Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on Henry M. Jackson
17 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Kissinger, Bull, Timmons
President Nixon and William E. Timmons discussed the administration's legislative strategy for the Supersonic Transport (SST) project following a setback in the House. Nixon encouraged Timmons to remain optimistic and directed him to push for a vigorous defense of the program in the Senate. They specifically assessed the likelihood of securing support from Senators Warren G. Magnuson and Henry M. Jackson to revive the initiative.
President Nixon coordinated with Henry Kissinger to place a telephone call to Senator Henry M. “Scoop” Jackson. The conversation served as a logistical preparation for the President to initiate contact with the Senator. No substantive policy discussions were recorded during this brief administrative exchange.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate a follow-up conversation with Senator Henry 'Scoop' Jackson. After learning that the Senator was in transit to a New York City hotel, the President decided to postpone the contact until the following day. This exchange served as a logistical coordination to arrange a direct communication between the two men.
President Nixon consulted with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to verify the religious affiliation of Senator Henry “Scoop” Jackson. Nixon requested this information to confirm whether Jackson was Catholic or Protestant, likely for political or strategic vetting purposes. Woods indicated she believed Jackson was Protestant but agreed to investigate further to provide a definitive answer.
President Nixon and Patrick J. Buchanan engaged in a broad strategic discussion regarding the shifting political landscape and the prospective field of Democratic presidential candidates. The conversation examined the recent statements and political maneuverings of figures like Henry “Scoop” Jackson, John V. Lindsay, and George McGovern, while analyzing party dynamics related to the Vietnam War and social issues. This dialogue served to refine the administration’s understanding of opposition vulnerabilities and the evolving challenges posed by various Democratic factions ahead of the upcoming election cycle.
President Nixon met with Senator Henry M. Jackson to dictate a formal letter addressed to him. The discussion centered on an editorial published in The New York Times. Nixon concluded the brief interaction by providing instructions to share a copy of the correspondence with an individual named Margaret.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to strategize the domestic political management of the upcoming Soviet summit and the pending Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) agreement. They discussed the necessity of lobbying skeptical lawmakers, such as Senator Henry "Scoop" Jackson, to ensure support for ABM and offensive weapons provisions. Additionally, they reviewed messaging for the President’s upcoming speeches and press briefings to ensure a cautious, balanced tone that would satisfy both congressional hawks and international concerns.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to place an outgoing call to Senator Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson. The brief exchange served as a logistical coordination to facilitate direct communication between the President and the Senator. No further substantive policy matters were discussed during this request.
President Nixon instructed the Camp David operator to facilitate an urgent telephone call to Senator Henry M. “Scoop” Jackson, who was currently traveling in Tel Aviv. The President emphasized his availability to receive the call at any time, signaling an intent to communicate with the Senator regarding pressing legislative or foreign policy matters. The conversation was limited to the technical coordination required to establish this international connection.
President Nixon directed Stephen B. Bull to rearrange his daily schedule by delaying a meeting with Senator Henry M. Jackson. To facilitate this shift, Nixon instructed Bull to coordinate with the Secretary of Defense to ensure a preceding meeting with George P. Shultz concluded promptly. The primary goal of these adjustments was to restrict access to Jackson and manage the timing of high-level briefings regarding international travel and oil policy.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met briefly in the Oval Office to coordinate the timing and logistics of a scheduled meeting with Senator Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson. The conversation centered on the potential negative impact that interrupting or delaying the senator might have on their professional relationship and mutual trust. No further policy decisions were recorded during this short exchange.
President Nixon attempted to reach National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger to discuss urgent matters, only to learn that Kissinger was currently in transit to a dinner engagement with Senator Henry M. Jackson. Nixon directed the operator to have Kissinger contact him once he arrived at the Senator's residence. This brief exchange served as a logistical coordination to establish a secure line of communication between the President and his advisor.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger coordinate a hardline public stance to counter critics of the Vietnam peace settlement and the administration's proposed economic aid. They specifically discuss leveraging Senator Henry Jackson and others to frame opposition as a sabotage of peace efforts, while dismissing concerns regarding the stability of the cease-fire. Additionally, they review the logistics and leverage strategy concerning the final withdrawal of U.S. troops and the release of the remaining prisoners of war.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull reviewed the President’s upcoming schedule, specifically focusing on a meeting regarding Soviet Jewry. They discussed the inclusion of Senators Henry Jackson, Abraham Ribicoff, and Jacob Javits as attendees. Nixon instructed Bull to ensure the participants were briefed on the significance of the meeting.
President Nixon and Vice President Agnew discussed a contentious meeting with congressional leaders regarding Soviet Jewry and its impact on U.S.-Soviet relations. Agnew expressed shock at the confrontational stance taken by Senators Jackson, Ribicoff, and Javits, arguing that linking Jewish emigration to arms control policy was an unreasonable burden. They collectively agreed that such tactics threatened foreign policy, and Agnew offered to publicly champion the administration’s position should the President choose to take the issue to the American people.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to coordinate their strategy regarding Jewish emigration and relations with the Soviet Union, specifically aiming to address political pressure from figures like Senator Henry Jackson. Concerned about potential confrontations with activists, the President decided to cancel a scheduled meeting with Jewish leaders to avoid hostile criticism. They also discussed managing the schedule of Rainer Barzel to prioritize meetings with Congressional leaders over ceremonial press opportunities.
President Nixon and George Shultz discuss the political risks associated with the pending Economic Stabilization Act conference report. While they express frustration over unfavorable provisions like mandatory disclosure of business profits and wage exemptions, they ultimately conclude that the risk of losing the legislation entirely outweighs these concerns. Nixon decides against supporting Gerald Ford’s attempt to defeat the report in the House, directing his team to manage the bill's implementation instead. The conversation also touches on political tensions regarding the emigration of Soviet Jews and the potential impact on upcoming summits.