Conversation: 321-003
Prev: 321-002 Next: 321-004Start Date: 9-Feb-1972 12:16 PM
End Date: 9-Feb-1972 1:05 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Ziegler, Ronald L.;Recording Device: Old Executive Office Building
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:03:59
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 00:49:21
NARA Description:
On February 9, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 12:16 pm to 1:05 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 321-003 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 321-3
Date: February 9, 1972
Time: 12:16 pm - 1:05 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman and Ronald L. Ziegler.
Press relations
-Manolo Sanchez
Democrats
2
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 321-3 (cont.)
-Foreign policy report, February 9, 1972
-Associated Press [AP]
-Presidential candidates
-Criticism
-Vietnam
-Enemies
-Prolonging war
-Compared to 1968
-President’s instructions to Ziegler
-Candidates
-Edmund S. Muskie
-1968 bombing halt
-1966
-Non-Presidential election year
-Lack of negotiations
-Ngo Dinh Diem
-President’s earlier criticisms
-United Press International [UPI]
-Effect of criticism on war
-1972 election
National policy
-Network commentary
-William P. Rogers’s call
-Bomb shelters
-Nixon administration
-Foreign policy report
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
-Dan Rather
-Innovation
-Generosity of peace terms
-History of warfare
-Marvin L. Kalb
-Possible quotes
-Nixon’s critics
-Nixon’s critics
-Henry A. Kissinger
-George S. McGovern
-Communists
-Haldeman’s comments on Today show, February 7, 1972
-National Broadcasting Company [NBC]’s views
3
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 321-3 (cont.)
-Peter Hackess
-American Broadcasting Company [ABC]’s views
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Moscow
-Paris
-Critics
-Debate
-Kissinger
-McGovern
-Plan to end the Vietnam war
-Communism
-Saigon
-Patriotism
Press Room
-Gerald L. Warren
-Vietnam
-Press reaction to text of foreign policy report radio address
Vietnam
-President’s instructions
-Muskie
-McGovern
-Hubert H. Humphrey
-Edward M. Kennedy
-Possible attacks form the left
-1968
-President’s foreign policy report speech
-Television line
-Length
-Highlights
-Possible cuts
-Leroy Henderson
-Cameras
-Technicians
-Teleprompter
-The President’s experience
Foreign policy report
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Kissinger
4
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 321-3 (cont.)
-Press coverage
-Ziegler’s role
-John A. Scali [?]
H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s statement on Today show
-President’s reaction
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-The left
-Hugh Scott
-Kennedy
-Ziegler’s views
-Buchanan
-Meeting with Ziegler
-Developing the President’s response
President’s schedule
-Camp David
-PRC
-Readings
-Florida visit
-John B. Connally
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Domestic issues
-Timing
-PRC
-Connally
-Ehrlichman
-Rogers
-Location
-Connally
-Focus on domestic issues
-Adele (Langston) Rogers
-George P. Shultz
-Camp David
-PRC
-Rogers
-Florida
-Domestic issues
White House staff
-President’s defense
5
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 321-3 (cont.)
-Press
-Vietnam
-Cambodia and Laos
-Unknown person
-Ziegler’s previous conversations
-Comparison with Lyndon B. Johnson administration
-Comparison with John F. Kennedy administration
-Not being able to work together
-Compared to current Administration
-Support for Haldeman [?]
-Domestic issues
Nicholas and Alexandra
-Kissinger
-Grigori Y. Rasputin
-Historical movies
-Production costs
Kissinger
-Podium
Liberals
-Relationship with the President
Press conferences
-Question
-Ziegler’s briefing
-Frequency
-Presidential reaction
-Public view
-AP story
-Johnson
-Policy areas
-Comparisons
-Unknown woman
-Prospects for frequent press conferences
-Previous conversation with Haldeman
-Supposed issue
-Need for frequent press conferences
-Administration “non-issue”
-Credibility
6
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 321-3 (cont.)
-Haldeman
-Unknown woman
-James B. (“Scotty”) Reston
-Upcoming press conference
-Style
-PRC
-[Shah of Iran] Mohammed Reza Pahlavi visit
-Timing
-Briefing
-Off the record
-Ziegler’s views
-Kissinger’s backgrounder
-Hawaii
-Upcoming Presidential press conference
-Timing
President’s instructions to Haldeman
-Kissinger
-Muskie
-Humphrey
-Reston’s influence
-Reston’s column
-Kissinger
PRC trip
-Possible press attendees
-Stanley Karnow
-Charles B. Rangel
-Peregrine Worsthorne
-PRC
-Press list
-Jews
-Numbers
-Blacks
-Numbers
-White House staff
-Possible questions
-Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft
-Vernon G. Coffey, Jr.
-Military assistant
-Secret Service
7
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 321-3 (cont.)
-Assistance
-Black reporter, [Forename unknown] Simmons
-Style admired by the President
-Press
-Air Force One
-Nationwide selection
-NBC
-Black reporter
-CBS
-Networks
-Ability to choose reporters
-Military aide
-Coffey
-Secret Service
-Blacks
-Detail
-Filipino
-Zosimo T. Monzon
News story
-Buchanan
-Handling
-Story style
President’s schedule
-Buchanan
Ziegler left at 12:50 pm.
News story
-Possible reaction
-Foreign policy report radio address
-“Year of the Breakthrough”
-Kissinger
-Shock
-Statement, February 8, 1972
-Constitutional definition
-Patriotism
-Treason
-Haldeman’s comments
-Kissinger
8
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 321-3 (cont.)
Veterans groups
-Meeting with Henry C. Cashen, II
-Medal of Honor
-National convention
-Herbert R. (“Chief”) Rainwater
-Telegram
President’s speech
-Congress
-Length of time
Vietnam
-Critics of President’s policy
-Foreign policy radio address
World report
-Length
-Possible impact
Foreign policy report radio address
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 3m 17s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
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Unknown person
-Tenure
-John N. Mitchell
Haldeman left at 1:05 pm.
9
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 321-3 (cont.)