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Conversation: 321-021

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Start Date: 8-Mar-1972 2:15 PM

End Date: 8-Mar-1972 2:45 PM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Ziegler, Ronald L.[Unknown person(s)]

Recording Device: Old Executive Office Building

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 01:46:24

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:15:55

321a.mp3

321b.mp3

NARA Description:

On March 8, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:15 pm to 2:45 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 321-021 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 321-21

Date: March 8, 1972
Time: 2:15 pm - 2:45 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler.

     Refreshment

     Busing issue
          -Release of statement
                -Timing
                     -John D. Ehrlichman
                           -President’s schedule
                           -Hugh Scott
                     -Primary
                           -Timing
                           -Decision-making
                     -Camp David
                                            21

                         NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. 10/06)
                                                                        Conv. No. 321-21 (cont.)


                           -Legal research
                                 -Ziegler’s briefing
                                      -Possible delay of announcement
                                             -Florida primary
                     -Ehrlichman
                           -Previous conversations with Ziegler
                     -Attorney General
                     -John B. Connally
                     -Florida primary
                     -National problem
                           -Busing
                           -President’s policy
                                 -Possible solutions
                           -Referendum
                     -Florida primary
                           -Controversy
                     -New Hampshire
                     -Patrick J. Buchanan

An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 2:15 pm

The unknown person left at an unknown time before 2:45 pm.

     Busing issues
          -Release of statement
                -Timing
                     -Florida primary
                     -March 10, 1972 announcement
                     -John N. Mitchell
                     -Connally
                     -John N. Ashbrook
                     -Issues
                     -Ehrlichman
                           -Upcoming conversation with Ziegler
                     -Camp David
                     -Legal research
                     -President’s instructions to Ziegler
                           -Decision
                           -Preparation
                           -Issues
                           -Constitutional amendment
                                        22

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. 10/06)
                                                                 Conv. No. 321-21 (cont.)


                           -Possible legislation
                                  -Probable language involved
                      -Time of decision
                           -Optimism for reaching a decision
                                  -Future announcement
                -Constitutional information
                      -Possible influence from the primaries
                -Drafting
                      -Timing
                           -Florida primary
                -Ehrlichman
                -Decision
                      -Newspapers
                      -Television
                      -Magazines
                -George C. Wallace
                -Constitutional amendment
                -Primary
                      -Upcoming decision
                -Press

Attorney General
     -Nomination hearings
          -Richard W. McLaren
                -John V. Tunney and Edward M. Kennedy
                      -Questions
                           -Supreme Court
                                 -Delay of submission of International Telegraph and
                                      Telephone [ITT] case
          -Kennedy and Tunney
                -Public opinion on activities
          -Wire services
          -Settlement
                -Fairness
                -Influence
                -Richard G. Kleindienst’s, Peter M. Flanigan’s, and McLaren’s view
                      -Sheraton Hotel
          -White House
                -Flanigan
          -Media coverage
          -Flanigan
                                         23

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                 Tape Subject Log
                                   (rev. 10/06)
                                                                  Conv. No. 321-21 (cont.)



People’s Republic of China [PRC] trip
     -Henry A. Kissinger’s possible television appearance
          -Ziegler’s previous conversation with Kissinger
                -Relationship with the State Department
          -Backgrounder
                -Helpfulness to the President
          -Television
                -President’s achievement
                      -William P. Rogers
                      -Kissinger’s “mystique”
          -Successes
                -Several keys
                      -Public interest
                      -The President’s involvement
          -President’s approach
          -Credibility
                -Kissinger’s viewpoint and experience
          -Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
                -Anxiousness from the network
                      -Marvin L. Kalb
                -Agreement
                      -Interview
                      -Kissinger’s willingness
                            -Structure
                                  -“Behind the scenes” scenario
                -Issues
                -Communiqués
          -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
          -Magazines
                -News
                      -Toast
                            -Chou En-lai
          -Relationships
                -Types
          -CBS
                -Potential agreement for interview [?]
          -Kissinger
                -Chou En-lai
                -Backgrounders
          -PRC
                                               24

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/06)
                                                                      Conv. No. 321-21 (cont.)


                       -Kissinger’s knowledge
                       -Great Hall of the People
                            -President and Thelma C. (“Pat” ) Nixon
                                  -Journalists
                            -Chou En-lai

Ziegler left at 2:45 pm.