Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on Economic policy
822 conversations · page 9 of 9 · frequently with Nixon, Haig, Ziegler, Bull
Alexander Haig updates President Nixon on the highly positive public and political reception to the President’s recent televised speech on the economy. Haig emphasizes that the positive feedback reflects a widespread desire for presidential leadership and a clear shift of public attention away from the Watergate scandal. The two discuss the political importance of appearing in control, agreeing to disregard the ongoing testimony of John Dean while prioritizing aggressive communication on economic and foreign policy.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discussed the press reaction to the President’s recent economic speech and its potential to shift media focus away from the Watergate scandal. While Nixon expressed concern that journalists remained obsessed with Watergate, Ziegler noted that the press was generally impressed by the President's display of leadership and control. The two concluded that the positive reception of the address had successfully mitigated negative media scrutiny.
Charles W. Colson updates President Nixon on positive feedback from pollsters Albert E. Sindlinger and Louis P. Harris regarding the President’s recent speech on the economy. Nixon instructs Colson to gather additional details and report back after he finishes dinner. The brief exchange establishes a plan for Colson to provide a comprehensive briefing on these polling reports shortly thereafter.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull coordinate a series of follow-up telephone calls to gauge reactions to the President's recent speech on the economy. Bull updates the President on the status of various callers, including political allies and public opinion figures. Nixon decides to personally speak with Governor Ronald Reagan and pollster Louis Harris to conclude his outreach efforts for the evening.
President Nixon consulted with pollster Louis Harris to discuss public reaction to the President's recent economic speech, which introduced a price freeze to address rising inflation and food costs. The two discussed the importance of balancing international trade with domestic stability, specifically regarding soybean exports and agricultural prices. Additionally, they reviewed the upcoming state visit of Leonid Brezhnev, with Harris emphasizing strong public support for Nixon's foreign policy initiatives with the USSR and China despite ongoing domestic concerns regarding the Watergate scandal.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discuss the positive public response to the President's recent economic speech and strategize on handling Vice President Spiro Agnew’s upcoming meeting. They address the ongoing Watergate investigations, with Nixon expressing his intent to eventually attack the Ervin Committee once he has sufficient political leverage. Additionally, Nixon instructs Haig to ensure Henry Kissinger remains focused on foreign policy briefings—specifically regarding Vietnam, the "Year of Europe," and Leonid Brezhnev’s visit—while explicitly avoiding any comments on Watergate or wiretapping.
President Nixon called speechwriter Raymond K. Price, Jr. to commend him on the quality and tone of a recently televised address regarding the economy. The President emphasized that the primary objective was to project confidence and an upbeat perspective to the public during a time dominated by negative media coverage. Nixon credited Price's work for providing a necessary, positive contrast to the ongoing political climate surrounding Watergate.
President Nixon met with broadcaster George Putnam, Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler, and the Simmonds family to discuss the administration's ongoing challenges. The conversation focused on the President's workload, the impact of the Watergate scandal, and the recent economic address regarding price controls and gasoline supply. The participants also touched upon public relations, the upcoming visit of Leonid Brezhnev, and various social greetings.
President Nixon met with Alexander Haig, Anne Armstrong, Bryce Harlow, Ronald Ziegler, and members of the press to discuss the public relations and political implications of Nixon's recent address on price controls, as well as the roles of various White House staff and potential Republican candidates. Key topics included managing public perception of economic policies, the political strategies for John Connally, and the upcoming 1976 election landscape. A significant development was Nixon's directive for Armstrong and Harlow to manage White House politics, emphasizing Connally's advisory role and the need to leverage his public appeal.
President Nixon met with Secretary of the Treasury George Shultz to discuss the administration's economic policies, specifically the challenges surrounding wage and price controls and the need for greater congressional cooperation. Amidst the ongoing Watergate investigation and staff turnover, Shultz expressed personal frustration and a desire to depart his post, but Nixon strongly urged him to remain, emphasizing Shultz's indispensable expertise and credibility in managing the economy. The two agreed to delay any final decision regarding Shultz's tenure, scheduling a follow-up meeting in California to further evaluate the administration's future course.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss the management of the President's personal records and the potential publication of his first-term history, emphasizing their desire to exclude Watergate-related materials. They review the ongoing Ervin Committee hearings, focusing specifically on Jeb Stuart Magruder's testimony, his allegations against John Mitchell and John Dean, and the political implications for the White House. Additionally, the President assesses the favorable reception of his recent economic address and plans his upcoming schedule, including meetings with Leonid Brezhnev and Hobart Lewis.
President Nixon consulted with an unidentified staff member regarding the logistics and agenda for Soviet General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev’s upcoming state visit. The discussion focused on coordinating the schedule for events at Camp David, the timing of Brezhnev's televised address, and the status of several high-level bilateral agreements involving trade, nuclear arms, and maritime policy. Additionally, the President briefly touched on the progress of his domestic energy program and the general economic outlook.
President Nixon met with Alexander Haig, Henry Kissinger, and other staff members to review preparations for his upcoming speech in Pekin, Illinois, and the anticipated visit of Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev. The participants discussed strategies for managing foreign relations, specifically addressing requests regarding potential diplomatic travel for Vice President Spiro Agnew and navigating the delicate balance of U.S. relations with China and the Soviet Union. Additionally, the President and his team assessed the administration's political standing amid Watergate-related pressures, the national economy, and media coverage, emphasizing the need to project presidential strength and focus on the administration's policy achievements.
President Nixon met with Alexander Haig, Ronald Ziegler, and J. Fred Buzhardt to discuss ongoing Watergate fallout and strategy, specifically focusing on the upcoming testimony of former White House counsel John Dean before the Ervin Committee. The participants expressed frustration with the lack of aggressive public defense by Republican allies and the perceived bias of special prosecutor Archibald Cox, prompting discussions on how to better leverage allies to challenge Dean's credibility and the scope of Cox's investigation. Additionally, the President reviewed his economic recovery program and the status of Leonid Brezhnev's state visit, stressing the importance of controlling the media narrative during these high-stakes events.
President Nixon met with Alexander Haig, J. Fred Buzhardt, and Melvin Laird to discuss ongoing challenges including the Watergate scandal and upcoming administrative transitions. They reviewed the status of John Dean's legal situation, focusing on his handling of campaign funds and the political advantage of exposing his alleged financial impropriety through press coverage. Furthermore, the group discussed personnel adjustments, including bringing Bryce Harlow onto the White House staff, and coordinated legislative strategies regarding a pending House vote on Cambodia funding and the implementation of the Phase IV economic program.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig reviewed the results of a recent press conference held by John Connally, focusing on his remarks regarding the national economy and his future role on the White House staff. While Nixon expressed slight disappointment that Connally's comments on his staff involvement were not more assertive, they agreed his performance on economic messaging was effective. Additionally, Haig provided updates on his ongoing communications with George Shultz and Melvin Laird and briefed the President on upcoming administrative actions.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discussed the White House's economic messaging strategy, specifically praising Melvin Laird’s recent success in bolstering support among Congressmen. The conversation shifted to monitoring Attorney General Elliot Richardson and the ongoing investigation into Vice President Spiro Agnew. Haig confirmed he had tasked J. Fred Buzhardt with pressing Richardson for information regarding the Agnew probe to ensure the administration was not blindsided by potential legal or political crises.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull reviewed the President’s upcoming schedule, focusing on appointments with John A. Love, Charles H. Percy, John B. Connally, and various Republican senators. The discussion involved logistics for a forthcoming economic meeting in the Cabinet Room and the coordination of attendees including William E. Timmons, Ronald L. Ziegler, Anne L. Armstrong, and Peter M. Flanigan. Additionally, the pair addressed administrative details regarding the delivery of a briefcase and Bull’s responsibilities concerning a cabinet meeting.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discussed the ongoing Watergate investigations, specifically focusing on the scope of Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox’s charter and their insistence that investigations be strictly limited to 1972 campaign-related activities. They also reviewed concerning reports regarding Vice President Spiro Agnew’s potential legal jeopardy in Maryland, comparing his situation to previous presidential campaigns. Finally, the two men reviewed the administration's legislative agenda, agreeing to delay a planned economic policy announcement and speech until after George Shultz’s upcoming trip to Japan.
President Nixon met with Vice President Agnew and his Cabinet to discuss the transition from the current wage and price freeze to a "Phase IV" economic policy. The President emphasized the need to balance controlling inflation with maintaining domestic production, while acknowledging the political difficulty of removing controls due to congressional and public pressure. Key developments included the administration's resolve to move toward a free-market economy as quickly as possible, coupled with a renewed commitment to fiscal austerity and a balanced federal budget to bolster economic confidence.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discussed the development and presentation strategy for the administration's upcoming economic 'Phase IV' package. Nixon expressed skepticism toward a proposed balanced budget, fearing political backlash from Congress and the potential for damaging veto battles, while exploring alternative formats for announcing the economic plan to business and labor leaders. The conversation also touched on the ongoing Watergate investigations, specifically the upcoming Ervin Committee testimony, and the necessity of maintaining internal discipline and control amid these distractions.
President Nixon and Ronald Ziegler met to discuss public relations strategies regarding the ongoing Watergate investigation and the Ervin Committee hearings. They evaluated the performance of witnesses like John Mitchell and considered ways to shift the national narrative toward the President's economic initiatives and foreign policy successes. Ultimately, they decided that a more calculated, proactive public relations campaign—centered on a clear philosophical framework rather than just policy technicalities—was necessary to counter media hostility and move past the Watergate crisis by the fall.