Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on Television address
15 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Price, Ziegler, Haldeman
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler coordinated the messaging strategy regarding Lieutenant William L. Calley, Jr., specifically emphasizing the need to distance the administration from the prosecutor, Captain Aubrey M. Daniel, III. Nixon directed Ziegler to finalize technical preparations for his upcoming televised address, including strict instructions to edit the broadcast length to exactly 50 seconds. The President emphasized a concise media rollout, instructing Ziegler to prioritize visual impact and strictly manage the dissemination of the speech.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler met to finalize preparations for a nationally televised address concerning the Vietnam War. The discussion focused on the logistics of the speech, including the strategic integration of charts to support the President's messaging and the timing of the broadcast. Nixon instructed Ziegler to coordinate with Mark I. Goode to ensure the technical aspects of the television presentation were ready for the scheduled evening delivery.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discuss the overwhelmingly positive initial reactions to Nixon's televised address regarding the withdrawal of troops from Southeast Asia. Haldeman reports feedback from various political figures, union leaders, and newspaper editors, highlighting the effectiveness of the President's unscripted closing remarks and use of visual aids. The two also discuss the necessity of ensuring the loyalty of White House staff members like Donald Rumsfeld and managing the public narrative through polling and orchestrated supportive communications.
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 confidant Charles G. “Bebe” Rebozo reviewed the positive media coverage and public reception of a recent televised address. The President expressed satisfaction that major outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post provided prominent coverage, noting that even historically critical networks like CBS offered professional treatment. The discussion centered on gauging the effectiveness of the President's messaging among his political base and personal acquaintances.
President Nixon met with speechwriter Raymond K. Price, Jr. to dictate instructions for a upcoming television address titled "Look to the Future." The President emphasized the inclusion of themes regarding moral and religious values, equal opportunity, and the importance of American revitalization. Nixon specifically directed Price to incorporate his "one child" rhetorical device, which he had successfully utilized in previous campaigns and policy initiatives.
President Nixon consults with speechwriter Raymond K. Price, Jr. regarding the status of missing material from Henry Kissinger intended for an upcoming televised address on Vietnam. Disturbed by the delay, the President directs Price to contact Kissinger immediately to expedite the delivery of the requested text. Nixon also notes his upcoming schedule, including a meeting with Cardinal John Krol, emphasizing the need to integrate Kissinger's contribution into his speech preparations by that afternoon.
President Nixon and speechwriter Raymond K. Price, Jr. discuss necessary revisions to an upcoming television address regarding Vietnam, specifically criticizing current drafts as inadequate. Nixon directs Price to consult with Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler to better align the speech with his recent strategic briefings. Price is instructed to refine the material and meet with the President later that day for further review.
President Nixon coordinated with speechwriter Raymond K. Price, Jr. to prepare for an upcoming televised address. Nixon directed Price to consult with Ronald Ziegler regarding specific thematic points, dismissing a draft prepared by Henry Kissinger as inadequate for his intended message. The two agreed to meet at 10:00 am to further refine the speech's structure and core arguments.
President Nixon coordinated with aide Stephen B. Bull to adjust the scheduling and logistical arrangements for an upcoming televised message. They moved the recording time to 4:15 p.m. to provide the production team with additional preparation time in the Queens room. The President also confirmed his wardrobe choice, selecting the dark blue suit he had worn at the Republican National Convention.
President Nixon met with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, to coordinate arrangements for an upcoming televised address regarding the Vietnam peace settlement. The discussion focused on administrative logistics, specifically providing instructions for the chief White House operator and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler to ensure the broadcast proceeded as planned. This meeting served to finalize the communication strategy for announcing the resolution of the Vietnam conflict to the American public.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to finalize a television address concerning federal law enforcement initiatives. The discussion centered on reviewing and incorporating the President's specific handwritten edits into the draft speech. Bull was tasked with ensuring these revisions were properly integrated into the final typed manuscript for the upcoming broadcast.
This recording captures the technical preparations and subsequent broadcast of President Nixon’s televised address regarding Vietnam and domestic policy, followed by a post-speech meeting with George P. Shultz and William E. Simon. During the production, the President coordinated lighting and staging details with television technicians before delivering his national address, in which he discussed the end of the Vietnam War and outlined his administration's economic agenda, including a proposed price ceiling on meat and his intent to veto budget-breaking legislation. Following the broadcast, Shultz and Simon briefed the President on economic matters, specifically highlighting a recent upswing in the stock market.
President Nixon consulted with Secretary of State William P. Rogers to coordinate a strategy for responding to the escalating Watergate scandal and to arrange a meeting at Camp David. Nixon informed Rogers that H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman were preparing to resign and that he intended to remove John Dean from his position. The President further outlined his plan to deliver a televised address to assure the public that his administration was actively investigating the matter and remaining in control.
President Nixon consulted with an unidentified staff member regarding the preparation of a forthcoming Sunday night television address. The discussion focused on the necessary length of the speech, with the President specifying a fifteen-minute duration to ensure effective delivery. Nixon emphasized the importance of coordinating the message with advisors Leonard Garment and William P. Rogers while considering the political implications for Congress.