Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on Robert H. Finch
51 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Bull, Finch, Haldeman
These are conversations about Robert H. Finch. For the 62 conversations Finch took part in, see Robert H. Finch’s page →
When Robert H. Finch comes up
Related topics: Presidential schedulingWhite House operationsSchedulingH. R. HaldemanPresidential communicationWhite House communicationsCommunicationStephen B. BullPublic relationsWhite House staffWhite House administrationRonald ReaganPolitical strategyLogistics
Robert H. Finch hosted Taft Schreiber, Mrs. Taft Schreiber, and Charles W. Butterfield for a meeting in the Oval Office. The recording consists primarily of room noise and muffled background conversation, rendering the specific substance of the meeting unintelligible. Consequently, no policy decisions or action items can be identified from the audio record.
President Nixon met with unknown individuals to discuss an upcoming trip to Europe involving Robert H. Finch and Donald Rumsfeld. The dialogue focused on managing press relations and coordinating report delivery, with specific instructions to be provided by Henry Kissinger. No formal decisions were reached during this brief organizational discussion.
On April 15, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon talked on the telephone from 12:40 pm to 12:41 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 001-096 of the White House Tapes.
On April 15, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:16 pm and 3:44 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 042-044 of the White House Tapes.
On April 15, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 3:44 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 042-045 of the White House Tapes.
On May 19, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:45 pm and 3:50 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 501-020 of the White House Tapes.
On June 2, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:19 pm and 12:24 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 508-015 of the White House Tapes.
On June 2, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:19 pm and 12:24 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 508-016 of the White House Tapes.
On June 2, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:24 pm to 12:26 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 508-017 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull briefly conferred in the Oval Office regarding the President's schedule. The primary topic was the upcoming meeting with Robert H. Finch, with H.R. Haldeman also mentioned as potentially being involved or having recently departed. The conversation was very brief, with Bull confirming Finch's arrival and offering to start a fire.
President Nixon and Robert H. Finch discuss long-term political strategy, specifically focusing on positioning for the 1972 re-election campaign and Finch’s future career path. The two assess the political climate in California, the influence of Ronald Reagan, and the necessity of managing internal Republican dynamics and potential primary challengers. They also evaluate prospective roles for Finch, including a possible ambassadorship to Mexico or leadership of the Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP), to ensure his visibility and continued contribution to the administration while preparing for a 1974 political campaign.
On July 22, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at 10:01 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 542-002 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to locate and connect him with Robert H. Finch for a telephone conversation. The President briefly expressed frustration regarding the difficulty of tracking down individuals amidst a high volume of ongoing initiatives and ideas. The exchange served as a routine administrative request to facilitate direct communication with a key advisor.
On September 9, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:39 pm and 1:48 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 008-068 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed the political recruitment of Robert T. Monagan to the administration following a positive assessment from Robert H. Finch. The President expressed strong support for Monagan's abilities and his potential to work effectively with Ronald Reagan, instructing Haldeman to coordinate with Attorney General John N. Mitchell to finalize the appointment. Additionally, the pair touched upon a recent phone call involving Clark MacGregor.
On September 12, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:31 pm and 4:37 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 278-025 of the White House Tapes.
On September 12, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:35 pm and 4:37 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 008-091 of the White House Tapes.
On September 12, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 4:37 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 008-092 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discuss a public relations strategy to frame the President as a new fan of the California Angels baseball team. Following the departure of the Washington Senators, Nixon decides to establish Angel Stadium in Anaheim as his new home ballpark for ceremonial first pitches. Nixon directs Ziegler to coordinate with Robert Finch to contact team owners Gene Autry and Robert Reynolds to generate media coverage and build support for this narrative in California.
On September 22, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:51 pm and 6:55 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 009-132 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed coordinating talking points for Robert Finch's upcoming diplomatic trip to Latin America to ensure they aligned with White House policy rather than just State Department directives. The President also tasked Kissinger with monitoring progress on the U.S. import surcharge regarding Latin America and Canada. To facilitate this, Nixon requested an interim status briefing involving himself, Kissinger, George Shultz, Peter Peterson, and Paul McCracken prior to Finch's departure.
On November 3, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:40 pm and 4:42 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 013-109 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon met with George L. Grassmuck and Alexander P. Butterfield for a brief, informal session that included a photo opportunity and the presentation of gifts. The discussion touched upon personal history, including past campaign experiences and health-related anecdotes from Nixon's time as Vice President. Additionally, the President briefly discussed the political future of Robert H. Finch, emphasizing the importance of his current work before pursuing a potential Senate bid.
On November 29, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:00 pm and 4:52 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 015-159 of the White House Tapes.
On November 30, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:45 am and 9:54 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 626-004 of the White House Tapes.
On January 20, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:00 pm and 6:06 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 019-037 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon met with Alexander P. Butterfield to handle routine administrative tasks, including the signing of official documents and coordination regarding H. R. Haldeman’s schedule for an upcoming Cabinet dinner. The President also engaged in a brief, informal telephone conversation with Robert H. Finch concerning his health and recovery. The interaction concluded with the President emphasizing the need for strategic political momentum heading into the upcoming months.
President Nixon calls Robert H. Finch to express sympathy regarding Finch’s recent health struggles and to discuss the reception of the President's recent State of the Union address. The two men reflect on the speech's tone, specifically praising the strategic use of references to Harry S. Truman to highlight the administration's legislative positioning. Nixon emphasizes the importance of his upcoming policy agenda, framing the final year of his term as the 'fourth quarter' requiring decisive action.
On February 8, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 2:31 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 020-058 of the White House Tapes.
On February 8, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 2:31 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 020-059 of the White House Tapes.
On February 8, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:51 pm and 2:54 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 320-022 of the White House Tapes.
On March 16, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:18 pm and 11:19 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 021-099 of the White House Tapes.
On March 27, 1972, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:11 am and 12:06 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 022-027 of the White House Tapes.
H. R. Haldeman queried Robert H. Finch to definitively clarify his involvement with ITT executives amid the ongoing controversy surrounding Dita D. Beard. Finch categorically denied placing any calls to ITT regarding the San Diego matter or communicating with William R. Merriam or Edward J. Gerrity, Jr. regarding the specific allegations raised by Beard. He confirmed only having past, unrelated discussions with the company concerning expropriation issues in Chile, while suggesting that Robert C. Wilson was the primary point of contact for ITT’s actions.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to address various administrative and scheduling matters, including the handling of a report from the White House Conference on Youth. The discussion touched upon the coordination of an executive branch response and the release of that document. Additionally, the President reviewed plans for an upcoming meeting, managed autograph requests, and discussed staffing transitions involving Rayburn D. Hanzlik and Robert H. Finch.
On June 7, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 9:48 am and 10:08 am. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 133-008 of the White House Tapes.
On June 9, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 5:08 pm. The Camp David Study Desk taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 172-005 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon and Robert H. Finch discuss campaign strategy for the upcoming general election, focusing on the Democratic primary and the perceived political threat posed by George McGovern. They analyze recent California election results, particularly the defeat of John G. Schmitz, and evaluate the effectiveness of labeling McGovern as an extremist associated with radical figures. Finch reports on his recent positive reception during public speaking events in California, while the two men coordinate efforts to frame McGovern as a dangerous isolationist regarding the Vietnam War and the POW issue.
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, to discuss administrative logistics and the President's upcoming schedule. During the brief interaction, the two touched upon the musical style of Ray Charles and reviewed scheduling commitments related to Robert H. Finch. The conversation focused primarily on managing the President's immediate calendar obligations.
On September 15, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:22 am and 11:26 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 778-019 of the White House Tapes.
On November 8, 1972, 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 1:59 am and 2:00 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 388-005 of the White House Tapes.
On November 28, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 12:14 pm and 1:50 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 156-011 of the White House Tapes.
On November 28, 1972, Camp David operator and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 12:14 pm and 1:50 pm. The Camp David Study Desk taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 183-006 of the White House Tapes.
Alexander P. Butterfield and Stephen B. Bull coordinated logistics for the President's upcoming schedule, including meetings for Robert H. Finch and a reception for 1972 election supporters. The discussion focused on the necessity of a public address system for the reception and clarifying the guest list for a planned Cabinet dinner. They specifically noted the status of RSVPs from Vice President Spiro T. Agnew and William P. Rogers regarding the dinner.
President Nixon met with political advisor Murray Chotiner to discuss various Republican political maneuvers and personnel strategies for the upcoming term. The conversation centered on potential candidates for California, including Robert H. Finch and Ronald Reagan, as well as the importance of strengthening Republican representation in the House and Senate. Nixon emphasized the need for better quality candidates and active involvement in future electoral efforts to ensure the success of his administration.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss Robert H. Finch’s decision to travel to the Virgin Islands during the 1973 inauguration events. While Herbert G. Klein confirmed that Finch had prior business and personal commitments, the President and Haldeman expressed concern that missing the official inaugural festivities would be perceived negatively. Ultimately, the President directed that any public inquiries regarding Finch's absence should be handled by Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman coordinate the recruitment of an unnamed woman for a new position, agreeing that Haldeman should manage the negotiation to distance the President from the personnel matter. They identify the need to move her out of an agency facing impending budget cuts and into a more prestigious role. To incentivize her acceptance, Nixon instructs Haldeman to highlight an upcoming major announcement regarding the People's Republic of China and a promised summer trip there.
President Nixon met with George H. W. Bush to discuss the transition of Robert Finch out of his current role and into a potential Senate candidacy, as well as coordination efforts regarding Ronald Reagan and California gubernatorial politics. The conversation subsequently pivoted to the Watergate scandal and its impact on the administration's relationship with Congress. Nixon emphasized the necessity of handling ongoing investigations through the Grand Jury process rather than congressional committees, while they addressed the potential legal exposure of campaign staff members like Kenneth Rietz and Jeb Magruder.
On May 1, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:24 pm and 6:27 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 045-104 of the White House Tapes.
On May 1, 1973, White House operator and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:27 pm and 6:44 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 045-105 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon consults with Robert H. Finch regarding the political fallout of the Watergate scandal and the departure of key administration officials. Nixon expresses frustration toward critics, particularly Senator Charles Percy, while emphasizing the administration's commitment to self-investigation. He urges Finch to maintain high morale and discourages personnel from resigning immediately to avoid the appearance that such departures are linked to the ongoing scandal.