Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on Congress
40 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Haldeman, Butterfield, Kissinger
When Congress comes up
Related topics: Foreign PolicyWhite House operationsVietnam WarPublic relationsPresidential communicationLegislative strategyPrisoners of WarMike MansfieldLogisticsBipartisanshipWhite House administrationPresidential schedulingPolitical strategyEnergy policy
On February 18, 1971, United States Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:40 pm and 3:52 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 451-016 of the White House Tapes.
On May 12, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 5:52 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 003-035 of the White House Tapes.
On May 18, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:26 am and 7:55 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 500-001 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon held an informal discussion with an unidentified individual regarding the composition and political influence of the 80th Congressional Club. The dialogue focused on the difficulties of governance during that legislative period and the historical dynamics between the executive branch and congressional leadership. No specific policy decisions were recorded during this brief administrative exchange.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler met to coordinate the press strategy for the President’s upcoming energy message. Nixon emphasized the importance of framing the initiative as a bipartisan effort and instructed Ziegler to acknowledge the specific support of key congressional figures, including Chet Holifield, John O. Pastore, and Craig Hosmer. The discussion focused on maximizing favorable media coverage by highlighting this legislative cooperation.
President Nixon called Senator John O. Pastore to inform him that his energy message had been submitted to Congress and to ensure the administration's public messaging highlighted the bipartisan nature of the effort. Nixon specifically credited Pastore, Chet Holifield, and Craig Hosmer for their crucial contributions to the policy's development. In response, Pastore pledged to deliver supportive remarks on the Senate floor to underscore this cooperative legislative approach.
President Nixon called Congressman Pierre S. DuPont to express his appreciation for DuPont’s effective public support of a resolution during recent Vietnam-related hearings. DuPont acknowledged the difficulty of taking such a stance and hinted at ongoing, undisclosed administration efforts regarding the conflict. The brief exchange served to solidify political alignment and boost morale for the Congressman amidst intense congressional debate.
On July 5, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:26 pm and 8:38 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 006-148 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon, Secretary of State William P. Rogers, and National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger coordinated strategy regarding ongoing efforts to achieve an honorable end to the Vietnam War. The discussion centered on aligning U.S. negotiating objectives—specifically a ceasefire, POW release, and regional peace—with potential legislative maneuvers in Congress. The participants evaluated how to manage Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield’s involvement to prevent unfavorable legislative interference with the administration's diplomatic goals.
President Nixon and Treasury Secretary John Connally discuss plans for an upcoming September 9, 1971, address to Congress regarding the administration's "Stage II" economic stabilization program. While they consider the prospect of the President appearing before Congress to participate in a televised question-and-answer session, they ultimately reject the idea due to concerns about establishing a precedent that could undermine executive privilege. Additionally, the President outlines a new public outreach strategy involving a briefing for Cabinet members' wives to build symbolic support for his economic policies among women.
President Nixon met with Raymond K. Price, Jr. and John D. Ehrlichman to finalize his upcoming economic address to Congress. The participants reviewed and revised multiple drafts of the speech, focusing on the tone toward congressional Democrats and the strategic presentation of tax and spending policies. Nixon emphasized the need for bipartisan cooperation and specific wording regarding the legislative agenda, while also discussing logistical arrangements for the event and upcoming official functions with Alexander P. Butterfield.
On September 30, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 2:15 pm and 2:22 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 582-001 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discuss international diplomatic strategies and the necessity of securing support within Congress regarding the status of Taiwan. The conversation touches upon the importance of leveraging relationships with various nations, including Greece and Turkey, to bolster the administration's foreign policy goals. Nixon emphasizes the need for a coordinated effort among his staff and diplomatic envoys to ensure consistent backing for their objectives.
On November 2, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:43 pm and 12:47 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 013-066 of the White House Tapes.
On November 4, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:05 pm and 1:10 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 013-115 of the White House Tapes.
On November 9, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 4:24 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 014-006 of the White House Tapes.
Senator Barry Goldwater met with President Nixon to share positive feedback regarding the President's recent public appearances and to discuss their shared concerns about national defense. Goldwater recounted his recent speeches in which he defended the necessity of a strong military posture and dismissed environmentalist objections to defense testing. Nixon emphasized the urgent need to maintain U.S. military strength against Soviet advances, expressing frustration with Congressional efforts that he equated to disarmament.
President Nixon met with John Ehrlichman and H. R. Haldeman to deliberate on urgent fiscal and political strategies as the administration faced a looming deadline regarding a continuing resolution for federal funding. The group discussed the political risks of taking a hardline stance against Congress, specifically targeting the Senate's perceived irresponsibility, while weighing the potential consequences of a government shutdown. Ultimately, the President decided to adopt a confrontational approach with Congressional leaders to avoid being forced into signing unfavorable legislation, prioritizing his image as a decisive leader over compromising with legislative opponents.
On November 29, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 11:20 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 015-146 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon met with members of the President's Commission on Financial Structure and Regulation to discuss the findings and implementation strategy of their report on domestic financial reform. The discussion focused on the challenges of navigating bureaucracy and congressional committees to enact an omnibus bill aimed at increasing the viability of depository institutions through free-market mechanisms. The President emphasized the need for a cohesive legislative strategy while the group touched upon international economic policy and the recent successful efforts of the Treasury Department in global currency realignments.
President Nixon and John B. Connally discuss legislative strategy regarding the administration's upcoming agenda, focusing on preempting political opposition in Congress. They evaluate a plan to delay new legislative proposals by emphasizing that the administration is still studying the issues while urging Congress to prioritize previously submitted reforms like revenue sharing and welfare. Nixon and Connally agree that this approach allows them to maintain flexibility while avoiding unnecessary political friction on the Hill.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discussed the preparation of a briefing book based on Henry Kissinger's recent work to effectively manage anticipated public and political inquiries. The President directed that a concise two-to-three-page list of questions and answers be drafted, specifically identifying William Safire or James Gannon as potential authors to refine the material. This document was intended for strategic distribution to members of Congress and the press to ensure a controlled and consistent administration message.
On January 31, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:55 pm and 3:57 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 020-004 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon and Representative Thomas N. Downing engaged in a brief, informal exchange to exchange birthday greetings. During the call, they discussed shared birthdays among acquaintances, including Congressman Charles Gubser, and compared their physical appearances to that of Billy Graham. The conversation served primarily as a social pleasantry to foster rapport between the President and the Congressman.
President Nixon and Representative John T. Myers engaged in a brief, informal telephone conversation initiated by Myers to extend birthday wishes to the President. During the exchange, the two men discussed the President's age and speculated about the long-term political career of the Congressman. The dialogue concluded with a lighthearted remark regarding the potential for Myers to eventually become Speaker of the House.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discussed the strategy for handling press briefings on a speech concerning busing, agreeing that advance distribution of the speech text was preferable to a live briefing. They also touched upon the positive reception of the speech within the Cabinet and anticipated the political fallout regarding the busing issue, predicting that Democrats like Muskie and Humphrey would face pressure to support a moratorium or similar action, while the administration would position itself as acting to resolve the issue through Congress.
President Nixon spoke with his daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, and son-in-law, David Eisenhower, primarily about the issue of school busing and his strategy for addressing it. Nixon explained the constitutional basis for his proposed moratorium and his plan to pressure Congress to pass it, threatening to blame them for continued busing if they failed to act. They also briefly discussed the Florida primary results and the potential impact on the Democratic presidential candidates, particularly Hubert Humphrey and Ted Kennedy.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull briefly met in the Oval Office to coordinate the President's upcoming schedule. The discussion focused on logistical arrangements for a meeting involving retiring members of Congress. No major policy decisions were reached, as the conversation served primarily as a brief administrative update regarding the President's calendar.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discussed the strategic advantages of a televised "town hall" style meeting with members of Congress, as opposed to a press conference with journalists. They believed this format would allow Nixon to directly communicate his foreign policy achievements, particularly regarding the Soviet summit, to the American people and bypass critical media figures. The conversation focused on how this approach could counter negative press and appeal to a broader audience, including McGovern's constituency, by projecting an image of open government and presidential command of complex issues.
President Nixon and Clark MacGregor consulted regarding legislative strategy and the administration’s response to ongoing congressional debates over Vietnam policy. The discussion touched upon the timing of legislative actions, the effectiveness of specific messaging proposed in a memorandum by Patrick J. Buchanan, and the political implications of compromise on war-related votes. Nixon emphasized a cautious approach, advising against certain public statements while evaluating how congressional movements might influence North Vietnamese strategy.
On June 21, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 10:22 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 025-099 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon spoke briefly with his daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, in the Oval Office about the hot weather and upcoming congressional actions, including potential vetoes of bills. He mentioned he would leave his office by 5:00 pm and return at 7:00 am the next day for a wedding, expressing that they missed her at the wedding that day.
On July 26, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Patrick J. Buchanan met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 5:00 pm to 5:01 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 352-004 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss strategies for managing public perception regarding the ongoing congressional session, the federal budget, and the threat of tax increases. The conversation highlights the administration's plan to use upcoming presidential vetoes and meetings with budget advisors—Caspar Weinberger, George Shultz, and John Ehrlichman—to emphasize fiscal responsibility. Additionally, they reflect on the political efficacy of the President's recent rhetoric regarding amnesty and the treatment of prisoners of war, noting strong positive feedback from labor leader George Meany.
President Nixon directs Henry Kissinger to take an icy, confrontational stance with Senator Mike Mansfield regarding congressional interference in Vietnam peace negotiations. Nixon tasks Kissinger with informing Mansfield that his legislative actions have jeopardized the potential for an honorable peace and forced the President to consider a national televised address to hold Congress accountable. This strategy aims to shift public blame toward Senate Democrats for any future failure in the ongoing peace talks.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate the logistics and venue for a televised address regarding the impending Vietnam peace settlement. The discussion focused on the political implications of delivering the speech before Congress, specifically weighing the advice and perspectives of Speaker Carl Albert and Representative Gerald Ford. The participants evaluated the potential for a Congressional boycott and the broader necessity of securing legislative prestige for the administration's foreign policy announcement.
President Nixon and his Cabinet met to launch a strategic public relations campaign, titled the Presidential Spokesmen program, aimed at pressuring Congress to support his budget priorities and oppose spending-heavy legislation. Nixon urged his officials to frame the budget debate not as a constitutional conflict, but as a direct choice between the economic interests of the 'New American Majority' and the fiscal irresponsibility of the opposition. The session included briefings on foreign policy, defense spending, and law enforcement, emphasizing the need for administration spokesmen to maintain a positive, disciplined narrative while avoiding defensive posturing on 'false issues.'
On March 14, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:30 pm and 4:09 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 419-028 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate his daily schedule and manage administrative priorities. The discussion centered on adjusting the meeting time for Representative William G. Bray and facilitating communication between the President and Treasury Secretary George P. Shultz regarding congressional matters. These logistical adjustments were part of the administration's ongoing efforts to maintain legislative momentum during the heightened political pressure of the Watergate era.
President Nixon met with South Vietnamese Ambassador Tran Kim Phuong, Alexander Haig, and Brent Scowcroft to discuss the critical need for continued U.S. aid to South Vietnam amidst growing Congressional opposition. Nixon emphasized that he remains committed to supporting President Nguyen Van Thieu but warned that legislative resistance makes securing future appropriations increasingly difficult. The discussion centered on the importance of survival for the South Vietnamese government and the necessity of managing expectations regarding American military and economic assistance.