Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on Tax policy
28 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Ehrlichman, Haldeman, Bull
President Nixon met with Paul W. McCracken to urge him to remain as Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, dismissing press speculation about his resignation as a potential negative signal for the administration's economic policy. The two discussed future leadership, including potential candidates like James R. Schlesinger and Ezra Solomon to replace outgoing members, and emphasized the need for a unified approach to economic management. Nixon also established a task force—consisting of Peter M. Flanigan, John B. Connally, and Maurice H. Stans—to address business community frustrations regarding federal regulations and labor costs.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate the administrative rollout of a major economic program scheduled for a forthcoming television address. They discussed the necessity of briefings for the Cabinet, referencing prior input from John N. Mitchell, and evaluated strategies to manage international financial speculation through public statements and tax adjustments. The conversation focused on ensuring a unified government message to accompany the President's shift in economic policy.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman coordinated on the final preparations for an upcoming address to Congress. The discussion focused on integrating new material regarding scientific research to align with a scheduled appearance by the Apollo 15 astronauts. Additionally, the President dismissed concerns raised by George Shultz regarding specific tax provisions, affirming his comfort with the current draft.
President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, George H. W. Bush, and John Ehrlichman met to discuss the administration's critical foreign policy challenges, specifically the upcoming UN vote on Taiwan's status and the strategic implications of upcoming high-level summits. Bush was instructed to maintain a firm, public stance in New York regarding the UN resolution, while Kissinger and the President coordinated the timing of U.S. outreach to the Soviet Union and China to avoid domestic and diplomatic conflicts. The meeting also addressed domestic administrative issues, including housing litigation strategy, welfare reform messaging to Congress, and tax policy coordination with Treasury Secretary John Connally.
President Nixon and speechwriter William Safire discuss the framing of economic policy regarding corporate profits and price controls to avoid business alarm. Nixon emphasizes the need for language that frames cost savings as a benefit passed to the consumer while explicitly rejecting the implementation of an excess profits tax. He instructs Safire to coordinate with administration officials George Shultz and John Connally to revise the messaging and remove references to mandatory controls that might threaten business confidence.
President Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman discussed the development of the 1973 federal budget, specifically focusing on potential new initiatives and tax policy. The participants reviewed the perspectives of Caspar Weinberger regarding fiscal strategy and coordinated their respective schedules with John B. Connally. This meeting served as a planning session to align administrative priorities and scheduling for upcoming budgetary negotiations.
President Nixon called Senator Russell B. Long primarily to extend birthday greetings and encourage him to take the evening off from his legislative work. During the conversation, Long pivoted to a proposal he was advancing in committee regarding tax deductions for domestic help, which he argued would incentivize higher wages for low-income workers and potentially reduce welfare rolls. Nixon expressed interest in the potential economic and political benefits of the plan, requesting that the details be reviewed further.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman met to discuss the administration's legislative strategy regarding HR1 and a problematic amendment threatening the broader tax bill. The discussion focused on the political necessity of avoiding a presidential veto of the tax package while managing potentially unfavorable legislative amendments. They ultimately decided to pursue negotiations with Senator Charles Percy to mitigate the amendment's impact and effectively handle the political leverage involving state governors and Governor Ronald Reagan.
President Nixon met with his staff and nominee Lewis F. Powell, Jr. to discuss the status of pending legislation, congressional relations, and the upcoming Senate confirmation vote for Powell's Supreme Court appointment. The participants also reviewed a proposal for pension reform, specifically deliberating between two tax deduction options for individuals without employer-sponsored retirement plans. Nixon ultimately expressed support for the $1,500 deduction limit, emphasizing the administration's goal of encouraging private retirement savings for workers not covered by government or corporate pension programs.
President Nixon met with Congressman Wilbur D. Mills to exchange congratulations regarding the successful passage of pending legislation, likely related to economic or tax policy. The brief discussion served to affirm their ongoing collaboration, with Mills expressing his readiness to intervene or provide further support if the legislative process requires additional executive pressure. Nixon acknowledged the congressman's contributions, solidifying the coordination strategy for the remainder of the session.
President Nixon and speechwriter Raymond K. Price, Jr. confer regarding final revisions to the upcoming State of the Union address. The discussion focuses on refining specific phrasing to improve the tone and ensuring the inclusion of Canada alongside Japan in references to international trade and diplomatic relations. Nixon directs Price to finalize these technical edits and coordinates communication with staff members Marjorie Acker and John D. Ehrlichman to ensure the speech is ready for delivery.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss campaign strategy, focusing on the shifting positions of their political opponents and the media's coverage of these developments. They evaluate the potential impact of middle-income tax proposals on the election and coordinate the release of daily promotional or campaign material. The conversation concludes with an emphasis on maintaining a consistent and aggressive public relations narrative.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discuss the drafting of Nixon's forthcoming acceptance speech, focusing on how to frame his administration's accomplishments against George McGovern's platform. Nixon expresses frustration with staffer David Gergen's inconsistent tax cut data, instructing Haldeman to confirm that the administration has enacted the largest individual tax cuts in history to provide a strong counter-narrative to McGovern’s budget proposals. They also weigh whether to utilize staffers John K. Andrews, Jr. and Aram Bakshian to refine the speech, ultimately debating a shift away from a simple 'laundry list' of achievements in favor of a thematic contrast between their vision for the nation and McGovern’s perceived assault on core institutions.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman and later Ronald L. Ziegler to discuss campaign strategy, press relations, and upcoming economic messaging. The President expressed frustration with the administration's communication failures regarding tax policy, specifically the Value-Added Tax (VAT), and directed his staff to clarify that there would be no tax increases in his second term. Additionally, they reviewed recent polling data on the Vietnam War—which showed strengthening support for Nixon’s policies over George McGovern’s—and discussed how to frame upcoming press conferences to pivot toward attacking McGovern’s economic proposals.
President Nixon met with George Shultz, Arthur Burns, and John Ehrlichman to discuss economic strategy, focusing on tax reform and property tax relief. The group evaluated the political risks of pursuing tax changes before the election, debating how to frame their proposals without being perceived as increasing taxes. Additionally, the President and H. R. Haldeman discussed administrative logistics, including the potential for a cruise on the Sequoia to discuss strategy and the implementation of Secret Service protection for Senator Edward Kennedy.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman met to coordinate political strategy ahead of the 1972 election, focusing on tax policy reform, the potential veto of a water pollution bill, and the administration's response to the Watergate scandal. Nixon emphasized a proactive, offensive campaign strategy—advocated by aides like Charles Colson and Melvin Laird—that prioritizes attacking political opponents over defensive postures. Additionally, the President and Ehrlichman discussed gathering damaging financial information on Lawrence O'Brien and McGovern campaign associates to neutralize political pressure.
President Nixon met with a large group of reporters and staff in the Oval Office to conduct a press conference, followed by a private debriefing with his senior aides, including H.R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman, and Charles Colson. During the public session, Nixon addressed current events such as the 1972 campaign, the status of the Vietnam peace negotiations, allegations regarding the U.S.-Soviet grain deal, and his stance against a 1973 tax increase. Following the departure of the press, the President and his advisors discussed the effectiveness of his performance, particularly the benefit of using his responses as recorded campaign material, and strategized on future scheduling and media messaging.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to assess the effectiveness of the President's October 5 press conference and discuss general media relations strategy. They analyzed the public impact of Nixon's messaging regarding potential tax increases, fiscal policy, and John Ehrlichman’s previous statements. Ultimately, the two debated the utility of presidential press conferences, with Nixon expressing frustration over media interpretation while acknowledging the necessity of communicating policy points to the electorate.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss legislative strategy regarding tax and spending bills, focusing on framing the issue as a fight against high taxes to secure necessary votes. The conversation shifts significantly to a political attack on Sargent Shriver, whom Nixon criticizes for his stance on Vietnam, POWs, and amnesty. Nixon instructs Colson to aggressively challenge Shriver's credibility, aiming to frame his positions as a betrayal of American service members and a surrender to communist interests.
President Nixon and Charles Colson met to discuss campaign strategy for the upcoming election, focusing heavily on undermining Democratic challenger George McGovern. They evaluated the political impact of various social and economic issues, including amnesty, taxation, and aid to parochial schools, while strategizing on how to best frame the President's policy positions and vetoes to the public. The discussion also included logistical considerations regarding the messaging of campaign surrogates and the management of regional media reports.
President Nixon and Alexander Butterfield met to coordinate the President's upcoming schedule and administrative engagements. The discussion focused on arranging a meeting with George Shultz to review tax policy and the involvement of John Ehrlichman in these deliberations. They further addressed the logistics of a press conference and the scheduling of a photo session with official photographer Ollie Atkins.
President Nixon met with speechwriter Raymond K. Price, Jr. to refine upcoming radio addresses and a campaign speech scheduled for the days leading up to the 1972 election. The discussion focused on adjusting the rhetoric surrounding Vietnam, tax policy, and welfare to ensure political impact and clarity. Nixon also emphasized the need for a non-partisan, unifying tone for his post-election remarks, specifically addressing the recent campaign tensions and the role of the "New American Majority."
President Nixon met with George Shultz, Edwin Cohen, and Lewis Engman to discuss tax policy strategy and congressional relations following the 1972 election. The group deliberated on how to approach key legislative figures, such as Wilbur Mills, regarding property taxes, private school aid, and potential tax code reform. The President emphasized a pragmatic approach to working with Congress to advance administration priorities while maintaining flexibility on controversial issues like the value-added tax.
President Nixon met with William E. Timmons, Rose Mary Woods, and Stephen B. Bull to discuss the administration's strategy regarding the 1974 budget, potential tax increases, and congressional relations. The participants reviewed the successful passage of a recent congressional resolution and coordinated the distribution of the President’s upcoming radio speech to Republican allies. Additionally, the group addressed logistical arrangements for upcoming state dinners, specifically focusing on managing guest lists and seating configurations to better accommodate political figures like Senator Hugh Scott.
President Nixon met with George Shultz, John Ehrlichman, and Wilbur Mills to coordinate the administration's legislative strategy regarding tax reform, foreign trade, and energy policy. The discussion focused on establishing a bipartisan approach to these initiatives, with Nixon emphasizing the need for political cooperation to advance key priorities like energy independence and trade negotiations while avoiding overly contentious tax reform proposals. The participants agreed on the importance of consulting with congressional leadership to ensure bipartisan support for upcoming legislative packages and discussed leveraging presidential bargaining authority in international trade and monetary affairs.
President Nixon met with Senator Russell Long, John Ehrlichman, and George Shultz to coordinate administration strategy regarding welfare reform, tax policy, and trade legislation. The discussion focused on securing Congressional support for the administration's agenda while maneuvering around bureaucratic interference and the influence of partisan groups like Common Cause. Nixon emphasized the need for a collaborative approach with Congressional leadership, particularly regarding trade negotiations and energy policy, while also reflecting on the importance of maintaining strength and respect in foreign policy.
President Nixon and William E. Timmons coordinate the scheduling and attendee management for upcoming meetings with GOP members regarding tax and energy legislation. Concerned about redundant appearances, the President instructs Timmons to streamline these sessions by consolidating committee members from Ways and Means and Finance to ensure maximum attendance. Nixon also suggests hosting a breakfast meeting to accommodate a larger group for the energy policy presentation.
President Nixon met with Attorney General Richard G. Kleindienst to discuss tax policy resolutions and address ongoing legal concerns regarding the Watergate scandal. The two men reviewed the administration's stance on the investigation, emphasizing the need to demonstrate the lack of prior knowledge among senior officials. Additionally, they touched upon personnel matters within the Department of the Interior and coordinated future meetings to resolve pending departmental issues.