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Conversation: 381-015

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Start Date: 18-Dec-1972 1:20 PM

End Date: 18-Dec-1972 1:40 PM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Ziegler, Ronald L.Hoopes, David C.

Recording Device: Old Executive Office Building

381-015.mp3

NARA Description:

On December 18, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, and David C. Hoopes met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 1:20 pm to 1:40 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 381-015 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 381-15

Date: December 18, 1972
Time: 1:20 pm – 1:40 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler.

       Press

       Ziegler’s press conference
             -Duration
             -Second term reorganization
                   -Anne L. Armstrong
                         -Counselor to the President
                                -Cabinet rank
                                      -Woman
                                             -Oveta Culp Hobby
                                      -The President’s choice
                                      -Senate confirmation
                                             -Requirement
                                                   -Secretary of Department in Executive Branch
                                      -The President’s choice
                                      -Semantics
             -Tone
             -Second term reorganization
                   -Armstrong
                         -Counselor to the President
                                -Tokenism
                   -Counselor to the President
                         -First term
                                -Robert H. Finch
                                -Donald H. Rumsfeld
                                -Patrick P. (“Pat”) Moynihan
                               -26-

     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                        Tape Subject Log
                          (rev. May-08)

                                              Conversation No. 381-15 (cont’d)

                  -Bryce N. Harlow
                  -Arthur F. Burns
      -White House staff cuts
           -Finch
                  -Return to California
           -Rumsfeld
                  -Ambassadorship to North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
           -Counselor to the President
                  -Peter Lisagor’s comment
      -Commerce and Transportation Department
           -White House staff
                  -Departures
                        -Desmond J. Barker
                        -Gen. Robert L. Schulz
                        -John C. Whitaker
                        -Egil (“Bud”) Krogh, Jr.
                        -Charles W. Colson
                        -Rumsfeld
                  -Reduction
                        -Executive Office
-Vietnam negotiations
      -US bombing and mining of North Vietnam
           -Melvin R. Laird’s statement
           -The President’s May 8, 1972 speech
           -Settlement agreement
           -Enemy buildup
                  -Offensive action
           -Settlement agreement
           -Prolonging the war
                  -Henry A. Kissinger’s press conference
           -Settlement agreement
                  -North Vietnam
           -Preventing enemy buildup
                  -Offensive in South
                  -The President’s May 8, 1972 speech
           -Kissinger’s press conference
                  -Ziegler
           -Press relations
                  -Lead story
                        -The President’s May 8, 1972 speech
                                      -27-

            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                               Tape Subject Log
                                 (rev. May-08)

                                                      Conversation No. 381-15 (cont’d)

                            -Enemy offensive
                       -Cessation of US bombing North of 20th Parallel
                            -Timing

Vietnam negotiations
     -US bombing and mining of North Vietnam
          -Press relations
                 -Tass report
                       -Hanoi
                             -Fires
          -Continuation
          -Cessation North of 20th Parallel
                 -Timing
                       -October 1972
                 -Kissinger’s view
                       -Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
                       -The President’s conversation with Kissinger
          -Public opinion
          -Ziegler’s press conference
                 -Tone
          -Kissinger’s mood
                 -B-52 losses
                 -Ziegler’s conversation with Kissinger
                 -Press and media relations
                       -October 8, 1972 agreement
                       -Ziegler’s conversation with Kissinger
          -Press relations
                 -Kissinger’s “Peace is at hand” statement, October 26, 1972

Ziegler’s press conference
      -Press relations
            -Washington Post
                   -The President’s recent conversation with Julie Nixon Eisenhower
                         -Philadelphia Bulletin
                   -Baltimore Sun
                   -Unknown newspaper
                   -Dallas Times Herald
                   -Washington newspaper
                   -Washington Star
                                              -28-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. May-08)

                                                               Conversation No. 381-15 (cont’d)

David C. Hoopes entered at 1:31 pm.

                          -Dan Rather’s question
                          -Unknown reporter
                          -Thomas E. Jarriel
                          -Watergate

Hoopes left at 1:32 pm.

                          -Current representation
                          -White House social events
                                -Cause celebre
                          -Local newspapers
                                -National administration
                          -Ziegler’s conversation with Helen Thomas
                          -Questions
                                -Ziegler’s handling
                                       -Emotions
                                             -Objectivity
                          -The President’s conversation with Kissinger
                                -National administration
                          -Carroll Kilpatrick
                          -Pool
                                -Dorothy McCardle
                                       -Ziegler’s view
                          -Christmas tree lighting
                                -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
                                -The President’s conversation with Ziegler
                                -Constance M. (Cornell) (“Connie”) Stuart
                          -Church services
                                -Candlelight tour
                                       -Children
                          -Mrs. Nixon
                          -Elinor I. (Judefind) Agnew
                          -McCardle
                          -San Antonio Light
                          -Kansas City Star
                          -Baltimore Sun

       Vietnam War
                                               -29-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. May-08)

                                                             Conversation No. 381-15 (cont’d)

             -US bombing north of 20th Parallel
                   -Timing
                   -Congressional relations
                         -Thomas F. Eagleton’s and Jacob K. Javit’s statements
                   -Public relations [PR]
                         -Number of plans
                                -Hanoi
             -Ziegler’s press conference
                   -Use of “enemy”

Ronald Ziegler left at 1:40 pm.