Conversation: 276-004
Prev:  276-003 Next: 276-005Start Date: 10-Sep-1971 3:03 PM
End Date: 10-Sep-1971 3:51 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ehrlichman, John D.; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); [Unknown person(s)]; Recording Device: Old Executive Office Building
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:01:22
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 00:41:00
NARA Description:
On September 10, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:03 pm to 3:51 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 276-004 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 276-4 Date: September 10, 1971 Time: 3:03 pm - 3:51 pm Location: Executive Office Building The President met with John D. Ehrlichman. Refreshments Environment -Offshore oil drilling -Santa Barbara Sound -Offshore oil leases -Rogers C. B. Morton -William T. Pecora -Drilling -Responsibilities -Offshore oil -Jobs -Amount of cash flow -Local economy -Existing lessees -Additional drilling 3 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 276-4 (cont.) -California -Moratorium on leasing and drilling -Santa Barbara Channel -Administration policy -Moratorium -Two-year freeze -Drilling -Exceptions -Department of the Interior -Proposals -Los Angeles Times -Headline -Santa Barbara drilling -John C. Whitaker -Robert H. Finch -Political effect of government action -California -Options -Denial of permits -Suits by oil companies -Legal advice -Lessees -Union Oil Company -Sun Oil Company -Observers familiar with issue -Possible result of suits -[Fred L.?] Hartley -Possible administration response -Political problem -Suit -Redress -Environmental arguments -Drilling -Geologists -Whitaker -Public opinion -Council on Environmental Quality -Position on drilling -Report -Dr. Lee A. DuBridge's committee -Drilling in the Santa Barbara Channel 4 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 276-4 (cont.) -Public opinion -Problem -Public relations -Possible poll -Los Angeles Times -Circulation area -Los Angeles County, Orange County -Santa Barbara, Ventura -Southern California -San Diego -Geologists Site for Nixon Presidential Library -Nixon Foundation land -San Clemente -Surveys of land -Legislation -Clark MacGregor -General Services Administration [GSA] -Site for presidential library -GSA and the National Archives -Nixon Foundation -Construction of building -Improvements -Lyndon B. Johnson Library -Ownership of land -GSA -State -GSA -Administration of buildings -Personnel -Maintenance and services -Ownership of building -Land on beach -Meeting of trustees of the Nixon Foundation -Selection of site -Meeting with F. Edward Hèbert -Legislation -Whittier College Medicine 5 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 276-4 (cont.) -Jack J. Dreyfus, Jr. -Telephone calls -New medicine -DPH [Diphenylhydantoin anticonvulsant] -Finch -Degree of federal co-operation -Finch -Dr. W. Kenneth Riland -Dreyfus's conversations with Dr. Walter R. Tkach -Drug -Use -Epilepsy -Dreyfus -Effects -Dreyfus's involvement in research -Tkach -Use of drug -Effect -Finch -Tkach -Dreyfus -Elliot L. Richardson -Dr. Sidney P. Marland, Jr. Research and Development [R&D] -Briefing -William M. Magruder -Length of briefing -Meeting of the Domestic Council -Time -Timetable -Private sector -Dr. Edward E. David, Jr. -Peter G. Peterson -Media interest -Reaction to the President's speech, September 9, 1971 -National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA] -Peter Lisagor -Charles L. Bartlett -Announcing ideas and programs to the public -Raymond K. Price, Jr. 6 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 276-4 (cont.) Budget -Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger -Support -Ehrlichman -Dialogue with farmers -Rural development -Hubert H. Humphrey -Model cities -Peace Corps -Volunteers in Service to America [VISTA] -Office of Economic Opportunity [OEO] -Ehrlichman -Bill for reduction -Economy -Grievances -Benefits -Weinberger -Problems -Reduction of government -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon and the President's drive to Capitol Hill -Number of federal employees -Five per cent personnel cut -Government -William M. Magruder -Traffic safety -Highway fatalities -Design for stop signs -Anti-collision devices -Government -Governors -Congress -Parochial interests Magruder -Congress -Work -Magruder's staff -Committee meetings -The President's speech -The press 7 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 276-4 (cont.) -NASA -Supersonic transport [SST] Pentagon Papers -Congressional hearings -Status of progress on report -Robert C. Mardian, Egil G. (“Bud”) Krogh, Jr., David R. Young -Congressional committee -Control of scope -Henry A. Kissinger -Relations with Leslie H. Gelb, Morton H. Halperin, Daniel Ellsberg -Outcome of investigation -Kissinger -Concern -Attacks -Repression -Pentagon Papers issue -Ellsberg -Investigation -Paul H. Nitze -Gelb -Halperin -Nitze -Secret documents -National Archives -Deposit -Nitze, Gelb, Halperin -Ehrlichman's forthcoming actions -Robert L. Kunzig, Administrator [GSA] -Archivist of the United States -Documents -Storage and safekeeping -Agreement -Access to documents -Safe-deposit box analogy -Nitze -Clark M. Clifford -Discussion of issue Krogh’s and Young’s schedule -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman's office -Ehrlichman's telephone call 8 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 276-4 (cont.) The President left at an unknown time after 3:03 pm. Ehrlichman talked with Haldeman at an unknown time between 3:03 pm and 3:51 pm. Meeting with Krogh and Young -Time -Location -Ehrlichman's location -Question Ehrlichman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 3:03 pm and 3:51 pm. Request for Krogh Pentagon Papers -Halperin -Gelb -Nitze [End of telephone conversation] The President returned at an unknown time before 3:51 pm. -Paul Warnke -Nitze -Clifford -Position at Department of Defense -Clifford -Congressional investigation -Memorandum -Richardson -Cooke episode -Ellsberg -J. William Fulbright -Hearings -Johnson decisional process -Administration's participation -Witnesses -White House staff -Effort 9 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 276-4 (cont.) -Administration's strategy -Media release -Declassification of documents as response -Edward M. Kennedy -Sources of leaks and information -Democrats -Fulbright -Hearings -Declassified version of the Pentagon Papers -Congress -Kissinger -Acquaintances -Gelb, Halperin -Appearance at congressional hearings -Dilemma -Self-defense -Immunity -Nitze -Ehrlichman's forthcoming conversation with the President -Ehrlichman's conversation with Haldeman -Documents -Journalists -Surveillance -New York Times -William Beecher -Tad Szulc -Ehrlichman's forthcoming conversation with Haldeman -Beecher -Szulc -Surveillance -Within the government -Identity of contact -Department of Defense -State Department -Hired by Nixon Administration -Paris bureau Leaks -Henry M. ("Scoop") Jackson's office -Beecher -Edmund S. Muskie 10 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 276-4 (cont.) -Jackson -Department of Defense contacts -Ehrlichman's forthcoming conversation with Haldeman The Economy -The President's speech, September 9, 1971 -Public reaction -Phase II -The President's meeting with union leaders -Cooperation -Union leaders' position -Public support -Democrats -End of 90-day freeze on prices and wages -Extension -Inflation control -Phase II -Poor -Administration's efforts -Public opinion -Edward W. Brooke -Jobs -Welfare -National spirit -Reaction -Youth -Degree -Hardin-Simmons College -Mindset -Work ethic -Parents -Professors -Evaluation of system -Haldeman’s family ********************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3 [Personal Returnable] [Duration: 12s ] 11 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 276-4 (cont.) END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3 ********************************************************************** -Ehrlichman's family -Summer jobs -reaction -Arnold A. Hutschnecker -Effects of physical work -"I Remember Mama" -Winston S. Churchill -Bricklaying hobby -Problems of modern society -Labor-saving devices -Leisure time -Television Speechwriting -The President's speech, September 9, 1971 -Quality -The President's delivery of speech -Structure of speech -Outline -The President's conversation with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman -Speechwriters -Price -Patrick J. Buchanan -William L. Safire -Staff -Dwight D. Eisenhower -"Speech doctor" -Examination of speech -Cheerlines -Speech to Congress -Text of speech -Price -Safire -Substance 12 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 276-4 (cont.) -Timing -President’s September 9 speech -Text on welfare program -Richardson -Change of system -State, local governments -Incentives to work -Welfare -Public reaction -Line of text -"Workfare" -Safire -Welfare system -Provisions -The President's new welfare system -Incentives to work -Text of speech -Speech doctor -Samuel I. Rosenman -Raymond C. Moley -Domestic Council -Kissinger's first drafts of speech -Quality -Public statement -Oral delivery -Written delivery -Speeches -Staff member -Rewriting and editing of speech for President -Economics ********************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5 [Personal Returnable] [Duration: 6s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5 13 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 276-4 (cont.) ********************************************************************** -Perception as dull subject -Required style of speech -Uplifting -John B. Connally -The President's delivery of speech -Arthur F. Burns Welfare reform -Eugene S. Cowen -Senate -Abraham A. Ribicoff -Compromise -Ribicoff -Day-care centers -Riders to welfare reform bill -Division of support for welfare reform -No reform -Ribicoff's supporters -House Resolution [H. R.] 1 -Compromise -Senator Russell B. Long -Strategy -December -The President's meeting with Long -Subject of conversation -Long ********************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6 [Privacy] [Duration: 20s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6 ********************************************************************** 14 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 276-4 (cont.) School busing -Support -Representative Albert H. Quie -Amendment -Emergency school money -Possible motivation -Conviction -Clark MacGregor's conversation with Quie -Office of Education -Technical work on legislation -Technical requirements -Control over amendment -Endorsements -Congressional request for technical assistance -MacGregor -Passing of amendment -Use of federal money for busing under court order -Southern support -Administration's position -Reiteration of past statement -Use of federal money for education -Connection between transportation and education -Busing -Local decision -Possibility of amendment passing -Legislation -Mandate to bus -Financing Ehrlichman left at 3:51 pm.