Easy NixonAbout

Conversation: 306-010

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Start Date: 29-Nov-1971 3:11 PM

End Date: 29-Nov-1971 5:39 PM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Ehrlichman, John D.

Recording Device: Old Executive Office Building

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:09:40

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:26:23

306a.mp3

306b.mp3

NARA Description:

On November 29, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:11 pm and 5:39 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 306-010 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 306-10

Date: November 29, 1971
Time: Unknown after 3:11 pm &&5:39 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with John D. Ehrlichman.


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                                            5

                        NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                    Tape Subject Log
                                      (rev. 10/06)
                                                                  Conv. No. 306-10 (cont.)


BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 29s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

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    White House Conference on Aging
         -News summary
              -Lobbyists
         -The President's speech
              -Draft
              -Analysis of issues
                    -James W. McLane
                          -Previous work with Robert H. Finch
                          -Francis W. Sargent
                          -Arthur S. Flemming

    White House speechwriters
         -Raymond K. Price, Jr.
         -William L. Safire
         -Patrick J. Buchanan
         -John K. Andrews, Jr.

    The President's forthcoming speech to White House Conference on Aging
         -McLane
              -Draft
              -Analysis of issues
                     -Congress
                           -House Resolution [HR] 1
                                -George P. Shultz’s views
                     -Recommendations
                           -Long range goals
                           -The President’s concern about the elderly
                           -Administration's options
                                -Flemming
                                -Domestic Council
         -Problems of elderly
              -Goals
                                           6

                       NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                  Tape Subject Log
                                    (rev. 10/06)
                                                                   Conv. No. 306-10 (cont.)


            -Economic considerations
                   -Budget constraints
                   -Support for the Administration’s economic policies
                         -Polls
                   -Property taxes
                   -Federal budget
                   -Inflation
       -Candor
       -Problems of elderly
            -The President's commitment
            -Minority groups
                   -“Forgotten Americans”
                   -Youth
            -Election year promises
       -Possible reaction
            -Nelson H. Cruikshank
       -The President’s standard speech
            -Labor

HR 1
       -Medical care costs
           -The President's conversation with H. R. Haldeman, November 29, 1971
                 -Senior citizen discounts
           -Medicare
           -Congress's possible action
           -Prescription drugs
                 -Possible federal subsidy under Medicare
                       -Cost-sharing
                 -Haldeman's views

The President's forthcoming speech
     -McLane's recommendations
          -Administrations' options
                 -Volunteer program
                       -Costs
                 -Foster Grandparents program
                       -Costs
                 -Pension reform
                       -Value to elderly
     -Andrews's work
          -Price
                                            7

                        NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                   Tape Subject Log
                                     (rev. 10/06)
                                                                   Conv. No. 306-10 (cont.)


         -McLane's recommendations
             -Administration's options
                   -Medicare coverage
                        -Eyeglasses, dentures, and hearing aids
                              -HR 1
                              -Costs
                                    -Compared with prescription drugs
                        -Prescription drugs
                              -Costs
                                    -Deductibles
                                    -British program
                              -Destitute people compard to others
                   -Shultz
                        -Ehrlichman's forthcoming call to Andrews

    The President's schedule
         -Camp David
         -Meeting with Golda Meir, December 2, 1971
         -Key Biscayne
               -Staff
                     -Ehrlichman's schedule
                           -North Carolina
                     -Shultz
         -Ehrlichman’s schedule
               -Staff meeting
                     -Haldeman
         -Estate matters


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 4s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3

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                                             8

                         NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. 10/06)
                                                                      Conv. No. 306-10 (cont.)


    Water filtering system
        -Unknown Navy captain's development
                -Oil and water
        -Possible purchase by Navy
        -The President's previous conversation with F. Donald Nixon
                -John C. Whitaker


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 3m 54s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4

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    Busing
         -Ehrlichman's memorandum
         -Article by Alexander M. Bickel
         -Possible meeting between Bickel and the President
         -The President’s forthcoming State of the Union address

    The aged
         -Administration's actions
             -Property taxes

    Education and tax issues
        -Washington Post article, November 28, 1971
              -Unknown reporter
                    -Department of Health, Education and Welfare [HEW]
              -Vagueness

    Administration's accomplishments
        -Publicity
              -Individuals

    Appointments
        -Supreme Court nominations
                                          9

                       NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                  Tape Subject Log
                                    (rev. 10/06)
                                                                 Conv. No. 306-10 (cont.)


            -Robert C. Byrd
            -Unknown person
            -Treatment by press
                 -White House response
                 -Compared with Earl L. Butz nomination as Secretary of Agriculture

Butz
       -Popularity
       -Confirmation
             -Vindication
       -Alternative choice as Secretary
             -Herman E. Talmadge

John B. Connally
     -Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] program, November 28, 1971

Talmadge
    -Relations with the President
    -Agricultural background
    -Gene [surname unknown]
    -Possible position as Secretary of Agriculture

Connally
    -CBS program
         -News summary
         -Ehrlichman's previous conversation with Mike Wallace
               -Connally's brother
                      -Appearance on program
         -Brother's statement concerning Connally
               -Successes
         -Jake J. Pickle
         -George E. Christian
         -Brother's statement
    -Democrats
    -Lyndon B. Johnson
         -Comments regarding possible Vice Presidential spot for Connally on Democrat
               ticket
         -Relationship
    -Brunch for Texas friends, December 4, 1971
         -Perry R. Bass and Phil [Surname unknown]
         -Ehrlichman
                                          10

                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                    Tape Subject Log
                                      (rev. 10/06)
                                                                    Conv. No. 306-10 (cont.)


                 -Trip to Florida

Texans
    -Connally
    -Johnson

Connally
    -Compared with Johnson
         -Speaking style
    -Performance
         -Views on issues

Value Added Tax [VAT]
     -Egil G. (“Bud”) Krogh, Jr.
     -Treasury Department's views
           -Connally
     -Schedule for passage
           -Timing
           -Work by White House staff
                 -Charles W. Colson, Haldeman and Ronald L. Ziegler
     -The President's speech on the aged
           -Property tax relief
                 -Lee W. Huebner's work on draft
                 -Home ownership
                 -Democrats
     -Aid to education
           -Article by Newbold (“Newby”) Noyes, Jr.
                 -Democrats' fears
           -Joseph W. Alsop
           -Wilbur D. Mills
           -Alsop
                 -Possible article
                       -Neil H. McElroy report
                             -State of the Union address
                             -Probable conclusions
                                   -Crisis in public and private schools
                       -Significance of the President’s actions
                             -Burden shifting
           -McElroy
                 -Lewis A. Engman
                       -Cincinnati
                                              11

                             NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/06)
                                                                      Conv. No. 306-10 (cont.)


                           -Administration's stance
                -Mills's work

The President talked with the White House operator at 3:53 pm.

[Conversation No. 306-10A]

[See Conversation No. 15-158]

[End of telephone conversation]

                -Mills's work
                -Alsop
                     -Message from the President
                           -Connally
                     -Tax reform
                           -Significance of the President’s actions
                                -Compared to adoption of income tax

     The aged
          -Haldeman's views
          -Congress
          -Compared with environment as an issue
               -Votes

Colson entered at 3:55 pm.

     Busing
          -Bickel
               -Forthcoming meeting with the President
               -Views
                     -Legislative route
                           -Ehrlichman's views
                     -Paper on issue
                     -Legislative route
                           -Timing
                           -Possible message
          -Constitutional amendment
               -Prospects
               -Brown vs. Board of Education
               -Civil Rights Act of 1964
                                             12

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/06)
                                                               Conv. No. 306-10 (cont.)


                -Bickel's views
                     -Meeting with the President

The President left at an unknown time before 4:00 pm.

     Pay increase for federal employees
          -Shultz
                -Meeting with Colson, November 29, 1971
                -Views
                      -Amendments
                            -Possible compromise
                            -William L. Gifford

The President entered at an unknown time after 3:55 pm.

          -Amendment
               -Congress's possible action
                    -Comparability
                    -Timing
                           -White House position
                           -Budget
          -Pay Board
               -Average ceiling
          -Deferral
          -Pay Board
               -White House position
          -Congressional legislation
               -Shultz's proposals
                    -Compromise
                           -Timing
               -Clark MacGregor's views on passage
               -Delay
          -Freeze

     The President's schedule
          -Budget
               -Ehrlichman's schedule
                      -Duke University
                      -Forthcoming call
                           -[Robert H. Finch?]
                                             13

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. 10/06)
                                                                      Conv. No. 306-10 (cont.)


Ehrlichman left at 4:00 pm.

     Stock market
          -Closing figures
               -MacGregor's statement

     Economy
         -Public attitude
              -Market
              -Purchase of mutual fund shares
                     -Increase
              -Leading business indicators
                     -Expected freeze
                     -International monetary situation
                           -The President’s meetings
                     -MacGregor's statement
         -Compared with John F. Kennedy administration
              -Business community
                     -Investment tax credit
         -Automobile excise tax
         -Tax Bill veto
              -Work by Henry C. Cashen, II and Howard A. Cohen
              -Automobile industry
                     -Colson's conversation with Archibald K. Davis
                     -Foreign cars
                     -American Motors Corporation
              -Consumers
                     -Refunds
              -Possible attack by Washington Post
              -Check-off for political campaigns
                     -Past spending
                           -Democrats
                     -Connally's press conference

     George Meany
         -Hostility towards the President at American Federation of Labor-Congress of
              Industrial Organizations [AFL-CIO] convention
              -Colson's meeting with Maurice A. Hutcheson [?]
                     -Unknown woman (doctor)
                          -Meany’s reaction to public response
              -Public response
                                        14

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. 10/06)
                                                             Conv. No. 306-10 (cont.)


                -Letters to the editor
                      -Los Angeles Times
          -Political cartoons
          -Victor Riesel article
          -Labor's views
                -Frank E. Fitzsimmons
          -Fitzsimmons’s views
          -Meany’s entourage
                -Action
          -Meany’s comments
                -Media coverage

James R. (“Jimmy”) Hoffa
     -Pay board
     -Executive clemency
           -Parole Board
                -Fitzsimmons
           -Possible poll
           -Meany
           -Parole Board
                -Fitzsimmons's views
           -Christmas release
           -Parole Board
           -Meany
                -Conflict with administration

Meany
    -Hostility towards the President at AFL-CIO convention
         -Editorials
                -Discourtesy
                -Comments on the President's courage

Campaign practices
    -Edward M. Kennedy
         -Cartoon
               -Reprint
                    -Distribution

Edmund S. Muskie
    -Statement in defense of Meany
          -Supportive editorial
                                       15

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                               Tape Subject Log
                                 (rev. 10/06)
                                                              Conv. No. 306-10 (cont.)


                -White House backing
                      -Public opinion
                      -Viability
     -Stand on busing
           -White House write-in campaign
                -Polish-Americans in Chicago
                -The Committee for Fairer Education through Busing
                      -Philip [Surname unknown]
                -Success
     -Statement in defense of Meany
           -White House mailing
                -Target groups
                      -Business
                      -Jews
                            -Bernard J. (“Bunny”) Lasker
                -Democrat candidates' silence
                -Labor

Economy
    -Stock market
    -Trade deficit
    -News coverage
         -CBS
    -Christmas sales
         -Federal Times
    -Consumer confidence
    -Effect on Democrats
    -Tax Bill
         -Congress's actions
               -Excise tax
                     -Automobiles
               -Personal exemption tax credit
                     -Compared to investment tax credit
                     -Paul W. McCracken's views
    -Christmas sales
    -Arthur F. Burns
         -Statement on meeting with the President
               -Connally
                     -Henry A. Kissinger and Shultz
         -Money supply
               -Compared to investment tax credit
                                        16

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. 10/06)
                                                                   Conv. No. 306-10 (cont.)



Education
    -Aid to parochial schools
          -Democratic candidates with children in private schools
               -Attack on administration
               -Double standard
                     -Analogy to discrimination
                          -The President’s schedule
                               -Unknown country club
                          -Unknown place in Baltimore
                               -Jews
                          -Burning Tree
                               -W[illiam] Stuart Symington
                               -J. William Fulbright
                               -The President's membership

Education
    -Democrat candidates with children in private schools
          -Use in busing issue
          -Muskie
          -Edward M. Kennedy
          -Hubert H. Humphrey
          -Muskie
          -Kennedy

Democratic candidates
    -Attack by White House on domestic issues
          -Buchanan
          -Louie B. Nunn
          -Colson's work
          -Spokesmen

Public relations
     -Douglas L. Hallett
            -Writing
                 -Youth
            -Analysis
            -The President's previous conversation with Haldeman
            -Press conference
                 -Butz
                 -Meany
                                             17

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. 10/06)
                                                                   Conv. No. 306-10 (cont.)


                      -Phase II
                      -Federal pay increase
                      -Timing
                            -People's Republic of China [PRC] trip
               -Value
                      -Compared with Richard A. Moore and John A. Scali
                            -Colson’s conversation with Haldeman
               -Romana A. Banuelos
                      -Confirmation
                            -Signing dollar bills
               -Domestic programs
                      -Packaging
               -Colson's use
               -Feelings about work
               -Compared with senior staff
                      -Judgment
          -Herbert G. Klein and staff
          -Hallett's work
               -Environmental issues
                      -Views regarding the President's involvement
                            -Colorado River trip
               -One-on-one television appearances
                      -Press conferences
                            -Students
                            -Workers
               -“Day in the Life of the President”
                      -Scali's claim for credit
               -Views on the President's strengths
                      -Candid formats


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 5m 40s ]


Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 4:00 pm.

Sanchez left at an unknown time before 4:52 pm.
                                              18

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/06)
                                                                    Conv. No. 306-10 (cont.)




END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5

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The President talked with an unknown person in Haldeman's office at an unknown time between
4:00 pm and 4:52 pm.

[Conversation No. 306-10B]

     Forthcoming announcement
          -Date of the President’s trip to the PRC
               -Timing

[End of telephone conversation]

The President talked with Kissinger at an unknown time between 4:00 pm and 4:52 pm.

[Conversation No. 306-10C]

     The President's schedule
          -Meeting with Finch
               -Kissinger's schedule
                      -Briefing, November 30, 1971
                            -Announcement
                      -State Department announcement

[End of telephone conversation]

The President talked with Haldeman at an unknown time between 4:00 pm and 4:52 pm.

[Conversation No. 306-10D]

     The President's schedule
          -Meeting with Finch and Klein, November 30, 1971
               -Kissinger's schedule
               -Finch’s trip
                                            19

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                    Tape Subject Log
                                      (rev. 10/06)
                                                                    Conv. No. 306-10 (cont.)


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 12s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7

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          -Colson
               -Report on stock market
          -Tax Bill veto

     Stock market
          -Closing figures
          -Public attitudes
               -California
          -Closing figures

[End of telephone conversation]

     Stock market
          -Closing figures
          -Predictions
               -Inflation
               -Unemployment
               -Consumers

     Unemployment
         -John F. Kennedy Administration
         -Louis P. Harris poll
              -Vietnam veterans
                    -Use of unemployment benefits

The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 4:00 pm and
4:52 pm.

[Conversation No. 306-10E]
                                             20

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. 10/06)
                                                                     Conv. No. 306-10 (cont.)



[See Conversation No. 15-159]

[End of telephone conversation]

     Unemployment figures
         -Vietnam veterans
              -Harris poll
              -Exclusion from figures
                   -Compared with previous years

The President talked with Finch between 4:52 pm and 4:54 pm.

[Conversation No. 306-10F]

[See Conversation No. 15-160]

[End of telephone conversation]

     Administration officials
         -Foreign trips
               -1972
               -The President’s schedule
               -Dwight D. Eisenhower's administration
                     -John Foster Dulles
               -Reports to William P. Rogers
               -Maurice H. Stans
                     -Trip to Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
                     -Japan
                     -Connally
                     -Colson’s office
                     -Peter G. Peterson
                           -Connally

     Economy
         -Business community
              -Connally
              -Stans
              -Connally's press conference
              -Peter M. Flanigan
                    -Report to Chamber of Commerce
                                            21

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. 10/06)
                                                                    Conv. No. 306-10 (cont.)


               -Mood
          -Recession
               -Public psychology
          -Automobile sales
          -Christmas sales
               -1970
          -Forthcoming poll
               -Press conference of November 27, 1971
               -Advertisers
                     -Colson's visit to grocery store

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger at an unknown time between 4:54 pm and 5:02
pm.

[Conversation No. 306-10G]

     William F. (“Billy”) Graham
          -Forthcoming trip to Taiwan, Republic of China
                -Chiang Kai-shek
                -Briefing paper
                      -[National Security Council [NSC]]

[End of telephone conversation]

     Hoffa
          -Possible executive clemency
               -Timing
                     -Meany
               -Fitzsimmons
               -Parole Board
               -Meany

The President talked with an unknown person [Manolo Sanchez?] at an unknown time between
4:54 pm and 5:02 pm.

[Conversation No. 306-10H]

     The President’s schedule

[End of telephone conversation]
                                            22

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/06)
                                                                    Conv. No. 306-10 (cont.)


The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 4:54 pm and
5:02 pm.

[Conversation No. 306-10I]

[See Conversation No. 15-162]

[End of telephone conversation]

     Unknown person [Hoffa?]
         -Administration support

The President talked with John C. Whitaker between 5:02 pm and 5:05 pm.

[Conversation No. 306-10J]

[See Conversation No. 15-163]

[End of telephone conversation]

     Public housing
          -Conditions
          -Blacks
          -Whites and Puerto Ricans
          -Washington, D.C.
               -Southwest
               -Northeast
               -Trash pick-up

     Business leaders
          -Unknown man
                -Unknown action
                      -Increase

     Labor
          -Current legislation
               -James D. Hodgson
               -Dock strike
               -Fitzsimmons
               -Meany
               -Ehrlichman
                                        23

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. 10/06)
                                                              Conv. No. 306-10 (cont.)


                 -Domestic Council
           -Meany
           -Labor Bill
                 -Public opinion
                       -Meany's actions
                 -Timing
           -Possible strike
                 -Public fears
                       -Unemployment
                 -Congress
                 -Ehrlichman's, Shultz's and Hodgson's work
                 -Wage increases
     -Meany
           -Letter
     -Local unions
           -Editorials
           -Speeches
     -Business
     -Peter J. Brennan
           -Support
                 -Editorial
     -Meany
           -Representation of labor
                 -The Administration’s position
                       -Shultz's and Colson's work
                       -Dale K. (“Kent”) Frizzell [?]
                            -Column

Education
    -Parochial school aid

Young people
    -Support of administration
         -Polls
         -PRC trip
         -Vietnam
               -Drafting military inductees
         -Mood
         -Colson's son's comments
         -Haldeman's views
         -PRC policy
                                            24

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. 10/06)
                                                                   Conv. No. 306-10 (cont.)


                     -Blue collar workers
                -Hallett's views
                     -Aged


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 11
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 9m 35s ]


The President talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 5:05 pm and 5:35
pm.

[Conversation No. 306-10K]

[End of telephone conversation]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 11

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     Environmental issues
          -Spokesperson position
               -Offer to unspecified television commentator
               -Russell E. Train
                     -Unknown member of committee
               -Colson's conversation with Frederic V. Malek
                     -List of names
               -Television personality
                     -Ability to inform public
               -John A. Scali
               -Daniel Schorr
               -Malek
                     -Creation of position
               -White House consultant for TV
                     -Train
                     -Unknown American Broadcasting Corporation [ABC] producer
                                              25

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/06)
                                                                    Conv. No. 306-10 (cont.)


                 -Robert Pierpoint
                 -CBS and National Broadcasting Corporation [NBC]
                 -Herbert E. Kaplow
                      -Scali
                 -Schorr
                 -Television personality
            -Slogan
            -Handling
                 -Television
                 -Compared with Department of Agriculture
                      -Film

     Butz
            -Confirmation
                 -Democrats
            -Public contact
            -Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
            -Compared with Walter J. Hickel
            -Confirmation

     Unknown announcement
         -Edward Kennedy

     Labor
          -Dock strike
          -Forthcoming call from Colson


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 9s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12

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The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 5:05 pm and
                                             26

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. 10/06)
                                                                 Conv. No. 306-10 (cont.)


5:35 pm.

[Conversation No. 306-10L]

[See Conversation No. 15-164]

[End of telephone conversation]

     The President’s reaction to unknown event

     Colson’s schedule

The President talked with Ziegler between 5:35 pm and 5:39 pm.

[Conversation No. 306-10M]

[See Conversation No. 15-165]

Colson left at 5:35 pm.

[End of telephone conversation]