Conversation: 061-002
Prev: 061-001 Next: 061-004Start Date: 14-Jun-1971 11:54 AM
End Date: 14-Jun-1971 11:59 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Gladney, Frank T.; McNamara, John J.; Coughlin, C. J.; Winpisinger, William W.; Chamberlain, Charles J.; Krause, Anthony L.; Dennis, C. L.; Tipton, J. R.; Otto, A. T., Jr.; Pfenning, Charles R.; O'Brien, J. W.; Pfenning, Charles R.; O'Brien, J. W.; Smith, Richard W.; Yost, James E.; Luna, Charles; Volpe, John A.; Colson, Charles W.; Bell, George T.; Usery, Willie J., Jr.; Hodgson, James D.;Recording Device: Cabinet Room
NARA Description:
On June 14, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and railway union leaders, including Frank T. Gladney, John J. McNamara, C. J. Coughlin, William W. Winpisinger, Charles J. Chamberlain, Anthony L. Krause, C. L. Dennis, J. R. Tipton, A. T. Otto, Jr., Charles R. Pfenning, J. W. O'Brien, Richard W. Smith, James E. Yost, Charles E. Goodlin, Harold C. Crotty, Charles Luna, John A. Volpe, Charles W. Colson, George T. Bell, Willie J. Usery, Jr., and James D. Hodgson, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 11:54 am and 11:59 pm. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 061-002 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 61-2
Date: June 14, 1971
Time: Unknown between 11:54 am and 11:59 pm
Location: Cabinet Room
Frank T. Gladney met with John J. McNamara, C. J. Coughlin, William W. Winpisinger, Charles
J. Chamberlain, Anthony L. Krause, C. L. Dennis, J. R. Tipton, A. T. Otto, Jr., Charles R.
Pfenning, J. W. O’Brien, Richard W. Smith, James E. Yost, Charles E. Goodlin, Harold C.
Crotty, Charles Luna, John A. Volpe, Charles W. Colson, George T. Bell, and Willie J. Usery, Jr.
6
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
[General conversation/Unintelligible]
The President and James D. Hodgson entered at 4:34 pm
Introduction of railway union leaders
Photo opportunities
[General conversation/Unintelligible]
Attendance at meeting
Reasons for meeting
-Focus on national problems
-Meeting with railroad executives
-Railroad future
-Importance of railroad to economy
-Industry problems
-New capital
-Regulatory reforms
-Monopolistic trends
-Trucking
-Airlines
-Work with railroad industry
-Interstate Commerce Commission [ICC]
-Industry problems
-Taxation
-Effect on jobs
-Effect on railroad competition
-Reinvestment of profits
-Effect
-Responsibility for problems
-Railroad stock
-Public perception
-Advantages of railroad industry
-Need for constructive ideas
-Problems as pointed out by railroad executives
Labor perspective on railroad problems
-Decline of industry
-Composition of work force
7
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Effectiveness of regulation
-History of regulation
-Trucking industry
-Industry problems
-Government interest in labor-management stability
-Usery’s role
-Grievance procedures
-Bargaining changes
-Open contracts
-Contract negotiating
-Focus on fundamentals
-Bargaining trends
-Progress in industry
-Operations
-Railroad’s role in trade
-Compared with 1950s
-Railroad’s competitive position
-Industry future
-National Railroad Passenger Corporation/American Track [AMTRAK]
negotiations
-Report of joint railroad/union meeting
-Illinois Central
-Need for changes in railroad operations
-Obstacles
-Freight loss
-Industry task forces
-Finance
-Yard operations
-Prosperity of railroad
-Role of workers
-Prospects for railroad prosperity
-Owners of railroads
-Other interests
-Joint report
-Content
-Benefits
-Report from unions
-Railroad presidents’ committee’s relation to union presidents’ committee
-Negotiating committee
-Background
-Responsibility
-Union responsibility
8
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Need for railroad presidents’ participation
-Strikes
-Recent
-Forthcoming
-Necessity
-Avoidance
-Exchange of information
-Need for railroad presidents’ active participation
-Louis Menk
-Jack Fishwick
-William Johnson
-Edd Hamilton Bailey
-Benjamin F. Biaggini
-Graham Claytor
-Jack Hill
-Menk’s part in negotiations
-Fishwick
-Hill’s responsibility
-Railroad presidents
-Bill Luxy [?]
-Effect on unions
-Timing on negotiations
-Regulation of railroads compared to regulation of other industries
-Airlines
-Shipping
-Trucking
-Railroad’s concern of legislation
-Benefits of contact between union leaders and railroad presidents
-Experience of union leaders
-Management
-The President’s schedule
-Regulatory situation
-Standards of operations
-Central New Jersey Railroad
-Maintenance shortcomings
-Effect
-Computerization
-Safety of track
-Maintenance needs
-Rail safety legislation
-Safety
-Union role
9
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Role of adequate oversight
-Letter file
-Management role
-Need for discussion by top level executives
-Dennis
-Luna
-Maintenance situation
-Effort to free railroad money for maintenance
-Competition for railroad
-Aid to railroad competitions
-Railroad taxes
-Inequities
-Freight
-Percentage of non-compensatory freight
-Charges
-Management
-Volume
-Prospects
-Need for growth
-Containers
-Benefits
-New efforts
-Investment in railroads
-Regulation situation
-Role of ICC
-Investment by railroads in other ventures
-Recently concluded negotiations
-Reduction in outside investment
-The President’s family background
-Early goals
Presentation of gifts by the President
-Cuff links
-Pins for wives
-Reelection and salary increase for unknown labor leader
Administration’s role in railroad industry
-Volpe
-Hodgson
-Usery
The President left at 5:29 pm
10
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
[General conversation/Unintelligible]
Gladney, et al. left at an unknown time before 11:59 pm