Easy NixonAbout

Conversation: 261-042

Prev:  261-041 Next: 261-043

Start Date: 1-Jul-1971 5:55 PM

End Date: 1-Jul-1971 6:20 PM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Kissinger, Henry A.Hoover, J. Edgar

Recording Device: Old Executive Office Building

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 04:19:29

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 04:46:46

261a.mp3

261b.mp3

261c.mp3

261d.mp3

NARA Description:

On July 1, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and J. Edgar Hoover met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 5:55 pm to 6:20 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 261-042 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 261-42

Date: July 1, 1971
Time: 5:55 pm - 6:20 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with Henry A. Kissinger

     President’s schedule
          -Forthcoming Bicentennial speech at National Archives
          -Television coverage by Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS], National
                Broadcasting Company [NBC], and American Broadcasting Company [ABC]
                -Language of speech
                -Speech writers
                                              26

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 10/08)



     Pentagon Papers
          -Forthcoming statement by President
          -Clark MacGregor
          -Daniel Ellsberg

     Cease fire [in Vietnam?]

     Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield
         -Prior conversation with President
         -MacGregor [?]
         -Kissinger’s foreign trip

     President’s relations with the press
          -Public perception of President and the media

[The President talked with J. Edgar Hoover between 6:00 pm and 6:07 pm]

[Conversation 261-42A]

[See Conversation No. 6-84]

[End of telephone conversation]

     Freedom of the press issue
          -Ellsberg case
          -Supreme Court decision
                -Public reaction
                -Declassification of top secret documents
          -Administration’s position
                -Integrity of government
                -Justice for individuals
                -Competence

     Freedom of the press versus repression
          -Public perception

     Supreme Court decision
          -Pentagon Papers
          -Administration’s position
               -Prosecution
                                           27

                        NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. 10/08)



Classified documents
     -President’s position
           -Integrity of government
     -Declassification study

President’s prior speech in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Forthcoming statement on publication of classified documents   Conv. No. 261-42 (cont.)

President and press
     -Paris talks
     -Peking, People’s Republic of China [PRC]
     -Press
     -PRC announcement
           -Effect on press
           -Timing

Vietnam
     -William P. Rogers
     -Le Duc Tho meeting with Kissinger
     -Mansfield
           -Prior conversation with President
     -Le Duc Tho
           -Rogers
           -Marshall Green
     -Peking

Press

PRC
        -Kissinger’s possible trip
             -Press speculation
             -David Kraslow [?]

General Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
    -Conversation with Kraslow [?]

Pakistan
     -Kissinger’s trip
                                                 28

                             NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                         Tape Subject Log
                                           (rev. 10/08)



     PRC
             -Kissinger’s trip
             -Preparation
             -Announcement

     Press
             -PRC announcement
             -Forthcoming press conference                        Conv. No. 261-42 (cont.)
                  -Use of unidentified letter as prop

Kissinger left at 6:20 pm