Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on Journalism
25 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Kissinger, White, Bull
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discuss managing media strategy regarding a potential interview or article with a journalist named Brandon. The President distinguishes between the candor expected for a book project versus a breaking news story, expressing concern over how the material might be framed. They coordinate logistical arrangements for the upcoming meeting, noting that Secretary of State William Rogers will facilitate the journalist's arrival.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler met with technicians to coordinate the logistics for an upcoming interview with women journalists. The participants established strict ground rules for the session, limiting discussion topics to Pat Nixon’s birthday, the role of First Ladies, and women in politics. They also determined the technical setup for the interview and planned for the distribution of the transcript to journalists who were not in attendance.
President Nixon directed the White House operator to place a telephone call to journalist John A. Scali. This brief interaction served as the administrative bridge to initiate communication with Scali regarding undisclosed matters. No further substantive discussion took place during this exchange beyond the request to connect the two parties.
President Nixon contacted journalist Crosby S. Noyes to express personal appreciation for his recent columns regarding foreign policy. The two discussed the public reception of Noyes' work and the nature of political criticism in Washington. Nixon emphasized his belief that the ultimate success of his foreign policy initiatives would validate the substance of Noyes' supportive commentary.
President Nixon met with journalist William S. White to dictate a letter and seek professional advice regarding a specific course of action. The discussion involved ambiguous directives regarding whether White should proceed with a particular task, interspersed with philosophical reflections on duty, honor, and public service. No concrete policy decisions were finalized, as the dialogue remained focused on the drafting of the correspondence and the conceptual approach to the matter at hand.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger coordinated a telephone call to journalist Stewart Alsop, who was currently hospitalized at the National Institute of Health. The participants sought to locate Alsop's direct contact information through the White House operator to facilitate the outreach. This brief exchange focused entirely on the logistics of reaching the ailing columnist.
President Richard Nixon engaged in a brief telephone conversation with John A. Scali, a journalist and future diplomat. Given the lack of a transcript and the withdrawn status of the primary segment, the specific subject matter remains restricted. No substantive policy decisions or actionable outcomes are reflected in the available documentation.
President Nixon and Patrick J. Buchanan conferred briefly regarding the search for a specific quotation attributed to journalist Walter Lippmann. The discussion touched upon material appearing in Newsweek and the potential for a direct telephone inquiry to Lippmann to clarify the statement. The meeting concluded with an agreement to proceed with efforts to verify the citation.
President Nixon consulted the White House operator to determine the current whereabouts of journalist Paul F. Healy. The operator informed the President that Healy was traveling in Spain and would not return until November 17. Nixon acknowledged the information, concluding the brief inquiry regarding the reporter's schedule.
President Nixon met with Senator Milton R. Young and journalist Willard Edwards to discuss various administrative tasks, including sending congratulatory notes and certificates of recognition to citizens for heroic acts. The participants reviewed personal correspondence and discussed arrangements for upcoming holiday observances. Additionally, the President took time to recognize Willard Edwards for his long-standing career in journalism, marking his professional longevity with a birthday acknowledgment.
President Nixon met with journalist Nicholas P. Thimmesch and Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler to discuss the administration's naval defense strategy and to influence Thimmesch's journalistic focus. The President emphasized the necessity of modernizing the U.S. fleet to maintain global parity with the Soviet Union, framing naval strength as vital for international presence. Additionally, Nixon offered career advice to Thimmesch, encouraging him to transition from print journalism to more influential roles in television, specifically in public broadcasting.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to place a telephone call to John Chancellor. This brief interaction served as a logistical arrangement to facilitate direct communication between the President and the journalist. No further substantive policy matters were addressed during this specific exchange.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to place an outgoing telephone call to journalist Stewart J.O. Alsop. This brief administrative interaction served as the initiation of a direct line of communication between the President and the prominent political columnist. No further discussion occurred during this recording segment.
President Nixon contacted the White House operator to request a telephone connection with CBS journalist Mike Wallace. He instructed the operator to obtain the necessary contact information from CBS to facilitate the call. No further substantive matters were discussed during this brief exchange.
President Nixon initiated this phone call with columnist William S. White to personally offer well wishes following White's recent hospitalization for a spinal fusion. The conversation served primarily as a professional courtesy, during which White updated the President on his recovery and return to work. Nixon expressed his relief at White's improved health and communicated his continued interest in reading the journalist's future columns.
President Nixon consulted with Patricia A. Gleason regarding the whereabouts of journalist Dan Rather. The brief exchange focused on locating Rather, presumably to track his presence at the CBS press room. The conversation concluded with no further policy decisions or significant developments recorded.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to discuss administration strategies for handling media coverage, particularly regarding NBC and the Washington Post, and to review a project analyzing press bias and failed journalistic predictions. They evaluated the performance of specific reporters and judges, while considering political tactics for responding to the press and George McGovern's campaign. The conversation also touched upon logistical planning for the President's upcoming schedule, including decisions regarding press relations and his travel plans to Camp David and Florida.
President Nixon met with newspaper publisher James S. Copley and his wife, Helen, along with Victor Krulak and Gerald Warren to discuss media relations and the President's perspective on the press. During the conversation, Nixon critiqued the editorial leanings of major national newspapers like the Washington Post and the New York Times, contrasting them with the more balanced coverage he perceived in the Washington Star. The meeting concluded with a presentation of gifts, including presidential mementos and a discussion of various diplomatic artifacts displayed in the Oval Office.
President Nixon called veteran journalist Arthur Krock to express his well-wishes regarding Krock's declining health. The conversation focused on their long-standing professional relationship and mutual admiration, with Nixon reflecting on his political career and the significance of his 1972 electoral victory. Nixon also took the opportunity to critique contemporary journalism, noting his appreciation for Krock's past objectivity compared to the current state of the New York Times.
President Nixon attempted to reach journalist William S. White via the White House operator. The operator informed the President that White was briefly unavailable after stepping out to a nearby store. No further discussion occurred as the operator confirmed she had left a message for White to return the call.
President Nixon spoke with journalist William S. White to express condolences following the death of former President Lyndon B. Johnson. The two discussed their shared frustration regarding the lack of loyalty Johnson received from members of his own political party during his later years. Nixon also reflected on a recent conversation he had with Johnson, expressing his belief that the former president felt encouraged by the progress of the Vietnam peace negotiations before his passing.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discuss international developments, media coverage, and diplomatic strategy while Kissinger is in New York. The conversation covers ongoing military actions in Laos and Cambodia, with Nixon expressing indifference toward negative network news coverage regarding these strikes. They also evaluate the Middle East situation, criticizing the perceived rigidity of the Israeli government's negotiating stance while acknowledging the domestic political pressures influencing those policies.
President Nixon initiated this brief exchange to offer personal encouragement to prominent political commentator Walter Lippmann following reports of his health struggles. Nixon emphasized the importance of Lippmann continuing to share his public commentary, acknowledging the influential role the journalist held. The conversation served primarily as a gesture of professional respect and well-wishes during Lippmann's convalescence.
President Nixon initiated this phone call to check on the health of renowned journalist Walter Lippmann following his recent recovery from a medical procedure. The two engaged in a brief, cordial exchange focused on Lippmann's recuperation and his continued influence in public discourse. Nixon offered words of encouragement, affirming Lippmann's resilience and strong spirit during his convalescence.
President Nixon met with Henry Kissinger and a delegation of journalists from the People's Republic of China to discuss the ongoing normalization of relations between the two nations. Emphasizing the importance of mutual communication, Nixon highlighted the role of the press in fostering understanding and reaffirmed his commitment to building a constructive relationship with Chinese leadership. During the visit, the President presented the delegation with commemorative pens and expressed his personal desire to visit China again during his second term.