Conversation: 415-014
Prev: 415-013 Next: 415-015Start Date: 27-Feb-1973 11:00 AM
End Date: 27-Feb-1973 11:50 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Kissinger, Henry A.; Ziegler, Ronald L.;Recording Device: Old Executive Office Building
NARA Description:
On February 27, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Henry A. Kissinger, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 11:00 am to 11:50 am. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 415-014 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 415-14
Date: February 27, 1973
Time: 11:00 am-11:50 am
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with H. R. Haldeman.
Office
Absence of someone [?]
-18-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-09)
Conversation No. 415-14 (cont’d)
John D. Ehrlichman's schedule
Ehrlichman
-News coverage
-Staff meeting
-Inside work at White House compared to outside events
-Dinner
-New York
-Gabriel Hauge
-[Manufacturers Hanover Trust, Corp.]
-Chairman
-Question and answer [Q&A] session
-Compared to Roy L. Ash, George P. Shultz
-Haldeman’s appearance
-Speeches
-Private meetings
-Congressional briefings
-Publicity
-Television [TV]
-Newsweek
-Ronald L. Ziegler’s appearance
-News summary
President’s schedule
-Stephen B. Bull
-Appointment with Jerry V. Wilson
-Ehrlichman’s recommendation
-Departure
-Prevention
-Ehrlichman
-Obsession with Washington, DC
-District police chief
-Problem
-Other meetings regarding Washington, DC
-Responsibility for Washington, DC affairs
-President’s preferences
-19-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-09)
Conversation No. 415-14 (cont’d)
Henry A. Kissinger and Ziegler entered at 11:04 am.
Vietnam settlement
-Statement about International Conference on Vietnam
-Draft
-William P. Rogers
-Reaction to statement
-Withdrawal from conference
-Editing
-Clarification of North Vietnam’s statement on prisoners of war
[POWs]
-President’s response
-Importance of POW issue
-Likelihood of settlement
-Need for tough rhetoric
-International Conference on Vietnam
-Breakup
-US actions
-Withdrawal
-Rogers
-Importance of POW issue
-Draft statement
-North Vietnam’s reaction
-Bombing
-Breakup
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-France, Czechoslovakia, Canada [?]
-Great Britain
-Rogers
-Sir Alexander F. (“Alec”) Douglas-Home
-Return to London
-Conference schedule
-Statement
-Draft
-Instructions to Rogers
-POW issue
-Clarification
-20-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-09)
Conversation No. 415-14 (cont’d)
-Message to North Vietnam
-Mining, troop withdrawal
-US consulate [?]
-Message
-Timing
-Ambassador
-Kissinger’s view regarding North Vietnam’s actions [?]
-Ziegler’s statement
-North Vietnam’s demands
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-POWs
-US actions
-Retaliation
-POWs
-Public opinion
-Withdrawal
-Rogers [?]
-Kissinger’s message
-POWs
-Resolution of problem
-North Vietnam’s request for meeting
-Ministers
-Paris
-Statement
-Importance of POW issue
-Clarification
-Conference
-POW agreement
-International Conference on Vietnam
-Rogers
-POWs
-Leverage
-International recognition of agreement
-Breakup
-Experience with North Vietnam
-PRC pressure
-North Vietnam
-New York Times story
-21-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-09)
Conversation No. 415-14 (cont’d)
-US aid
Kissinger and Ziegler left at 11:15 am.
Rogers
-Presence at conference
-“Man of peace”
-POW issue
-Conference
-Delay over POWs
-Troop withdrawals
-New stories
-Relations with Kissinger
-Publicity
Francis A. (“Frank”) Sinatra
-Conversation with Haldeman
-Date of appearance at White House
-Invitation to Irving Berlin event
Cecil Stoughton
-Identity
-White House photographer
-John F. Kennedy
-National Park Service [NPS] photographer
-Oliver F. (“Ollie”) Atkins
-Photographs of President at Inaugural
-Stoughton’s appearance in photographs
-Clothing
-Firing
-Ron Holly [?]
-NPS
-Ronald H. Walker
-Hugh S. Sidey’s article
-Caroline Kennedy
-Appearance in photographs of President’s swearing-in
-Apology
-22-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-09)
Conversation No. 415-14 (cont’d)
News summary
-President’s conversation with Ziegler
-Length
-Divisions
-News section
-Appendix
-Editorials
-Television [TV]
-Martin Z. Agronsky
-Time
-Washington Post [?]
-Wire services, TV
-Popularity, impact
-Senators, Congressman
-Columnists
-Sidey, Business Week, Agronsky, [Arnold] Eric Sevareid
-Distortions
-Campaign on POWs
-New York Times
-Shana Alexander
-United Press International [UPI]
-Attacks on POWs
-Overreaction
-Budget cuts
-Jacob K. Javits, Clifford P. Case
-Statements
-Newsworthiness
-Columnists’ opinions
-Significance
-Appendix to news summary
-Distortions
-Information currency
-Columnists
-Delay factor
-Rowland Evans and Robert D. Novak
-Kevin P. Phillips’s newsletter
-Length
-Patrick J. Buchanan, Lyndon K (“Mort”) Allin
-23-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-09)
Conversation No. 415-14 (cont’d)
-Need for balance
-New section
-Appendix section
-Opinion
-Columnists
-Magazines
-Books
New York Times
-Campaign against POWs
-Administration’s response
-Purpose
Vietnam War
-American people
-Pride
President’s talk with Charles B. (“Bud”) Wilkinson
-Olympics
-Richard A. Moore
Stoughton
-Statement
-News story
-Explanation
-Appearance in President’s picture
-Atkins
-United States Secret Service [USSS]
-Dismissal
-Retirement
-Sidey’s article
-Kennedy holdovers
-Photographs of John F. Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy, John F.
Kennedy, Jr.
Sidey
-Denial of access to White House
-Raymond K. Price, Jr., William L. Safire
-24-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-09)
Conversation No. 415-14 (cont’d)
Watergate
-Two people who refused jobs
-One person who left
-Regulatory agency
-Identities
-Charles W. Colson
-Haldeman
-Accusations
-Truth
-Staff members
-Colson’s speculation
-Herbert G. Klein
Klein
-Return to California
-Trip to London
-Interactions with Kissinger
-Reluctance
-Spying
-Trip to Hanoi
-Photographs
-Bombing accuracy
-Target areas
-Damage
-Railroad station
-Airport
-Surrounding buildings
-Photographs
Watergate
-Leaks
-Staff member
-Press
-Timing
-1972 election
-White House morale
-Fear of spying
-25-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-09)
Conversation No. 415-14 (cont’d)
-Insistence on loyalty
-Colson
-Self-incrimination
-Role in Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy surveillance program
-Tatler articles
-Discussions with President
-Tatler articles
-Edward Kennedy
-Pictures
-Legitimacy
-Source of stories
-Colson’s staff
-Retaliation for firing
-Suspects
-Colson’s reactions
William J. Baroody, Jr.
-Haldeman’s opinion
-Work with Bryce N. Harlow
-Ability
-Congress members
-Importance
-White House involvement
-Organizations
Budget cuts
-Ehrlichman
-Criticism
-Compassion
-Administration’s answers
-Taxes [?]
-Importance of rhetoric
-Congressional, press relations
-Ehrlichman
-Domestic battle
-George P. Shultz, Roy L. Ash
-Substance
-President’s role
-26-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-09)
Conversation No. 415-14 (cont’d)
-Press conference [?]
John W. Dean, III’s duties
Ehrlichman
-Tasks
-Responsibilities
-Public relations [PR]
-Crime issue
New York City
-Mayoral candidates
-Law and order
Poll
-Gallup, Phillips
President’s schedule
-Press conference
-POWs
-Controversy
-Escalation
-Time to prepare for press conference
-Quadriad meeting
-Scheduling
Briefing for governors
-President’s appearance
-National Governors Conference attendees’ dinner
-Discussion of taxes, spending
-Compared with President’s press conference
-Ehrlichman
-Need to pick forms
-Scheduling
-Ehrlichman
-Dinner
-President’s remarks
-Peace settlement
-27-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-09)
Conversation No. 415-14 (cont’d)
-Governors’ wives
-Budget problems
-Forums
Press conference
Education speech
Haldeman left at 11:50 am.