Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on House of Representatives
22 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Ford, Arends, MacGregor
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 consulted with various staff and political allies, including H.R. Haldeman, Leslie Arends, and Frank Bow, to coordinate strategy regarding House legislative votes and foreign policy objectives. A primary focus was managing opposition to the Mansfield Amendment, which proposed significant reductions to NATO troop levels, and leveraging John Scali to organize effective public and legislative pushback. Additionally, Nixon reflected on his upcoming foreign policy address, contrasting his broader vision for the nation with the mechanical nature of domestic initiatives like revenue sharing.
President Nixon calls House Minority Whip Leslie C. Arends to congratulate him on securing a narrow legislative victory regarding the supersonic transport (SST) funding. Arends explains how strategic procedural maneuvers, including securing pairs from the Illinois delegation—specifically Representatives Philip M. Crane, Robert H. Michel, and Harold R. Collier—were instrumental in the vote. The two discuss the importance of selecting favorable House-Senate conference committee members to maintain their momentum against the Senate.
President Nixon called Representative H. R. Gross to express his appreciation for Gross's effective parliamentary maneuver in the House, which contributed to a significant legislative victory for the administration. Gross explained the tactical use of a quorum call and inquiry to catch the opposition by surprise despite intense labor union pressure. The two also discussed strategy for an upcoming Senate vote, with the President encouraging Hugh Scott to utilize filibuster tactics if necessary to block unfavorable outcomes.
President Nixon initiated this call to extend birthday greetings to Representative Charles W. Sandman, Jr. The discussion briefly touched upon the President's upcoming meeting with state governors following his recent trip to Moscow. Nixon also highlighted his recent Supreme Court nominees, characterizing them as strong and conservative, while expressing appreciation for Sandman’s support in the House of Representatives.
President Nixon met with his legislative leaders and foreign policy advisor Henry Kissinger to discuss the precarious political situation in the House of Representatives regarding Vietnam troop withdrawal legislation and foreign aid. Facing pressure from the Mansfield Amendment and potential legislative deadlines, the President emphasized the need to maintain negotiating leverage—specifically to ensure the return of POWs—and urged his team to prevent the House from forcing an early withdrawal deadline. Nixon directed his allies to reward Democrats who supported his Vietnam policy while instructing them to leverage Justice Department intervention in the Grand Rapids school busing case to gain political favor.
President Nixon and Clark MacGregor discussed legislative strategies for managing a critical continuing resolution for government funding, which included appropriations for the Office of Economic Opportunity and the District of Columbia. They assessed the likelihood of overcoming restrictive amendments proposed by Senate Democrats in upcoming legislative battles, noting that House leadership remained confident in their ability to strip such provisions. The two also addressed diplomatic efforts with key Senators and decided that while Nixon would decline a request to view a film related to Senator Allen J. Ellender, they would assign Henry Kissinger and Robert Finch to review it instead.
President Nixon calls Representative John W. Byrnes to express his gratitude for the successful House passage of tax legislation, specifically noting the victory in keeping opposition votes below 100. Byrnes expresses confidence that the Senate will follow suit and pass the conference report, citing the pressure on senators to adjourn for the session. Both men agree that the momentum makes it highly unlikely the Senate will seek to restart the legislative process.
President Nixon held a brief, informal call with House leaders Hale Boggs, Gerald Ford, and Tip O'Neill to coordinate the logistics of his upcoming State of the Union address. The participants discussed the President's plan to deliver a live address on Thursday combined with a supplementary written message to keep the presentation concise. The conversation also included lighthearted banter regarding the recent Super Bowl and a joking remark about the lack of presidential candidates within the House compared to the Senate.
President Nixon and Senate Minority Leader Hugh Scott discussed the upcoming trip to the People's Republic of China by Scott and Senator Mike Mansfield. Nixon instructed Scott to mitigate friction with the House of Representatives by emphasizing that future trips would likely include House members. Additionally, the President advised Scott to maintain a measured diplomatic stance regarding Taiwan to avoid provoking a negative reaction from Chinese officials.
President Nixon met with Clark MacGregor to debrief on a recent meeting with Southern legislators and gauge the support of House Republicans. The discussion focused on navigating legislative hurdles and ensuring party unity regarding ongoing policy challenges. The President emphasized the strategic importance of managing these political relationships and maintaining momentum during the upcoming legislative recess.
H. R. Haldeman and John D. Ehrlichman consulted via telephone to discuss the political fallout from the President’s recent press conference. The pair also assessed the current status of an ongoing vote in the House of Representatives. This dialogue served as a strategic check-in regarding legislative developments and the administration's public messaging following recent media exposure.
President Nixon consulted with Congressman Wilbur D. Mills to solicit praise and strategic advice regarding a recent legislative speech delivered on the House floor. Following a brief exchange of pleasantries, the two discussed coordinating a high-stakes meeting with Senate leadership scheduled for the following Thursday morning. Nixon sought to align legislative strategy while navigating the sensitive, partisan nature of the upcoming discussions with key senators.
President Nixon called Wisconsin campaign chairman John K. MacIver to express his appreciation for the local organization's efforts and to encourage a strong voter turnout in the final days of the 1972 election. The two discussed campaign themes, including the President's commitment to peace with honor, economic prosperity, and national strength. They also assessed the outlook for competitive House of Representatives seats in Wisconsin, with MacIver reporting that increased volunteer mobilization had improved their standing.
President Nixon and Charles W. Colson discussed real-time election returns on the night of Nixon's 1972 landslide victory. They reviewed projections for key Senate and House races, noting significant Republican gains in the South and border states while expressing disappointment over potential losses in other regions. Despite some concerns regarding ticket splitting and specific senatorial contests, they concluded the evening was shaping up to be an overwhelming electoral success for the administration.
President Nixon met briefly with an unidentified woman in the Oval Office before transitioning to a discussion with legislative aides Thomas C. Korologos and William E. Timmons. The conversation focused on the administration's interactions with the House of Representatives, specifically mentioning Richard K. Cook. Due to the fragmented nature of the recording, no specific policy decisions or significant action items were finalized during this brief exchange.
President Nixon initiates a call to Speaker of the House Carl B. Albert through the White House operator. The primary objective is to establish direct communication with the Speaker for pending legislative or political discussions. This brief exchange serves as a logistical step to facilitate the connection between the President and the House leadership.
President Nixon held a brief introductory meeting with newly elected Representative Lindy Boggs to congratulate her on a decisive electoral victory. The discussion centered on pleasantries regarding her successful campaign and the prospect of her future visits to the White House. The conversation served primarily as a formal, cordial welcome to the incoming congresswoman.
President Nixon and legislative aide William E. Timmons discuss the whip count for a critical upcoming House of Representatives vote concerning Vietnam policy. Timmons outlines a narrow path to victory, noting that the administration is actively lobbying undecided Republican freshmen following interventions by Gerald Ford and Leslie Arends. Nixon emphasizes the vital importance of the outcome, urging Timmons to exert every effort to flip votes and secure a legislative win.
President Nixon and William E. Timmons discuss the administration's political strategy regarding a vote in the House of Representatives. Expressing confidence, the two men affirm their intent to aggressively leverage political strength and resources to secure a victory. The conversation concludes with a resolute commitment from both parties to fight for the desired outcome.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to facilitate a telephonic connection with Speaker of the House Carl B. Albert. The primary purpose of this interaction was to initiate official communication between the President and the Democratic leader. No further substantive policy discussions occurred during this brief request for the operator's assistance.
President Nixon attempted to initiate a telephone call to Speaker of the House Carl Albert to discuss unspecified business. Upon learning that Albert was unavailable due to personal matters and could not be immediately reached, Nixon directed the White House operator to have the Speaker return the call upon his arrival. No further action or substantive policy discussion occurred during this brief administrative exchange.