Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on Diplomatic communications
22 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Kissinger, Bull, Haldeman
In this Oval Office meeting, President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman, Henry Kissinger, and other key staff to coordinate the rollout of a major breakthrough in the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) with the Soviet Union. The President emphasized the need to maintain secrecy regarding the specific channels used to achieve this diplomatic progress while ensuring that the public message highlighted his personal initiative and the transition to simultaneous negotiations on offensive and defensive weapons. Additionally, Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Finch reported on their recent foreign tour, discussing European perceptions of U.S. foreign policy, the status of U.S. ambassadors, and the challenge of managing drug usage among military personnel abroad.
President Nixon initiates a brief telephone call through the White House operator to contact Secretary of State William P. Rogers. The primary purpose of this communication is to facilitate a direct discussion between the President and the Secretary. No further substantive policy matters or decisions are recorded in this brief operator exchange.
President Nixon initiates a brief telephone call to Secretary of State William P. Rogers through the White House operator. The primary purpose of the communication is to establish a direct line of contact with the Secretary. No further dialogue or substantive policy discussion is captured in this recording.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discuss diplomatic progress regarding the People's Republic of China, expressing optimism that a response from the Chinese leadership is forthcoming. The conversation shifts to managing relations with the press, with Nixon proposing a conciliatory, personal outreach to media figures like William Paley to alleviate institutional tensions. Additionally, they touch upon political maneuvers involving figures such as Clark Clifford, Edward Kennedy, and Hubert Humphrey, alongside logistics concerning potential wheat shipments to the USSR.
Henry Kissinger and Egon Bahr discussed President Nixon's dissatisfaction with West German Chancellor Willy Brandt’s toast at a recent White House function, which the President perceived as focused on domestic politics and ambiguous regarding Vietnam. Kissinger urged Bahr to encourage Brandt to make more positive, public statements regarding U.S.-West German cooperation during his upcoming meetings with the press and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Bahr agreed to convey these concerns to the Chancellor, framing the request as a private diplomatic effort to clarify the relationship and dispel any lingering misunderstandings.
President Nixon consulted with a White House operator regarding his efforts to reach Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin. The operator reported that the ambassador was unavailable at the embassy, prompting Nixon to reschedule the contact attempt. The President directed that the operator follow up after 3:00 p.m. when he would be back in his office.
President Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon coordinate their schedule and lunch plans in preparation for an upcoming departure. The President requests a light meal in the Oval Office while he awaits an anticipated phone call from Morocco. They discuss timing their exit to ensure the President is prepared for the next phase of his day.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to place an urgent call to Walter H. Annenberg, the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom. This brief exchange served as a logistical step to initiate direct communication with the Ambassador. No further discussion occurred during this recording segment.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger coordinate the communication strategy regarding a forthcoming announcement involving Japan. Nixon directs Kissinger to inform the Japanese government of the news immediately rather than delaying. To handle this diplomatic notification, they agree to use a back-channel approach via Treasury Secretary John B. Connally, a move Nixon views as a strategic effort to bolster Connally’s standing.
Henry Kissinger consulted with the White House operator to confirm the current whereabouts of the Pakistani ambassador, Agha Hilaly. Upon learning that the ambassador had departed the premises and was unavailable, Kissinger decided to postpone their meeting. This brief exchange highlights the ongoing administrative coordination required to manage sensitive diplomatic communications during a period of high international tension.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to place an outgoing call to Secretary of State William P. Rogers on Christmas Eve. The brief exchange served as a logistical coordination to facilitate direct communication between the President and his chief diplomat. No substantive policy discussions occurred during this brief request for assistance.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to finalize the phrasing of a sensitive message intended for Chinese Premier Chou En-lai, specifically regarding the diplomatic rhetoric following recent visits by Senators Mansfield and Scott. The discussion centered on ensuring technical accuracy and carefully balancing U.S.-PRC relations while managing potential complications with the Soviet Union. Nixon directed Kissinger to have the document retyped with specific amendments to ensure the language remained consistent with previous administration statements.
Henry Kissinger contacts the White House operator to place an urgent call to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kenneth Rush. This brief administrative interaction serves as the logistical precursor to a high-level diplomatic or military consultation between Kissinger and the Department of Defense. No policy discussions occur, as the exchange is strictly limited to the request for the connection.
President Nixon and aide Stephen B. Bull coordinate the scheduling of an upcoming telephone call with the Soviet ambassador. Nixon expresses concern regarding the timing of the engagement while verifying that his administrative staff has addressed necessary preparatory communications. The brief interaction focuses on ensuring the President is available to receive the call as intended.
John V. Brennan and Alex G. Toumayan met at Camp David to conduct technical preparations for an upcoming telephone call between President Nixon and Ivorian President Felix Houphouet-Boigny. The participants tested the communication equipment in the Aspen Lodge to ensure the line was secure and operational for the international discussion. The brief interaction concluded with logistical adjustments to facilitate the connection for the President.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to initiate a call to J. Paul Getty in London. The purpose of this communication was for the President to extend birthday wishes to Getty in honor of his 80th birthday. The operator confirmed the request and proceeded to facilitate the international connection.
President Nixon and Under Secretary of State U. Alexis Johnson discussed the security protocols for communicating the decision to halt U.S. bombing north of the 20th parallel. Johnson explained that he took the initiative to inform the relevant parties to listen to the public announcement rather than risking an insecure transmission of the sensitive news. The two men acknowledged the difficulty of the decision to pause the bombing, with Nixon reflecting that only history would judge the efficacy of his choice.
President Nixon consulted with Colonel Richard T. Kennedy regarding the status of ongoing Vietnam peace negotiations. The President requested an immediate briefing upon the arrival of the latest report from the recently concluded session, which was expected shortly. They agreed that Kennedy would personally deliver the documentation to the Executive Office Building once it became available to ensure the President remained informed of any developments.
Henry Kissinger contacted Cmdr. Jonathan T. Howe to organize an urgent diplomatic notification strategy regarding the upcoming announcement of his February 1973 trip to the People's Republic of China. Kissinger directed Howe to send back-channel communications to key diplomatic personnel and foreign governments, including representatives in South Korea, Japan, France, West Germany, Great Britain, and Laos. The instructions emphasized framing these notifications as routine consultations following the recent Vietnam settlement and maintaining strict confidentiality under the guise of contributing to peace in Asia.
Henry Kissinger initiates a call through the White House operator to contact Israeli Ambassador Yitzhak Rabin at Blair House. The brief exchange serves as a logistical step to facilitate direct communication between the National Security Advisor and the Israeli diplomat. No substantive policy discussions occur during this operator-assisted request.
President Nixon contacted the White House operator to initiate an urgent telephone call to Secretary of State William P. Rogers. The brief exchange served solely as a logistical request to facilitate communication with the Secretary. No further policy discussions or substantive matters were addressed during this specific interaction.
President Nixon instructed General Brent Scowcroft to relay a personal message to South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu regarding ongoing Vietnam negotiations. Nixon promised to issue a unilateral public statement—separate from the Joint Communiqué—reaffirming specific commitments on elections to address Thieu’s concerns. Scowcroft was directed to ensure Thieu understands this commitment will be personally delivered by Nixon and emphasized during an upcoming meeting with congressional leaders.