Conversation: 382-002
Prev: 382-001 Next: 382-003Start Date: 16-Dec-1972 11:30 AM
End Date: 16-Dec-1972 12:45 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Colson, Charles W.; Bull, Stephen B.; White House operator; Butterfield, Alexander P.;Recording Device: Old Executive Office Building
NARA Description:
On December 16, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, Stephen B. Bull, White House operator, and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 11:30 am to 12:45 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 382-002 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 382-2
Date: December 16, 1972
Time: 11:30 am - 12:45 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with Charles W. Colson.
Second term reorganization
-John A. Scali appointment
-Announcement
-Italian-Americans
-Changes
-Press relations
-The President’s conversation with Ronald L. Ziegler
-2-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)
Conversation No. 382-2 (cont’d)
-William P. Rogers
-Retentions
-Richard G. Kleindienst
-Rogers
-George P. Shultz
-Number
-Scali
-Number of Catholics in Cabinet
-Roy L. Ash
-Claude S. Brinegar
-Regional representation
-Sub-Cabinet
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-Conversation with John B. Connally
-Marianne H. Means
-Post-1964 election
-Schedule C
-Press relations
-Ray Cromley article
-Washington, DC, reporters
-White House staff cuts
-Press relations
-The President’s conversation with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Announcement
-Symbolism
-Public relations [PR]
-Plan
-News summaries
-Patrick J. Buchanan and Lyndon K. (“Mort”) Allin
-Compilation
-PR
-Bureaucracy
-Peter J. Brennan’s conversation with the President
-Brennan’s visit to Labor Department
-Display of the President’s portrait
-Labor offices
-Shultz
-James G. Hodgson
-Brennan’s view
-Rogers’s office
-3-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)
Conversation No. 382-2 (cont’d)
-State Department
-Press relations
-Brennan’s Democratic Party affiliation
-Politicans as managers
-John G. Veneman
-Performance as Under Secretary [of the Department of Health,
Education and Welfare] [HEW]
-George W. Romney
-Compared to Brennan
-Governorship of Michigan
-John A. Volpe
-Performance
-Colson’s meeting with insurance people
-Truckers
-White House staff
-Loyalty
-Volpe
-Ambassadorship to Italy
-Secretary of Transportation
-Interest in retention
-[John A. Volpe, Jr.]
-Exhaustion
-Politicians as managers
-Robert H. Finch
-Performance as HEW Secretary
-Changes
-PR
-Compared to other Presidents
-Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936, Theodore Roosevelt in 1904, Dwight
D. Eisenhower in 1956
-Lower level positions
-Rogers C. B. Morton, Shultz
-Under Secretaries
-Internal Revenue Service [IRS]
-Rogers
-PR
-Herbert G. Klein
-Announcements
-Press relations
-Buchanan’s and Allin’s view
-4-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)
Conversation No. 382-2 (cont’d)
-Brennan
-Scali
-1972 election
-George S. McGovern results
-Blacks
-Jews
Domestic issues
-Democratic Party
-Blacks
-Reception
-Welfare
-Colson’s conversation with Peter Fosco
Second term reorganization
-Black ambassador
-Need to appoint
Domestic issues
-Blacks
-Welfare, busing
-Robert J. Brown
Second term reorganization
-Brennan
-Confirmation
-Effect
-PR
-Colson’s work with Kenneth W. Clawson, Richard A. Moore, William L.
Safire
-Safire’s work on historical research
-Publicity for second term changes
-James T. Lynn
-Commerce Department
-Political background
New Majority
-Press relations
-Helen Thomas
-Reception
-5-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)
Conversation No. 382-2 (cont’d)
-Democrats
-Colson
-Reception
-Colson’s conversation with an unknown woman reporter
-Aristocracy
-International Brotherhood of Teamsters
-Unknown person
-Teamsters
-Philadelphia
-Children
-Italian-Americans, Catholic background
-Women reporters
-Christmas
-Visits to White House
-Analogy to “Age of Jackson”
-Republican President
-Labor leaders, Italian-Americans, Polish-Americans and Democrats
-Church service
-Republican President
-Thomas
-Church service
-Guest list
-Duplication
-Richard M. Scammon
-Labor leaders
*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
1972 election
-Richard M. Scammon
-Results
-Arizona
-Missouri
New Majority
-The President’s view
-Compared to Republicans
-Arrogance
-6-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)
Conversation No. 382-2 (cont’d)
-Peter H. Dominick
-Clark MacGregor
-Republican candidates
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, Tricia Nixon Cox, and
other surrogates
-Campaign support
-White House Christmas tree lighting reception for the President’s supporters
-Michael P. Balzano, Jr.
-Donald F. Rodgers
-Salvatore Provenzano [?]
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
Second term reorganization
-Mickey Gardner
-White House staff
-Public Information Officer [PIO]
-PIO officers
-Executive Office Building [EOB]
-Gardner
-William J. Baroody, Jr.
-The President’s conversation with Haldeman
-Background check
-Labor groups
-Lobbies
-Conservatism
-Colson’s conversation with William P. Rogers
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:30 am.
Haldeman’s schedule
Vietnam negotiations
-Henry A. Kissinger’s press conference
-Timing
Bull left at an unknown time before 12:11 pm.
-7-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)
Conversation No. 382-2 (cont’d)
Second term reorganization
-Baroody
-Conservatism
-Intelligence
-The President’s trip to the People’ Republic of China [PRC]
-Managerial skills
-Frederic V. Malek
-Typical manager
-Harvard University business school
-Loyalty to the President
-Unknown Polish-American lawyer
-Compared to White Anglo-Saxon Protestant [WASP]
-Education
-Loyola University
Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:30 am.
The President’s schedule
-Kissinger’s briefing
-Timing
-Haldeman’s schedule
-Meeting with Kissinger
-Timing
-Kissinger’s briefing
-Duration
-Possible telephone calls
Bull left at an unknown time before 12:11 pm.
Harvard University
-John F. Kennedy Center
-Teachers
-Background
-McGovern supporters
-Republican participation
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Conversation with Colson
-American Enterprise Institute [AEI]
-Colson’s efforts
-Funding
-8-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)
Conversation No. 382-2 (cont’d)
Press relations
-Columbia Broadcasting Company [CBS]
-Colson’s conversation with William S. Paley
-Haldeman
-Paley’s request for a meeting
-Timing
-Dan Rather, Walter L. Cronkite, Jr.
-Rowland Evans
-Peter A. Diamond
-Massachusetts Institute of Technology [MIT]
-Political orientation
-Social events
-Coverage
-Women reporters
-Reception
-Reception
-Patricia (Hughes) Colson’s comments comparing coverage of the President
to Kennedy
-Human interest
-CBS
-Cronkite
Second term reorganization
-Agencies and Departments
-Loyalty to the President
-Colson’s work with Brennan, unknown person
-Brennan
-Labor Department
-Shultz
-Conversation with Colson
-Morton
-Laurence H. Silberman
-Judgeship
-Egil (“Bud”) Krogh, Jr.
-EOB
-Internal Revenue Service [IRS]
-George D. Webster
-Confirmation
-Conversation with Colson
-9-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)
Conversation No. 382-2 (cont’d)
-Confirmation
-Tennessee farm
-Howard W. Cannon
-Howard H. Baker, Jr.
-Background check
The President’s official portrait
-Colson’s conversation with Haldeman
-Embassies
-Distribution
-Public buildings
-Government Service Administration [GSA]
Press relations
-“Things They Would Like to Forget”
-US Information Agency [USIA]
-James Keogh
-Conversation with Colson
-McGovern
-Accuracy in Media [AIM] report
-Distribution
-Congressmen, editors
-White House press corps
-Ralph Nader article
-Response
-Nader’s taxes
-Audit
-Webster’s assignment
Connally
-Conversation with Colson
-Schedule
-Cabinet dinner
The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 11:30 am and
12:11 pm.
[Conversation No. 382-2A]
[See Conversation No. 34-96]
-10-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)
Conversation No. 382-2 (cont’d)
[End of telephone conversation]
Connally’s schedule
-Cabinet dinner
The President talked with Alexander P. Butterfield between 12:11 pm and 12:12 pm.
[Conversation No. 382-2B]
[See Conversation No. 34-97]
[End of telephone conversation]
Press relations
-AIM
-News summary
-Article about bias
-Unknown New York businessman
-Xerox copy
-US mining of Haiphong Habor
-CBS
-Distribution
-Editors
-Xerox copy
-Unknown New York businessman
-CBS
-Newsweek
-CBS
-George S. McGovern
-US mining of Haiphong
-New York Times
-Washington Post
1972 election
-The Left
-Reaction
*****************************************************************
-11-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)
Conversation No. 382-2 (cont’d)
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
Edward M. Kennedy’s speech
-Relations with moderate Democrats
-McGovern
-Change of party affiliation by Democrats
-Patrick J. Buchanan, Michael J. Maye
-Need to establish momentum
-Frank L. Rizzo
-Ethnics
-Robert S. Strauss
-John B. Connally
-Future plans
-Conversation with Colson
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
Vietnam War
-Negotiations
-Kissinger’s press conference
-North Vietnam’s delays
-Prisoners of War [POWs]
-Casualties
-US, North and South Vietnam
-Settlement agreement
-North Vietnam’s delays
-Offensive
-Follow-up
-US bombing north of 20th Parallel
-Hanoi, Haiphong
-US bombing north of 20th Parallel
-US public opinion
-Effect on North Vietnam
-Limitation
-Effect
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-Views
-Congressional relations
-12-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)
Conversation No. 382-2 (cont’d)
-Cut off of US aid to South Vietnam
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-Letters from the President
-Negotiations
-Continuation
-US bombing north of 20th Parallel
-Kissinger
-Congressional relations
-Le Duc Tho
-Statement
-Tone
-Domestic reaction
-Duration
-January-February 1973
-Kissinger
-Negotiations
-Pressure on North Vietnam
-Congressional relations
-Cut off of US aid to South Vietnam
-Agnew’s view
-Charles McC. Mathias, Charles H. Percy
-House of Representatives, Senate
-Supplemental spending bill
-Military
-Pentagon
-Vietnamization
-Announcement
-January 1973
-Settlement agreement
-North and South Vietnam
-Cease-fire
-POWs
-McGovern’s view
-Thieu
-Public opinion
-POWs
-Honor
-Cease-fire
-North Vietnamese troops in South Vietnam
-Thieu’s retention
-13-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)
Conversation No. 382-2 (cont’d)
-Vietnamization
-Congressional relations
-US withdrawal and cessation of US bombing and mining of North Vietnam
-POWs
-North Vietnam’s possible demand
-Cut off of US aid to South Vietnam
-Congressional relations
-North Vietnam’s demands
-US public opinion
-The President’s May 8, 1972 decision
-Domestic reaction
-The President’s advisers’ view
-Breakdown in negotiations
-North Vietnam’s responsibility
-Kissinger’s press conference
-US bombing north of 20th Parallel
-Compared to the President’s May 8, 1972 decision
-North Vietnam’s invasion of South Vietnam
-POWs
-US public opinion
-Communists
-Thieu
-POWs
-Honor
-US bombing north of 20th Parallel
-Effect on North Vietnam
-Negotiations
-Tone
-The President’s first term
-Passive
-1972 election
-Results
-McGovern
-“Doves”
-Congressional relations
Second term reorganization
-PR
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Clawson
-14-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)
Conversation No. 382-2 (cont’d)
-Carryovers
-The President’s official portrait
-Labor Department
-Brennan
-Robert Armayo
-1972 campaign
-Kennedy photographs, US flags
-Hodgson
-Shultz
Shultz’s views
-Liberalism
-Sidney Hook
Second term reorganization
-Bureaucracy
-Colson’s conversation with Louis P. Harris
Bull entered at an unknown time after 12:12 pm.
The President’s schedule
-Kissinger’s press conference
-Completion
-Haldeman
-Kissinger
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
Bull left at an unknown time before 12:45 pm.
Second term reorganization
-Colson’s conversation with Harris
-Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS]
-Unemployment statistics
-Albert E. Sindlinger
-Press relations
-New personnel
-Historical significance
-Second level appointees
-Italian-Americans, Polish-Americans
-Ambassadors
-15-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)
Conversation No. 382-2 (cont’d)
-Labor
-James Suffridge and Einar Mohn
-Advantages
-Symbolism
Labor relations
-George Meany
Press relations
-William S. Paley
-Buchanan
-Colson
-Washington Post article
-John A. Scali
-Garnett D. (“Jack”) Horner’s interview with the President
-Announcements
-Washington Star, Washington Post
-Scali
-Clay T. (“Tom”) Whitehead
-Networks
-Coverage
-Fairness
-Vietnam War
-US bombing north of 20th Parallel
Colson left at 12:45 pm.