Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on Presidential decision-making
17 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Haig, Bull, Kissinger
When Presidential decision-making comes up
Related topics: White House operationsWhite House administrationVietnam WarSoviet SummitPress relationsForeign PolicyExecutive communicationAlexander HaigWhite House strategyWhite House staffWatergateVietnam War policyUnidentified visitorStephen B. Bull
On June 10, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at 12:56 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 516-007 of the White House Tapes.
On September 15, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 2:32 pm to 2:33 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 009-023 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon met with Jerrold L. Schecter in the Oval Office to discuss the nature of the presidency, the demands of the office, and the logistical habits required to maintain executive focus. Nixon emphasized his deliberate efforts to avoid distraction by limiting his intake of television news, maintaining a clean workspace, and delegating non-essential tasks to trusted aides. He reflected on the importance of mental discipline and emotional detachment, particularly regarding press criticism, as essential components for making cold, calculated decisions during national crises.
President Nixon and his daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, held a brief, informal meeting to discuss a specific, undisclosed proposal. During the exchange, the President noted unified opposition to the matter among his staff. The conversation concluded with Nixon directing that the proposal be set aside or addressed accordingly.
President Nixon held a meeting with an unidentified individual in the Old Executive Office Building to conduct undisclosed administrative or policy business. Due to the lack of an available transcript or specific log details, the precise nature of the discussion remains undocumented. This interaction reflects the ongoing, private internal consultations typical of the Nixon presidency that were captured by the White House taping system.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual in the Old Executive Office Building for a brief morning session. The discussion focused on the President providing formal approval for an unspecified matter. The brief exchange concluded when the guest departed shortly thereafter.
President Nixon dictates a memorandum for the file regarding a specific administrative or diplomatic matter, referencing internal records and procedural details. The brief exchange involves the President reviewing documentation, specifically noting a reference to Canada and an unpopular act or decision. This recording serves as an official record of the President's internal directives and administrative notes.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to finalize logistical details regarding his upcoming trip to the Soviet Union, specifically focusing on the departure schedule via Salzburg. During the discussion, the President expressed significant frustration with Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird's involvement in military briefings. Nixon decided to bypass Laird in future meetings to prevent perceived interference, opting instead to receive direct briefings from military personnel.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed the deteriorating situation in Vietnam due to the North Vietnamese offensive and the potential for a U.S. response, including increased bombing or the cancellation of the upcoming Soviet summit. They analyzed the political risks of the summit, particularly regarding how appearing to accommodate the Soviet Union while Soviet-supplied weaponry was being used against U.S. forces would impact presidential credibility and domestic support. Nixon instructed Kissinger to prepare a draft speech that would allow for flexibility in the U.S. response, opting to delay final decisions on the summit and military actions until early the following week.
On May 5, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:25 pm and 3:26 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 336-002 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon met with Henry Kissinger, John Connally, and H. R. Haldeman to finalize the decision to initiate a naval blockade and increased bombing campaign against North Vietnam. Despite dissenting opinions from Secretary of State William Rogers and Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird, the President, strongly supported by Connally, determined that the operation was necessary to prevent a collapse in South Vietnam and to preserve American credibility. The group discussed the political risks, including the potential cancellation of the upcoming Soviet summit, and coordinated the logistics for notifying key cabinet members and Congressional leaders before the President's public announcement.
On July 31, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:51 pm to 9:57 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 757-013 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon met with journalist Saul Pett for a reflective interview regarding his health, management style, and the nature of the presidency following his 1972 reelection. Nixon emphasized the importance of physical, mental, and emotional discipline in maintaining the objectivity required to handle intense national crises, such as the Vietnam War. He asserted that being reelected allowed him to govern with greater focus on long-term national interests rather than short-term political gains, while also highlighting his preference for delegation and his detachment from reactive news media.
On January 23, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:10 pm and 4:14 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 407-006 of the White House Tapes.
On January 30, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 6:57 pm and 7:39 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 406-031 of the White House Tapes.
On June 12, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:00 pm and 3:05 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 938-001 of the White House Tapes.
On June 13, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 7:17 pm and 8:27 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 445-041 of the White House Tapes.