Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on Melvin R. Laird
108 conversations · page 2 of 2 · frequently with Nixon, Haig, Laird, Meany
President Nixon and Melvin R. Laird called AFL-CIO President George Meany to personally inform him of Laird's appointment as Counselor to the President for Domestic Affairs. During the conversation, Laird clarified that his new role would include overseeing the Cost of Living Council and wage-price policy. The participants agreed to meet once Meany recovered from a recent bout of tendinitis to discuss these economic issues in greater detail.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to coordinate the timing and communication of personnel changes involving Melvin Laird and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. The discussion centered on ensuring the public announcement of Haig’s retirement from the military was handled properly. The parties agreed to contact staff members John Irving and others to manage the dissemination of this information through wire services.
President Nixon and Gerald L. Warren discuss media strategy, specifically the successful press reception of Melvin R. Laird’s recent briefings and the administration's efforts to project strength regarding economic policy and Congressional relations. The conversation also addresses ongoing Watergate pressures, with Nixon expressing confidence that public interest in impeachment and resignation has waned, while strategizing on how to use FBI wiretap disclosures to intimidate political opponents. Finally, they coordinate the optics for a forthcoming meeting on the Sequoia, intended to signal stability through discussions with John B. Connally and Bryce N. Harlow.
On June 6, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:45 pm and 8:46 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 039-128 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon consults with Bryce N. Harlow to finalize his return to the White House staff in a senior advisory role. Nixon clarifies that he expects Harlow to serve as a key political strategist and confidant alongside Alexander M. Haig, Jr. and Melvin R. Laird, rather than merely focusing on congressional relations. The conversation concludes with an agreement for Harlow to begin his tenure on July 2, 1973, with a formal announcement scheduled for the following Saturday.
President Nixon met with Alexander Haig, J. Fred Buzhardt, and Melvin Laird to discuss ongoing challenges including the Watergate scandal and upcoming administrative transitions. They reviewed the status of John Dean's legal situation, focusing on his handling of campaign funds and the political advantage of exposing his alleged financial impropriety through press coverage. Furthermore, the group discussed personnel adjustments, including bringing Bryce Harlow onto the White House staff, and coordinated legislative strategies regarding a pending House vote on Cambodia funding and the implementation of the Phase IV economic program.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig reviewed several pressing political and administrative issues, including a potential SEC inquiry involving Melvin Laird and ongoing concerns regarding the Watergate investigation. The two discussed the nervous state of Vice President Spiro Agnew regarding a Maryland investigation and directed J. Fred Buzhardt to contact Attorney General Elliot Richardson regarding reports of witness intimidation. Additionally, they addressed damaging leaks from John Dean to the Ervin Committee and confirmed the strategic rationale behind past White House discussions regarding IRS investigations of political opponents.
President Nixon and Alexander Haig discussed the White House's economic messaging strategy, specifically praising Melvin Laird’s recent success in bolstering support among Congressmen. The conversation shifted to monitoring Attorney General Elliot Richardson and the ongoing investigation into Vice President Spiro Agnew. Haig confirmed he had tasked J. Fred Buzhardt with pressing Richardson for information regarding the Agnew probe to ensure the administration was not blindsided by potential legal or political crises.