Conversation: 455-003
Prev: 455-002 Next: 455-004Start Date: 22-Feb-1971 10:39 AM
End Date: 22-Feb-1971 11:58 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ehrlichman, John D.; Ziegler, Ronald L.; Hodgson, James D.; Shultz, George P.; White House photographer; [Unknown person(s)]; Colson, Charles W.;Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 01:23:58
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:40:16
NARA Description:
On February 22, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, Ronald L. Ziegler, James D. Hodgson, George P. Shultz, White House photographer, unknown person(s), and Charles W. Colson met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:39 am to 11:58 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 455-003 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 455-3
Date: February 22, 1971
Time: 10:39 am - 11:58 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with John D. Ehrlichman and Ronald L. Ziegler
Ziegler’s forthcoming press briefing
-Vietnam
-Army of the Republic of Vietnam [ARVN]
-President’s view
-Developments
-Laos
-President’s view
11
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-The President’s meeting with Rogers C. B. Morton
-Content
The President’s schedule
James D. Hodgson and George P. Shultz entered at 10:43 am; the White House photographer
was present at the beginning of the meeting
[Unintelligible] Conv. No. 455-2 (cont.)
Unknown women entered at an unknown time after 10:43 am
Ladies of the press
The unknown women left at an unknown time before 10:52 am
Charles W. Colson
Wage freeze
-Responsibility of government
-Administration policy
-Hodgson’s view
-Hodgson’s meeting with Building Trades Union leaders
-Union position
Colson entered at 10:52 am
-Neil Hagerty [sp?]
-Davis-Bacon Act
-Alternatives
-John H. (“Jack”) Lyons
-George Meany
-Position
-Colson’s view
12
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 6m 54s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2 Conv. No. 455-3 (cont.)
******************************************************************************
Wage freeze
-Davis-Bacon Act
-President’s view
-Cost/benefit analysis
-Effect of temporary freeze
-Union reactions
-Administration strategy
-Forthcoming contract negotiations
-Construction industry
-Business
-Settlements
-Opposition
-Administration strategy
-Union view
-Contract negotiations
-Davis-Bacon Act
-Construction industry
-Effect of suspension
-Hodgson’s view
-Colson’s view
-Wage Board/price controls
-Difficulties
-Union leadership
-Contract negotiations
-Meany
-Administrative position
-Davis-Bacon Act
-Construction workers
-Suspension of Davis-Bacon Act
-Administration policy
-Announcement
13
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Pros and cons
-Effect on construction industry
-Non-union hiring
-Wages
-Shultz’s view
-President’s view
-Union changes
-Working conditions Conv. No. 455-3 (cont.)
-Effect on leaders
-Longevity
-Public relations
-Hodgson
-Prices
-Steel and fuel
-Effect on government action
-Compared with construction industry
-Ripple effect
-President’s position
-Governors’ conference
-Wage-price freeze
-Arthur F. Burns’ view
-Long-term effect
-Efficacy
-Congress
-Future problems
-”Goldstein” [Leon Greenberg] [?]
-Consumer prices
-Long-term effect
-Administration policy
-Temporary suspension
-Responsibility
-Government role
-President’s view
-Strikes
-Labor public relations
-Ziegler
-Settlement terms
-Northwest Airlines
-Questions
-Concern of working man
-Colson’s view
-Wage freeze compared with Davis-Bacon Act
14
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Suspension of Davis-Bacon Act
-President’s view
-Subsequent actions
-Ehrlichman’s view
-Rationale
-Compared with other industries
-Hodgson’s role
-Labor/management cooperation Conv. No. 455-3 (cont.)
-Public statements by Administration
-Justification
-Government role
-Public reaction
-Effect on the President
-Public view
-Labor tactics
-Construction industry
-Garment workers
-Davis-Bacon Act
-Extent of Davis-Bacon Act
-Industry
-Construction
-Governors’ conference
-Visit by the President
-Possible statement
-Benefits
-Hodgson’s public appearances
-The President’s appearances
-Suspension of Davis-Bacon Act
-Reaction
-Burns
-Meeting with the President
-View of wage-price action
-Rationale
-Control of money supply
-President’s view
-Jesse Barton
-Reaction by the President
-Hodgson’s and the President’s action
-Colson’s role
-Necessity for wage action
-Public relations
-Davis-Bacon Act
15
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Necessity
-Burns
-Forthcoming Quadriad meeting
-Steel settlement
-Impact
-Suspension of Davis-Bacon Act
-Effect
-Construction industry settlement Conv. No. 455-3 (cont.)
-Congress’ role
-Wage-price controls
-Economic health
-Administration efforts
-Burns
-View of Wage Price Board
-Davis-Bacon Act
-Effect on economy
-Compared to a tax increase
-Role of government
-Hodgson’s comments
-Public relations
-Davis-Bacon role
-Secretary of Labor’s role
-Possible scenarios
-Hodgson
-John T. Dunlop
-President’s view
-Burns’ view of wage and price controls
-Previous meeting with the President
-President’s position
-Leonard Woodcock’s view
-Public relations
-Political impact
-Colson’s role
-Focus on construction settlement
-Governmental spending
-Administration latitude
-Alternatives to action
-Efficacy
-Administration’s position
-Steel industry
-Response of administration
-Hodgson’s forthcoming testimony
16
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Scope
-Press statement
-Ziegler’s handling of the press
-Timing of announcement by administration
-Ziegler’s role
-Possible Federal Register notice
-Use of Governors’ conference
-Comments by the President Conv. No. 455-3 (cont.)
-Nelson A. Rockefeller’s reaction
-The President’s schedule
-Timing
-The Vice President’s role
-John B. Connally’s and Ehrlichman’s roles
-Revenue sharing
-Comments to governors
-Benefits
-Visibility
-Public announcement
-Impact on interested groups
-Hodgson’s comments to Executive Council [?]
-Reception
Ehrlichman, et al. left at 11:58 am