Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on George Romney
15 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Ehrlichman, Bull, Haldeman
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman reviewed internal confusion regarding the attendance and frequency of meetings involving the Construction Wage Council. Haldeman provided updates from his discussions with George P. Shultz and John D. Ehrlichman, specifically addressing conflicting accounts from George Romney, Arthur Burns, and Paul McCracken. The exchange focused on resolving discrepancies in participant lists to clarify administrative oversight of the committee's wage negotiations.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman and various officials to discuss urgent administration challenges, specifically the unauthorized publication of the Pentagon Papers and strategies to combat press leaks and political criticism. The conversation transitioned into a broader policy meeting with representatives from the National Association of Real Estate Boards regarding the President's revenue sharing initiatives, housing market stabilization, and rising construction costs. Nixon emphasized the importance of aligning administration rhetoric on taxes and housing to bolster support among key stakeholders.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate a phone call, specifically requesting assistance in connecting with George Romney. The brief exchange focused on verifying the correct spelling of the name to ensure the operator could reach the intended party. No broader policy discussions or significant political decisions occurred during this interaction.
President Nixon met with his personal aide, Manolo Sanchez, for a brief discussion regarding political management and public messaging. The conversation centers on the need to strategically control the administration's programming and handle political adversaries, specifically mentioning George Romney. Nixon expresses confidence in his ability to manage Romney while reviewing the validity of ongoing political criticisms.
President Nixon met with Rose Mary Woods and Alexander P. Butterfield to discuss administrative matters, including the handling of a specific letter and a speech draft. Following Butterfield’s departure, Stephen B. Bull joined the President to review scheduling arrangements regarding meetings with Vice President Spiro Agnew, a Joint Chiefs of Staff representative, and George Romney. The brief session focused on managing the President's immediate office workflows and upcoming appointments.
President Nixon met with Rose Mary Woods, John D. Ehrlichman, and several visitors, including NFL legend Jim Brown, to discuss campaign political strategies, administrative personnel, and minority business initiatives. The discussion covered concerns regarding campaign financing, the potential for political leaks, and the status of government staff. Following the departure of Woods and the visitors, Nixon and Ehrlichman reviewed upcoming meetings with George Romney and the Cost of Living Council to address public relations challenges regarding food prices and government staffing.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman discussed the impending resignation of HUD Secretary George Romney and his recent efforts to secure a private meeting with the President. They reviewed Romney’s tactical attempts to leverage potential resignation rumors to gain approval for additional staffing from the Office of Management and Budget. Nixon ultimately authorized the requested personnel increase through Caspar Weinberger while planning to address Hurricane Agnes relief efforts during the broader meeting with Romney and General George A. Lincoln.
President Nixon met with Veterans Affairs Administrator Donald E. Johnson and other aides to discuss the administration's legislative strategy regarding veterans' benefits and a messaging campaign for the 1972 election. Nixon emphasized the need to contrast his support for Vietnam veterans with the Democratic opposition's stance on amnesty and national security, specifically targeting comments made by Sargent Shriver and Ramsey Clark. The session also included administrative updates, such as the upcoming resignation of George Romney and a social visit with Donald McI. Kendall and his family, during which they exchanged gifts and discussed presidential items.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman coordinated logistical arrangements for their departure from Camp David, focusing on managing press exposure by staggering helicopter flights for staff and family. They also discussed the impending resignation of HUD Secretary George Romney, with Nixon criticizing Romney’s handling of the situation and instructing Haldeman to have John Ehrlichman contact him for further guidance on the matter. The conversation reflects the President's desire to minimize negative media coverage while managing personnel issues similar to the prior departure of Wally Hickel.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman discussed the sensitive management of HUD Secretary George Romney's resignation and the potential appointment of Richard Van Dusen as his successor. They also strategized to exploit a Virgin Islands financial scandal involving George McGovern's supporters by leaking information to journalist Clark Mollenhoff. Finally, Nixon directed Ehrlichman to assemble a team, potentially involving Murray Chotiner, to conduct opposition research and identify compromising information on McGovern's major financial donors and associates.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman discuss political strategy regarding HUD Secretary George Romney and the administration's campaign efforts. The President directs Ehrlichman to initiate opposition research on the financial contributors and supporters of Democratic opponent George McGovern. Nixon emphasizes that this vetting process must be conducted discreetly by a small team of government personnel to uncover potential scandals or compromising associations before the October campaign deadline.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman met to discuss the staffing and strategic reorganization of the administration's second term, including the planned departure of Cabinet members like George Romney and John Volpe. They evaluated the optics of announcing these changes, weighing the advantages of a symbolic press event at Camp David to project an image of decisive action. Additionally, they reviewed the status of Vietnam peace negotiations, acknowledging the high public expectations created by Henry Kissinger, and strategized on potential personnel appointments, including the U.N. ambassadorship for John Scali and various departmental roles.
President Nixon met with Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) George Romney and John Ehrlichman to discuss Romney’s impending departure from the administration and his post-government career plans. They reviewed potential leadership roles for Romney in the private sector, focusing on his interest in merging the Urban Coalition and the National Center for Volunteer Action to create a new, non-partisan "think tank" for community development. The participants also discussed the structural reorganization of HUD for Nixon’s second term, emphasizing decentralization and the necessity of finding a suitable successor to maintain momentum on domestic policy goals.
President Nixon met with W. Clement Stone, Douglas K. Kinsey, and Leonard Garment to evaluate the progress and future leadership of the National Center for Voluntary Action (NCVA). The discussion focused on revitalizing the organization through the potential involvement of George Romney, improving private sector financial support, and shifting the focus toward specific, actionable community goals. Additionally, Nixon and Stone addressed public speculation regarding a potential ambassadorship for Stone, with Nixon confirming his intent to retain the current ambassador and advising Stone to focus on his non-political volunteer initiatives.
President Nixon consulted with a White House operator to coordinate a time to reach Lenore Romney and her husband, George Romney. The operator provided updates regarding the couple's separate speaking engagements at the Washington Hilton and their expected arrival times at home. Nixon decided to postpone his outreach, opting to call back later in the day once the Romneys had returned.