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Conversation: 184-006

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Start Date: 18-Dec-1972 10:48 AM

End Date: 18-Dec-1972 11:11 AM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Ziegler, Ronald L.

Recording Device: Camp David Study Desk

184-006.mp3

NARA Description:

On December 18, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone at Camp David from 10:48 am to 11:11 am. The Camp David Study Desk taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 184-006 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 184-6

Date: December 18, 1972
Time: 10:48 am - 11:11 am
Location: Camp David Study Desk

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

       Vietnam War
            -Ziegler’s press conference
                  -US bombing and mining of North Vietnam
                        -William Beecher’s New York Times article
                              -Henry A. Kissinger
                              -Washington Star
                              -Washington Post
                              -Source
                                     -[National Security Council] [NSC]
                              -Kissinger’s reaction
                        -The President’s May 8, 1972 speech
                        -Purpose
                              -Settlement agreement
                              -Enemy buildup and offensive action
                        -Kissinger’s press conference
                              -Negotiations
                        -Negotiations
                              -Enemy buildup and offensive action
                                     -Invasion of South Vietnam
                        -Points to make
                                      -4-

            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                               Tape Subject Log
                                 (rev. June-08)

                                                        Conversation No. 184-6 (cont’d)

                 -Settlement agreement
                        -Prolongation of war and negotiations
                              -The President’s memorandum
                              -October 1972 agreement
                                     -Principles
                              -Kissinger
                 -Negotiations
                        -Resumption
                              -Settlement agreement
                        -Nguyen Van Thieu
                        -Breakdown
                              -Thieu
                 -Purpose
                        -Enemy buildup and offensive action

Press relations
      -Washington Post
             -Alleged barring from White House
                   -Helen A. Thomas article
                   -Washington Post article in Style section
                   -Ziegler’s possible call to Julie Nixon Eisenhower
                         -Julie Nixon Eisenhower’s possible conversation with Thelma C.
                           (“Pat”) Nixon
                   -Ziegler’s statement to United Press International [UPI]
                         -Tone
                   -Ziegler’s statement to the Washington Star
                   -Invitations
                         -Washington Star
                         -Press pool
                         -New York Times
                         -Washington Star
                         -New York Times
                         -Selection process
                                -Wire services
                   -Washington Post articles
                         -Style section
                         -Dorothy McCardle
                                -Associated Press [AP] photographs
                                -Pool report
                   -White House access policy
                                 -5-

      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                         Tape Subject Log
                           (rev. June-08)

                                                   Conversation No. 184-6 (cont’d)

                   -San Antonio Light
                   -[Marianne Means] [?]
                   -Wire services
                          -Mrs. Nixon, Julie Nixon Eisenhower
       -Ziegler’s view
             -Washington Post’s attitude toward White House
       -Alleged barring from White House
             -Discrimination claim
                   -Thomas article
                   -Unknown article
             -White House access policy
                   -UPI
                          -Press pool
                   -Criticism
                   -Washington Star
                   -New York Times
                   -Local compared to national coverage
                   -Ziegler’s conversation with Kenneth W. Clawson
                          -Past access
                   -Freedom of the press
                   -Prerogative claim
             -Social events
                   -Open House
                          -Candlelight tour
       -Ziegler’s conversation with David
             -Washington Star
                   -Kraslow
                   -Sources
                   -Past practice
-Washington, DC
       -Influence of Washington Post and New York Times
-Call to Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Washington Post
       -Alleged barring from White House
             -Ziegler’s possible call to Julie Nixon Eisenhower
             -The President’s possible call to Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-New York Times
       -Contact with Kissinger
             -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman, Ziegler
             -State Department
                                       -6-

            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                               Tape Subject Log
                                 (rev. June-08)

                                                         Conversation No. 184-6 (cont’d)

                  -Haldeman, Ziegler

The President’s schedule
     -Dinner party
           -Announcement
                  -Timing
                  -Attendees
                        -Alice Roosevelt Longworth
                        -Howard K. Smith
                        -Richard L. Wilson
                              -Katherine Young (Macy) Wilson
                        -Anne L. Armstrong
                        -Adm. Thomas H. Moorer

Second term reorganization
     -Armstrong
           -Announcement
                 -Timing
           -Washington Star

Press relations
      -Washington Star
             -White House social events
             -Local compared to national coverage
                   -Kansas City Star
                   -Dallas Times Herald
                   -Washington Star
             -Timing
             -Wire services
             -Ziegler’s conversation with Patrick J. Buchanan

Vietnam War
     -Kissinger’s press conference
           -Negotiations
     -Ziegler’s press conference
           -US bombing and mining of North Vietnam
                 -Kissinger’s advice to Ziegler
                       -Settlement agreement
                       -The President’s May 8, 1972 speech
                 -Continuation
                                             -7-

                  NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. June-08)

                                                              Conversation No. 184-6 (cont’d)

                             -Settlement agreement
                        -Purpose
                             -Enemy buildup and offensive action
                             -The President’s May 8, 1972 speech
                                    -Prisoners of War [POWs]
                                    -Cease-fire
                                    -Free elections in South Vietnam