Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on Kennedy Center
16 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Colson, Haldeman, Bull
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discuss logistical and scheduling arrangements for upcoming White House events, including a dinner for Anastasio Somoza Debayle and preparations for Tricia Nixon’s wedding. They decide to expand the Somoza dinner to include wives to simplify social obligations and reach a consensus on clearing the White House schedule of non-essential events leading up to the wedding to reduce staff strain. Additionally, they coordinate the President’s participation in upcoming Kennedy Center opening events, specifically opting for the symphony concert led by Antal Dorati while choosing to avoid the Leonard Bernstein performance associated with the Kennedy family.
President Nixon speaks with his daughter Julie Nixon Eisenhower and son-in-law David Eisenhower to discuss the previous night's event at the Kennedy Center. The conversation focuses on David’s impressions of the evening, the presence of the Kennedy family, and the attendance of Mamie Eisenhower. They also address a circulating rumor regarding the President's potential appearance at the function.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman engaged in a wide-ranging management discussion regarding administrative social events, upcoming travel, and personnel appointments. They specifically focused on diversifying invitations to State Dinners and the strategic use of Presidential boxes at the Kennedy Center to bolster prestige and foster political relationships. Additionally, the President and Haldeman reviewed potential sites for an upcoming Montana trip, evaluated strategies for the administration's economic policy messaging, and discussed potential staff changes for the Office of Emergency Preparedness and military aide positions.
President Nixon met with entertainer Ginger Rogers and Alexander P. Butterfield to discuss the arts, the entertainment industry, and cultural shifts in American media. They exchanged views on the architecture and acoustics of the Kennedy Center, the decline of moral values in contemporary films, and the challenges faced by conservative-leaning entertainers. The conversation concluded with Nixon gifting Rogers a presidential compact and expressing his appreciation for her political support.
President Nixon and Charles Colson spoke shortly after Nixon delivered a nationally televised address outlining his Phase II economic controls. Colson relayed positive feedback from various observers, including pollster Louis Harris and Senator Barry Goldwater, who praised the President’s display of decisive leadership and strength. They also discussed the effective use of personal letters in the speech to humanize the administration's economic policies and briefly addressed the President's interest in potentially making a surprise visit to a concert at the Kennedy Center.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss potential evening entertainment options at the Kennedy Center. Colson clarifies the scheduling of Eugene Ormandy’s performance at Constitution Hall and identifies the current acts at the Kennedy Center, specifically the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre and the Chamber Orchestra of Mexico City. Nixon expresses skepticism regarding the appeal of the current Kennedy Center programming, prompting Colson to offer to conduct further research on the events.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss a military band concert being held at the Kennedy Center, prompted by conflicting reports regarding the event's nature and media coverage from the Washington Post. Nixon directs Colson to verify the event's dress code and private status, expressing potential interest in attending the end of the performance if appropriate. Colson agrees to investigate the details immediately and report back to the President.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss the logistics of the President’s last-minute attendance at a performance by the Interservice Symphonic band at the Kennedy Center. Colson provides details regarding the dress code and composition of the audience to ensure the President feels comfortable appearing in a business suit. Nixon ultimately decides to attend and directs Colson to notify the event organizers to hold the presidential box for his arrival within ten minutes.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman debriefed on the President’s recent attendance at the Kennedy Center, focusing specifically on the protocol for his theatrical arrivals. They discussed the effectiveness of coordinating his entrance to coincide with the National Anthem or musical intervals to maximize impact. Additionally, they briefly touched upon the President’s recent company in the presidential box, acknowledging the political value of hosting figures like Alexander Haig.
In this Oval Office meeting, President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, discuss administrative matters, personnel staffing, and political strategy. The conversation covers internal concerns regarding the management of the Kennedy Center, the political reception of Treasury Secretary John Connally's performance, and the vetting process for potential Supreme Court nominees. Woods also seeks the President's guidance on staff hiring for her office and organizational details regarding upcoming presidential appearances.
President Nixon met with his advisors, including H.R. Haldeman and Henry Kissinger, to coordinate foreign policy messaging and manage internal administrative tasks. The primary focus was the ongoing India-Pakistan crisis, where Nixon demanded a stronger public protest regarding the strafing of American planes and pushed for an immediate ceasefire. Additionally, the President discussed his domestic agenda, including managing the Kennedy Center's funding issues, handling congressional legislation, and directing his staff on media strategy and his upcoming travel schedule.
President Nixon consulted with the White House operator to clarify logistical details regarding his daughter Julie Nixon Eisenhower’s schedule. The brief discussion centered specifically on her attendance at an upcoming event at the Kennedy Center. No further policy or administrative actions were taken during this exchange.
President Nixon met with speechwriter Raymond K. Price, Jr. to dictate a memorandum regarding the administration's recent activities. The discussion focused on administrative matters concerning the Kennedy Center, the President's recent trip to Moscow, and the drafting of a message of sympathy. Nixon directed Price to utilize specific recording equipment to facilitate the transcription of these official communications.
President Nixon initiated this call to commend Frank Sinatra for his effective handling of a recent congressional committee appearance and his management of press scrutiny. The two discussed potential arrangements for Sinatra to provide entertainment for an upcoming White House visit by Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti. Nixon floated the possibility of hosting the performance at the John F. Kennedy Center to better accommodate a larger audience, and the pair briefly touched upon Sinatra's personal schedule and his recent travels.
President Nixon dictated a memorandum to H.R. Haldeman outlining a strategy to utilize the presidential box at the Kennedy Center for outreach. The plan instructs Haldeman and William E. Timmons to coordinate the attendance of members of Congress, cabinet officers, and White House staff over a 60-day period. This initiative aimed to foster political relations by ensuring the box was consistently occupied by influential guests.
The White House operator contacted President Nixon to facilitate communication with Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler. Ziegler was attending an American Society of Newspaper Editors dinner at the Kennedy Center. The operator ultimately decided not to patch the call through to the President after verifying the logistical situation.