Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on George Meany
109 conversations · page 2 of 2 · frequently with Nixon, Bull, Colson, Haldeman
President Nixon dictated a memorandum summarizing key objectives for his 1972 reelection campaign and ongoing foreign policy efforts. He addressed strategies for mobilizing Democrats behind John B. Connally, securing support from George Meany, and refining campaign operations in California alongside H. R. Haldeman. The President also evaluated polling data to gauge the current effectiveness of his political and diplomatic initiatives.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss political strategy regarding labor union leadership, specifically focusing on the influence of AFL-CIO President George Meany. Nixon directs Colson to contact a target individual to exert pressure and ensure they do not align with the Democratic left. The conversation highlights the administration's concern with managing labor figures to prevent political opposition from consolidating power.
President Nixon coordinated his upcoming trip to Florida with Stephen B. Bull, confirming a departure time and potential stop in Jacksonville. The President instructed Bull to hold the public announcement until the following morning and to consult with Secretary of Labor Peter J. Brennan regarding a potential meeting with AFL-CIO leadership, including George Meany. This request was intended to facilitate a diplomatic encounter with labor officials during the President’s weekend stay in Florida.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman and Stephen B. Bull to coordinate his upcoming travel schedule, including a trip to Florida, and to manage White House social outreach to key congressional members and political contributors. They also discussed public relations regarding Prisoners of War (POWs), specifically highlighting the positive public statements made by Col. Robinson Risner in support of the administration. Additionally, the group reviewed logistics for upcoming meetings with labor leaders George Meany and Peter J. Brennan, and solidified plans for announcing these engagements.
President Nixon, John Ehrlichman, and George Shultz met to discuss labor department personnel, specifically the management and staffing challenges facing Labor Secretary Peter J. Brennan. The participants coordinated travel plans involving Ehrlichman and Brennan, while also addressing George Meany’s inquiries regarding tax reform and presidential authority. Finally, the group discussed political strategy concerning potential aid to North Vietnam and how to frame domestic spending relative to historical post-war investments in Germany and Japan.
President Nixon and William Safire discussed strategies to manage labor relations following recent economic discussions involving George Shultz and union leader George Meany. They agreed to avoid escalating tensions and to adopt a positive public posture regarding wage guidelines. Additionally, they reviewed the bureaucratic friction between the National Security Council and budget officials concerning the funding of economic aid to Hanoi. The conversation concluded with plans for the President’s upcoming press conference, which Nixon viewed as a routine necessity for addressing current news cycles.
President Nixon met with Secretary of Labor Peter J. Brennan and Kenneth R. Cole, Jr. to discuss political strategy regarding organized labor, specifically the administration's ongoing tensions with AFL-CIO leader George Meany. They reviewed the administration's legislative agenda, including the minimum wage, unemployment insurance for strike victims, and the Alaska Pipeline, while emphasizing the need to maintain strong support from the Building Trades unions. The discussion concluded with a focus on managing the President's upcoming appearance before labor groups and balancing the competing economic interests of labor and the business community.
On June 6, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:11 am and 11:35 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 039-101 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon and Melvin R. Laird called AFL-CIO President George Meany to personally inform him of Laird's appointment as Counselor to the President for Domestic Affairs. During the conversation, Laird clarified that his new role would include overseeing the Cost of Living Council and wage-price policy. The participants agreed to meet once Meany recovered from a recent bout of tendinitis to discuss these economic issues in greater detail.