Conversation: 232-004
Prev: 232-003 Next: 232-005Start Date: 29-Nov-1972 8:40 AM
End Date: 29-Nov-1972 10:10 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Higby, Lawrence M.; Hirsch, William; [Unknown person(s)];Recording Device: Camp David Hard Wire
NARA Description:
On November 29, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Lawrence M. Higby, William Hirsch, and unknown person(s) met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 8:40 am to 10:10 am. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 232-004 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 232-4
Date: November 29, 1972
Time: 8:40 am - 10:10 am
Location: Camp David Hard Wire
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
The President’s schedule
-Meetings
-Claude S. Brinegar
-Transportation Department
-Frederick B. Dent
-Commerce Department
-Nguyen Phu Duc
-Delivery of briefing paper
-November 28, 1972
-Manolo Sanchez [?]
-Rose Mary Woods
Vietnam War
-Prisoners of War [POWs]
-Casualties
-Announcement, November 30, 1972
Public relations [PR]
-8-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-08)
Conversation No. 232-4 (cont’d)
-Second term reorganization
-November 28, 1972
-The President’s memorandum to Haldeman, November 29, 1972
-Follow-up
-Office of Management and Budget [OMB]
-George P. Shultz
-Raymond K. Price, Jr.
-William L. Safire
-Washington, DC, and New York
-Ronald L. Ziegler’s view
-The President’s trip to New York
Briefing paper
-Delivery
Haldeman talked with Lawrence M. Higby at an unknown time between 8:40 am and 10:10 am.
[Conversation No. 232-4A]
[See conversation No. 183-8]
[End of telephone conversation]
Schedules
-Haldeman’s schedule
-Charles W. Colson’s schedule
-John D. Ehrlichman’s schedule
-The President’s schedule
-Economic meeting
-Shultz
-Haldeman, Ehrlichman, Colson
-Nixon Foundation
-Enemy list
-Richard G. Kleindienst
-Justice Department
Second term reorganization
-Kleindienst
-Changes
-Assistant Secretaries
-9-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-08)
Conversation No. 232-4 (cont’d)
-Schedule C employees
-Colson’s operation
-Establishment
-Planning
-Haldeman and Ehrlichman
-Guidance
The President’s schedule
-[Key Biscayne]
-Meeting with John B. Connally, November 30, 1972
-Timing
-Dinner
-Connally’s schedule
-Jamaica
-Texas
-Washington, DC
Second term reorganization
-Peter G. Peterson
-Shultz
-Kissinger’s conversation with Haldeman
-Terms of appointment
-Washington, DC base
-Ambassadorship at large
-Cabinet rank
-Decision
-Timing
-George H. W. Bush
-Ehrlichman
-Possible conversation with the President
-Bush’s schedule
[Aborted telephone call]
Second term reorganization
-General Services Administration [GSA]
-Frederic V. Malek
-Richard B. Ogilvie
-Louise B. Nunn
-Loyalty
-10-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-08)
Conversation No. 232-4 (cont’d)
-The President’s property
-Key Biscayne
-Nixon Foundation
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-National Park Service
-Construction
-Lyndon B. Johnson Library
-Timing
-Funding
-Planning
-Construction
-F. Edward Herbert
-Acquisition of property
-Possible US Marine Corps opposition
-Instruction for Gen. Robert E. Cushman, Jr.
-Ehrlichman
-Timing
-1972 election
*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
1972 election
-The President’s meetings
-Robert J. Dole
-Gerald R. Ford
-Republican sentiment
-Loyalty
-Victory
-Complaints
-Dole
-Ford
-Press coverage
-Robert C. (“Bob”) Wilson
-Peter H. Dominick
-The President’s supporters
-The President’s meeting with Dole
-Dole’s efforts
-Travel
-11-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-08)
Conversation No. 232-4 (cont’d)
-Haldeman’s view
-Republican National Committee [RNC]
-The President’s meeting with Ford
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
-Federal Bureau of Investigation
-Ehrlichman’s view
-L[ouis] Patrick Gray, III
-Secretary of the Navy
-Howard (“Bo”) Callaway
-Southerner
-Department of the Navy
-North American Treaty Organization [NATO]
-GSA
-Office of Emergency Preparedness [OEP]
-White House
-Gen. George A. Lincoln
-Kissinger’s papers
-Participation in meetings
-Foreign policy
-Experience
-OEP
The President’s schedule
-Key Biscayne
-Kissinger
-Possible meeting with the President
-Duration
-Publicity
-Accommodations
-Hotel
-House
-Shultz
-Pool
-Visibility
-Meeting with the President
-Duration
-12-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-08)
Conversation No. 232-4 (cont’d)
-Haldeman’s forthcoming meeting with Ehrlichman and Colson
-Airplane
-Meeting with the President
-Work routine
-Review of plans
-The President’s forthcoming meeting with Haldeman, Ehrlichman and
Colson
-Second term reorganization
-“New Majority”
Second term reorganization
-Donald F. Rodgers
-Michael P. Balzano, Jr.
-Political group
-Colson’s view
-Administration
-Vietnam War
-The President’s May 8, 1972 decision
-Cambodia
-Congressional relations
-Veto messages
-White House staff
-Ehrlichman
-Harry S. Dent
-Ehrlichman
-Colson
-Herbert G. Klein
-Robert H. Finch
-Donald H. Rumsfeld
-White House
-Labor relations
-Rodgers
-Peter J. Brennan
-Haldeman’s recent conversation with Colson
-Brennan
-Announcement, November 29, 1972
-Security clearance
-Timing
-Ziegler
-Washington Star
-13-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-08)
Conversation No. 232-4 (cont’d)
-Press relations
-Leaks
-Colson
-Conversation with Victor Riesel
-Peterson
-Connally
-Forthcoming meeting with the President
-Terms of appointment
-Possible departure
-Colson
-Conversation with Haldeman
-Ehrlichman
-Labor relations
-Veterans for Foreign Wars [VFW]
-George Meany
-Congressional relations
-Statements
-Ehrlichman
-PR
-Statements
-Counterattack
-Bush
-Responsibilities
-Accountability
-Colson
-Rose Mary Woods
-Price
-Price
-Colson
-Coordination
-Public Information Officers [PIOs]
-Frank Dale
-Press office
-Colson
-Dale
-Kenneth W. Clawson
-Current responsibilities
-Office
-Replacement
-Clawson
-14-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-08)
Conversation No. 232-4 (cont’d)
-Responsibilities
-Ziegler
-PIOs
-Coordination
-White House
-Press relations
-Colson
-Work on outside
-Mobilizing outside groups
-New Majority
-Foundation
-Law Office
-Visibility
-Trip to Key Biscayne
-Timing
-Trip to Key Biscayne
-The President’s schedule
-Internal Revenue Service [IRS]
-George D. Webster
-Confirmation
William Hirsch entered at an unknown time after 8:40 am.
Preston Bruce
-White House butler
-The President’s letter to Bruce, November 20, 1972
-Health
-The President’s inquiry
-Rex W. Scouten
Hirsch left at an unknown time before 10:10 am.
*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
RNC
-Ehrlichman
-Follow-up
-Dole
-15-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-08)
Conversation No. 232-4 (cont’d)
-The President’s call to Bush
-Job offer
-The President’s approach
-Call to Dole
-Dole’s departure
-Timing
-Bush
-Public speculation
-Dole
-Attitude
-Private life
-Work
-Departure
-Kansas
-Pressure
-John N. Mitchell
-Influence
-Pressure on Dole
-Bush
-Appointment announcement
-Meeting with the President
-Timing
-Arrangements
-Vietnam
-Haldeman’s call to Dole
-Support for Bush
-Ford
-Meeting with the President
-Arrangements
-Initiative
-Ford
-Call to Bush
-Handling
-Ford, Dole
-Commitment
-Dole’s actions
-Departure timing
-United Nations [UN]
-Middle East
-16-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-08)
Conversation No. 232-4 (cont’d)
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
The President’s schedule
-Elmer Holmes Bobst General Library and Study Center [at New York University]
-Dedication
-Possible effect
-Bobst
-New Year’s Day
-The President’s forthcoming conversation with Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
-Key Biscayne
-San Clemente
-Rose Bowl game
-The President’s family
-Key Biscayne
-Foreign policy meeting
-State of the Union
-Budget meeting
-San Clemente
-Mrs. Nixon
-Key Biscayne
-Rose parade
-Mrs. Nixon’s schedule
-Rose Bowl game
-The President’s possible attendance
-Photographs
-First Lady duties
-Reception
-Honors for Mrs. Nixon and the President
-Tone
-Media and press coverage
-University of Southern California [USC], Ohio State
University [OSU]
-Pasadena
-Tournament of Roses officials
-1969
-USC
-Mrs. Nixon
-Rose Bowl game
-17-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-08)
Conversation No. 232-4 (cont’d)
-Honors for Mrs. Nixon
-John Bricker
-USC
-OSU
-New Majority
Press relations
-Washington establishment
-Washington press corps
-Ziegler
-The President’s address to the press concerning government reorganization
-The President’s schedule
-Richard A. Moore
-Ziegler
-Connally
-Quote
-Reuters reporter
-[Arnold] Eric Sevareid
1973 Inauguration
-Sammy Davis, Jr.
-Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo
-Las Vegas
-Paul W. Keyes
-Invitation
-Celebrity list
-The President’s supporters
Hirsch entered at an unknown time after 8:40 am.
-Arrangements
-Coordination
-Jeb Stuart Magruder
-Celebrities
-Parade
Bruce’s health
-Work
Hirsch left at an unknown time before 10:10 am.
-18-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-08)
Conversation No. 232-4 (cont’d)
1973 Inauguration
-Master of ceremonies
-Republican National Convention
-Coordination
-Dwight L. Chapin
-Ronald H. Walker
-Chapin
-Replacement
-[Peter Dailey]
-November Group
White House social affairs
-Blair House dinner honoring Californians in administration, December 5, 1972
-The President, Finch
-Arrangements
-Finch
-Meeting with the President
-Invitations
-Black tie
-Californians
-Hosts
-Leonard K. Firestone
-Taft B. Schreiber
-Otto N. Miller
-Darius N. Keaton
-Edward W. Carter
-Acceptances
-Earl C. Adams
-Victor C. Andrews
-Arnold O. Beckman
-Theodore E. Cummings
-Justin W. Dart
-Ben C. Deane
-Jack Drown
-Walter A. Hass
-Alfred Hart
-Jacqueline H. Hume
-Herbert W. Kalmbach
-David Packard
-19-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-08)
Conversation No. 232-4 (cont’d)
-Thomas P. Pike
-Samuel Schulman
-Forrest N. Shumway
-Charles B. (“Tex”) Thornton
-Holmes P. Tuttle
-Jack Warner
-Ray A. Watt
-John D. (“Jack”) Wrather, Jr.
-White House
-The President’s attendance
-Purpose
-Fundraiser for Finch
Leslie T. (“Bob”) Hope
-Possible trip to People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Instruction for Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Invitation
-Postcard
-David J. Mahoney, Jr.
-Mahoney
-Loyalty
-Previous trip to Soviet Union
-Success
-Trip to PRC
-Arrangements
-Haig
White House social affairs
-Dinner
-Finch
-Timing
-Camp David
-Announcement, December 6, 1972
-Washington, DC
-Entertainment
-Jonathan Winters and Foster Brooks
-Support for the President
-Entertainment
-Support for the President
-Leonard Garment
-20-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-08)
Conversation No. 232-4 (cont’d)
-Nancy Hanks
-[Lawrence Welk]
-Karen and Richard Carpenter
-[Ray Conniff]
-Dallas
-Labor
-The President’s conversation with Garment
The President’s schedule
-The President’s attendance at play, Much Ado About Nothing
-Garment
-[Joseph Papp]
-Two Gentlemen of Verona
-Vietnam War protest
-House of Representatives gallery
-Greeting of the President
-Timing
-Inauguration
-Papp’s conversations with Garment and Ronald S. Berman
-Political orientation
-Support for George S. McGovern
-The President’s view party
-Arrangements
-Garment
-The President’s family
-Unknown woman
-Garment
-The President’s visit to Mudge, Rose, Guthrie and Alexander
-Papp
-Photograph opportunity
-Secret Service
-Papp
-Play cast
-The President’s family
-Screening of plays
-Control
-Colson
-Lloyd N. Cutler
-Dean G. Atcheson
-Haldeman’s role
-21-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-08)
Conversation No. 232-4 (cont’d)
-Second term
-Vacation after 1972 election
-The President’s memorandum to Haldeman
Second term reorganization
-Control of government
-Departures
-Interest in staying
-Robert J. Dole
-George W. Romney
-John A. Volpe
-Peterson
-Melvin R. Laird
-James D. Hodgson
-Rogers
-Change
-Public interest
-Ziegler
-Colson
-Cabinet
-Brennan
-Announcement
-Ziegler’s concern
-Replacements
-Ziegler
-Press relations
-Public reaction
-Media coverage
-New Majority
-Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger
-Department of Housing, Education and Welfare [HEW]
-Interpretation
-Budget cutter
-Philosophy
-Social planning
-Management
-Statements
-Weinberger
-Roy L. Ash
-Business
-22-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-08)
Conversation No. 232-4 (cont’d)
-The President
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Tone
-Reaction to comments
-HEW
-Reaction to comments
-National defense
-Social programs
-Press relations
-The President’s address to the press concerning government reorganization
-Quote
-Ziegler
-Stories
-Tone
-Ziegler
-Moore
-John R. (“Tex”) McCrary
-McCrary
-Consultancy
-Chapin
-McCrary
Watergate
-Chapin
-Departure
-Timing
-Congressional hearing
-Possible cancellation
-John N. Mitchell
-James O. Eastland
-Edward M. Kennedy
-Investigations
-Senators
-J. Glenn Beall, Jr.
-Charles McC. Mathias, Jr.
-Charles H. Percy
-John W. Dean, III’s possible statement
-Distribution
-Ehrlichman
-23-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-08)
Conversation No. 232-4 (cont’d)
An unknown person entered and left at an unknown time before 10:10 am.
Second term reorganization
-Brennan
-Security clearance
-Colson
-Contacts with Haldeman
-Contact with the President
-Value to administration
-Compared to others
-Recruitment
-Announcement
*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
-1972 election
-Italian-American vote
-Volpe
-Catholics
-John Krol
-Ehrlichman
-Edwin L. Harper
-Kenneth R. Cole, Jr.
-Dole
-Clark MacGregor
-Committee to Re-elect the President [CRP]
-Work
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
-Kenneth S. Rietz
-Work for administration
-Gerald R. Ford’s voew
-House campaign committee
-Fact finding committees
-Districts
-24-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-08)
Conversation No. 232-4 (cont’d)
-Work with youth
-Work with ethnic groups
-Blacks
-Mexican-Americans, Italian-Americans, Polish-Americans,
Catholics, Irish-Americans, Protestants
-Congressional and Senate candidates
-Ages
-The President’s meeting with Ford
-Retirement
-George H. Mahon
-Finch
-Rumsfeld
-Job offers
-NATO
-European Economic Community [EEC]
-Hodgson
-[Peterson]
-Comparison to Dole
-Rejections
-Concern about appearance
-Department of Transportation
-Geneva
-Hodgson
-EEC
-Peterson
-Geneva
-Cost of Living Council [COLC]
-OEP
-Disasters
-National Security Council [NSC]
-Foreign policy experience
-Possible change
-Gray
-White House
-Brinegar
-Education
-Stanford University
-Public schools
-Mission Pine [?]
-San Francisco
-25-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-08)
Conversation No. 232-4 (cont’d)
-Military service
-US Army Air Force
-Locations
-Japan, Korea
-World War II
-Korean War
-Rank
-Staff Sargeant
-Education
-Stanford University
-BA in economics
-MS in math statistics
-PhD in economic research
-Phi Beta Kappa
-Jobs
-Union Oil Company
-1953
-Economics, planning and research
-Corporate planning
-Pure Oil merger
-Union 76
-Political skill
-Kleindienst
-Ehrlichman
-Erwin N. Griswold
-Retention
-Harvard University
-Age
-Politics
-Comparison to Laird
-Deputy Attorney General
-Myles J. Ambrose
-Peter Fay
-[Joseph T. Sneed]
-Deputy Attorney General
-Fay
-Interest in job
-Ehrlichman
-Lifestyle changes
-Sneed
-26-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-08)
Conversation No. 232-4 (cont’d)
-Attorney General
-Fay
-Attorney General
-Attorney General
-Ehrlichman
-Interest in job
-Relationship with the President
-William J. Casey
-Future
-Conversation with the President
-State of the Union address
-Kleindienst
-Retention
-Barry M. Goldwater
-Announcement
-Leaks
-Washington Post story
-Unknown person
-Story
-Effect
-Rumors
-Accuracy
-[Peterson]
-Announcement
-Timing
-International economics
-Joseph S. Farland
-Richard M. Helms
-Farland
-Kissinger
-Middle East
-Kissinger
The President’s schedule
-Meeting with Price
-Necessity
-Retention in second term
Second term reorganization
-Price
-27-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-08)
Conversation No. 232-4 (cont’d)
-Value
-Chapin
-Replacement
-Roles
-Schedule planning
-Ideas
-Execution
-Relations with people
-Walker
-William R. Codus
-Chapin
-Value to administration
-Ideas
-East Wing
-Codus
-The President’s forthcoming conversation with Mrs. Nixon
-Timing
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Stephen B. Bull
-Meeting with visitors
-Alexander P. Butterfield
-Woman
-Scouten
An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 8:40 am.
The President’s forthcoming meeting with Brinegar
-Brinegar’s location
-Laurel Lodge
The unknown man left at an unknown time before 10:10 am.
Second term reorganization
-Butterfield
-Handling of visitors
-Cabinet
-Women
-Garment
-Handling of visitors
-Tone
-28-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-08)
Conversation No. 232-4 (cont’d)
-Edward C. Nixon
-Age
-Garment’s relationship with the President
-Garment’s Jewish background
-Butterfield
-Haldeman’s duties
-Meeting with visitors
-Military people
-Maj. Gen. James D. (“Don”) Hughes
-Abilities
-Compared to Hughes
-Work in Australia
-Politics
-Women
-Plans
-Utilization
-Titles
-Deputy Assistant
-Special Assistant
-Deputy Assistants
-Administrative Assistant
-Titles
-Political, PR, editorial assistants
-Appointments Secretary
-Use of term
-Woods
-Bull
-Relations with people
-Woods
-Bull
-Amiability
-Butterfield
-Handling visitors
-David N. Parker
-The President’s memorandum to Haldeman
-Age
-Bull
-Butterfield
-Intelligence
-John E. Nidecker
-29-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-08)
Conversation No. 232-4 (cont’d)
-Thomas Hart
-Dorothy Cox
-Pete Provincio
-Complements to the President as Vice President
-Tours
-Cabinet Room, Oval Office
-Tone
-Enthusiasm
-Work with people
-Unknown person
-Nidecker
-East Wing
-Women
-Barbara Franklin
-Virginia H. Knauer
-HEW
-Franklin
-Black women
-[Robert J. Brown?]
-Republican National Committee [RNC]
-Franklin
-Enthusiasm
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Woods
-Anne L. Armstrong
-Assistant to the President
-Handling visitors
-Tours
-White House
-Franklin
-OMB
-Personnel
-Ash
-Armstrong
-Title
-Special Assistant
-Attendance at meetings
-Attendance at meetings
-Safire, Price
-John K. Andrews, Jr.
-30-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-08)
Conversation No. 232-4 (cont’d)
-Color reports
-Color reports
-Unknown person
-Armstrong
-Armstrong
-Press relations
-East Wing
-Franklin [?]
-Mrs. Nixon
-Armstrong
-Menus
-Menus
-Butterfield
-The President’s conversations with Mrs. Nixon
-Scouten
-Butterfield’s conversations with Lucy A. Winchester, Constance M.
(Cornell) (“Connie”) Stuart
-Armstrong
-Recruitment
-Special Assistant
-Special Assistant
-Franklin
-Armstrong
-Patricia R. Hitt
-Compared to Franklin, Armstrong,
-Special Assistant
-Franklin
-Woods
-Secretarial duties
-Franklin, Armstrong
-Armstrong
Malek
-GSA
-Hesitancy
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[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
-31-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-08)
Conversation No. 232-4 (cont’d)
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 5s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8
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[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
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-Compared to Brinegar
-Transportation Department
Haldeman left at 10:10 am.