Conversation: 312-021
Prev: 312-020 Next: 312-022Start Date: 11-Jan-1972 12:29 PM
End Date: 11-Jan-1972 2:39 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Colson, Charles W.; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); [Unknown person(s)];Recording Device: Old Executive Office Building
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 01:41:39
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 03:36:39
NARA Description:
On January 11, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 12:29 pm to 2:39 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 312-021 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 312-21 Date: January 11, 1972 Time: 12:29 pm - 2:39 pm Location: Executive Office Building The President talked with Charles W. Colson. [Conversation No. 312-21A] [See Conversation No. 18-64] H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman entered at 12:35 pm. 11 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 312-21 (cont.) End of telephone conversation] Colson's health The President's schedule -The President’s forthcoming trip to the People’s Republic of China [PRC] -Meeting of bipartisan leaders -Hawaii -Length of flight -Bipartisan meeting -Cabinet meeting -George W. Romney meeting -Cancellation -John D. Ehrlichman -Housing message -Timing -Camp David -Return to Washington -Ehrlichman -January 13, 1972 -Vietnam announcement -Timing -Melvin R. Laird -Neil H. McElroy -Swearing-in ceremony of John E. Sheehan -Romney meeting -Domestic Council -Ehrlichman -Laird, McElroy -Vietnam announcement -McElroy -Sheehan -Robert O. Anderson -Vice President Spiro T. Agnew -Romney -John A. Volpe -Ehrlichman -Cabinet meeting -January 25, 1972 -Republican leaders -January 26 and 27, 1972 12 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 312-21 (cont.) -January 28, 1972 -Rainer Barzel -DeWitt Wallace -Governors dinner -Emilio Colombo -Prayer breakfast -Republican governors dinner -Bipartisan leaders meeting -Arthur S. Flemming swearing-in ceremony -Sheehan swearing-in ceremony -Health industries group -Laird, William P. Rogers, John N. Mitchell, John B. Connally -Haldeman's role in scheduling -Domestic Council, Henry A. Kissinger -Telephone calls -Camp David -Preparation for State of the Union speech -Congressional leaders briefing on foreign policy -Time -State of the Union speech -Michael J. Mansfield -President’s involvement -Extent -Preparation -William E. Timmons -Delivery of report -Leaks An unknown person entered and left at an unknown time before 2:39 pm. -Maj. Gen. James D. (“Don”) and Betty Hughes -Thelma C. (“Pat’) Nixon -Children -Florida -The President’s need to study -Rose Mary Woods -The President's attendance at party for aides -Don Hughes and family -Dinner marking third anniversary of the 1969 Inauguration -Possible attendees 13 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 312-21 (cont.) -Russell E. Train, Richard M. Helms, Herbert Stein, Philip V. Sanchez, George A. Lincoln, Dr. Edward E. David, Jr., William T. Eberle, Clay T. (“Tom”) Whitehead, Virginia A. Knauer, Dr. Jerome H. Jaffe, Leonard Garment, Herbert G. Klein, Raymond K. Price, Jr., Ronald L. Ziegler, Don Hughes -Size -Woods -Other attendees -General Lewis B. Hershey -Size -Other attendees -Constance M. (“Connie”) Stuart, Lucy A. Winchester -John A. Scali -Charles W. Colson -Robert J. Brown -John C. Whitaker -Wallace dinner, January 28, 1972 -Woods's role -Guests -Hobart D. (“Hobe”) Lewis -Fred Waring -Kennedy Center Appointments -Richard G. Kleindienst -Haldeman’s talk with Ehrlichman -Possible appointment as Attorney General -Timing -Confirmation as Attorney General -Ehrlichman’s view -Compared to Mitchell’s -Mitchell’s view -Campaign committee -Use of wiretaps as issue -Clark MacGregor -Kleindienst -Possible campaign role -Timmons -Attorney General position -Kleindienst -Haldeman’s and Ehrlichman’s possible talk with Mitchell 14 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 312-21 (cont.) -Mitchell -Campaign committee -Kleindienst -Possible role -Timing of action -The President’s forthcoming trip to the PRC Douglas L. Hallett's memorandum to Colson -Merits -Speechwriting -Forthcoming campaign -Unknown person -Franklin D. Roosevelt -Samuel I. Rosenman -Raymond Moley -Robert Sherwood -Harry Hopkins -Compared to William L. Safire Speeches -Quality -Gettysburg Address -Inaugural address, nomination acceptance speech William P. Rogers -[Kissinger] -Meeting with the President -Scheduling -Laird -State Department -News summary -Foreign trips -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon's trip to Africa -Politics -The President’s 1953 experience -Advance work -Business community, embassy staff, US information Agency [USIA], Peace Corps, Agency for International Development [AID] -US embassies -The President's itineraries 15 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 312-21 (cont.) -1969 Asian trip -Foreign contact -Diplomatic wires -Kissinger Kissinger -Relations with the President Rogers The President's schedule -Forthcoming campaign -Forthcoming meeting with Romney, Congressional leaders Maurice H. Stans, James Hughes -Foreign leaders -Barzel, Dutch foreign minister, Colombo -Domestic leaders -Cabinet -Preparation for PRC trip -Ehrlichman's concerns -Environment, health services, elderly -Perceptions of the President's use of time -The President's health The State Department -PRC trip -Marshall Green -U. Alexis Johnson -John N. Irwin, II -Rogers -Handling -Kissinger -Washington Special Actions Group [WSAG] -Joseph J. Sisco -Possible ambassadorship to Iran -Area of responsibility -Relations with Rogers Rogers -Recent talk with Haldeman -Relations with Kissinger 16 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 312-21 (cont.) -Alexander M. Haig, Jr. -Forthcoming PRC trip -Richard F. Pedersen -Qualities -As strategist -As tactician -Foreign service officers -Forthcoming talk with Haldeman Haig's assessment of Kissinger Nelson A. Rockefeller -Call to Kissinger -Media coverage -Possible Kissinger resignation Kissinger -Women's National Press Club speech -Paul W. Keyes's call to the President -Compared to Gridiron speech -Value -Marvin L. Kalb -Possible Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] appearance by Kissinger -Today show -Public exposure -PRC trip -Talk with Haig -State of the World report -Mitchell, Rogers -Rockefeller’s call -Timing of release -Women’s National Press Club speech -Possible resignation -Health 17 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 312-21 (cont.) ************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 15 [Privacy] [Duration: 23s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 15 ************************************************************************** -Jack J. Dreyfus, Jr. -Health -Dilantin -Epilepsy -Health Dreyfus -Book -Depression -Dilantin Kissinger -Health PRC trip -Dr. W. Kenneth Riland -Kissinger 18 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 312-21 (cont.) ********************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6 [Personal Returnable] [Duration: 2m 18s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6 ********************************************************************** -Preparations -Food -Banquets Kissinger -Forthcoming campaign -Ehrlichman -Rogers -Unknown person Kissinger -Social life -Haldeman’s and the President’s view -Freudian analysis ********************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8 [Privacy] [Duration: 42s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8 ********************************************************************** Kissinger’s schedule 19 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 312-21 (cont.) -Women’s National Press Club speech Julie Nixon Eisenhower -Tricia Nixon Cox -Opinion of David N. Parker -Staffing -First Family scheduling -Tricia Cox White House staff -Dwight L. Chapin -PRC trip advance work -Parker -Julie Eisenhower ********************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9 [Personal Returnable] [Duration: 2m 36s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9 ********************************************************************** Use of poll Kissinger -Value to administration -Celebrity -Possible consequence to health -1960 campaign -Differences between being in and out of office -Women -Trip Speechwriting -Hallett’s memorandum 20 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 312-21 (cont.) -Patrick J. Buchanan -Ziegler -Quality -The President’s efforts -Memorable phrases ********************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10 [Personal Returnable] [Duration: 1m 51s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10 ********************************************************************** CBS -Frank Stanton -Television appearances -The President’s January 2, 19972 interview with Dan Rather -Ratings -The President’s demeanor -Rather’s view The President's press conferences -Demeanor -Rather interview -Introduction -Mark I. Goode Hallett memorandum -Eastern establishment -Compared to mass of America -Work ethic -State of the Union speech Public attitudes on foreign policy, US supremacy -Shultz's and Ehrlichman’s January 10, 1972 review with Haldeman 21 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 312-21 (cont.) Shultz -Qualities -The administration's image -Comments at recent staff meeting -Unemployment -Inflation -Unemployment -John F. Kennedy's administration -Dwight D. Eisenhower -Arthur Goldberg's tenure as Secretary of Labor -Activity -Administration's position and actions -Inflation -Tax policy -Peter G. Peterson, James D. Hodgson -Tours of country -West Coast Washington Post editorial on unemployment -Vietnam -Labor market -Compared to number of jobs -Military personnel -Peacetime economy -Expansion Space shuttle -Hubert H. Humphrey, Edmund S. Muskie -Opposition -Differences in focus -Florida and New Hampshire Colson's suggestion -Hallett’s memorandum -Target groups -Aerospace, shipping, other industries Unemployment -Administration's posture -Concern 22 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 312-21 (cont.) -The President’s possible action Public trust and confidence in the President -Economy -Stock market -Connally’s comments -Need for understatement -Herbert Stein’s memorandum Government spending -Administration issue -Statistics -Deficits -Budget message -Connally -Pre- and post-1969 budgets -Problems with cuts -Perception -Priorities -Defense budget -Right wing Foreign policy focus -Issues -Taxes, Nixon Doctrine, defense, international affairs Administration's goals for the future -The American spirit -Shultz’s and Ehrlichman’s view -Health -Environment -Peace Drug traffic -Difficulty of showing results -Task force recommendations -Arrest of traffickers -Grand juries -Offer of immunity -Suppliers 23 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 312-21 (cont.) Shultz -Spokesman role -Connally, Ehrlichman Domestic issues -Busing -Texas, Tennessee -Suburban housing -Pollution Shultz -Possible statement for the President on the spirit of America -Raymond K. Price, Jr. Speechwriting -Hallett’s view -Compared to Lyndon B. Johnson and Eisenhower -Eisenhower’s -Emmett Hughes -Bryce N. Harlow The President’s speeches -Dignity of work, Newport speech, Nebraska speech -Hallett Television press conferences -Frequency -Type -World conference with editors -Scholastic -Length of time “Color” events -Hallett -Mrs. Nixon’s activities -The President’s activities -Shipyard -Meeting with unknown woman in Florida -American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations [AFL-CIO] meeting of November 19, 1971 [?] -Effect on polls 24 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 312-21 (cont.) Assessment of year's events for 1971 -Attacks on the administration -Laotian military action -Pentagon Papers case -Congressional relations -Vietnam bombing Connally -Hallett -Strengths -Personality -Compared with the President's -1970 election critique ********************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 11 [Personal Returnable] [Duration: 1m 51s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 11 ********************************************************************** Press conferences -First year of administration -Format -Preparation -Advantages -Staff -TV coverage -Prime time -Connally -East and West Coasts Themes -New Federalism -New American Revolution 25 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 312-21 (cont.) -Forthcoming State of the Union speech -Cheerlines -Leonard Garment’s view -Ehrlichman -Price -Drafts The President's programs -Hallett’s view -Compared to Ehrlichman and Shultz Public impressions of the President -The President -1971 -Muskie -Poll -Connally -Colson -Kissinger -Hallett -Establishment press -Poll -Public trust -Louis P. Harris -Muskie -The President compared to Harry S. Truman, Lyndon Johnson, Eisenhower -Vietnam -Troop withdrawal announcements -Balance -Complacency and unsettledness -Difficulty in ascertaining 26 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 312-21 (cont.) ********************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12 [Personal Returnable] [Duration: 1m 51s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12 ********************************************************************** Busing -Ehrlichman -Courts -Unknown judge -Possible appeal -Supreme Court -Ehrlichman -Legislative course -Constitutional amendment Muskie -Hallett’s analysis -Poll News media -Treatment of the Democrats Images of presidential qualifications The President's image -Public perceptions -Foreign policy focus -Ehrlichman, Shultz -Domestic issues -Environment -Foreign policy focus on the Soviet Union and PRC -Muskie’s possible argument 27 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 312-21 (cont.) -Unemployment -Poll -Appeal to youth -The President’s birthday ********************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 13 [Personal Returnable] [Duration: 3m 33s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 13 ********************************************************************** Press conferences -Necessity -Preparation -Briefing books -Questions -Unknown press conference -International press conference -Scholastic press conference -Hallett’s analysis -Eastern Establishment -Colson’s view Programs -Ehrlichman, Shultz -Presidential empathy The President’s forthcoming trip to the PRC Domestic Council -Ehrlichman Haldeman left at 2:39 pm. 28 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06)