Conversation: 374-016
Prev:  374-015 Next: 374-017Start Date: 27-Oct-1972 9:55 AM
End Date: 27-Oct-1972 11:08 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Colson, Charles W.; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Kissinger, Henry A.; Recording Device: Old Executive Office Building
NARA Description:
On October 27, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 9:55 am to 11:08 am. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 374-016 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 374-16 Date: October 27, 1972 Time: 9:55 am - 11:08 am Location: Executive Office Building The President met with Charles W. Colson. The President's schedule -H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman -Bills for signature, veto ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 [Personal returnable] [Duration: 12m 17s ] Haldeman entered at 9:56 am. 24 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Oct-06) END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 ***************************************************************** 1972 campaign -McGovern’s position on Vietnam peace settlement -News summary -Patrick J. Buchanan, Henry A. Kissinger -The President’s orders to attack McGovern -Possible attack on R. Sargent Shriver -Prisoners of war [POWs] -Disarmament of South Vietnam -Coalition government -Timing of US pullout -Kissinger’s public statements -John A. Scali’s view -“Peace with honor” compared with “Peace with surrender” -Electorate -The President’s view -The White house and the press -Joseph C. Kraft -Communication with the Washington Post -Murrey Marder’s call to Alexander M. Haig, Jr. -The President’s orders for Kissinger -New York Times -William P. Rogers -William H. Sullivan -John B. Connally -Haig -Delegating authority -Comparison to [Thomas] Woodrow Wilson -Vice President Spiro T. Agnew Record of opponents’ statements on issues -Polls -Efforts of Colson’s staff -Six Crises -James B. (“Scotty”) Reston -William F. Knowland 25 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Oct-06) -Kissinger -Possible television [TV] special -Testing of Dan Rather’s predictions -Timing -1972 election -Press coverage -Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2 [Personal returnable] [Duration: 11m 23s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2 ***************************************************************** Vietnam and the 1972 election -McGovern -Sympathy appeal -Campaign strategy -Proposals for peace in Vietnam -Focus of White house response -Media coverage, October 26, 1972 -Possible public response -Ending the war in 1969 W[illiam] Averell Harriman -McGeorge Bundy -Kissinger -Watergate as issue -McGovern’s statements -Credibility -Colson’s view -Campaign strategy -Attacking Shriver -Buchanan’s view -Robert J. Dole’s statements 26 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Oct-06) -Administration strategy -Ziegler’s view -The president’s recent views -McGovern’s recent remarks -US casualties -Use of Agnew for White House response -Use of Rogers for press conference -Support for the President -Dole ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3 [Personal returnable] [Duration: 5m 8s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3 ***************************************************************** 1972 campaign -Vietnam War demonstrations -Boston -Federal building -McGovern’s peace settlement proposals -Withdrawal timetable The President left after an unknown time after 9:56 am. -Shriver -Kissinger’s trips The President entered at an unknown time before 11:05 am. -Haldeman -Newspaper story in Washington Post about 1962 activites -Donald F. Nixon -Albert E. Sindlinger’s views 27 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Oct-06) -Public opinion -Polls -Measure of success -Louis P. Harris, Sindlinger, Richard M. Scammon -Important factors -Busing, amnesty, abortion, foreign policy Vietnam -Press -McGovern -Opportunity to attack administration -Economic issues, Vietnam -Limitations on administration’s popularity -Public perception of McGovern campaign -Vietnam -Moral issue -Frank E. Fitzsimmons -“Peace with honor” -Sindlinger -Economy -The President's standing -George H. Gallup -Kissinger ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4 [Personal returnable] [Duration: 15m 21s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4 ****************************************************************** Terence Cardinal Cooke and John P. Cardinal Cody's request for peace prayers Request for a telephone call to Kissinger 28 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Oct-06) Haldeman talked with Kissinger at an unknown time between 11:05 and 11:08 am. [Conversation No. 374-16A] Vietnam update -Kissinger's call to Connally -Haig's briefing of George Meany [End of telephone conversation] Vietnam peace settlement -Connally's views The President, Haldeman and Colson left at 11:08 am.