Conversation: 247-004
Prev: 247-003 Next: 247-005Start Date: 13-Apr-1971 1:23 PM
End Date: 13-Apr-1971 6:00 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Ehrlichman, John D.; Shultz, George P.; [Unknown person(s)]; Flanigan, Peter M.; Kissinger, Henry A.; Connally, John B.; White House operator; Lincoln, George A. (Gen.); Sanchez, Manolo;Recording Device: Old Executive Office Building
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:06:15
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 03:03:33
NARA Description:
On April 13, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman, George P. Shultz, unknown person(s), Peter M. Flanigan, Henry A. Kissinger, John B. Connally, White House operator, Gen. George A. Lincoln, and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:23 pm and 6:00 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 247-004 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 247-4
Date: April 13, 1971
Time: Unknown between 1:23 pm and 6:00 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with Stephen B. Bull
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 6s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
3
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
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Bull left and H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman and John D. Ehrlichman entered at 2:49 pm
Black colleges
-Problems
-Finances
-Faculty and students
[A transcript of the following portion of this conversation was prepared under court order on
January 5, 1979, for Special Access [SA] 15, US v. L[ouis] Patrick Gray, III, W. Mark Felt, and
Edward S. Miller, No. 78-000179. The National Archives and Records Administration produced
this transcript. The National Archives does not guarantee its accuracy.]
[End of transcript]
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 28s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10
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George P. Shultz entered at 3:04 pm
Peter M. Flanigan
-Meeting
-Schedule
Haldeman left at 3:06 pm
Economic indicators
-Gross National Product [GNP]
-Arthur F. Burns
-March retail sales
-Increase
-Paul W. McCracken
-Expectations
4
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-March retail sales
-Gains
-Automobile sales
-Robert P. Griffin
Federal Reserve Board’s [FRB] policy
-Shultz’s views
-Interest rates Conv. No. 247-4 (cont.)
-Shultz’s conversation with Milton Friedman
-Monetary policy
-General Motors strike
-Money supply
-Burns’ policies
-Interest rates
-Money supply
-Melvin Leffler
-Theory
GNP
-Figure
-Economy
Atomic energy
-Southern California
-North American Rockwell
-Unknown man’s role in bidding
-Cabinet meeting, April 13, 1971
-Problems
-Cabinet’s role
-Peter G. Peterson
-Building of prototypes
-Numbers
-President’s question to Milton Shaw at Cabinet meeting
-Anti-ballistic missiles
-Funding
-Private investment versus public funding
-Rationale
-Budget
-Shaw’s role
-Joint Atomic Energy Committee
-Issues
-Shaw
5
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Admiral Hyman G. Rickover
-Prototypes
-Nuclear reactors
-Numbers
-Companies
-Necessity of a consortium
-Location
-Southern California Conv. No. 247-4 (cont.)
-Importance
-Finances
-Location
-Southern California
-Prototypes
-North American Rockwell
-Importance
-Ehrlichman’s possible role
-Flanigan
-William E. Kriegsman
-Problems
-Public versus private funds
-Radiation
-Location
-Environment
Texas drought
Cabinet meeting, April 13, 1971
-Results
-Chet Holifield’s views
-George W. Romney
Energy shortage
-Coal
-Oil shale
-Cost
Texas drought
-President’s conversation with General George A. Lincoln, April 13, 1971
-Disaster area
-US Department of Agriculture [USDA]
6
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
Administration’s health proposal
-John W. Byrnes
-Maurice H. Stans
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Byrnes’ schedule
Holifield
-Shultz Conv. No. 247-4 (cont.)
-Breeder reactor
-Possible role
-Southern California
Ehrlichman’s letter to Southern California Edison
-President’s conversation with Holifield
Internal Revenue Service [IRS]
-John B. Connally’s plans
-Personnel shifts
-Edwin S. Cohen
-John S. Nolan
-Johnnie M. Walters
-Cohen
-Possible role
-President’s possible conversation with Connally
-Walters
-Connally’s personnel shifts
-Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms [BATF]
-Rex D. Davis
[The President talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 3:06 pm and 3:38
pm]
[Conversation No. 247-4A]
IRS
-Connally’s personnel shifts
-Possible effects
Joseph W. Daniels
-Stanley R. Resor
-Rod Kreger
7
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
General Services Administration [GSA]
-Civil rights
-Fair housing
-Employees
-Black ratio
-Case
Fair housing Conv. No. 247-4 (cont.)
-Administration
-Location
-Charlottesville, Virginia
-Military bases
-Department of Defense
-GSA
-Location
-Atlanta
-Bureau of Public Roads
-Relocation
-Herman E. Talmadge
-Kentucky, Florida
-GSA’s policy on civil rights
-Negotiations
-GSA
-Robert L. Kunzig
-Pensacola, Florida; Orange County, Florida
-Criteria
-Location of Federal buildings
-Watts [Los Angeles]
-Importance of rehabilitation
-Language
-Haldeman
-Kunzig
-Career aspirations
-Philadelphia Bicentennial Commission
-Judgeship
-President’s schedule
GNP
-Growth
-Expectations
-Burns
8
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Stock market
-President’s conversation with Haldeman
Haldeman and Flanigan entered and Shultz and Ehrlichman left at 3:38 pm
-Rise
Movie Conv. No. 247-4 (cont.)
Jack J. Valenti
-Taft Schreiber
-Lyndon B. Johnson
Television networks
-Divestiture of production facilities
-Possible consequences of suit
-Schreiber
-Richard W. McLaren
-John N. Mitchell
-Anti-trust laws
Stock market
-Rise
-Unknown man discussed
-Financial writers
-Bull market
-Motivation
-Possible dinner
-Connally and Mitchell
Establishment members
-Harvard University
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Princeton University
-Shultz
-Yale University
-Burns
-Western
-Charles H. Percy and Mark O. Hatfield
-Eastern heartland
-William J. Casey
-Flanigan
9
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Edward W. Brooke and John W. McCormack
-San Francisco and Chicago
-Los Angeles
-Texas
-John J. McCloy and Thomas S. Gates, Jr.
-David Rockefeller
Civil Aeronautics Board [CAB] Conv. No. 247-4 (cont.)
-Vote
-Rate of return
-Airlines’ rates
-Instructions to Connally
-Flanigan’s possible conversation with unknown members
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
Personnel
-Consumerism
-Virginia H. Knauer
-Anti-trust
-William D. Ruckelshaus
-IRS
-Equal Employment Opportunity Commission [EEOC]
-William H. Brown, III
-Environmental Protection Agency [EPA]
-Ruckelshaus
-Pollution
Environment
-William P. Lear
-Engine
-John A. Volpe
-Visits to Europe
-Outcome
-Automobile companies
-Herbert W. Kalmbach and Kissinger
-Emission standards
-Edmund S. Muskie
-Safety
-Air bags
-Volpe
-Haldeman’s conversation with Dr. Franklin D. Murphy
-Seat belts
10
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Possible removal
-Air bags
Personnel
-Italians
-Frank C. Carlucci
-John A. Scali
Movie industry Conv. No. 247-4 (cont.)
Meeting with business leaders
-President’s schedule
[Shultz talked with the President between 3:53 pm and 3:54 pm]
[Conversation No. 247-4B]
[See Conversation No. 42-31]
[End of telephone conversation]
GNP
-Increase
-Otto Eckstein
-Administration projections
-McCracken
Stock Market
-Trading
-Comparison with 1968
Boat sales
-Don Olsen [sp?]
Miami Beach
-Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo
-Problems
-American Airlines
Retail sales
-March figures
Businessmen
11
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Stans’ list
-Unions
-Democrats
-John L. McClellan
-Vance Hartke
-Interstate Commerce Commission
-Political considerations
-Consumers Conv. No. 247-4 (cont.)
-Environment
-Anti-trust
-Stans, Romney
-Legislation
-Consumers
-Knauer
-Trade associations
-Commerce Department
-Stans
-Health bill
-Small business
-Richardson
-Health bill
-Cost analysis by unknown staff members
-Small Business Administration [SBA]
-Thomas S. Kleppe
-Future conversation with Byrnes
-President’s forthcoming meeting with Byrnes
SBA
-Los Angeles office
-Kleppe
-Performance
Personnel
-Ambassadors
-Changes
-Mitchell and Mark Evans
-Election
-J. Willard (“Bill”) Marriott, Jr.
-Evans
-Denmark
-Guilford Dudley, Jr.
-Fred J. Russell
12
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Bert S. Cross
-Office of Emergency Preparedness [OEP]
-National Security Council [NSC]
-Reorganization of OEP
-Civil Defense, stockpile programs
-Department of Defense
-Cross
-Qualifications Conv. No. 247-4 (cont.)
-Lincoln
-Disasters
-Texas
-USDA
-Instructions to John G. Tower
-NSC
-Edward J. Green
-Department of State
-Australia
-Walter L. Rice
-John W. Rollins
-Marriott
-New Zealand
-Kenneth Franzheim, II
-Australia
-California appointee
-John D. (“Jack”) Wrather, Jr.
-Bonita Granville Wrather
-Los Angeles
-Ed Burke [sp?]
-University of California
-Wrather
-Edgar D. Whitcomb, Governor of Indiana
-Wife
-Australia
-Indiana
-Philippines
-Rice
-Whitcomb
13
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 44s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4 Conv. No. 247-4 (cont.)
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Kissinger entered at 4:20 pm
Ambassadors
-Henry A. Byroade
-Possible Assistant Secretary, Far East
-Philippines
-William J. Porter
-Australia
-Whitcomb
-Philippines
-Whitcomb
-Porter
-Byroade
Vietnam
-Kissinger’s conversation with Melvin R. Laird
-Possible summit meeting
-Defense Department study
-Volunteers
Ambassadors
-Robert Strausz-Hupe
-Ceylon
-Denmark
-Russell
-Confirmation
-William P. Rogers
-Ceylon
-John Richardson, Jr.
14
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Strausz-Hupe
-Prime Minister
-Possible conversation with Russell
-Strausz-Hupe
Kissinger’s conversation with Laird
Conv. No. 247-4 (cont.)
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[National Security]
[Duration: 15s ]
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
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Connally
-Location
Ambassadors
-Australia
-Mitchell
-Philippines
Kissinger and Haldeman left at 4:24 pm
Connally entered at 4:25 pm
Connally’s trip to Texas
-OEP
Lockheed bailout
-Connally’s forthcoming conversation with Flanigan
15
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
CAB decision
-Voting
-Results
-Fares
Lockheed bailout
-Connally’s forthcoming meeting with James S. McDonnell
-Connally’s conversation with Fred Griffith [sp?] Conv. No. 247-4 (cont.)
-Bank financing
-David Packard
-Prospects
-Sale of C-130s to Iran
-Connally’s conversation with McDonnell
-Guarantees
-Amounts
-Armaments orders
-United States’ Congress
-Super Sonic Transport [SST]
-Packard’s views
-Southern California
-Consequences of bankruptcy
GNP
-Forecasts
-Projects
-Retail sales
-March figures
-Wilson Sporting Goods
Stock market
-Figures
Banks
-Congress
-Policy
Stock market
-William McChesney Martin
Banks
-Connally’s conversation with Rockefeller
-H. Ross Perot
16
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-William S. Renchard
-Robert W. Fleming of Riggs Bank
-Renchard
-Rockefeller
-Connally’s possible call to Renchard
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Conv. No. 247-4 (cont.)
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
[Privacy]
[Duration: 3m 53s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
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Flanigan left at 4:40 pm
Texas drought assistance
-Connally’s report
-Grain program
-Delivery of hay
-Colorado
-Alfalfa
-New Mexico, Arizona
-Government payment for fodder transportation under Harry S Truman
[The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 4:40 pm and
4:47 pm]
[Conversation No. 247-4C]
-Lincoln
-Drought
-Connally’s farm
17
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
[The President talked with Lincoln between 4:40 pm and 4:47 pm]
[Conversation No. 247-4D]
[See Conversation No. 42-33]
[End of telephone conversation]
Conv. No. 247-4 (cont.)
-Necessity for leadership
-Situation in Texas
-Lincoln’s conversation with Clifford M. Hardin
-Hay program
-Necessity for action
Connally’s visit to Texas
Economic situation
-Connally’s draft memorandum
-Balance of payments
-Dispersal of authority
-McCracken, Stans
-Burns
-Shultz
-Peterson
-Business community’s attitudes
-Connally’s meeting with Peterson, Shultz, and McCracken
-Connally’s meeting with bankers
-Fight against inflation
-President’s political interests in 1972
-Domestic and international situation
-Monetary situation
Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 3:38 pm
Refreshment
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 4:47 pm
Textiles
-Japan
-Wilbur D. Mills
-Attitude towards President
18
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Political aspirations
House leadership
-[Thomas] Hale Boggs
-Carl B. Albert
-George H. Mahon
-Albert
-Mills
-President’s conversation with Bryce N. Harlow Conv. No. 247-4 (cont.)
-Political aspirations
-Mahon
-Mills
David M. Kennedy’s trip to Asia
-Voluntary export quotas
-Japan
-Taiwan
-Hong Kong, Korea
-Negotiations
-President’s Objections
-Japan
-Effects of export quota
-Attitude of American business
Money supply
-Burns’ policy
-Interest rates
Labor legislation
-Prospects
-Congress
-Transportation
-Prospects
-Senate Labor Committee
-Jacob K. Javits
-Abraham A. Ribicoff
-Carl D. Perkins
-United Mine Workers
-Business reaction
-Senate
-John V. Tunney and Alan Cranston
19
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-1972 prospects
-Timing
-Labor
-Wage increases
-Economic climate
Vietnam
-United States withdrawal Conv. No. 247-4 (cont.)
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-Prospects
-”Psychology of the country”
-Effects
-Business reaction
-Berkeley
-Corpus Christi, Texas
-Youth
-Local reaction
-Laguna Beach, California
Geographic areas
-South
-Southern California
-Beverly Hills and Hollywood
-San Diego and Los Angeles
-New York
-Mountain States
-Eastern “establishment”
-Cities
-Media
Economy
-Inflation
-Connally’s conversation with Al Hatie [sp?] and Burns
-Confidence
-Hatie
-Short-term Treasury rates
-Long-term bond rates
-Money supply
-Economic forecast
-General Motors strike
-Unemployment
-Trend
20
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Youth
-Johnson Administration
-Work ethic
-Strawberry growers
-Unknown winner of contest
-Topics of conversation
-Drought
-Vietnam War Conv. No. 247-4 (cont.)
-Weather
Vietnam War
-President’s actions
-Timing of withdrawal announcement
-United States’ combat role
-Prospects
-Bombing halt
-Johnson’s 1968 action
-Troop levels
-Prisoners of war
Foreign relations
-USSR
-Negotiations
-Leadership
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-End of United States’ trade restrictions
-USSR
-United States’ concerns
-Vietnam
-Effects of US withdrawal
-Pakistan
-India
-United States-India relations
-Aid assistance
-Foreign aid
-President’s speaking technique
-Need for emotion
-Suggestions
Meeting of hunters and fisherman in San Antonio
-May 3, 1971
-Composition
21
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Representation
-Nations
-Conservation
-Work with governments
-Africa and India
-President’s possible attendance
-Speech
Conv. No. 247-4 (cont.)
Forums
-Speaking opportunities for President
-Meeting of hunters and fishermen in San Antonio
-Hearst Kline [sp?]
-Ely Yates [sp?]
-People’s need for leadership
Cabinet
-President’s direction
-Mitchell and Richard D. Kleindienst
-Boggs
-J. Edgar Hoover
-Possible removal
-Age
-Need to support President
-Connally’s experience
-Rogers
-Press
-Welfare
-E. L. Richardson
-John W. Gardner
-”Eastern” establishment
-Romney and Volpe
-Volpe
-Rogers and Herbert G. Klein
-Mitchell
-Agnew
-Volpe
-Rogers
-Muskie and Hubert H. Humphrey
-Agnew
-J. William Fulbright
-President and Muskie
-Rogers, Laird, E. L. Richardson, and Connally
22
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-E. L. Richardson
-James D. Hodgson and Hardin
-Need to support President
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-John Foster Dulles
President’s speaking technique
-Need for emotion Conv. No. 247-4 (cont.)
-Vietnam
-Speech writing
-Howard K. Smith interview
-Need for emotion
-Outrage
-Press
-Audience
Agnew
-President’s conversation with Laird
-Popularity
-Texas
-Popular perceptions
-Sincerity
-Risks
-Alliteration
-Humor
-Muskie and Humphrey
-Alliteration
-Risks
-Personal characteristics
-Loyalty
Role of Administration members
-E. L. Richardson
-Cabinet
-Role
-Support for President
-Fulbright
-Connally’s relations with William Proxmire
-Henry S. Reuss
-Need for leadership
-Connally’s role
-Katharine L. Graham, Washington Post
23
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Interviews
-Washington Star
-Time-Life
-Lloyd N. Cutler
-Domestic intelligence board
-Johnson
-Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]
-Memorandum Conv. No. 247-4 (cont.)
-George Pfair [sp?], President American Airlines
-FBI
-Domestic intelligence board
-Connally’s forthcoming call to unknown person
Hoover’s removal
-Sensitivity
-Age
-Public support
-Boggs
-Attacks against
-Washington Star
-Age
-Supreme Court Justices
-Hugo L. Black
-John M. Harlan
-William O. Douglas
-Mandatory retirement
-Older Congressmen
-Supreme court
Connally left at 6:00 pm