Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on Employment
15 conversations · frequently with Nixon, MacGregor, Ehrlichman, Finch
President Nixon met with members of the Congressional Black Caucus to receive a comprehensive position paper detailing grievances and policy recommendations regarding employment, housing, civil rights, and foreign policy. The Caucus representatives urged the administration to prioritize federal job creation, release frozen urban development funds, and address systemic issues within the criminal justice and military systems. Nixon acknowledged the significance of the meeting as a constructive starting point, promising that his staff would facilitate ongoing communication and proper consideration of the Caucus’s specific proposals.
President Nixon met with a group of Republican congressmen and administration staff to discuss the dire financial situation of the Lockheed Corporation and the political implications of a government-backed rescue. The discussion focused on the potential economic impact of a Lockheed collapse, particularly regarding job losses among subcontractors, and the challenge of securing congressional approval for necessary financial support. The participants weighed the broader risks to the economy and the administration's leadership against the optics of bailing out a defense contractor amid competing domestic budget priorities.
President Nixon met with Congressman Craig Hosmer to coordinate efforts regarding the placement of federal energy projects in Southern California. Seeking to address regional unemployment and support the local aircraft industry, Nixon confirmed his intent to prioritize the state for new water and energy plant developments. He encouraged Hosmer to advocate for these California-based initiatives within bipartisan committees to ensure the projects receive necessary administrative support.
President Nixon met with Representative Wendell Wyatt and Clark MacGregor to discuss regional economic concerns, specifically the housing and employment crises affecting Oregon, Washington, and the Seattle area. The conversation transitioned to foreign policy, where Wyatt praised the President's diplomatic efforts toward the People's Republic of China, noting concerns raised by Japanese officials during a recent U.S.-Japan parliamentary conference. Nixon emphasized the strategic necessity of ending China's isolation for long-term global stability and arms control, while maintaining U.S. commitments to Taiwan. The brief meeting concluded with the presentation of gifts to the visitors.
President Nixon dictated a memorandum to John D. Ehrlichman regarding the strategic allocation of federal expenditures in preparation for the 1972 election cycle. The discussion focused on balancing domestic spending, such as environmental initiatives, with the potential economic and employment impacts of defense budget cuts. Nixon tasked the Domestic Council with analyzing these fiscal trade-offs to inform his final budgetary decisions during an upcoming summit in San Clemente.
President Nixon and Secretary of Agriculture Clifford M. Hardin discussed Hardin’s potential resignation and transition to a private sector role at Ralston Purina. Nixon encouraged Hardin to make his career move before the 1972 election to ensure a smooth transition for his successor and to secure his personal financial future. The two also addressed current administration economic initiatives, farm policy, and the recent Attica state prison riots, with Nixon expressing support for Governor Nelson Rockefeller's handling of the crisis.
President Nixon met with his Cabinet and key staff members to review the administration’s domestic and foreign policy priorities, primarily focusing on the economic transition to 'Phase II' and the announcement of a 1972 Soviet summit. Officials discussed the successful implementation of the wage-price freeze and the strategy for securing organized labor's cooperation on the newly formed Pay Board and Price Commission to curb inflation. Additionally, the President addressed the importance of linking economic policy to job growth through his pending tax proposals, while Secretary of State Rogers and the President emphasized that international diplomatic overtures toward the Soviet Union and China were part of a cohesive, long-term strategy for global peace.
President Nixon telephoned Representative Earl B. Ruth to extend birthday greetings and express appreciation for his legislative support. The discussion briefly transitioned to the political sensitivity surrounding federal deficit spending and employment goals. Ruth assured the President that he would provide his vote on the budget if necessary, despite his personal opposition to deficit spending.
President Nixon held a brief, informal telephone conversation with John McCarroll and several other employees during a meeting at a General Motors Fisher Body plant in Pittsburgh. The President used the call to offer greetings, express support for the workers, and discuss the importance of maintaining strong auto sales to ensure job security. The conversation served primarily as a morale-boosting gesture during the transition to the 1973 model production line.
President Nixon held a brief, informal discussion with John McCarroll, likely a representative or associate involved in the automotive industry. The conversation centered on the importance of maintaining strong car sales to ensure continued economic growth and the preservation of jobs. Nixon expressed his commitment to monitoring employment statistics and requested that McCarroll convey his best regards to those in attendance at the ongoing meeting.
President Nixon and Jeb Stuart Magruder held a brief telephone discussion focused on defense programs and their subsequent impact on employment. The exchange served to align their messaging on these economic and national security topics, specifically highlighting plans to produce a video to communicate their platform. No further policy shifts were finalized during this call.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, met briefly to discuss the return of five dollars found in a pocket and logistics regarding a job applicant named Teresa. The discussion transitioned to the personal arrival of the applicant and her infant, whom the President and Woods planned to host that evening. The brief exchange highlights the intersection of personal errands and staff-related matters within the President’s administrative routine.
President Nixon spoke with William M. Fast regarding the recent grain agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union. Fast expressed his gratitude for the deal, noting its positive impact on the maritime industry. The President emphasized his hope that the arrangement would stimulate domestic employment through increased trade activity.
President Nixon held a brief, informal meeting with an unknown woman in the Oval Office to discuss her upcoming travel plans. The conversation focused on the woman's impending departure for California to begin employment with Thomas Hart. Nixon inquired about her personal interests, specifically her golf experience, before concluding the meeting as he prepared to depart for a helicopter trip.
President Nixon rehearsed his national address titled “The Nation’s Economy” in the Old Executive Office Building. He practiced delivering arguments emphasizing the strength of the American economy, citing record employment and income growth while acknowledging the urgent problem of rising inflation and food prices. This recording served as a dress rehearsal to refine his messaging regarding the administration's new economic policies.