Easy NixonAbout

Conversation: 121-002

Prev:  121-001 Next: 121-003

Start Date: 18-May-1973 8:38 AM

End Date: 18-May-1973 11:59 PM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Agnew, Spiro T. (Vice President)Cabinet officersRush, [David] KennethSimon, William E.Richardson, Elliot L.Morton, Rogers C. B.Butz, Earl L.Dent, Frederick B.Schubert, Richard F.Carlucci, Frank C., IIILynn, James T.Barnum, John W.Ash, Roy L.Scali, John A.Armstrong, Anne L.Bush, George H. W.Schlesinger, James R. (Dr.)Sohmer, Arthur J.Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Flanigan, Peter M.Timmons, William E.Cole, Kenneth R., Jr.Garment, LeonardPrice, Raymond K., Jr.Scowcroft, Brent G. (Gen.)Malek, Frederic V.Parker, David N.Klein, Herbert G.White House photographer

Recording Device: Cabinet Room

121a.mp3

121b.mp3

121c.mp3

NARA Description:

On May 18, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, and Cabinet officers and staffers, including [David] Kenneth Rush, William E. Simon, Elliot L. Richardson, Rogers C. B. Morton, Earl L. Butz, Frederick B. Dent, Richard F. Schubert, Frank C. Carlucci, James T. Lynn, John W. Barnum, Roy L. Ash, John A. Scali, Anne L. Armstrong, George H. W. Bush, Dr. James R. Schlesinger, Arthur J. Sohmer, General Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Peter M. Flanigan, William E. Timmons, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Leonard Garment, Raymond K. Price, Jr., General Brent G. Scowcroft, Frederic V. Malek, David N. Parker, Herbert G. Klein, and the White House photographer, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 8:38 am and 11:59 pm. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 121-002 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 121-2

Date: May 18, 1973
Time: 8:38 am - unknown before 11:59 pm
Location: Cabinet Room

The President met with Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, [David] Kenneth Rush, William E.
Simon, Elliot L. Richardson, Rogers C. B. Morton, Earl L. Butz, Frederick B. Dent, Richard F.
Schubert, Frank C. Carlucci, James T. Lynn, John W. Barnum, Roy L. Ash, John A. Scali, Anne
L. Armstrong, George H. W. Bush, Dr. James R. Schlesinger, Arthur J. Sohmer, General
Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Peter M. Flanigan, William E. Timmons, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Leonard
Garment, Raymond K. Price, Jr., General Brent G. Scowcroft, Frederic V. Malek, David N.
Parker, and Herbert G. Klein; the White House photographer was present at the beginning of the
meeting

     [General conversation]

     Watergate
         -Hearings
               -Richardson
               -Special Prosecutor

     Agenda
         -Government operations
         -Paris Peace Talks


******************************************************************************

     Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]

[To listen to the segment (16s) declassified on 02/28/2002, please refer to RC# E-614.]

******************************************************************************


     Minority recruitment
         -Armstrong’s efforts
                -Hispanic Americans
                -Difficulty of recruitment
                -President’s views
                -Alejandro (“Alex”) Armendariz
                                            6

                         NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. 10/08)



              -Phillip V. Sanchez
              -Alberto F. Trevino, Jr.


******************************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
[Privacy]
[Duration: 17s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7

******************************************************************************


              -Qualifications
              -Job openings
                    -Ash
                          -Efforts

    Commission on Foreign Policy Reorganization
       -Armstrong
       -Robert D.. Murphy
       -Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield and Clement J. Zablocki
       -Report date
       -Request for funding
       -Francis O. (“Frank”) Wilcox
       -William B. Spong, Jr.

    Cost of Living Council [COLC]
         -Armstrong’s role

    Domestic Council

    Eunice P. Howe
         -Role on White House staff
         -Bicentennial Commission
               -Congress
               -Lawrence G. Williams
               -Armstrong’s forthcoming meeting with Gerald R. Ford
               -Congressional action
                                        7

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                               Tape Subject Log
                                 (rev. 10/08)



               -Need for action
          -Problems
               -Head
                     -David J. Mahoney, Jr.
               -Congress
                     -Williams
          -Morton
          -Congressional oversight
          -Need for a resolution

Watergate Special Prosecutor
    -Richardson
    -Authority
    -Qualifications
    -Authority
    -Candidate
    -Possible arrangements for James O. Eastland
          -Announcement
    -Warren M. Christopher
          -Eastland’s views
    -Candidate
          -Richardson’s decision
          -Possible acceptance
          -Stature
    -Guidelines

Department of Housing and Urban Development [HUD]
    -Lynn
    -Pending legislation
         -Better Communities Act
               -Content
               -Status
         -Study of federal policy
               -Effect on Better Communities Act
         -Lynn’s efforts
               -Local and state officials
         -Possible congressional changes
               -Potential problems
         -Responsive Government Act
         -Disaster aid
               -Changes
               -George W. Romney and Milton J. Shapp
                                   8

               NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                          Tape Subject Log
                            (rev. 10/08)



               -Hurricane Agnes
          -Flood insurance
               -Federal policy
-Study
      -Michael H. Moskow
      -Status
-Lynn’s work with Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger
-Department administration
      -Farmers Home Administration problems
      -Housing management situation
            -Loan defaults
            -Disposition of homes
                 -Vandalism
-Implementation of Rural Development Act of 1972
      -Coordination with Butz and Claude S. Brinegar
-Lynn’s relations with Congress
      -John J. Sparkman
            -Housing policy
-Detroit
      -H. R. Crawford
            -Background
      -Vacant housing
            -Roman S. Gribbs
      -Crawford’s actions
            -Press reports
      -William G. Milliken
-Philadelphia
-Los Angeles
-Cleveland, Ohio
      -Unemployment
            -Economic problems of city
      -Total metropolitan area compared with suburbs
            -Effect of unemployment on inner city
            -Minorities
            -Ralph J. Perk
      -Consultation with Bush
            -Reasons
      -Perk
            -Efforts and policies
            -Bush’s view
      -Stanley Tillum [sp?]
            -Associates
                                              9

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/08)




     Department of Commerce
         -Policy views compared to Department of Labor
         -Pending legislation
               -Wage differential for 18 to 19 year olds
                    -Timing
                    -Dent’s conversation with George Meany
                          -Discussion topics
               -Albert H. Quie
                    -Congressional committee support
                          -Minimum wage
                    -Assistance to Dent
               -Work with Peter J. Brennan
                    -Picketing
                          -Problems


******************************************************************************

     US-Eastern Bloc trade

[To listen to the segment (3m22s) declassified on 02/28/2002, please refer to RC# E-614.]

******************************************************************************


     Commerce
        -Export expansion
              -George P. Shultz
                   -Office of Management and Budget [OMB] approval
              -Devaluation
                   -Effect on trade deficit
        -Capital investment in United States
              -South Carolina
                   -Unemployment figures
              -Effect on inflation
                   -Increased exports
        -Dinner, May 15
              -Brennan
              -Business and labor leaders
              -Investment incentives
                   -Job creation
                                              10

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/08)



          -Merchant Marine
               -Ships under construction
                     -Strikes
          -North Atlantic fishing
               -Overfishing off New England coast


******************************************************************************

     North Atlantic fishing

[To listen to the segment (1m2s) declassified on 02/28/2002, please refer to RC# E-614.]

******************************************************************************


     Commerce
        -Encouragement of tourism in United States
              -Trade deficit
              -Bicentennial
                    -Opportunity
        -Dollar devaluation
              -Effect on trade deficit
        -COLC
              -Lumber
              -Steel
              -Progress
        -Dent’s travels in US
              -Statements
                    -Newspaper headlines
                          -Effect on policy

     US Department of Agriculture [USDA]
         -Butz
         -Food supplies
         -Agricultural exports
         -Concerns of farmers
               -Price freeze
               -Fuel
               -Weather
                     -Corn
                     -Cotton
                                       11

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                               Tape Subject Log
                                 (rev. 10/08)



                      -Mississippi flooding
                -Soybeans
     -Agricultural legislation
          -Senate committee
                -Action
                      -Problems
                -House action
     -Rural Environmental Assistance [REA] program
          -Enactment
                -Cost
                -USDA position
     -Forthcoming
          -Butz’s efforts
          -Problems
          -Options
          -Appropriations
          -Farmers’ opposition

Department of Justice [DOJ]
    -Richardson’s responsibilities
    -Relationship with other departments
    -Major programs

Cabinet meeting
     -Richardson’s view
          -Exchange of news

Department of Health, Education, and Welfare [HEW]
    -Richardson’s press conferences
         -Busing
         -HEW’s other activities
         -Health activities
               -Cancer research
    -Budget
    -Health
         -Reorganization
               -Emphasis
         -Pending legislation
               -Problems
                     -Hill-Burton Bill
               -Health Maintenance Organizations Bill
                     -Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
                                        12

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. 10/08)



                           -Funding
                                 -Compared to HEW request
                -Planning for health facilities
                     -HEW efforts
     -Education
          -National Institute for Education
          -Specificity of programs
          -Funding of educational opportunity grants
                -Scope
                -The President’s Higher Education message
                -Recipient of aid
                      -Student and institutions
          -Pending legislation
                -Elementary and secondary schools
                      -Better Schools Act
                            -Consolidation of grant programs
                            -Ash’s efforts
                            -Prospects
     -Welfare
          -HEW efforts
          -Management
          -Regulations on error case load
                -States
          -Reform efforts
          -Implementation of House Resolution 1
          -Task force on reform
                -Breadth of study

Department of Interior
    -Morton
    -Energy
         -Alaska pipeline legislation
                -Status
                -Environment
                -Construction date
    -Mine health and safety
         -Case load
                -Fines and judicial procedures
         -Revision of legislation
    -Administration
         -Assistance from Malek and Ash
         -Dale K. (“Kent”) Frizzell
                                              13

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/08)



                      -Indians
                            -Budget
           -Alaskan Native Claims Bill
           -Administrative changes and improvements
                -John H. Kyl
                      -Assistant Secretary for Congressional Affairs
                -Laurence E. (“Larry”) Lynn, Jr.
                      -Assistant Secretary for Program Development
                -James T. Clark
                      -Assistant Secretary for Management
                -Work with OMB
           -Relations with Congress
                -Indian Bill
                      -George S. McGovern
                      -Renewed government efforts
           -Department budget
                -Revenues and expenses

     Department of Treasury
         -Prosperity
              -Gross National Product [GNP] growth
              -Inflation
              -Revenues
                     -Deficits
                     -Future estimates
                     -Balanced budget

     Energy
          -Simon’s testimony
          -Congressional interest
               -Henry M. (“Scoop”) Jackson
          -Message
               -Reactions


******************************************************************************

     Middle East trade

[To listen to the segment (53s) declassified on 02/28/2002, please refer to RC# E-614.]

******************************************************************************
                                              14

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/08)




     Energy
          -Allocation of gasoline
               -Voluntary versus mandatory
               -District of Columbia
                     -Gulf Oil Company
               -Effects of shortage
               -Need for guidelines
               -Solution
               -Farmers
                     -Diesel fuel
               -Administration’s efforts

     Future cabinet meetings
          -Value

     The President’s activities


******************************************************************************

     Vietnam peace accord

     US-USSR summit

     Middle East

[To listen to the segment (15m14s) declassified on 02/28/2002, please refer to RC# E-614.]

******************************************************************************


     Nixon Doctrine
         -US foreign policy in 1969
              -Soviet Union
              -People’s Republic of China [PRC]
              -Middle East
              -Vietnam
         -Successes
         -The President’s forthcoming speech in Norfolk, Virginia, May 19
              -Need for US strength
                                        15

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. 10/08)



          -Policy successes
                -PRC initiative
                -Soviet initiative
                -Vietnam War
          -Views of senators and press
          -Defense budget
                -Spending reductions
          -Balanced budget
                -Effect on security
          -Defense spending compared to other government spending
          -President’s views
                -Strong national defense

Administration’s accomplishments
    -Richardson’s responsibilities
    -Personnel
          -Efforts
    -Previous four years’ efforts

The Vice President’s travels
     -Current events
     -Economic issue
          -Inflation
     -National focus on issues
          -Contrasted with Washington, DC
          -Mayors
                -Better Communities Act
          -Energy crisis
          -Non-interest in Washington, DC stories
     -The Vice President’s meeting with congressmen, May 17
          -Congressmen’s opinion of administration
                -REA

Watergate
    -Press accounts
    -Charges of the President’s role in cover-up
          -Central Intelligence Agency [CIA]
    -The President’s concern
    -White House response to charges
    -Administration’s record
    -Partisan charges
          -Bush
                                              16

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/08)



           -The press
                -Vice President’s efforts
                -Administration comment on charges

The President left at 10:11 am

     [General conversation/Unintelligible]


******************************************************************************

     Japan

[To listen to the segment (1m3s) declassified on 02/28/2002, please refer to RC# E-614.]

******************************************************************************


     [Unintelligible]

Recording was cut off at an unknown time before 11:59 pm