Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on White House media strategy
17 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Haldeman, Ziegler, Bull
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman and Stephen Bull to discuss administrative personnel changes, media strategy, and his upcoming public schedule. The group focused on replacing a Small Business Administration official, navigating negative press coverage, and coordinating potential televised appearances and radio addresses to maximize public support. Additionally, they reviewed logistical plans for hosting the Jaycees at the White House and engaged in a broader discussion regarding the deteriorating quality of life in New York City.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discuss their dissatisfaction with the broadcast networks' coverage of the President’s certification of the 26th Amendment. Nixon expresses frustration that the networks, particularly CBS, ignored the positive nature of the event in favor of negative reporting. To address this, Nixon directs Haldeman to have Charles Colson confront network executives by forcing them to compare their aired reports against the raw footage they filmed to highlight the perceived bias.
President Nixon met with his senior staff and economic advisors to manage the ongoing national economic stabilization program, focusing specifically on the Pay Board's negotiations and the administration's messaging strategy. Amidst concerns regarding the money supply and Federal Reserve policy, Nixon dictated a firm memorandum to Arthur Burns, stressing the electoral importance of economic expansion and the dangers of restrictive monetary policy. The President also discussed diplomatic and personnel matters, including upcoming meetings with world leaders, media relations, and potential staffing changes within public broadcasting and the executive branch.
President Nixon met with his senior advisors and staff to finalize the details of his upcoming January 25, 1972, televised address regarding a new Vietnam peace proposal. The discussion focused on coordinating network scheduling, managing media speculation, and refining the tone of the speech to ensure it effectively presented the administration's negotiating efforts. Additionally, the participants reviewed staffing requirements for upcoming presidential trips and strategic political considerations for the 1972 election cycle, including Robert Finch's future political trajectory.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to evaluate the public relations performance of Henry Kissinger and Secretary of State William Rogers following the President's recent trip to the People’s Republic of China. The discussion focused on the tension between the two men, specifically regarding Kissinger's media management, his perceived influence, and concerns about Rogers' lack of alignment with administration messaging. Nixon expressed apprehension regarding the public perception of Kissinger's power and instructed Haldeman to monitor potential bureaucratic friction within the State Department.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to discuss various political and administrative issues, focusing on the ITT investigation, the status of the 1972 campaign, and news media coverage. They explored strategies to manage the ITT controversy, including the potential to quiet hearings, and analyzed the President's standing following the New Hampshire primary. Later, Henry Kissinger joined the meeting to address the upcoming Moscow summit, foreign policy objectives, and the importance of maintaining White House control over foreign policy communications and negotiations.
President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman, Ronald Ziegler, and others to strategize on public relations, specifically regarding the media appearances of Henry Kissinger and the Nixon family. They decided to postpone Kissinger's prime-time television appearances until after the upcoming Moscow summit to maximize impact and avoid premature foreign policy debates. The group also discussed the logistics of a potential television special featuring Pat Nixon's China trip, the strategy for handling press conferences, and ways to shift the narrative regarding the administration's performance.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed potential vacation retreats, specifically evaluating Thomas B. McCabe’s Assateague Island property as a private alternative to Camp David. The conversation shifted to media strategy, with Nixon and Haldeman reviewing Ronald Ziegler's approach to press relations, the benefits of Oval Office press conferences, and upcoming political events. Finally, they planned a summit meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister in Hawaii, emphasizing the importance of managing local ethnic sensitivities and coordinating with Senator Hiram Fong.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discussed strategies for managing press relations during the 1972 re-election campaign, specifically addressing concerns over media bias and unfavorable coverage. They evaluated the merits of holding an Oval Office press conference versus utilizing radio addresses to communicate directly with the public while avoiding the perceived pitfalls of traveling press events. The two men ultimately decided to prioritize scheduling a press conference for the coming week to preempt George McGovern's planned Vietnam speech and control the news cycle on issues like the campaign, foreign policy, and the Soviet grain deal.
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 Ronald L. Ziegler met to discuss a comprehensive strategy for managing press relations during the second term, focusing on marginalizing the influence of the Washington-based media establishment. They analyzed tactics for handling social events, church services, and formal press conferences to minimize adversarial coverage and break the perceived intimidation of the press corps. Nixon emphasized a desire to shift toward more subtle, controlled interactions and directed Ziegler to prioritize the cultivation of alternative media relationships while keeping the administration's strategic goals insulated from hostile outlets.
President Nixon met with advisors Raymond K. Price, Jr. and Ronald L. Ziegler to finalize logistical preparations for his upcoming 1973 second inauguration. The discussion focused primarily on the strategic timing, distribution, and media management of the President's inaugural address, including vetting which journalists and commentators should receive advance copies. The participants also touched on peripheral topics ranging from professional football coaching records to historical comparisons regarding former President Eisenhower.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, to discuss the President’s recent press conference and the hostile nature of the press corps. Sanchez expressed personal distress regarding the intense media scrutiny and the stressful environment surrounding the administration. The conversation reflects the President's ongoing preoccupation with his public image and the adversarial relationship between the White House and the press.
President Nixon met with Stephen B. Bull to review a taped statement regarding energy policy. The discussion focused on the brevity of the recording and the President’s intent to utilize the footage for broader messaging purposes. Nixon expressed dissatisfaction with the current draft while planning for its finalization and distribution.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler consulted on managing the media narrative regarding the Watergate scandal, specifically addressing the potential implications for H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman. They discussed John Connally’s perspective on the situation and emphasized a strategy of denying presidential involvement in any cover-up. The pair coordinated talking points for an upcoming press briefing to clarify the President’s role in initiating an internal investigation and to distance his administration from the unfolding legal issues.
President Nixon and his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, discuss the President's recent interaction with his daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, regarding her upcoming television appearance. The conversation touches on public relations strategies for the administration, emphasizing the need for maintaining secrecy in foreign policy and securing public support for the President’s agenda. Additionally, they reflect on the favorable public reception of a recent event honoring returning prisoners of war.
President Nixon directs J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. to coordinate with Leonard Garment regarding a confrontational response to Senate counsel Samuel Dash concerning leaked information about White House cooperation with the Watergate investigation. Nixon emphasizes that the administration must manage public perception and media narratives regarding the release of materials, rather than focusing on logistical logs. The President instructs Buzhardt to demand a public statement from Dash, threatening that the White House will initiate a critical media campaign if the administration's cooperation is not properly acknowledged.