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Conversation: 355-022

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Start Date: 5-Oct-1972 9:51 AM

End Date: 5-Oct-1972 10:20 AM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Ziegler, Ronald L.

Recording Device: Old Executive Office Building

355-022.mp3

NARA Description:

On October 5, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 9:51 am to 10:20 am. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 355-022 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 355-22

Date: October 5, 1972
Time: 9:51 am - 10:20 am
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler.

         Meeting

         Office problem
                                      22

             NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                              Tape Subject Log
                                (rev. Oct-06)

    -Pen

The President's forthcoming press conference
    -Details
         -Watergate
    -Charges about hiding in the White House
         -Presentation of issues
             -Charles W. Colson's memorandum
         -Ziegler’s reports
         -Ziegler’s recent response
         -Possible response
             -Congress
             -Presidential duties
             -George S. McGovern
             -Tone
    -Vietnam War
         -Nguyen Van Thieu
             -Speculation
         -Henry A. Kissinger
         -News interest
             -Optimism and pessimism
    -Soviet-American trade
         -Maritime agreement
         -Jewish emigration from the Union of Soviet Socialist
          Republics [USSR]
             -Discussion with [William P. Rogers]
             -Abraham A. Ribicoff
             -Rogers
    -Prisoners of war [POWs] and the Vietnam War
         -Laos
         -Administrations efforts
             -POW families
         -Charles McC. Mathias, Jr.
             -Press coverage
         -Negotiations
             -H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
    -Charges of corruption against the President's administration
         -Possible use of Jerome R Waldie quote
         -Adolf Hitler analogy
         -Vietnam
             -Efforts to prevent a communist government
                                      23

             NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                              Tape Subject Log
                                (rev. Oct-06)

                -Comparison to [Holocaust]
        -The President’s trips to the People’s Republic of China [PRC] and Moscow
        -Waldie

Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
    -Vietnam
        -Questions to Ziegler from Donald Fulsom of United Press International [UPI]
            -Fulsom
    -Communist government

The President's residences
    -Sump pump-heating system
    -San Clemente
    -Jack N. Anderson column
    -Jim Deakin
    -Leak
    -Florida
        -Secret Service
        -Pool at Key Biscayne
             -Bulletproofing
        -Heating system
    -Improvements
        -Secret Service comment
             -Electrical works
                  -Surveillance camera
    -Deakin

Press relations
    -Vietnam
         -Negotiations
              -US
    -PRC
    -Cambodia
    -Reflection of the President
    -Negotiating
    -1972 election
    -The President's record for last four years
         -Ziegler’s statement to the press
    -Past press conferences and press contacts
         -Adminstrations position
         -John F. Osborne, Time-Life, Walter L. Cronkite, Jr.
                                                24

                       NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. Oct-06)

                     -The President’s view
                 -Possible conversation with Cronkite
                     -Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] proposal for interviews
                          -The President’s instructions
                               -McGovern [?]
                          -Debate-type format
                          -Response
                               -Telephone calls
                               -Ziegler’s secretary
             -The President's schedule
                 -Equal time
                 -Networks
                 -1972 election
                 -California
                 -Labor Day

         McGovern's charges of corruption
            -James B. (“Scotty”) Reston
            -Hugh S. Sidey
            -William F. Buckley, Jr.
            -Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
                -Response

         The President's schedule
             -Radio talk
                 -Busing
                 -Explanation for bill vetoes

         1972 election
             -Debating
                 -Instructions for Ziegler
                 -McGovern's voting record
                 -Michael J, Mansfield
                 -Hubert H. Humphrey
                 -Washington and White House press corps
                 -Double standard
                 -McGovern
                 -R. Sargent Shriver

Ziegler left at 10:20 am.
                                             25

                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. Oct-06)