Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on Polling
20 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Haldeman, Colson, Kissinger
President Nixon met with various staff members and advisors to refine the administration's political and legislative strategy, specifically regarding the textile quota issue and relations with key Congressional leaders like Wilbur Mills and John Byrnes. The President finalized plans to issue a statement on textile legislation while balancing pressure from the industry against the strategic risks of legislative entanglement. Additionally, the President discussed methods for managing Republican Congressional relations through targeted meetings and evaluated strategies to counter negative media coverage through the use of news tapes.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman and Stephen Bull to discuss strategies for improving the administration's public relations and enhancing support among Congressional allies. The discussion focused on mobilizing staff, specifically figures like Clark MacGregor and Donald Rumsfeld, to champion administration policies such as the Supersonic Transport (SST) and Vietnam troop withdrawals. Nixon emphasized the need for a more proactive, enthusiastic approach from his team to counteract negative narratives, and Haldeman presented findings from recent polling and questionnaires that highlighted the President’s perceived strengths in hard work and family values.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman, Henry Kissinger, and other staff members to strategize on administration messaging, foreign policy initiatives, and political tactics. The conversation centered on managing the upcoming press conference, refining the administration's stance on drug policy by shifting focus toward youth rather than just veterans, and monitoring polling data regarding China and the United Nations. Nixon and his advisors also reviewed plans for an upcoming speech at West Point and discussed sensitive diplomatic maneuvering regarding potential summits and China-related negotiations.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss public relations strategy, focusing on how the President should project strength and manage his emotions during media appearances. They analyze the political effectiveness of Nixon's recent press conferences, debating whether he should adopt a more combative, 'righteous' tone rather than maintaining a perpetually cool demeanor. Additionally, they discuss the logistical coordination of upcoming social events, including a dinner with Nicaraguan President Somoza, and the continued use of polling to gauge public opinion on specific issues like drug policy.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman met to coordinate the administration's response to the publication of the Pentagon Papers and to refine the messaging for the President's upcoming anti-drug initiative. Nixon emphasized the need for a unified strategy that frames the security breach as an assault on the government and shifts focus toward the failures of previous Democratic administrations. The President also discussed refining polling techniques to better gauge public opinion on key issues like housing and racial integration, while expressing frustration with his speechwriters' inability to produce concise, punchy rhetoric.
President Nixon met with Henry Kissinger and H.R. Haldeman to discuss the domestic political impact of his opening to the People's Republic of China, specifically focusing on leveraging the initiative to bolster his support among youth and conservative factions. The group evaluated personnel moves, including appointing David M. Kennedy as Ambassador to Japan and assigning Robert H. Finch to the Office of Emergency Preparedness. Nixon directed his staff to prioritize an organized outreach effort on college campuses regarding foreign policy and mandated the expedited release of internal poll data to generate momentum and counter potentially unfavorable Gallup polling.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss strategies for shaping public opinion and defending the administration against political opponents, particularly regarding the need for more aggressive advocacy from White House officials. They analyze recent polling data for Connecticut and national sentiment toward political rivals like Senator Edward Kennedy. The conversation concludes with a directive for Colson to coordinate with Pat Buchanan to draft a strong public statement condemning their opponents' tactics as "dirty gutter politics."
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to review recent polling data and coordinate scheduling matters. The discussion focused on analyzing public opinion trends and managing the President’s upcoming calendar commitments. No specific policy decisions were finalized, but the exchange served as a routine administrative review of political strategy and time management.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss public relations strategies, specifically instructing staff to frame the Boland Amendment as the equivalent of the Mansfield Amendment to demonstrate the administration's increased legislative strength. The conversation also covers the manipulation of economic statistics, with Nixon expressing frustration over errors in Commerce Department and Bureau of Labor Statistics data and suggesting that political influence might be at play. Additionally, they review polling data from Gallup and Harris, agreeing to highlight more favorable figures to boost the President's image while coordinating efforts to engage AFL-CIO leader George Meany.
President Nixon, H.R. Haldeman, and John Connally met to discuss 1972 political strategy, the President's upcoming schedule, and the administration's internal power dynamics. A central focus was addressing the professional friction between Henry Kissinger and William Rogers by drafting a formal directive to ensure the President remained fully informed on sensitive foreign policy matters, including negotiations with China, the Soviet Union, and the Middle East. Additionally, the participants evaluated 1972 election campaign tactics, polling data, and plans to manage public perceptions of the President, including strategies for handling potential political attacks from the Kennedy camp.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman met to discuss ongoing administrative work and the management of recent polling data. The brief consultation focused on strategic adjustments to how incoming poll results should be utilized or refined. No definitive policy shifts were recorded, but the exchange centered on the tactical handling of political information.
Charles W. Colson and H.R. Haldeman discuss the public and operational fallout following President Nixon's speech regarding the blockade of Vietnam. Colson reports that Western Union is experiencing systemic technical failures due to an overwhelming surge in public telegrams and plans to issue a public apology to address the backlog. Additionally, they review positive feedback from pollsters Albert Sindlinger and Louis Harris, who describe the President's actions as a strategic 'masterstroke' that effectively rallies public support and challenges the Soviet Union.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss the 1972 election landscape, specifically noting Nixon's strong polling performance in the Michigan and Maryland primaries and the political vulnerability of Democratic candidates. They evaluate the importance of the busing issue, the potential impact of George Wallace's candidacy, and the positive public reception to the President’s handling of recent domestic and foreign crises, including the assassination attempt on Wallace and the Vietnam War. Nixon and Colson decide to maintain a hard line on the Vietnam bombing campaign leading into the upcoming Soviet summit while planning a focused media strategy to highlight the administration's global achievements upon the President's return.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman briefly discussed the political strategy for managing public perception following recent foreign policy developments. Haldeman suggested capitalizing on positive editorial commentary and poll data, specifically highlighting themes of presidential strength and resolve. The conversation served to reinforce the use of favorable media framing to bolster the administration's image.
President Nixon and John Mitchell engaged in a wide-ranging discussion primarily focused on the political landscape of the 1972 presidential campaign. They analyzed the electoral prospects of George McGovern, assessed the implications of primary results and Gallup polling, and reviewed the activities of various campaign staff members, including Charles Colson and Patrick Buchanan. Additionally, the pair touched upon scheduling logistics, including Mitchell’s upcoming media appearance on 'Face the Nation.'
President Nixon and Charles W. Colson discussed the launch of the "Democrats for Nixon" organization, strategizing on how to leverage former Democratic Treasury Secretary John B. Connally to peel away traditional Democratic support from George McGovern. They reviewed upcoming media appearances by Connally and other candidates, agreeing to emphasize the theme of "loyal Democrats" as a means to differentiate their opposition from the McGovern platform. Additionally, the conversation touched upon the administration's political strategy regarding labor unions, polling data trends, and the necessity of forcing Republican candidates to formally request their opponents' positions on McGovern to create a negative wedge issue.
Julie Nixon Eisenhower and Charles G. “Bebe” Rebozo discussed campaign logistics and regional election forecasts during a period of travel between Camp David and other locations. Their conversation focused on coordinating Eisenhower’s upcoming campaign schedule, specifically a Florida Kiwanis event, and evaluating the political climate in South Florida. They further assessed the standing of George McGovern and analyzed regional polling data to refine Nixon’s broader reelection strategy.
President Nixon met with Charles Colson and Henry Kissinger to strategize for the final weeks of the 1972 presidential campaign. They analyzed polling data, discussed managing political attacks regarding the Watergate scandal, and evaluated aggressive media relations strategies. A significant portion of the discussion focused on the Vietnam peace negotiations, specifically the status of ceasefire talks and the political implications of South Vietnamese President Thieu’s cooperation before the election.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a telephone call to pollster Albert Sindlinger. The President provided instructions to obtain Sindlinger's contact information directly from the office of special counsel Charles Colson. This brief interaction served as an administrative step to connect the President with his advisor for a consultation.
This recording captures a brief, informal exchange involving United States Secret Service agents within the Oval Office. The agents appear to be discussing logistical matters or preferences, with mentions of "polling" and a "first husband" suggesting a possible connection to security arrangements or public perception related to a prominent figure. No specific decisions or action items are evident from the limited transcript.