Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on Economic stabilization
18 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Connally, Shultz, Stein
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 Richard Nixon met with his valet, Manolo Sanchez, to review the final preparations for an upcoming address to Congress. The discussion focused on editing the draft of the President’s speech concerning national economic stabilization policies. This session served as a final administrative check before the President formally presented his economic agenda on September 9, 1971.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler consulted on pending communication strategies, specifically regarding public messaging on Vietnam casualty rates and reports involving H.R. Haldeman. They also reviewed final revisions for the President's upcoming address to Congress concerning economic stabilization. The discussion focused on coordinating the administration’s narrative for these high-priority domestic and foreign policy issues.
President Nixon consulted with speechwriter Raymond K. Price, Jr. regarding the final preparations for his upcoming address to Congress on economic stabilization. The discussion focused on the drafting process, urgent deadlines, and the logistical coordination required for the speech. Furthermore, the participants addressed the President's schedule and planned communication with Secretary of the Treasury John B. Connally.
President Nixon and speechwriter Raymond K. Price, Jr. consulted on last-minute revisions for the President's upcoming September 9, 1971, address to Congress regarding economic stabilization. The pair focused on refining the speech's wording, specifically coordinating the inclusion of foreign policy segments involving Henry Kissinger and addressing the Vietnam War. They established a 5:00 p.m. deadline for finalizing the draft and discussed editorial adjustments to ensure the message was prepared on time.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman met to refine the text of the President's upcoming address to Congress regarding economic stabilization. The discussion focused on carefully crafting language regarding the ongoing war to ensure it balanced political sensitivity with the administration's goals for peace. Nixon directed Ehrlichman to test specific phrasing with Henry Kissinger to determine the most effective approach for addressing these high-stakes policy issues.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, discuss the final preparations and administrative logistics for his upcoming September 9th address to Congress regarding economic stabilization. The conversation centers on coordinating the typing and final review of the speech draft, which involved staff members Marjorie P. Acker, Nellie L. Yates, and Raymond K. Price, Jr. The focus remains on meeting the strict deadline to ensure the President's remarks are ready for delivery.
President Nixon met with the White House Consumer Advisory Council to discuss the economic implications of the administration's recently implemented wage-price freeze and the planning for Phase II economic policies. The participants, including Virginia H. Knauer and various consumer advocates, addressed the need for consumer representation, effective enforcement mechanisms, and the impact of inflation on fixed-income groups. The meeting served as a forum for the council to express support for the President's economic stabilization efforts while emphasizing the importance of public participation and transparency in controlling costs.
President Nixon consulted with William Safire to check on the progress of a draft for an upcoming Phase II economic policy speech. Safire confirmed that the document was in the final stages of proofreading and would be delivered to the President immediately. Nixon emphasized the urgency of the delivery to ensure he received the materials in a timely manner.
President Nixon and George Shultz discuss labor leader George Meany’s request to allow alternates for Pay Board members during upcoming scheduling conflicts. Because Meany and colleague Floyd Smith are concerned that their absences will leave them without voting representation on critical issues, Nixon directs Shultz to coordinate with Judge George Boldt and Donald Rumsfeld to adjust the executive order accordingly. Shultz agrees to resolve the legal technicality and update Meany on the administration's progress to prevent any premature public remarks.
President Nixon and Federal Reserve Chairman Arthur F. Burns met to discuss the national economy, international monetary policy, and upcoming personnel appointments to the Federal Reserve Board. The conversation focused on managing economic indicators, navigating liquidity concerns, and coordinating with Henry Kissinger on international financial diplomacy. They also strategized on handling labor relations and potential wage-price policy announcements, while Burns presented candidates for upcoming Board vacancies.
President Nixon and the Cost of Living Council convened to discuss the efficacy of the administration's economic stabilization program, specifically the transition from Phase I to Phase II. Participants evaluated the success of existing price and wage controls and addressed the future of the Pay Board and Price Commission ahead of the 1972 calendar year. The meeting concluded with a formal vote to adopt an amendment to 'Option 2' regarding economic policy adjustments.
President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and various senior advisors met to discuss the escalating India-Pakistan conflict, focusing on the potential for a U.N. ceasefire, the status of American civilians, and the management of regional military actions. Concurrently, the President consulted with George H.W. Bush regarding U.N. strategy and coordinated with John Ehrlichman and Vice President Agnew on domestic legislative priorities, specifically tax bills and revenue sharing. The President also spoke with Wilbur Mills to foster a spirit of cooperation between the Administration and Congress regarding economic and tax legislation, emphasizing the need for a unified approach to ensure key bills advance.
In this meeting, President Nixon and his senior advisors, including H. R. Haldeman and John B. Connally, finalized their strategy regarding the recently negotiated international monetary agreement, often referred to as the "Azores Doctrine." The participants focused on managing public perception of the deal, emphasizing that it represented a successful and fair realignment of currencies rather than a unilateral devaluation of the dollar. Furthermore, they discussed the necessity of coordinating a unified message to the press through the Treasury Department and prepared for a briefing with Congressional leadership to solidify legislative support for their economic initiatives. The conversation also touched upon sensitive foreign policy matters, specifically the India-Pakistan conflict and the need to maintain delicate diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union and France.
President Nixon met with a bipartisan group of Congressional leaders to brief them on his recent diplomatic discussions with French President Georges Pompidou and the status of U.S. international economic policy. The conversation focused on efforts to address the global monetary crisis, the necessity of realigning exchange rates to restore the competitive position of American goods, and the importance of burden-sharing among trade partners. Nixon highlighted the recent breakthrough in negotiations with France as a critical step toward stabilizing the international monetary system and advancing domestic economic goals like job creation and inflation control.
John B. Connally, George P. Shultz, Donald H. Rumsfeld, and Richard B. Cheney met to discuss economic stabilization policies and the operational status of key administrative bodies. The participants reviewed the activities of the Price Commission and the Cost of Living Council, including ongoing hearings and the impact of price controls on specific commodities like steer hides. The discussion also addressed the economic distribution of price increases between farmers and other industry stakeholders, as well as the administrative coordination between the Pay Board and various government agencies.
President Nixon met with the Labor-Management Advisory Committee, including George Shultz, John T. Dunlop, and various labor and business leaders, to discuss the ongoing management of the national economy and inflation. The discussion centered on the successes and challenges of the administration's economic stabilization efforts, particularly the transition from Phase II to Phase III of wage and price controls. Participants deliberated on the importance of maintaining public confidence and business compliance, with the President emphasizing the need for continued cooperation between labor and management to ensure stability without excessive government intervention.
President Nixon met with his senior economic advisors and staff to deliberate on a strategy for stabilizing the national economy, specifically focusing on a proposed 60-day price freeze on food and gasoline. The discussion covered the implementation of Phase IV economic controls, the necessity of securing congressional support for trade and spending measures, and the political challenges of potential vetoes on agricultural and minimum wage legislation. Nixon emphasized the importance of public education regarding his administration's economic goals and requested that his cabinet members and advisors actively advocate for these policies to build public and congressional confidence.