Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on John Scali
16 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Colson, Haldeman, Bull
President Nixon consults with Charles Colson regarding an upcoming meeting with Henry Kissinger and John Scali, ultimately deciding to speak with them privately to manage potential professional rivalries. Colson updates the President on the progress of Harris polling, noting that the White House has provided comparative data from the Opinion Research Corporation to ensure accuracy. Additionally, they discuss strategies to improve relations with POW wives, determining that Don Hughes should assist Kissinger in future meetings to provide a softer, more effective approach.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discuss managing journalist John Scali, who is pushing for a more aggressive public relations campaign regarding the administration's China policy and Vietnam withdrawal plans. Nixon firmly rejects Scali's suggestions for premature withdrawal announcements, insisting that any public pronouncements on Vietnam be delayed until after Kissinger's scheduled meetings in Paris and consultations with South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu. Kissinger confirms he is maintaining contact with Scali to keep him aligned with administration strategy without adopting his disruptive proposals.
President Nixon directs H. R. Haldeman to coordinate a meeting between Henry Kissinger, Ronald Ziegler, and journalist John Scali to manage Scali’s views on Vietnam and the administration's China initiative. Nixon expresses frustration with Scali’s perspectives and Kissinger’s handling of the situation, insisting that Haldeman facilitate the discussion to align their messaging. The President explicitly tasks Haldeman with managing these communications to shield himself from the direct conflict and ensure policy consistency.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate media strategy regarding the administration's China initiative, focusing on countering news reports that suggested a rift between Henry Kissinger and Secretary of State William Rogers or that the State Department deserved primary credit. They discussed using journalist John Scali to correct the narrative and emphasized that the China policy was fundamentally driven by the President. Additionally, the pair reviewed the President's upcoming schedule, including a meeting with the U.S. table tennis team, and considered potential administrative personnel reassignments for Clifford Hardin and Bryce Harlow.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discuss strategies for managing the upcoming U.S. visit of the People's Republic of China ping pong team to ensure the event is handled with appropriate subtlety and control. Nixon directs Kissinger to coordinate with John Scali to oversee the logistics and press engagement, specifically intending to keep the State Department from dominating the initiative. The President emphasizes the need for a discreet, well-managed approach to avoid domestic political pitfalls while managing delicate diplomatic outreach.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discussed strategies for countering negative media coverage and handling anti-war demonstrations, particularly in light of recent testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. They reviewed tactics for exerting pressure on news networks, including utilizing antitrust concerns and leveraging internal allies like John Scali to influence reporting. Additionally, the President expressed satisfaction with the political resolve of Republican senators against demonstrators and emphasized the importance of maintaining a firm public stance on the Vietnam War and the economy.
President Nixon called ABC executive Leonard Goldenson to express his gratitude for the performance of John Scali and to confirm that Charles Colson was managing a pending cable television issue. The two discussed the importance of balanced network news coverage, with Nixon expressing satisfaction with ABC’s reporting and his own press conference strategy. Nixon also checked on Goldenson’s health during his hospital stay and encouraged him to maintain a positive outlook.
President Nixon directed Charles Colson to relay praise from Secretary of State William Rogers to John Scali regarding their collaboration on a joint press statement. Nixon further specified that Scali should be positioned as the primary advisor for future presidential trips to boost his morale and improve press coordination. Finally, the two discussed managing media coverage of recent unemployment data, with Nixon instructing Colson to minimize the narrative of a "statistical fluke" in upcoming NBC news reports.
President Nixon consulted with Alexander Haig to arrange a telephone call with journalist John Scali. The primary purpose of the discussion was to review incoming wires and facilitate direct communication with Scali. Nixon subsequently directed the White House operator to place the call.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman met to coordinate White House public relations strategies, focusing on the announcement of Marina von Neumann Whitman to the Council of Economic Advisers and potential attendance at a sickle cell anemia fundraiser. The discussion pivoted to a broader political strategy involving a 'vicious' counterattack against Vietnam critics, framing them as advocates of surrender and supporters of a communist government. Nixon stressed the importance of aggressive, unified messaging and expressed frustration with Henry Kissinger’s reluctance to utilize staff expertise—specifically that of John Scali—in refining public communication regarding peace initiatives.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig coordinate the scheduling of a press briefing to be conducted by Henry Kissinger, following a recommendation from John Scali. Nixon instructs Haig to ensure Kissinger meets with him immediately after the briefing is completed. This exchange highlights the administration's tight control over the communication of diplomatic updates to the media.
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.
In this wide-ranging discussion, President Nixon met with top aides and political associates to strategize for his second term, with a primary focus on navigating the difficult final stages of the Vietnam peace negotiations. Nixon emphasized his resolve to continue bombing campaigns until a satisfactory agreement was reached while managing public perception and Congressional relations. The conversation also covered extensive planning for second-term personnel appointments—including naming John Scali as UN Ambassador—and organizational restructuring to ensure a loyal, efficient administration. Throughout, Nixon stressed the need for his appointees to avoid being captured by existing bureaucracies and to cultivate new political constituencies rather than deferring to the traditional East Coast establishment.
In this extensive Oval Office meeting, President Nixon, H.R. Haldeman, Henry Kissinger, and other key advisors discussed the administration's second-term reorganization, personnel appointments (including John Scali as UN Ambassador), and public relations strategies. A significant portion of the conversation focused on the status of Vietnam peace negotiations, with Nixon emphasizing a hardline approach, including the escalation of bombing and mining operations to pressure North Vietnam. The President also provided specific directives for handling the press and managing the White House social schedule, including the exclusion of certain media outlets and the coordination of internal White House renovations.
President Nixon met with Stephen Bull and Col. Richard T. Kennedy to coordinate humanitarian relief efforts following a devastating earthquake in Managua, Nicaragua, and to discuss the ongoing status of the Vietnam War. Regarding Nicaragua, the President reviewed travel logistics for a potential visit and determined that Ambassador-designate John Scali should instead act as his personal representative to manage aid efforts and public relations. The discussion then shifted to Vietnam, where the participants analyzed North Vietnam’s potential responses to recent U.S. bombing campaigns, the state of peace negotiations, and the internal political challenges facing South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discussed public relations strategy following the resumption of US bombing in North Vietnam and the subsequent stalling of peace negotiations. They focused on countering negative media portrayals and criticism from "liberal" commentators by emphasizing the necessity of the bombing to force North Vietnamese compliance. Nixon directed Colson to coordinate with John Scali to leak the administration's perspective on a deep-background basis, aiming to control the narrative and reinforce the President's credibility with his "new majority" of supporters.