Conversation: 060-001
Prev: 059-004 Next: 060-002Start Date: 8-Jun-1971 8:03 AM
End Date: 8-Jun-1971 10:31 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Cabinet officers; Agnew, Spiro T. (Vice President); Connally, John B.; Laird, Melvin R.; Mitchell, John N.; Blount, Winton M. ("Red"), Jr.; Morton, Rogers C. B.; Hardin, Clifford M.; Stans, Maurice H.; Hodgson, James D.; Richardson, Elliot L.; Romney, George W.; Volpe, John A.; Shultz, George P.; Finch, Robert H.; Rumsfeld, Donald H.; Bush, George H. W.; Ehrlichman, John D.; MacGregor, Clark; Flanigan, Peter M.; Peterson, Peter G.; Klein, Herbert G.; David, Edward E., Jr. (Dr.); Price, Raymond K., Jr.; Ziegler, Ronald L.; Brown, Robert J.; Morgan, Edward L.; Harper, Edwin L.; Whitaker, John C.; Ball, Neal; Krogh, Egil ("Bud"), Jr.; Waldman, Raymond J.; Garment, Leonard; Evans, John F., Jr.; Engman, Lewis A.; Morey, Roy D.; Michel, Peter; Shepard, Geoffrey C.; Anderson, Martin C. ("Marty"); Cole, Kenneth R., Jr.; McCracken, Paul W.; Weinberger, Caspar W. ("Cap"); Weber, Arnold R.; Sohmer, Arthur J.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Cabinet officers; Agnew, Spiro T. (Vice President); Connally, John B.; Laird, Melvin R.; Mitchell, John N.; Blount, Winton M. ("Red"), Jr.; Morton, Rogers C. B.; Hardin, Clifford M.; Stans, Maurice H.; Hodgson, James D.; Richardson, Elliot L.; Romney, George W.; Volpe, John A.; Shultz, George P.; Finch, Robert H.; Rumsfeld, Donald H.; Bush, George H. W.; Ehrlichman, John D.; MacGregor, Clark; Flanigan, Peter M.; Peterson, Peter G.; Klein, Herbert G.; David, Edward E., Jr. (Dr.); Price, Raymond K., Jr.; Ziegler, Ronald L.; Brown, Robert J.; Morgan, Edward L.; Harper, Edwin L.; Whitaker, John C.; Ball, Neal; Krogh, Egil ("Bud"), Jr.; Waldman, Raymond J.; Garment, Leonard; Evans, John F., Jr.; Engman, Lewis A.; Morey, Roy D.; Michel, Peter; Shepard, Geoffrey C.; Anderson, Martin C. ("Marty"); Cole, Kenneth R., Jr.; McCracken, Paul W.; Weinberger, Caspar W. ("Cap"); Weber, Arnold R.; Sohmer, Arthur J.;Recording Device: Cabinet Room
NARA Description:
On June 8, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, Cabinet officers, and staffers, including John B. Connally, Melvin R. Laird, John N. Mitchell, Winton M. ("Red"), Blount, Jr., Rogers C. B. Morton, Clifford M. Hardin, Maurice H. Stans, James D. Hodgson, Elliot L. Richardson, George W. Romney, John A. Volpe, George P. Shultz, Robert H. Finch, Donald H. Rumsfeld, George H. W. Bush, John D. Ehrlichman, Clark MacGregor, Peter M. Flanigan, Peter G. Peterson, Herbert G. Klein, Dr. Edward E. David, Jr., Raymond K. Price, Jr., Ronald L. Ziegler, Robert J. Brown, Edward L. Morgan, Edwin L. Harper, John C. Whitaker, Neal Ball, Egil ("Bud") Krogh, Jr., Raymond J. Waldman, Leonard Garment, John F. Evans, Jr., Lewis A. Engman, Roy D. Morey, Peter Michel, Geoffrey C. Shepard, Martin C. ("Marty") Anderson, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Paul W. McCracken, Caspar W. ("Cap") Weinberger, Arnold R. Weber, and Arthur J. Sohmer, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 8:03 am and 10:31 am. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 060-001 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 60-1
Date: June 8, 1971
Time: 8:03 am - unknown before 10:31 am
Location: Cabinet Room
The President met with Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, John B. Connally, Melvin R. Laird, John
N. Mitchell, Winton M. (“Red”) Blount, Rogers C. B. Morton, Clifford M. Hardin, Maurice H.
Stans, James D. Hodgson, Elliot L. Richardson, George W. Romney, John A. Volpe, George P.
Shultz, Robert H. Finch, Donald H. Rumsfeld, George H. W. Bush, John D. Ehrlichman, Clark
MacGregor, Peter M. Flanigan, Peter G. Peterson, Herbert G. Klein, Dr. Edward E. David, Jr.,
Raymond K. Price, Jr., Ronald L. Ziegler, Robert J. Brown, Edward L. Morgan, Edwin L.
Harper, John C. Whitaker, Neal Ball, Egil (“Bud”) Krogh, Jr., Raymond J. Waldman, Leonard
Garment, John F. Evans, Jr., Lewis A. Engman, Roy D. Morey, Peter Michel, Geoffrey C.
Shepard, Martin C. (“Marty”) Anderson, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Paul W. McCracken, Caspar W.
(“Cap”) Weinberger, Arnold R. Weber, and Arthur J. Sohmer
[General conversation/Unintelligible]
Attendance at meeting
-Aids to Cabinet officers
-Ehrlichman’s view of input
-Responsibilities of those attending
-Domestic Policy Council planning
-Budget planning for Fiscal Year 1973
-Legislative package
-Republican Party platform
Topics/Issues
-Homes in America
-Goals
-Policy
-Programs
-Focus of discussion
-Domestic Council approach
-Identification of next year’s issues
-Summary of action-forcing events
-1972 election
-Emphasis
-Action needed
-Polls
-Perceptions of people
2
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Issues
Polls on issues
-Gallup poll
-Types of polls
-Gallup polls on concerns of people
-Questions
-National problems
-Results
-International problems
-Results
-Race relations
-1968-1971 movement
-Crime
-Poverty
-Education
-Drop in concern
-Drug problem
-Youth protest
-Rise in concern
-Pollution
-Cost of living
-Increase in concern
-Inclusive issues
-Other poll results
-Question
-Domestic concerns
-Timing
-Concerns
-Inflation
-Cost of living
-Taxes
-Nature of poll
-”Open poll”
-Definition
-Pollution
-Unemployment
-Drugs
-Alcohol
-Youth unrest
-Rioting, violence, demonstrations
-Decreases in concern
3
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Race
-Student unrest
-Community problems
-Pollution
-Family problems
-Cost of living
-Taxes
-Education
-College concerns
-Decrease
-Crime
-Housing
-Timing
-Effect on results
-Correlation with national events
-Nature of questions
-Use of information
-Need for updating
-Problems
-Questions
-Use of results in policy formulation
-Money question
Other suggestions for initiatives
-Richardson’s input
-Arrangement
-Details
-Topics for consideration
-Low income group
-Problems
-Identification
-Government programs
-Constituent-oriented analysis
-Strategy for selection of desirable programs
-Basis of selection
-Need for total strategy and priorities
-Blue collar initiatives
-Need for focus
-Richardson
-Strategy
-Inner city youth
-Blue collar
4
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Priorities
-Health issues
-Energy
-Effect on voters
-Regional concern versus national concern
-Conservation
-Total philosophy
-Regional concerns
-Coordination of administration programs
-Credit for accomplishments
-Awareness of population
-Pollution
-Air pollution
-Need for focal point
-Water pollution
-Credit lag time
-Multiple agency focus
-Mobile causes of pollution
-Stationary causes
-Programs
-Municipal air pollution
-Need for credit
-Credit gap
-Connally’s view
-Focus on one area
-Poll results
-Connally’s view
-Overextension of administration
-Concerns of public
-Focus on problems
-Farmers
-Trade benefits
-Business
-Inflation
-International trade
-Taxes
-Attack on six or seven basic problems
-Concentration
-Awareness increase
-Consumerism
-Business position in public perception
-Ralph Nader movement
5
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Credibility
-Cost of living effect
-Nader’s interest
-Identification of major issues
-Energy
-Public relations
-Claudia A. (Taylor) (“Lady Bird”) Johnson’s role
-Attention drawn to environment
-Concern with polls
-Public concern
-Formation
-Economy
-As central issue
-Focus on issues
-Effect of high visibility
-Mass transit system
-Pollution clean up of one area
-Nature of public concerns
-Health reform
-Congressional action
-Gut issues
-Revenue sharing
-Need for effort
-Achievement of proposed programs
-Economics
-Interest rates
-Effect on economy
-Concentration of improvement
-Housing programs
-Subsidies
-Inequality
-Effects
-Rural electrification
-Housing
-Effect of subsidies
-Nature of new housing
-Economics
-Labor concerns
-Cost of living
-Housing start financing
-Details
-Money necessary
6
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Conservation
-Use as an issue
-Consumerism
-As an issue
-Perception of public
-International news
-War
-Jobs
-Inflation
-Poll results
-Public interest in jobs and inflation
-Realistic goals
-Unemployment relief
-Use of statistics
-Inflation
-Use of housing in attack on unemployment
-Interest rate role
-Arthur F. Burns’ view
-Rapid effect on jobs
-Problems
-Subsidiary issues
-War
-Inflation
-Environment
-Health
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy’s role
-Poll results
-Need for focus
-Understanding of public
-Pilot programs
-Washington, DC crime effort
-Unemployment
-House debate
-Technical argument
-Revenue sharing
-Public identification
-Focus on issue and political effect
-Election impact
-Efficient use of money
-Efficient relief through housing
-Housing industry
-Burns reference
7
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Opposition program
-Permanent government employment
-Focus on fundamental party differences
-Loyalty to party principles
-Revenue sharing
-Effect on foundation of Democrats
-Understanding by people at lower levels
-Political value
-Relation to programs
-”Rescue of cities”
-Impact of term
-Stress of relief for individual
-Location of large employers
-Most efficient use of money to stimulate employment
-Tax credits
-Popularity
-Bush’s view
-Utility industry role
-Focus on issues
-Public relations
-Tax reduction emphasis
-Technological supremacy of United States
-Volpe
-France
-Japan
-West Germany
-Barry M. Goldwater’s view
-”Concorde” effort
-Beautification program
-Congress’ view versus administration
-Credit for effort
-International trade
-Employment
-Sale of technology
-Yugoslavia needs
-Foreign sales
-Desirability
-Rapid transit
-State of the art
-Poll changes
-Race relations
-Government efforts
8
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Beautification
-Johnson’s role
-Congressional reception
-Economy
-Need for visible congressional efforts
-Coordination within administration
-Taxation
-Real estate tax
-Regressive nature
-Role of revenue sharing
-Long range effect
-Employment
-Current decisions
-Longer range effect
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France
[To listen to the segment (1m28s) declassified on 02/28/2002, please refer to RC# E-528.]
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-Business concerns
-Election help
-Economic decisions
-Role of business
-Environmental decisions
-Alaska pipeline
-Effect on business
-Delay of job producing programs
-William D. Ruckelshaus’ role
-Environment versus business
-Complexity of issues
-Industry role
-Administration role
-Court problems
-Permits for building
-Speedup of problem solving
-Environmental Protection Agency
9
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Drawbacks of system
-Ruckelshaus’ role
-Inherent agency conflict
-Economic impact
-Need for balance
-Past gains
-Air bags
-Speedup of problem solving
-Job opportunities
-Handouts at meeting
-Public perception
-Credit for gains
-Issues
-Effect on employment
-Perception of programs
-Areas of opportunities
-Tax credits
-Employment situation
-Congressional action on taxes
-Non tax related programs
The President left at 9:40 am
[General conversation/Unintelligible]
The Vice President, et al. left at an unknown time before 10:31 am