Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on White House correspondence
17 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Haldeman, Woods, Bull
When White House correspondence comes up
Related topics: Presidential communicationAdministrative proceduresRose Mary WoodsPublic relationsPresidential schedulingPatrick J. BuchananH. R. Haldeman1972 electionWilliam P. RogersVietnam WarSpiro AgnewSchedulingRepublican National ConventionPublic relations strategy
President Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met to review and process official correspondence, specifically focusing on a letter from Congressman Charles C. Diggs, Jr. The President sought clarification regarding Diggs's role as a representative of the Black Caucus. Following this brief administrative consultation, Nixon proceeded to sign the documents.
President Nixon initiated a brief telephone call with Frances Bennett to inquire about the medical status of her husband, Senator Wallace F. Bennett. The conversation focused on the Senator’s recent surgery and his ongoing recovery progress. No significant policy decisions were made, as the exchange served primarily as a gesture of personal concern regarding the Senator's health.
President Nixon consulted with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, regarding the official spelling of Chinese Premier Chou En-lai's name. The discussion focused on ensuring the accuracy of administrative correspondence or formal documentation involving high-level diplomatic figures. No other policy matters were addressed during this brief administrative interaction.
On July 20, 1972, the White House operator, Charles W. Colson, President Richard M. Nixon, and Marjorie P. Acker talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:45 am and 9:53 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 027-016 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon met with members of the White House correspondence staff and volunteers to acknowledge their work in processing the high volume of daily mail. The discussion focused on the operational challenges of managing correspondence, the strategic importance of using personal stories and vignettes from the mail for campaign speeches, and the need to monitor public sentiment during the upcoming Republican National Convention. Nixon concluded the session by presenting the staff with commemorative gifts and thanking them for their service.
President Nixon met with Donald and Mrs. Donald McI. Kendall to dictate a personal letter reflecting on his relationship with their family. Following this, he dictated a memorandum to H. R. Haldeman regarding a collection of eulogies. The discussion focused on drafting an introduction for the collection concerning Dwight D. Eisenhower, specifically highlighting the formal shift in their professional relationship after Nixon's inauguration. Nixon directed Haldeman to incorporate these anecdotes into the text and decided against further inquiry into Eisenhower's final conversations.
President Nixon met with Ronald Ziegler and Stephen Bull to finalize administrative details regarding his upcoming schedule and a personal letter to Mrs. Theodore Bennahum. The President emphasized strict ground rules for a forthcoming interview with author Theodore H. White, stipulating that the discussion was to be used exclusively for White's book and prohibited from appearing in media outlets like Time or Life before the election. Additionally, the group coordinated timing adjustments for a subsequent meeting with a senator to ensure the President's schedule remained fluid and uninterrupted.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman coordinate the scheduling of meetings at Camp David, specifically planning a session for Patrick J. Buchanan to discuss future work assignments. The two agree to move Buchanan's visit to the following day to better align with the President's schedule, which includes a morning meeting with Vice President Spiro Agnew. Additionally, Nixon requests that Haldeman locate and forward draft form letters intended for post-election campaign acknowledgments.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman coordinate the scheduling of an upcoming afternoon meeting and discuss the logistics of a visitor's travel to Camp David. They also address a clerical matter regarding missing form letters that the President requires for his current work. The conversation concludes with a directive to locate these documents within the office to facilitate the President's review.
President Richard M. Nixon and Peter J. Brennan met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David on an unknown date, sometime between 9:50 am on November 15, 1972 and 8:43 am on November 16, 1972. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 225-017 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon dictated a template for a standardized response letter to acknowledge the influx of congratulatory messages received following the 1972 presidential election. This note was intended to streamline communication with supporters, specifically targeting the high volume of personal letters that arrived after his victory. Nixon provided brief instructions to ensure the correspondence could be efficiently processed and distributed to correspondents.
President Nixon dictated a personal letter to his old friend Eddie Dugan while providing instructions to staff members, including Raymond K. Price, Jr., on managing post-election correspondence. He emphasized the importance of carefully culling mail from celebrities and longtime associates to ensure personalized, accurate responses. The dictated letter to Dugan reflected on their shared history, dating back to a 1934 cross-country trip and their time at Duke University, while acknowledging Dugan’s enduring political support.
On January 1, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Clifford M. Hardin met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:32 am and 9:25 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 829-004 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed the administration’s strategy for communicating the impending Vietnam settlement to key congressional members and labor leaders. They specifically reviewed the use of letters drafted by Patrick Buchanan and Raymond Price to garner support for the agreement. Additionally, the pair coordinated logistics for Pat Nixon’s attendance at the upcoming funeral of former President Lyndon B. Johnson.
President Nixon and his secretary, Rose Mary Woods, met to discuss various administrative and political matters, including the handling of official correspondence, guest lists for state dinners, and public relations strategies. They reviewed the President's recent interactions with cabinet members and contributors, specifically focusing on balancing invitees to ensure both political loyalty and donor recognition. Additionally, they touched upon the ongoing political fallout from the Vietnam War, the President’s recent press conference, and the importance of personal communication, such as written notes, in maintaining support among key figures.
President Nixon and Secretary of State William P. Rogers consult on the appropriate method for communicating a sensitive recommendation, debating whether a formal letter or a direct phone call is more suitable. Nixon expresses hesitation regarding the timing and nature of the call, ultimately seeking Rogers’s advice on the matter. Following their brief exchange, the President decides to proceed with the communication.
On May 24, 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 1:00 pm and 1:27 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 440-031 of the White House Tapes.