ANTHILLAsk your own question
Answer · confidence: thin

Did White House notes from 1971 show why Nixon picked August 15?

Research question: What do the internal White House papers and Treasury Department memoranda from July and August 1971 reveal about the specific economic data and political pressures that led Nixon to choose August 15 over other dates?

The verified facts do not show the economic data or political pressures that led Nixon to pick August 15. The tape log lists the August 15 announcement as a discussion topic but does not describe the data or pressures behind the date 2. The August 13 Cabinet Room meeting listed the speech as a topic but gave no reasons for the date 3. The record shows that Treasury officials had been preparing contingency plans for removing gold convertibility since spring 1971 9, and the agenda covered dollar convertibility and the price of gold 6. The announcement came on a Sunday night 10, while the fall 1971 pressure on Fed chair Arthur Burns came after the date and does not explain it 1. The facts do not include the specific memoranda the question names, so the choice of date remains unexplained by this evidence.

Checked 2026-10-21. Only documented and supported facts are used.
Dig deeper on this question

Sources

[1] supported
By fall 1971, with an election about a year away, Nixon was pressing Fed chair Arthur Burns, his own appointee, to keep money loose.
"By the fall of 1971, with an election about a year out, Nixon was leaning on Arthur Burns, his own appointee to chair the Federal Reserve, to keep money loose."
The Lesson of 1971 Was Never About Gold
[2] supported
The tape log lists the President's August 15, 1971 economic announcement as a discussion topic, but it does not describe the economic data or political pressures behind choosing that date.
"The President’s August 15, 1971 economic announcement"
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 2/24) 1
[3] supported
The Tape Subject Log lists the President's speech of August 15, 1971 as a discussion topic in the August 13 Cabinet Room meeting, but it gives no reasons for choosing that date.
"President’s speech, August 15, 1971"
Cabinet Room #69: August 13-16, 1971 [Tape Subject Log]
[4] supported
On August 15, 1971, Nixon's day began at Camp David, Maryland, where he met with his economic advisers.
"The President's day began at Camp David, Maryland"
August 15, 1971
[5] supported
The tape discussion covered the effect of the August 15, 1971 action, including the New Economic Policy.
"Effect of August 15, 1971 action"
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 2/24) 1
[6] supported
Topics on the agenda included the convertibility of the dollar and questions about the price of gold, which relate to the international monetary pressures of the period.
"-Convertibility of Dollar"
Cabinet Room #69: August 13-16, 1971 [Tape Subject Log]
[7] supported
Photo records show that visitors at Camp David that day were primarily Presidential economic advisers attending a meeting there.
"A Guest book signed by current visitors (primarily Presidential economic advisors) currently at Camp David for a meeting."
August 15, 1971
[8] supported
Nixon prepared a televised address on the economy and economic reforms from the Oval Office on August 15, 1971, and Treasury Secretary John B. Connally gave a press briefing on the wage-price freeze that day.
"President Nixon preparing to deliver a televised address on the economy and economic reforms from the Oval Office."
August 15, 1971
[9] supported
Volcker and others at the Treasury had secretly been preparing contingency plans for removing gold convertibility since the spring of 1971.
"spring of 1971 secretly been preparing contingency plans for removing gold convertibility."
One nation under gold, page 410
[10] supported
The announcement came on a Sunday night in August 1971, when Nixon acted on the gold convertibility question.
"On a Sunday night in August 1971, with"
One nation under gold, page 410