Conversation: 339-004
Prev: 339-003 Next: 339-005Start Date: 15-May-1972 7:42 PM
End Date: 15-May-1972 8:10 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); [Unknown person(s)]; Colson, Charles W.; White House operator; Clawson, Kenneth W.; Kleindienst, Richard G.; Connally, John B.; Connally, Idanell (Brill) (Nellie);Recording Device: Old Executive Office Building
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 01:42:25
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:05:20
NARA Description:
On May 15, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, unknown person(s), Charles W. Colson, White House operator, Kenneth W. Clawson, Richard G. Kleindienst, John B. Connally, and Idanell ("Nellie") (Brill) Connally met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 7:42 pm and 8:10 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 339-004 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 339-4
Date: May 15, 1972
Time: Unknown after 7:42-8:10 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
George C. Wallace
-Assassination attempt
25
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec-01)
Conv. No. 339-3 (cont.)
-Investigation
-Call to Kenneth W. Clawson
-Creation of a story on assailant
-George S. McGovern-Edward M. Kennedy supporter
-Responsibility of left-wing groups
-Charles W. Colson
-Reason
Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 7:42 and 7:57 pm.
[Conversation No. 339-4A]
[Unintelligible]
[End of telephone conversation]
Colson
Colson entered at an unknown time after 7:47 pm.
Wallace
-Assassination attempt
-Condition
-Dr. William M. Lukash's report
-Prognosis
-Caliber of gun
-Assailant
-Possible release of press story
-McGovern-Kennedy supporter
-Investigation
-Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]
-Colson's talk with W. Mark Felt
-Rumors about political affiliation
-Assailant
-Political leanings
-FBI check
-Clawson
-Possible story
Colson talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 7:47 and 7:57 pm.
[Conversation No. 339-4B]
26
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec-01)
Conv. No. 339-4 (cont.)
[See Conversation No. 24-111]
Colson conferred with the President at an unknown time.
Wallace
-Assassination attempt
-Assailant
-Press story on political leanings
-Clawson
-McGovern-Kennedy supporter
[End of conferral]
Colson talked with an unknown woman in Clawson's office at an unknown time.
Colson talked with Clawson at an unknown time.
[End of telephone conversation]
Wallace
-Assassination attempt
-Assailant
-Political leanings
-Clawson
-Veracity
-Call to Wisconsin
-Condition
-Lukash's previous report
-Effect on forthcoming presidential election
-Compared to John F. Kennedy assassination
-The President’s view
-Assailant
-Political leanings
-John Birch Society
-Responsibility
-Assailant
-Political leanings
-Erroneous press reports
-Possible story
-The President’s instructions
-McGovern-Kennedy supporter
-Clawson
-A tip for friend in the press
27
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec-01)
Conv. No. 339-4 (cont.)
Colson left at 7:57 pm.
-Authenticity
-The President’s view
-Punishment
-Other victims
-Secret Service agent
-A secretary
-Weapon
-Caliber
-The President’s previous weapon in the Navy
William F. (“Billy”) Graham
Haldeman talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 7:57 and 7:59 pm.
[Conversation No. 339-4C]
[See Conversation No. 24-112]
[End of telephone conversation]
John B. Connally
-The President’s view
-Media skills
Richard G. Kleindienst talked with Haldeman at an unknown time between 7:57 and 7:59 pm.
[Conversation No. 339-4D]
[See Conversation No. 24-113]
[End of telephone conversation]
Wallace
-Assassination attempt
-Assailant
-Questioning
-Time
[The above portion of the office conversation took place simultaneously with Conversation No.
24-113]
28
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec-01)
Conv. No. 339-4 (cont.)
-Kleindienst's report
-Delay
-Local police, press
Colson entered at 7:59 pm.
-Possible story
-Clawson’s view
-University of Wisconsin
-McGovern supporter
-Clawson
-A tip
-Reason
-Possible busing stories
-McGovern's statement
-Weapon
-Gun control issue
-Secret Service protection for Edward M. Kennedy
-President's call to Connally
-Colson’s view
-Security
-Huey P. Long comparison
-Assassination attempt
-Effect on President's Secret Service protection
-Soviet Summit trip
-Effectiveness
The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 7:59 and 8:02
pm.
[Conversation No. 339-4E]
[See Conversation No. 24-114]
[End of telephone conversation]
Wallace
-Assassination attempt
-Protection
-Amount
-Effect
29
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec-01)
Conv. No. 339-4 (cont.)
The President talked with Connally between 8:02 and an unknown time before 8:04 pm.
[Conversation No. 339-4F]
[See Conversation No. 24-115]
The President talked with Idanell B. (“Nellie”) Connally at an unknown time.
The President talked with Connally between an unknown time after 8:02 and 8:04 pm.
[End of telephone conversation]
Wallace
-Condition
Graham
Wallace
-Assassination attempt
-Control of investigation
-Ehrlichman’s role
-Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]
-Questioning of assailant
-Ehrlichman's instructions
-Bremer’s safety
-Colson's intructions
-Felt
-Questioning about political leanings
-Reports to President
-Wallace's condition
-FBI interrogation
-Time
Dinner
Haldeman and Colson left at 8:10 pm.