Easy NixonAbout

Conversation: 400-014

Prev:  400-013 Next: 400-015

Start Date: 22-Jan-1973 5:00 PM

End Date: 22-Jan-1973 6:30 PM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Price, Raymond K., Jr.Sanchez, ManoloHaldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Bull, Stephen B.Tkach, Walter R.White House operatorHaig, Alexander M., Jr.

Recording Device: Old Executive Office Building

400-014a.mp3

400-014b.mp3

400-014c.mp3

NARA Description:

On January 22, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Raymond K. Price, Jr., Manolo Sanchez, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Stephen B. Bull, Walter R. Tkach, White House operator, and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 400-014 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 400-14

Date: January 22, 1973
Time: 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with Raymond K. Price, Jr.

       The President’s schedule
            -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman

       The President’s speech on Vietnam settlement
            -Democrats
            -Length
            -Congressional leaders briefing

Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 5:00 pm.

       Food order

       The President's schedule
            -Haldeman

Sanchez left at an unknown time before 5:10 pm.

       The President’s speech on Vietnam settlement
                                             -15-

                  NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. Jan.-09)

                                                          Conversation No. 400-14 (cont’d)

            -Patrick J. Buchanan
            -Plans
            -Television [TV] coverage
            -California
            -Congressional relations
                  -Bipartisan leadership
                  -Committee chairmen
            -Timing
            -Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
                  -Meeting with Nguyen Van Thieu
            -Bipartisan support appeal by the President
                  -Lyndon B. Johnson
                  -Republicans, Democrats
            -TV coverage
            -Content
                  -Suggestions
                  -Bipartisan agreement
                  -Additions
            -Congressional relations
                  -The President's consultation
            -Points to make
                  -Public support [?]
                  -Congressional relations
                  -Negotiations
                         -Expectations
                  -Public support
                  -Public statements
                         -Ground rules for discussion
                  -Negotiations
                         -Sensitivity
                         -Bombing of North Vietnam
                         -Bipartisan leaders
                  -The President’s responsibility
                         -Complete disclosure
                         -World War II
                               -Ending

Haldeman entered at 5:10 pm.

            -Congressional relations
                               -16-

     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                        Tape Subject Log
                          (rev. Jan.-09)

                                           Conversation No. 400-14 (cont’d)

      -Speech length
      -Turnout
      -Cooperation
      -"Peace With Honor"
      -TV coverage
-International cooperation
      -European security conference
      -World peace
-Concerns
-1972 election
-Negotiating terms
-Timing
-TV coverage
-Compared to 1972 Moscow Summit
-Congressional relations
-Buchanan
-Haldeman’s call to Haig
-Agreement
      -Initialing
             -Paris
      -Signing
      -Henry A. Kissinger
-Congressional relations
-Importance
-Revisions
      -Tone
             -Defensiveness
-Reaction [?]
      -Public sector
      -Private sector
-Republicans
-Thieu [?]
-Negotiations
      -Propaganda
      -Public reaction
-Congressional audience
-Home audience
-Congressional relations
      -Difficulties
-Points to make
                                      -17-

           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. Jan.-09)

                                                   Conversation No. 400-14 (cont’d)

     -Congressional relations

Unknown person’s schedule

Washington National Cathedral
    -Francis Sayre
    -The President's possible attendance
          -Harry S. Truman’s memorial service

The President’s speech on Vietnam settlement
     -Johnson [?]
     -Doubts
     -Revisions
           -First part
           -Haldeman’s suggestions
     -Allies
     -George S. McGovern’s statements
     -Prisoners of War [POWs] [?]
     -Buchanan
     -Agreement
           -Value

Johnson’s health [?]
     -Protocol [?]
     -US politics
     -Herbert C. Hoover
     -Dwight D. Eisenhower
     -William H. Taft
     -Warren G. Harding
           -Death in Office
     -[Thomas] Woodrow Wilson
     -Theodore Roosevelt
           -Death
     -Death
           -Timing
     -Past recoveries [?]

The President’s speech on Vietnam settlement
     -The President's appearance before Congress
           -Symbolism
                                               -18-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. Jan.-09)

                                                         Conversation No. 400-14 (cont’d)

                         -End of war
                         -Congress’ responsibility
                              -Maintenance of peace
                              -Aid to South Vietnam
                              -Aid to North Vietnam
             -Future developments
                   -Cambodia
             -TV coverage
             -Congressional relations
                   -Briefing
                         -Leadership
                   -Confidentiality
                   -House of Representatives
                   -Bryce Harlow
                   -John D. Ehrlichman
                   -Clark MacGregor
                   -William E. Timmons

Stephen B. Bull entered at 5:55 pm.

             -Johnson’s health
                  -Aircraft
                  -Possible death
                  -Change in the President’s schedule
                        -Congress
                  -Hospital

Bull left at an unknown time before 6:00 pm.

                   -Possible death
                         -Reaction
                   -Doctors

       Past President’s health
             -Harry S. Truman
             -Kennedy
             -Eisenhower
                   -Concerns
                   -Heart attacks
             -Johnson
                                                       -19-

                       NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                              Tape Subject Log
                                                (rev. Jan.-09)

                                                                           Conversation No. 400-14 (cont’d)

                       -Concerns

Haldeman talked with Gen. Walter R. Tkach at an unknown time between 5:55 pm and 6:19 pm.

[Conversation No. 400-14A]

[See Conversation No. 36-49]

[End of telephone conversation]

        Johnson’s health
             -Condition
             -Tkach [?]


*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 4m 55s           ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************


        The President’s speech on Vietnam settlement
             -William P. Rogers [?]
             -Press relations [?]
             -The President’s error
             -Revisions
                   -Public statements about negotiations
                   -Military activity
                   -Haig [?]
                   -Obligation
                                             -20-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. Jan.-09)

                                                             Conversation No. 400-14 (cont’d)

Tkach talked with Haldeman between 5:55 pm and 6:19 pm.

[Conversation No. 400-14B]

[See Conversation No. 36-50]

[End of telephone conversation]

       Johnson’s health
            -Air shuttle
            -Condition

[The above part of the office conversation took place simultaneously with Conversation No. 400-
14B.]

                   -Lack of doctor at Johnson ranch
                   -Trip to hospital
                   -Tkach's information
                         -[First name unknown] Vogel

       The President’s speech on Vietnam settlement
            -Prisoners of War [POWs]
            -Johnson

Tkach talked with Haldeman at an unknown time between 5:55 pm and 6:19 pm.

[Conversation No. 400-14C]

[See Conversation No. 36-51]

[End of telephone conversation]

       Johnson's heath
            -Revival
                  -Airplane
            -Death
                  -Announcement
                  -Effect
            -Meeting
                                               -21-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. Jan.-09)

                                                              Conversation No. 400-14 (cont’d)

The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 5:55 pm and
6:19 pm.

[Conversation No. 400-14D]

[See Conversation No. 36-52]

[End of telephone conversation]

       The President's schedule
            -The President’s speech on Vietnam settlement
                  -Postponement

Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 5:55 pm.

             -Julie Nixon Eisenhower
                    -Dinner

Sanchez left at an unknown time before 6:19 pm.

       The President's speech on Vietnam settlement
            -Timing
            -Content
                  -The President’s suggestions
            -Haig's review of draft

The President talked with Haig between 6:19 pm and 6:22 pm.

[Conversation No. 400-14E]

[See Conversation No. 36-53]

[End of telephone conversation]

       Johnson's death
            -Burial
            -Lying in state at Capitol
            -Washington National Cathedral
                  -Possible memorial service
                                                -22-

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                          Tape Subject Log
                                            (rev. Jan.-09)

                                                             Conversation No. 400-14 (cont’d)

       The President's speech on Vietnam settlement
            -The President's schedule

       The President's statement on Johnson's death

       The President's speech on Vietnam settlement
            -Content
                  -Length
                  -Accomplishments

The President, et al., left at 6:30 pm.