event. To avoid personal friction with Burns, Nixon instructed Haldeman to shift the responsibility to the State Department, claiming the agency exclusively curated the guest list. The two agreed on this strategy to manage Burns's expectations and protect the White House from appearing at fault.
President Nixon and Treasury Secretary John Connally discussed administrative updates and the orchestration of economic and judicial policy. They coordinated a meeting with Federal Reserve Chairman Arthur Burns to ensure his alignment with the administration's economic program while managing his influence on public perception. Additionally, Nixon consulted Connally regarding his strategy for upcoming international trade negotiations and his decision to appoint two conservative judges to the Supreme Court to solidify a long-term ideological shift in the judiciary.
President Nixon, Charles Colson, and Henry Kissinger discuss recent political developments, focusing on the public reaction to the U.N. vote regarding Taiwan and the President's upcoming trip to China. They analyze Senator Hugh Scott's effective leadership, the political fallout from the U.N. proceedings, and the ongoing public interest in the Harris Poll. Additionally, Nixon instructs Colson to coordinate a private, off-the-record meeting between Arthur Burns and a group of influential business leaders to communicate an optimistic outlook on the national economy.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to connect him with Arthur Burns, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve. This brief interaction served solely as a logistical request to initiate a telephone communication with the economic official. No further policy discussions or substantive developments occurred during this brief exchange.
President Nixon met with John Ehrlichman, later joined by H.R. Haldeman and George Shultz, to discuss a broad range of political and economic issues. The group focused on coordinating strategy for upcoming congressional votes on busing, the potential veto of child development legislation, and the selection of a new Secretary of Agriculture. Furthermore, they reviewed economic policies, specifically addressing concerns regarding the dock strike, the potential re-imposition of wage-price freezes, and the need to manage Arthur Burns regarding monetary policy and the money supply.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building. While the bulk of the recording is withheld for personal privacy, the brief transcript captures the President inquiring about the needs of Dr. Arthur Burns. No further substantive policy discussions were documented during this short interaction.
President Nixon and Federal Reserve Chairman Arthur F. Burns held a brief check-in following the President’s return from a trip to Chicago. The two men exchanged brief pleasantries and confirmed the receipt of previously discussed information. The conversation concluded with Nixon expressing his intention to address the pending matter in the near future.
President Nixon and John Connally discuss the positive reception to Connally's recent economic speech in New York City and the strategic importance of appearing firm against labor interests at the upcoming AFL-CIO convention. They shift focus to international economic policy, agreeing to minimize the involvement of Arthur Burns and Peter Peterson to maintain control over upcoming diplomatic negotiations. Nixon outlines a plan to meet individually with leaders from France, Germany, and Britain to discuss monetary and geopolitical strategy rather than engaging in large, multi-party forums.
President Nixon and Treasury Secretary John Connally coordinated their strategy for managing Federal Reserve Chairman Arthur Burns regarding monetary policy and upcoming economic discussions. They planned a two-stage approach: Connally would meet with Burns individually to prep him on the money supply, followed by a larger 4:30 PM meeting involving Nixon, Connally, Burns, George Shultz, and Henry Kissinger. This structure was designed to ensure Burns remained aligned with administration goals while providing him with a sense of inclusion in the decision-making process.
President Nixon calls George Shultz to commend his performance on 'Face the Nation,' particularly his confrontation with journalist Daniel Schorr. The two discuss positive economic trends, specifically a drop in insured unemployment, while expressing skepticism regarding the reliability of volatile monthly economic statistics. Nixon also mentions his plan to send a firm note to Federal Reserve Chairman Arthur Burns concerning the money supply and praises the recent appointment of Marina von N. Whitman to the Council of Economic Advisers.
President Nixon met with John Ehrlichman and George Shultz to discuss administrative strategy regarding the economy and the unpredictable behavior of Federal Reserve Chairman Arthur Burns. The President expressed frustration with Burns's independent posturing on international monetary convertibility and his management of the money supply, while the group evaluated the political risks of ongoing wage and price controls. Nixon and his advisors decided to push for a stronger, unified economic narrative while avoiding further public controversy, eventually planning a private post-China trip meeting to reassess their strategy for exiting the system of wage and price controls.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman met to discuss administrative coordination, specifically reviewing recent interactions between John Connally, Arthur Burns, and George Shultz. The discussion touched on personnel management and the strategic handling of upcoming statements, particularly concerning busing and welfare reform. Nixon emphasized the need for clear accountability within his staff to ensure key policy objectives were effectively communicated.
President Nixon and George Shultz discuss Shultz's recent meeting with labor leader George Meany regarding Meany's potential resignation from the Pay Board amid tensions over wage and price controls. The conversation centers on Administration frustration with Federal Reserve Chairman Arthur Burns regarding rising interest rates, which Nixon views as contradictory to their economic stabilization program. Nixon and Shultz conclude that while they must manage these political optics carefully to avoid appearing as the sole champions of government regulation, they remain prepared to confront both Burns and labor leadership if necessary to maintain control over the economy.
President Nixon consults John B. Connally regarding the selection of a new member for the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, where they agree to appoint a younger candidate to ensure longevity and malleability under Arthur Burns. Additionally, the two discuss a controversial civil suit filed by the U.S. government against Price Daniel involving Tidelands rights. Nixon expresses frustration that a government attorney involved in previous Tidelands litigation is responsible for the new brief and suggests the matter needs immediate intervention.
President Nixon and George P. Shultz discussed the successful Senate confirmation of Richard G. Kleindienst and upcoming Cabinet swearing-in ceremonies. The conversation shifted to critical budgetary concerns, with the President emphasizing the necessity of vetoing environmental and spending bills to curb excessive federal expenditures. Finally, they reviewed international monetary policy, specifically coordinating a stance on gold that diverged from the views held by Federal Reserve Chairman Arthur F. Burns.
President Nixon contacted Herbert Stein via the Camp David operator to relay instructions regarding Arthur Burns’s upcoming trip to Argentina. Nixon expressed skepticism toward the existing ban on Argentine beef imports, which is officially justified by concerns over foot-and-mouth disease, but feared domestic political backlash if Burns prematurely promised a policy change. Stein was directed to verify the trade constraints with Earl Butz and ensure that Burns was briefed on the sensitivity of the issue before meeting with Argentine officials.
President Nixon met with Alexander Butterfield and Stephen Bull to coordinate logistics for several upcoming diplomatic and official engagements, including a visit with Sir Alexander Douglas-Home and a trip to Atlanta. The discussion also addressed scheduling requests from Arthur Burns, specifically concerning a follow-up conversation regarding Nixon's recent speech to the International Monetary Fund. The participants evaluated the timing of these various meetings and the availability of key staff members like Peter Flanigan to manage related administrative details.