Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on Office of Economic Opportunity
15 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Ehrlichman, Bull, Timmons
President Nixon met with an aide, identified as Alexander P. Butterfield, to coordinate the President's upcoming schedule. The discussion centered on arrangements for a meeting with entertainer Sammy Davis, Jr. Specifically, the participants addressed Davis's appointment to the National Advisory Board of the Office of Economic Opportunity.
President Nixon met with several Republican House members to discuss critical legislative and political concerns, including the administration's judicial nominees, busing policies, and pending Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) legislation. The participants reviewed the President's upcoming foreign policy agenda, specifically focusing on the Taiwan UN vote and his forthcoming trips to the People's Republic of China and the Soviet Union. The conversation also touched upon domestic economic issues, notably the dock strike and potential grain sales to the Soviet Union, as Nixon sought to align his legislative strategy with key congressional allies.
President Nixon and Treasury Secretary John B. Connally spoke to coordinate their schedules for upcoming meetings, including a session with the French and a pre-meeting consultation between Connally and Henry Kissinger. Nixon informed Connally of his decision to veto the Office of Economic Opportunity legislation, citing ideological opposition to the bill's expansive child care provisions. The two also discussed the recent state visit of Brazilian President Emilio Garrastazu Medici, praising his leadership style and the economic stability of his administration compared to other Latin American nations.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss the administration's political strategy regarding the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) child care legislation. They emphasize the need to align with conservative constituents to maintain ideological support, weighing potential risks against political gains. Additionally, the pair briefly touches upon recent UN voting patterns, expressing satisfaction that the administration’s position remained consistent with international allies despite opposition from India and Russia.
President Nixon met with John D. Ehrlichman and George P. Shultz to coordinate administration strategy across a range of domestic and international issues. The discussion covered the upcoming veto of Office of Economic Opportunity legislation, fiscal planning and budgetary maneuvering to manage the national debt, and ongoing international monetary and trade negotiations. Additionally, the participants reviewed the President's upcoming travel schedule, personnel assignments, and positive media outreach, including strategic efforts to frame recent judicial appointments and economic policies in a favorable light.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman discussed legislative strategies, including the potential veto of a legal services bill and negotiations regarding the Family Assistance Plan (HR 1). They reviewed the success of recent briefings with governors, leading to an action item for Ehrlichman to coordinate with Nelson Rockefeller regarding his upcoming testimony. The conversation also touched on the Justice Department’s suit against milk producers and personnel management within the Office of Economic Opportunity.
President Nixon met with Phillip Sanchez, George Shultz, and Alexander Butterfield to discuss the administration's outreach efforts to the Spanish-speaking community and the operational challenges facing the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO). Nixon emphasized that the administration must prioritize honesty, fiscal responsibility, and tangible results over the empty promises of the previous Great Society programs. Sanchez received confirmation of his standing within the administration, with Nixon encouraging him to continue his direct communication with both the President and Shultz to advocate for his initiatives.
In this meeting, unidentified participants engaged in a wide-ranging briefing on various domestic policy and administrative matters, including organizational changes within the Office of Economic Opportunity and public relations strategies regarding the President's upcoming return from a Soviet summit. The discussion covered diverse topics such as rural development, health concerns like cancer research and FDA reporting, and administrative positions on busing. The participants also coordinated preparations for upcoming Cabinet meetings and executive briefings.
President Nixon met with unidentified individuals to discuss the status of pending legislation regarding the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO). The conversation centered on the strategic involvement of John D. Ehrlichman and Clark MacGregor in managing the OEO's legislative future. No further records or transcripts exist to clarify the specific decisions reached during this brief consultation.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman discuss legislative strategies regarding the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) and the restructuring of its board of directors. The pair considers a proposal to reform the board's composition by selecting representatives from both former poverty lawyers and client groups. Additionally, they touch upon broader legislative priorities, including H.R. 1, school busing policies, and handgun control measures pending before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
President Nixon met with John Ehrlichman to review an extensive legislative agenda in preparation for a meeting with Congressional leaders. The discussion focused on controversial bills, specifically the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) and water pollution legislation, where Nixon weighed the political risks of a veto against the executive necessity of maintaining control over mandatory spending. Nixon expressed a firm reluctance to approve language that locked in funding for programs he intended to cut, leading to deliberations on potential legal strategies for withholding funds or utilizing vetoes to preserve executive discretion.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman discussed the precarious vote count required to sustain a potential presidential veto of the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) legislation currently before Congress. Ehrlichman relayed input from William Timmons, who expressed uncertainty regarding the vote count for the conference report compared to previous versions of the bill. The two decided to investigate whether the administration could delay the veto decision until the following day to better assess their legislative standing.
President Nixon met with David R. Young, Jr., George H. W. Bush, William E. Timmons, Thomas C. Korologos, Stephen B. Bull, and Senator Ted Stevens to discuss the upcoming Alaskan congressional election and potential candidacy options. The group reviewed campaign strategies, including the use of aviation for outreach and the political landscape regarding taxes, prices, and the Office of Economic Opportunity. The session also served as an opportunity for official photography and brief coordination on legislative matters involving Senator Stevens.
President Nixon dictates a letter to Hobart D. Lewis praising Captain Jeremiah A. Denton, Jr. and the resilience of returning Vietnam prisoners of war. Alongside this tribute, the President expresses concern regarding the perceived moral deterioration of the United States. Furthermore, Nixon discusses strategies for addressing government spending, specifically targeting the Office of Economic Opportunity as he seeks to counter negative public perception regarding fiscal waste.
President Nixon met with Phillip V. Sanchez and Anne L. Armstrong to commemorate Sanchez's appointment as the U.S. Ambassador to Honduras. During the brief session, which included a photo opportunity, the participants discussed the transition from Sanchez’s former role at the Office of Economic Opportunity and the positive impact this new diplomatic assignment would have on his family. The President offered his well wishes for the move, emphasizing the professional and personal significance of the upcoming ambassadorship.