Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on Earl L. Butz
25 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Haldeman, Ehrlichman, Bull
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman discuss the potential appointment of Earl L. Butz as Secretary of Agriculture, with Nixon expressing concerns regarding Butz's name. They deliberate on the recommendation of the "Triumvirate"—Frederic Malek, Bryce Harlow, and John Whitaker—while considering an alternative candidate, Representative John Kyl. Nixon instructs Ehrlichman to have Whitaker evaluate Kyl's suitability during an upcoming meeting, tasking them with assessing whether Kyl would be a strong political asset.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman coordinate the final arrangements for the appointment of Earl L. Butz to replace Clifford M. Hardin as Secretary of Agriculture. They discuss scheduling a meeting between John Mitchell and Butz, as well as the timing for the public announcement and the President's personal involvement in the rollout. Additionally, the pair briefly reviews positive reactions to the President's recent fundraising speeches and outlines the protocol for his upcoming Veterans Day ceremony.
President Nixon and Attorney General John Mitchell discuss the potential appointment of Earl L. Butz to lead the Department of Agriculture, with Mitchell expressing confidence in Butz's suitability for the role. The two men also review political feedback regarding recent speeches and endorsements from Ronald Reagan and Nelson Rockefeller. Additionally, they touch upon ongoing tensions between the administration and Governor Reagan regarding Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) programs, which Mitchell intends to address with John Ehrlichman.
President Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman discussed the strategic framing of personnel changes within the Department of Agriculture, specifically regarding the transition from Secretary Clifford M. Hardin to Earl L. Butz. They reviewed potential government reorganization plans, focusing on the placement of the Coast Guard and concerns regarding Secretary John A. Volpe’s management. Additionally, the President briefly evaluated his public relations strategy, weighing the benefits of potential interviews with various media outlets, including Reader’s Digest and Playboy.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman discuss the internal strategy for reorganizing the Department of Agriculture, emphasizing the need to secure support from Roy Ash and the Ash Council. Nixon instructs Ehrlichman to coordinate with Charls Walker to ensure the reorganization plan is presented as a necessary concession to achieve broader community development goals. They also agree to balance the public framing of the decision by providing credit to both Earl Butz and Clifford Hardin.
President Nixon consulted with an unidentified individual regarding the professional background of Earl L. Butz. The discussion focused specifically on the duration of Butz’s experience with farm ownership and operations. The conversation concluded with the President requesting a follow-up phone call to confirm these details.
President Nixon held a brief discussion regarding the background and potential appointment of Earl L. Butz. During the meeting, Nixon provided instructions to finalize the selection process, emphasizing the need to bring the candidate to the White House. This interaction served to coordinate the final arrangements for securing Butz's confirmation.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed the political messaging and public image of Secretary of Agriculture Earl L. Butz. They emphasized highlighting Butz's Indiana roots and agricultural background to appeal to rural voters. Additionally, the pair briefly reviewed the arduous process of implementing government reorganization initiatives spearheaded by the Ash Council and John Ehrlichman.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler reviewed recent press coverage, focusing on the resignation of Secretary of Agriculture Clifford Hardin and the appointment of his successor, Earl L. Butz. They discussed strategies to deflect media scrutiny regarding the administration's investigation of reporter Daniel Schorr, reaffirming their commitment to correcting inaccurate press reports. Finally, they prepared for an upcoming press conference, anticipating questions on foreign policy, Phase II economic plans, and China relations.
President Nixon met with John H. Hogue, William E. Timmons, and Clark MacGregor to discuss administrative personnel, specifically Hogue's future role within the Treasury Department, and to conduct a brief photography session. The discussion pivoted to legislative strategy, focusing on the confirmation process for Earl L. Butz and efforts to manage congressional relations. Finally, the group addressed the administration’s political positioning regarding the Vietnam War, particularly the necessity of clearly communicating the President’s stance on prisoners of war to the press and Congress.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to discuss administrative priorities, including the confirmation of Earl L. Butz and upcoming decisions regarding the 1973 federal budget and pay increases. They also strategized on the production of an NBC documentary, "A Day in the Life of the President," with Nixon emphasizing that the footage should avoid overly formal policy meetings to prevent the content from becoming too dull for viewers. The President directed Haldeman to ensure the program featured more dynamic, interrupted sequences rather than prolonged, serious discussions involving his senior advisors.
President Nixon met with John Mitchell, John Ehrlichman, Clark MacGregor, and William Timmons to discuss legislative strategy, primarily regarding a pending tax bill and the controversial Pastore amendment. The group deliberated whether the President should publicly signal his intention to veto the bill if it retained the amendment, weighing the potential impact on 1972 campaign financing against the desire to assert executive authority. Additionally, the participants reviewed the contentious confirmation process for Earl L. Butz as Secretary of Agriculture, ultimately deciding to maintain the nomination and reject calls for his withdrawal.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate upcoming scheduling, personnel matters, and political strategy. Key topics included the potential appointment of Cornelius V. Whitney as Ambassador to Spain—specifically the decision to withdraw his nomination due to concerns over campaign financing—and the confirmation process for Earl L. Butz as Secretary of Agriculture. They also discussed legislative strategy regarding a potential congressional special session and the President’s plan to shift toward more informal Q&A style appearances to better communicate his policies to the public.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to finalize logistics for an upcoming meeting with Secretary of Agriculture Earl L. Butz and Richard E. Lyng. The primary focus of the discussion was the timing and structure of the presentation regarding the National Advisory Committee on Child Nutrition report. They specifically coordinated the duration of the meeting and the scheduling of a subsequent press briefing.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to review the President’s upcoming schedule, specifically focusing on preparations for a meeting with the People's Republic of China table tennis team. Nixon requested that briefing materials for the event be condensed to a single page due to his limited time, while emphasizing a non-political approach. The discussion also addressed Agriculture Secretary Earl Butz’s upcoming trip to the USSR and the need to manage his press announcements in light of Henry Kissinger’s concurrent diplomatic efforts in Moscow.
President Nixon and Julie Nixon Eisenhower coordinated the logistics and timing for an upcoming photo session involving the First Family. The conversation centered on reconciling the President's immediate schedule, including a meeting with Secretary of Agriculture Earl L. Butz, with the arrangements for the photography session on the White House lawn. Ultimately, the discussion served to ensure the photo event could proceed without disrupting the President’s pending official appointments.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to reorganize the scheduling of upcoming appointments. The discussion focused primarily on adjusting the timing and duration of a meeting with Secretary of Agriculture Earl L. Butz. Nixon also addressed the coordination of Butz's visit in relation to the schedule of National Security Advisor Henry A. Kissinger.
President Nixon consulted with Herbert Stein to provide cautionary instructions regarding Federal Reserve Chairman Arthur Burns' upcoming trip to Argentina. Nixon expressed skepticism regarding the long-standing health justifications for restricting Argentine beef imports and tasked Stein with coordinating with Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz to ensure Burns did not inadvertently make unsustainable trade promises. This conversation served to manage potential diplomatic fallout and domestic political complications surrounding international trade policies.
President Nixon and Charles W. Colson discussed 1972 re-election strategy, specifically focusing on framing the contest as a referendum on voter trust and confidence. They evaluated the performance of Agriculture Secretary Earl L. Butz in defending the administration against George McGovern's accusations regarding the Soviet grain deal. Nixon and Colson concluded that McGovern’s perceived lack of sincerity and consistency would ultimately alienate voters, leading them to prioritize a campaign strategy centered on the President's perceived stability over reactive partisan attacks.
President Nixon and John K. Andrews, Jr. discussed final revisions for an upcoming farm speech scheduled for October 27, 1972. Nixon questioned the omission of the "revitalization of rural America" theme, but ultimately deferred to the judgment of John C. Whitaker and Secretary Earl L. Butz’s staff, who argued that such language might alienate farmers concerned about rural development. Having confirmed the reasoning behind the draft, Nixon approved the speech for release as written.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to place an outgoing call to Secretary of Agriculture Earl L. Butz. This brief communication served strictly as a request for administrative assistance to facilitate the connection. No substantive policy discussions occurred during this exchange.
President Nixon and Secretary of Agriculture Earl L. Butz discuss the favorable reception of the President's recent farm radio address and coordinate plans to distribute the recording to key electoral battleground states. Butz confirms that the Committee to Re-elect the President is actively mobilizing farm support in states like Ohio, Illinois, and Wisconsin, while focusing on California's Central Valley. The two men also observe that the political impact of the Watergate scandal is significantly less pronounced in the Western states than in the Eastern media.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to coordinate the scheduling of upcoming executive appointments and official functions. The discussion primarily focused on arranging a meeting with Sudanese ministers, including the timing and the delivery of condolences, as well as a separate meeting with Secretary of Agriculture Earl L. Butz. Additionally, the participants addressed protocol concerns regarding Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler’s attendance at a luncheon where Representative Paul N. 'Pete' McCloskey, Jr. would be present.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate and manage his upcoming schedule of appointments. The discussion focused on logistical details regarding various meetings, specifically concerning the United States Agency for International Development, Agriculture Secretary Earl L. Butz, and representatives from the Conference of Mayors. These arrangements were intended to streamline the President's interactions with key administration officials and municipal leaders.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met briefly to finalize logistical details regarding a private signing ceremony for the Rural Electrification and Telephone Program. They discussed the specific timing of the event and the anticipated participation of Secretary of Agriculture Earl L. Butz. The meeting concluded after confirming the departure schedule for these proceedings.