Conversation: 060-002
Prev: 060-001 Next: 060-003Start Date: 8-Jun-1971 10:31 AM
End Date: 8-Jun-1971 11:59 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Volpe, John A.; Kendall, David W.; Bedell, Catherine May; Besson, Frank S. (Gen.); Bradshaw, David E.; Gilhooley, John J.; Lewis, Arthur D.; Luna, Charles; Olsson, John P.; Quinn, William J.; Ehrlichman, John D.; Krogh, Egil ("Bud"), Jr.; Clapp, Charles; Rice, Donald B.;Recording Device: Cabinet Room
NARA Description:
On June 8, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and members of the Board of Directors for Amtrak, including John A. Volpe, Roger Lewis, David W. Kendall, Catherine May Bedell, Gen. Frank S. Besson, David E. Bradshaw, John J. Gilhooley, Arthur D. Lewis, Charles Luna, John P. Olsson, William H. Moore, William J. Quinn, John D. Ehrlichman, Egil ("Bud") Krogh, Jr., Charles Clapp, and Donald B. Rice, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 10:31 am and 11:59 pm. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 060-002 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 60-2
Date: June 8, 1971
Time: 10:31 am - unknown before 11:59 pm
Location: Cabinet Room
The President met with John A. Volpe, Roger Lewis, David W. Kendall, Catherine May Bedell,
General Frank S. Besson, David E. Bradshaw, John J. Gilhooley, Arthur D. Lewis, Charles Luna,
John P. Olsson, William H. Moore, William J. Quinn, John D. Ehrlichman, Egil (“Bud”) Krogh,
Jr., Charles Clapp, and Donald B. Rice
Congressional view of subsidy for National Railroad Passenger Corporation/American
10
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
Track [AMTRAK] [?]
-Bill prospects
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy’s role
-AMTRAK
AMTRAK operation plans
-Inefficiencies
-Rate system
AMTRAK Board
-Contract negotiations with other railroads
-Benefits
-Past contract negotiations
-Outcome
-AMTRAK preparation for takeover
-Kendall’s view of preparation for takeover
-Appreciation of help
-The President’s staff
-Volpe’s staff
-Benefits
-Besson’s role in preparation
-Labor problems
-Volpe’s role
-AMTRAK office
-Location
-Desire for railroad passenger service
-Reason for passenger decline
-Research effort
-Beliefs of board
-Service to meet public desire
-Service improvements
-Efforts to improve ridership
-Advantages of AMTRAK
-Size
-Money
-Flexibility
-People
-Attack on ridership problem
-Personal background
-National system
-Corporate structure
-Public role
11
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Support
-Prescription for success
-Government attitude
-Personnel
-Ridership
-Ridership question
-Research in public polling
-Other railroads
-Capabilities
-Price structure
-Advertising
-Quality of service
-Nationwide trend
-Airline operation
-Competition with other forms of travel
-Highways
-Benefits of driving
-Accommodations
-Accommodations on train
-Speed versus quality
-Airlines’ service
-Impact of quality service
-Attitude of rail help
-Impact
-Airlines
-Northwest Orient
-Benefits of competition
-Impact of competition
-Impact of service
-Pride in work
-Service competition
-Uniqueness of train travel
-Effect of unions on trains
-Service problems
-Punctuality
-Consideration
-Management problems
-Benefits of service
Gift presentation
-Cuff links
-Bipartisan nature
12
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Gifts for wives
The President left at 11:04 am
[General conversation/Unintelligible]
Volpe, et al. left at an unknown time before 11:59 pm