Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on Cabinet relations
17 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Haldeman, Bull, Ehrlichman
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed strategies to manufacture and amplify a positive public perception of the President's recent speech on Southeast Asia. Haldeman updated the President on feedback received from Cabinet members and noted that they were actively working with press secretary Ronald Ziegler to promote favorable reporting. Nixon specifically directed Haldeman to contact Treasury Secretary John Connally to gauge his reaction and ensure his continued alignment with the administration.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed the positive reception among Cabinet members to the gifts recently distributed by the White House. The pair also coordinated the President's upcoming schedule, specifically planning to clear minor administrative tasks by scheduling brief, half-hour meetings with various individuals throughout the week. Haldeman committed to managing these appointments to ensure the schedule proceeded efficiently.
President Nixon met with Secretary of Transportation John A. Volpe and others to discuss administrative strategies, including suburban housing integration, the status of the 'Operation Breakthrough' housing program, and federal reorganization efforts. Volpe expressed a desire for greater inclusion of Cabinet members in the decision-making process and offered suggestions for improving morale among federal civil servants through more frequent direct engagement with the President. The participants also touched on foreign policy concerns regarding Latin American politics and the potential for a visit by Volpe to Italy to gauge regional conditions.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to place an outgoing call to Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare Elliot L. Richardson. This brief interaction served as a logistical precursor to a formal discussion regarding a New York Times article concerning the Secretary. The conversation facilitated the immediate transition to the subsequent official consultation between the President and Richardson.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss the damaging impact of administration leaks on public confidence and the necessity for a more decisive, unified executive presence. They assess the reactions of cabinet members, specifically Peter G. Peterson, to the President's recent directives regarding discipline and interdepartmental policy. Haldeman is tasked with briefing the White House staff to reinforce these expectations and ensure a stronger, more confident public posture for the administration.
President Nixon, Alexander Butterfield, and Stephen Bull met to coordinate the distribution of an economic fact sheet to Cabinet members. They discussed administrative logistics and timelines regarding these materials, specifically noting the roles of Charles Colson and Secretary John A. Volpe. The discussion focused on ensuring consistent communication of economic statistics across the administration to avoid redundancy or conflicting statements.
President Nixon received a brief communication relayed by the White House operator regarding a call from Secretary of Agriculture Clifford M. Hardin. The interaction served as a logistical bridge to connect the President with a cabinet official. No substantive policy discussions occurred during this brief exchange.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman discuss the positive reception of a briefing led by Treasury Secretary John Connally regarding the administration's recent wage and price freeze. They review the successful Cabinet turnout and evaluate the effectiveness of Arthur Burns and the Vice President’s involvement in promoting the President's vision. Additionally, the pair touches upon antitrust concerns involving ITT and Richard McLaren, as well as the performance of Cabinet members like George Romney during recent proceedings.
President Nixon and Charles Colson confer regarding the administration’s economic strategy and public relations efforts, specifically focusing on the Consumer Price Index and its implications for October 1971. The discussion touches upon political strategy related to the draft and administrative management, including George Shultz’s role and communications with George Romney. Additionally, the pair evaluates the political fallout surrounding the Pentagon Papers and internal Cabinet dynamics involving James D. Hodgson.
President Nixon directed Henry Kissinger to contact Treasury Secretary John Connally to gauge his opinion regarding Secretary of State William Rogers’s performance. Nixon aimed to assess Connally's perspective on Rogers through this indirect communication channel. Additionally, Kissinger informed the President that he had received the full text of a recent Soviet diplomatic note, promising a follow-up report after further review.
President Nixon instructed H. R. Haldeman to ensure Charles W. Colson was included on the guest list for an upcoming White House dinner with Cabinet officers. Nixon emphasized that Colson’s presence was essential to signal his high-level authority and influence to the administration's leadership. Haldeman acknowledged the directive, confirming that Colson would be added to the event if he was not already scheduled to attend.
President Nixon consulted his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to coordinate various scheduling matters and logistics regarding his upcoming travel and personal appointments. The discussion focused on confirming an appointment with his dentist, Dr. William O. Chase, and discreetly inquiring about the holiday operating hours of the Mudge, Rose, Gutherie and Alexander law firm in New York. Additionally, they reviewed travel arrangements involving Bebe Rebozo and Julie Nixon Eisenhower, as well as the status of meetings with Cabinet members.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss the management and social protocols surrounding invitations for upcoming White House Cabinet and staff dinners. Nixon expresses frustration with the perception that staff members must attend every social event to maintain their professional standing, specifically questioning the necessity of including certain advisors like Peter Flanigan. He instructs Haldeman to shift these customs to avoid the implication that attendance is mandatory for job security or status.
President Nixon initiates a call to the White House operator to be connected with Secretary of the Treasury George P. Shultz. This interaction serves as a brief procedural step to facilitate a direct conversation between the President and a key cabinet official. No further substantive discussion occurs during this short exchange beyond the request for the connection.
President Nixon speaks with the White House operator to rectify confusion regarding current call-screening protocols following restrictive instructions issued by Bruce Kehrli. Nixon clarifies that while routine calls should be routed through Rose Mary Woods, he insists that all calls from Cabinet members be put through to him directly. After settling these administrative procedures, the President approves the connection of an incoming call from Reverend Billy Graham.
President Nixon directs Stephen B. Bull to contact Bob [Haldeman] regarding his recent confrontation with the Cabinet concerning the presence of an FBI agent outside the office. Nixon explicitly rejects the validity of a memorandum on the subject and instructs that no such document be produced. Additionally, Nixon extends an invitation for John and his family to utilize Camp David for the upcoming weekend.
President Nixon met with George P. Shultz to discuss restructuring White House operations and restoring administrative legitimacy in the wake of the Watergate scandal. Shultz advocated for increased Cabinet involvement in personnel selection and suggested adopting a more transparent, civil-service-oriented model similar to the British system to improve congressional relations. Nixon tasked Shultz with preparing a memorandum outlining these proposed organizational changes, emphasizing the need to move beyond the departures of H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman while maintaining effective government operations.