Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on Gerald Ford
22 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Ford, Ehrlichman, O'Neill
President Nixon and Congressman Gerald Ford discuss their mounting concerns regarding House Majority Leader Hale Boggs, whom they characterize as mentally unstable and prone to substance abuse. Due to fears that Boggs cannot be trusted with sensitive information, the President decides to exclude him from an upcoming briefing with congressional leaders. Nixon instructs Ford to consult with Speaker Carl Albert to restructure the meeting to include only Ford and Albert from the House, ensuring that classified matters regarding Vietnam negotiations can be shared securely.
President Nixon initiates a request to the White House operator to be connected with Congressman Gerald Ford. The brief exchange serves as a logistical bridge to facilitate direct communication between the President and the House Minority Leader. No further substantive policy matters were recorded during this brief administrative interaction.
President Nixon and Representative Gerald Ford discuss strategy for managing sensitive legislative meetings, specifically seeking to limit attendance to key congressional leaders like Carl Albert to maintain confidentiality. Nixon expresses frustration with political criticism of the FBI and explores ways to bypass public disclosure concerns by restricting the group size for upcoming discussions. The conversation concludes with a plan for Ford to coordinate the meeting logistics while Nixon emphasizes his desire to share confidential insights without the risks associated with larger, record-heavy briefings.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman coordinated legislative strategy regarding key political figures, specifically Gerald Ford and Wilbur Mills, concerning upcoming policy or administrative appointments. They discussed the necessity of securing Ford’s public support and maneuvering Mills into a position where he would be compelled to endorse or accept their proposal. The conversation focused on tactical timing and leveraging political pressure to ensure the desired outcome before formalizing the plan.
President Nixon and House Minority Leader Gerald Ford discussed the precarious vote count regarding the Supersonic Transport (SST) funding bill in the House of Representatives. Following a narrow victory in a preliminary teller vote, the two reviewed legislative strategy and the potential need for presidential intervention to secure additional support. Nixon urged Ford to maintain his coalition and prepare to deploy extra votes if necessary, requesting an immediate update once the final results were tallied.
President Nixon and Representative Gerald Ford discussed the political fallout of the administration’s recent Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) announcement, noting that it successfully neutralized criticism from J. William Fulbright and congressional “doves.” Nixon emphasized that this diplomatic breakthrough was only possible because of the administration's firm stance on the antiballistic missile (ABM) program. Ford reaffirmed his support and committed to ensuring the passage of the necessary ABM authorization and appropriation measures in the House.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to coordinate urgent communications with key political allies. The operator facilitated a transition to Charles Colson, who was joined by Bryce Harlow, while also arranging a callback from Congressman Gerald Ford. This effort suggests a high-level coordination of legislative or political strategy involving senior staff and congressional leadership.
John Ehrlichman and Clark MacGregor coordinate the President’s urgent delivery of documents to Congress, acting on advice from Gerald Ford that a prompt response is of the highest importance. The participants discuss scheduling a breakfast meeting to facilitate this transfer and consider expanding the guest list to include key congressional leadership, such as Mike Mansfield and Carl Albert. They conclude by confirming the logistical arrangements to ensure the President’s actions are handled effectively without negative press or legislative friction.
President Nixon and Congressman Gerald Ford discuss a recent legislative victory and the political fallout surrounding the withdrawal of Richard H. Poff from consideration. Ford praises the effectiveness of the White House staff, specifically Charles Colson, in pressuring the Chamber of Commerce regarding federal pay raise legislation. The conversation concludes with Nixon agreeing to call Senator Hugh Scott to ensure firm support for the administration's position in the Senate.
President Nixon and his daughter, Tricia Nixon Cox, discuss the reception and technical logistics of a recent Republican fund-raising dinner in Boston featuring Gerald Ford and Bob Hope. They review the success of the event, including the funds raised and the audience's reaction to the President's broadcast remarks, while also noting the attendance of Tricia's family friends. Additionally, the conversation touches upon upcoming political concerns in Massachusetts and the President's personal schedule for the following weekend.
President Nixon coordinates with the White House operator to manage the timing and rollout of an upcoming public announcement. Seeking to avoid a disorganized or premature reaction from press or political associates, he directs that the official release be rescheduled for 4:30 p.m. He further instructs the operator to ensure key figures, specifically Jerry Ford, are aligned with the administration's messaging before the information is made public.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman consulted on the viability of sustaining a presidential veto regarding Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) legislation. They assessed the reluctance of congressional leaders like Gerald Ford and Hugh Scott to support the veto, noting Ford's specific preoccupation with a Civil Air Patrol program in his district. Nixon directed Ehrlichman to consult with William Timmons for a more definitive assessment of the legislative prospects before moving forward.
President Nixon, Tip O'Neill, and Gerald Ford discuss the imminent adjournment of Congress and the formal notification process required. The President invites O'Neill, Ford, and Speaker Carl Albert to the White House for an informal meeting and coffee later that afternoon. Nixon tasks his aide, William Timmons, with coordinating the logistics of this meeting based on the progress of the Senate's final activities.
H. R. Haldeman and John D. Ehrlichman coordinated the President’s administrative schedule at Camp David following a meeting with Robert Dole. The participants discussed the transition to a meeting with Gerald Ford, where Ehrlichman was requested to be present, and arranged for a subsequent meeting between the President and Richard Kleindienst. They also touched upon the potential appointment of Joseph T. Sneed, ultimately deciding to bypass him due to the speculative nature of his candidacy.
President Nixon and Gerald Ford met to coordinate staffing and leadership changes within the Republican Party and the administration. The conversation centered on the planned appointment of George H.W. Bush as Republican National Committee chairman and the strategic necessity of balancing party leadership across various geographic and ideological lines. They also discussed administrative personnel changes, specifically the appointment of John Volpe as Ambassador to Italy and the vetting challenges associated with potential high-level appointments.
President Nixon met with William E. Timmons and Stephen B. Bull to coordinate his upcoming legislative outreach efforts. The discussion centered on facilitating phone calls to congressional leaders, specifically Tip O'Neill and Gerald Ford. These interactions served as part of the administration's strategy for maintaining communication with key members of Congress.
President Nixon held a brief, informal call with newly elected Democratic majority leader Tip O'Neill and Representative Gerald Ford to congratulate O'Neill on his new role. The conversation served to coordinate the congressional schedule, specifically confirming upcoming bipartisan breakfast meetings and attendance at both Hale Boggs' funeral and Harry S. Truman's memorial service. Additionally, the President clarified his intent to deliver the State of the Union as a written message rather than a formal address to Congress, citing the proximity to his second inaugural address.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate the logistics and venue for a televised address regarding the impending Vietnam peace settlement. The discussion focused on the political implications of delivering the speech before Congress, specifically weighing the advice and perspectives of Speaker Carl Albert and Representative Gerald Ford. The participants evaluated the potential for a Congressional boycott and the broader necessity of securing legislative prestige for the administration's foreign policy announcement.
President Nixon initiated this call to thank Representative Gerald Ford for a supportive note following the difficult resignations of top aides H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman. Nixon urged Ford to rally congressional Republicans to counterattack against political critics, specifically disparaging Senator Charles Percy’s call for a special prosecutor. Ford assured the President that he was actively encouraging his colleagues to speak out in defense of the administration, noting that several members had already pledged their public support.
President Nixon met with House Minority Leader Gerald Ford to solicit political support during the escalating Watergate scandal. Nixon expressed deep personal anguish over the forced resignations of H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman, while urging Ford to rally Republican members of Congress to defend his administration. He specifically requested that allies push back against critics like Senator Charles Percy and publicly support his leadership during the crisis.
President Nixon met with William E. Timmons to discuss legislative strategy and the President's ongoing outreach to Republican leadership, specifically referencing recent interactions with Gerald Ford. Nixon expressed appreciation for the efforts of Timmons and his staff in managing congressional relations despite political pressures. The conversation served primarily as an informal morale boost and a reaffirmation of the administration's coordinated efforts on Capitol Hill.
President Nixon prepares for an upcoming meeting with Congressional leaders, including Gerald Ford and Leslie Arends, to discuss legislative strategy and pending petitions. The participants coordinate the arrival of these guests and emphasize the importance of maintaining communication with Senate leadership. The brief discussion serves as a final briefing to ensure the President is ready to address key legislative priorities upon the arrival of the congressional delegation.