Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on Gift-giving
22 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Bull, Woods, Connally
President Nixon met with an unknown woman in the Oval Office to finalize or review a gift list. The discussion specifically focused on identifying recipients for official gifts, including Kenneth M. Crosby and Robert H. Abplanalp. The brief meeting concluded with the guest departing shortly after the matter was addressed.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull reviewed logistical details regarding the President's upcoming schedule, specifically focusing on a planned meeting with Lionel Hampton. They discussed the protocol for presenting official gifts, including coasters and potential jewelry, to Harriet Elam during the event. The conversation served to coordinate the specific items to be gifted and ensured appropriate preparations were made for the engagement.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, met to discuss logistical arrangements for upcoming events, including a party planned for that evening and gift-giving matters. The conversation touched upon a tie sent by David J. Mahoney, Jr. and the presentation of a photograph to First Lady Pat Nixon. Additionally, the President inquired about Woods’s personal health during the brief administrative meeting.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to coordinate administrative details regarding an upcoming meeting with the revenue sharing working team. The discussion focused on scheduling logistics and the selection of ceremonial gifts, specifically tie bars and paperweights, for the attendees. Bull was tasked with finalizing these arrangements to ensure the proper positioning and presentation of these items during the session.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, discuss the distribution of cigars to political allies, specifically Congressman Alvin E. O'Konski. The President expresses appreciation for O'Konski's recent speech defending the administration's Vietnam policy. Finding that the specific Nicaraguan cigars previously gifted are out of stock, Nixon directs Woods to send a standard box of White House cigars to the Congressman as a token of gratitude.
President Nixon and Secretary of the Treasury John B. Connally exchanged brief pleasantries regarding novelty currency received from the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). Connally initiated the call to express personal gratitude to the President for facilitating the gift. The exchange served as a social gesture between the two officials rather than a substantive policy discussion.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, discuss the success of a recent dinner with former Japanese Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi. Expressing gratitude for Kishi's long-standing support, Nixon considers appropriate reciprocal gift-giving to honor the relationship. They ultimately decide to frame and send a photograph of the two men to Kishi as a gesture of appreciation.
President Nixon met with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to dictate a letter regarding the daughter of Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka. The discussion focused on securing the daughter's name and address to facilitate the delivery of a gift following a recent luncheon. This interaction highlights the President's personal attention to diplomatic protocol and the management of international correspondences.
President Nixon met with an unknown individual to exchange gifts, including an item purchased in Chinatown intended for Augusta College. The conversation, which was informal and brief, also included lighthearted banter about travel plans and a missing photograph. No substantive policy or political decisions were made during this social interaction.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull briefly met to coordinate administrative logistics regarding an upcoming meeting with Senator Jack R. Miller. The discussion focused on scheduling details, including arrangements for the Senator’s daughter and the selection of appropriate ceremonial gifts for attendees. The exchange emphasized the importance of symbolic gestures in diplomatic and political interactions.
President Nixon met with Tina and Neil Diver, along with Margita White, for a brief social interaction focused on personal rapport and photo opportunities. The conversation touched upon the President’s past visits to Fort Wayne, Indiana, and included the presentation of gifts and photographs. The participants engaged in lighthearted discussion regarding mementos and scheduling before the recording concluded.
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met to coordinate logistics and gift-giving protocols for the President's upcoming diplomatic trip to Canada. They discussed the appropriate presentation of gifts for Governor General D. Roland Michener and Prime Minister Pierre E. Trudeau, including questions regarding the Governor General's family. Nixon directed Butterfield on how to distinguish the gift distribution between the two Canadian officials.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to coordinate the presentation of gifts to Soviet representatives. The discussion focused on the selection of cuff links and the logistical scheduling for the gift-giving ceremony. This brief consultation ensured that the appropriate items were prepared for upcoming diplomatic interactions.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss the logistics and potential public relations fallout of providing a Cadillac to Soviet officials. Nixon recalls past efforts to introduce American industrial goods to the Soviet Union and suggests that General Motors should donate or fund the vehicle to avoid the appearance of using taxpayer money. The President emphasizes the importance of avoiding government expenditures on the gift to mitigate potential criticism.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull reviewed upcoming scheduling arrangements involving Ronald L. Ziegler and Gerald R. Warren in California. The discussion primarily focused on the logistics of presidential gift disbursements, specifically the procurement and presentation of Bulova watches featuring the presidential seal and signature. Nixon finalized plans to present one of these watches to Congressman Otto E. Passman later in the week.
President Nixon met with Rose Mary Woods, Stephen B. Bull, and Zosimo T. Monzon to discuss a wide range of administrative, personal, and scheduling matters. Key topics included office supply procurement, preparations for the 1973 Inauguration, holiday travel plans, and the management of family-related requests. The President also discussed foreign visitor scheduling, the selection of state gifts, and personnel issues involving members of his extended family.
President Nixon consults with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, regarding the inventory of high-end jewelry items, specifically diamonds and pearls, currently available in White House holdings. The President expresses an intent to potentially utilize these items for personal gifts, though he remains undecided between the two gemstone options. The brief discussion concludes with Bull confirming the availability of a pearl, providing Nixon with the information necessary for a future selection.
President Nixon met with L. Nicholas Ruwe to record a dictated letter of appreciation. The discussion centered on the President's gratitude for Ruwe's friendship and a thoughtful gift of Monte Cruz cigars, which reminded Nixon of their association during his 1962 California gubernatorial campaign. The meeting concluded with the exchange of New Year’s greetings.
President Nixon instructed his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to arrange for a gift to be delivered to Madame Chiang Kai-shek at the Republic of China embassy in honor of the visiting Vice President of Taiwan. Nixon specified that the gift, which was intended to come from Mrs. Nixon, should be sent to the ambassador for delivery. The two also briefly confirmed the duration of the Vice President's visit and discussed local weather conditions.
President Nixon met with Edwin L. Harper, his wife, and their daughter, Elizabeth, for a brief social visit accompanied by a White House photographer. The conversation included informal introductions, the presentation of gifts, and a discussion regarding Harper’s health and his future relocation plans to the Philadelphia area. The President also briefly acknowledged Harper’s contributions to revenue-sharing initiatives before the group posed for commemorative photographs.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to coordinate logistical arrangements for an upcoming meeting with a visiting prime minister. The discussion focused on gift-giving protocol, specifically the presentation of state-themed silver caps to the dignitary. Bull was tasked with finalizing the scheduling details and ensuring the presentation was integrated into the President's itinerary.
President Nixon consulted his daughter, Tricia Nixon Cox, regarding appropriate reciprocal gifts for Viktoria Brezhnev and her family following the US-USSR summit. The President suggested obtaining high-quality watches from a New York City craftsman, noting that Rose Mary Woods could facilitate the request. He tasked Tricia with coordinating with her mother and sister, Julie, to finalize the selection of gifts.