Conversation: 459-004
Prev:  459-003 Next: 459-005Start Date: 27-Feb-1971 11:58 AM
End Date: 27-Feb-1971 2:58 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Bull, Stephen B.; Butterfield, Alexander P.; Garment, Leonard; Finch, Robert H.; Sanchez, Manolo; Ziegler, Ronald L.; [Unknown person(s)]; Hughes, James D. ("Don"); Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 02:41:18
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 05:38:49
NARA Description:
On February 27, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Stephen B. Bull, Alexander P. Butterfield, Leonard Garment, Robert H. Finch, Manolo Sanchez, Ronald L. Ziegler, unknown person(s), and James D. ("Don") Hughes met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:58 am to 2:58 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 459-004 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 459-4 Date: February 27, 1971 Time: 11:58 am - 2:58 pm Location: Oval Office The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman Leonard Garment -White House Staff -Haldeman -John D. Ehrlichman -George P. Shultz -Ehrlichman -Charles W. Colson -Robert H. Finch -Role of White House staff -Minorities -Arts -Ehrlichman’s schedule -Finch Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:58 am Military retirees -Report 12 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) John B. Connally -Washington Post The President’s schedule -Des Moines -Finch -Location Conv. No. 459-3 (cont.) -Youth meeting Bull left at an unknown time before 12:00 pm ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6 [Personal Returnable] [Duration: 2m 59s ] Alexander P. Butterfield and Bull entered at 12:00 pm END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6 ****************************************************************************** Youth meeting -Participants -Department of Health, Education, and Welfare [HEW] staff -Lowell P. Weicker, Jr.’s staff -Michael Collins -Lyndon K. (“Mort”) Allin -Finch 13 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7 [Personal Returnable] [Duration: 5s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7 Conv. No. 459-4 (cont.) ****************************************************************************** Garment entered and Butterfield and Bull left at 12:07 pm Greetings Garment’s efforts -Role on White House staff -Responsibilities -Roger E. Johnson -Minority groups -Arts Conference of National Music Educators of America -Garment’s participation Public relations -Portraits of John Quincy and Louisa C. (Johnson) Adams -President’s role -Carl Sandburg -Alexander H. Stephens -The President’s previous [Thomas] Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars speech -Coverage -Robert Pierpoint -General Joseph Maurer -Civil War story -General Ulysses S. Grant -General William T. Sherman -Abraham Lincoln -Staff requirements -Sandburg 14 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Stephens -Jefferson Davis -The President’s speech on Adams -Career -Henry Clay -Career -James Monroe -Napoleon Bonaparte Conv. No. 459-4 (cont.) -American Revolution -Russian mission -Thomas Jefferson -Speeches -Importance of history -White House staff -Example of Adams -Speeches -The President’s speech on Adams -Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon -Ronald L. Ziegler -Need for better public relations efforts -John F. Kennedy -White House efforts -Adams’ portraits ceremony -Attendees -Speakers -Adams family descendants -Historians -National Gallery spokesman -The President’s presentation -Publicity -Techniques -Social issues -Ecology -Need for uninhibited leadership -Speeches -Dwight D. Eisenhower -Kennedy -Lyndon B. Johnson -Harry S Truman -Franklin D. Roosevelt -Herbert C. Hoover -[John] Calvin Coolidge 15 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Wilson -Theodore (“Teddy”) Roosevelt -Administration efforts Finch entered at 12:20 pm -Bicentennial Commission remarks by the President -David J. Mahoney, Jr. Conv. No. 459-4 (cont.) -San Francisco -Television Garment -White House role -Minorities -Arts -Maurice H. Stans -Minority business speeches -Finch -Donald H. Rumsfeld -Bryce N. Harlow -Record of administration -Administration efforts -Desegregation -Need for public relations -Strategy -Garment’s view -Planning ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 [Personal Returnable] [Duration: 2m 4s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 ****************************************************************************** 16 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) Public relations -Garment’s role -Arts -Mrs. Nixon’s activities -Adams’ portraits -Visit by Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis -Press coverage -Possible leak Conv. No. 459-4 (cont.) -White House waiters -Possible stories -Rex W. Scouten -Emil (“Bus”) Mosbacher, Jr. -Possible stories -Peter M. Flanigan anecdote -Absence of photographers -Press release of visit information -Need for public relations Press -Kennedy -The Trumans -The Eisenhowers -Charles L. Bartlett -Jack J. Valenti -Mary Lou Gallagher -Public perception -George H. W. Bush’s swearing-in ceremony -Wilbur D. Mills -Ziegler -Public relations -Mills -White House strategy -Public relations efforts Arts -Mrs. Nixon’s activities -Evenings at the White House -J. F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts -Board meeting -Haldeman -Founding Artists series -Previous performance at White House 17 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Beverly Sills -Johnny Cash -Isaac Stern -Leonard Bernstein -Arthur Rubinstein -Rudolf Serkin -Age -Eugene Ormandy Conv. No. 459-4 (cont.) -Antal Dorati -White House activities -List of White House entertainers -Release to press -Compared to Kennedy Administration -Brazil 66 -Sergio Mendes ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8 [Privacy] [Duration: 21s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8 ****************************************************************************** -”60 Minutes” -Anna Maria Alberghetti -Marine Corps Band -Nancy Hanks -The Kennedys -The Johnsons -Pearl M. Bailey -Louis Brown -Leslie T. (“Bob”) Hope -Edward K. (“Duke”) Ellington -Irish entertainment -Filming -Cash 18 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Documentary -Irish entertainment -Art Carney -Herbert J. (“Jackie”) Gleason -Lennon Sisters -Jim Ryan -Castle Group -Duration of event Conv. No. 459-4 (cont.) Youth -Mrs. Nixon -Des Moines ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2 [Personal Returnable] [Duration: 17s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2 ****************************************************************************** -Exposure -White House strategy -Students -Radio speech -Finch -Talk show events -Issues Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 12:20 pm Matches Sanchez left at an unknown time before 1:05 pm Public relations -Finch 19 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Television -Garment -View of President -”Dick Cavett Show” -Connally -Kennedy -Mary Martin -Marjorie Main Conv. No. 459-4 (cont.) -Greer Garson -Ann Sheridan -White House guest list -Walter Lang -Sheridan -Dinner in 1961 -Metropolitan Opera -Kennedy -”Morning Show” -Herbert G. Klein -Ziegler -Richard A. Moore -Laos -Revenue sharing -Image of the President -Alvin Snyder -Finch’s television appearance in Miami -Hubert H. Humphrey -Questions and responses -Henry A. Kissinger -Television appearance -Marvin L. Kalb -Ziegler -White House staff television appearances -Snyder -Jeb Stuart Magruder -Rumsfeld -Issues -Substance versus anecdotes -Flanigan -Garment -Substance -Kissinger -William P. Rogers 20 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Melvin R. Laird -Problem of substance -White House policy -Press conference -The President’s handling -Kissinger -Admiral Thomas H. Moorer -Press Conv. No. 459-4 (cont.) -Ziegler -Press questions -White House policy -President’s view -Responses -Briefings -Purpose -Kissinger -Bernard Kalb -White House strategy -President’s view -Wire services -Alger Hiss case Press conferences -Television -Frank van der Linden -Reporters’ view of President -White House strategy -President’s view -Press -Robert B. Semple, Jr. -View of the President ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9 [Privacy] [Duration: 6s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9 ****************************************************************************** 21 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) Public relations -Garment’s role -Comments about the President -Friendship -Background -1960s Conv. No. 459-4 (cont.) -Nixon’s staff compared to Edmund S. Muskie’s staff -Staff size -Patrick J. Buchanan -Raymond K. Price, Jr. -Dwight L. Chapin -John A. Scali -Rose Mary Woods -Hill case -President’s leadership style -Comments about the President -Finch -Garment -Ehrlichman -Cabinet officers -Connally -Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan -Commentary article -Paul W. McCracken -Shultz -Pornography -Charlton Heston’s wire -Hope’s previous conversation with the President -President’s view -Forthcoming call to Heston -President’s view -”I Am Curious (Yellow)” -Low budget films Finch left at 1:05 pm -Garment’s speech to music teachers -The President’s music background -High school -Mrs. [Forename unknown] Fuller 22 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -College -Margareta Lohman -Piano background as aid to memory -President’s view -Latin as aid to memory -Classical music Conv. No. 459-4 (cont.) ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3 [Personal Returnable] [Duration: 1m 8s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3 ****************************************************************************** Garment left at 1:11 pm Garment -Public relations ability -Benefits -Comparison with Jesus Christ Kissinger’s interview -President’s view -Press -Kalb -Television -President’s policy -Ziegler Oval Office decor -Possible changes Administration’s image -Economy -Vietnam -Television -Ehrlichman 23 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Administration’s achievements -Gallup poll -Effect of Vietnam -White House staff efforts -President’s view -Economy -Vietnam Conv. No. 459-4 (cont.) Ziegler entered at 1:15 pm Kissinger’s television interview -Kalb -Rogers and Laird -Television appearance -Circumstances -Klein and Ziegler -President’s position -State of the World message -Rationale -Rogers -President’s position -Haldeman’s forthcoming conversation -Ziegler’s proposal -Foreign policy message -Circumstances -”Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] Morning News” -Kalb -Robert G. Houdek’s role -Ziegler’s view of Kissinger’s appearance -Ziegler’s conversation with Kissinger -Ziegler’s conversation with General Alexander M. Haig, Jr. -Length of interview -Future coordination -Haldeman’s understanding -Length of interview -Kissinger’s schedule -Ziegler’s role -Press -Walter L. Cronkite, Jr. -Use of Kissinger appearance -Rogers’ view -Haldeman’s forthcoming conversation with Rogers 24 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Kissinger appearance -Klein’s role -President’s position -White House policy -Role -Television appearance -Ziegler’s view -Compared to backgrounders Conv. No. 459-4 (cont.) Public relations -Possible television appearances by White House staff -Kissinger -Ehrlichman -Flanigan -President’s position -Content of interview -Emphasis on President -Kissinger -Ehrlichman -Domestic policy -Effect on Cabinet officers -George W. Romney -Connally -Elliot L. Richardson -President’s position -Briefings -Kissinger -James B. (“Scotty”) Reston -Rumsfeld -Kissinger’s use -Backgrounders -Television appearances -Backgrounders -Content -Length -Content -Klein’s briefings -Content -Television appearances by White House staff -Ehrlichman -Kissinger -Connally 25 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Interviews -Support for Administration -Associated Press request for appearance -Ehrlichman -Paul Miller -Kissinger -Television appearance -Future coordination with Ziegler Conv. No. 459-4 (cont.) -Circumstances Press -Search and rescue mission -Laird -President’s instructions -Value of briefing -Ziegler -Kalb -Kissinger -Laos -Press comments -United States’ involvement -Search and rescue missions -Son Tay Prison raid -John Sherman Cooper -Coordination -Saigon press offices -Allin -National Broadcasting Company [NBC] story -US policy -Magruder -Search and rescue operations -Coverage -News stories -Inaccuracies -Use by Administration -The Vice President -President’s position -Snyder’s role -President’s position Press coverage of the Vietnam War -Administration responses 26 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -The Vice President -Barbara Walters -Reporter casualties -Larry Burroughs -Richard L. Wilson -Ken Crawford -Debate among press corps -Effect of reporter casualties Conv. No. 459-4 (cont.) -Other casualties -The Vice President’s role -Timing of response -Buchanan -Allin -Crosby S. Noyes -Crawford -Dennis Warner -R. L. Wilson -Editorials -Wall Street Journal -President’s view -Congressional response -Hugh Scott -Clark MacGregor -Robert J. Dole -Partisan response -Administration response Public relations -Press conferences -The President’s performance -Portraits of J. Q. and L. C. Adams -Ziegler’s view -Mrs. Nixon -Washington Post story -Radio coverage of ceremony -James McManus -Donald Fulsom -Thomas Girard -Fay G. Wells -Compared to Washington Post’s coverage -Dan Rather’s story -Wire services coverage 27 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Press conference schedules -Television -Timing -President’s view -Network news -Options Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 1:15 pm Conv. No. 459-4 (cont.) Refreshments The President left at an unknown time before 1:44 pm Refreshments -Tea -Coffee -Origin Sanchez left at an unknown time before 1:44 pm Television appearance -Kissinger -Ziegler’s role [Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 1:15 pm and 1:44 pm] [Conversation No 459-4A] [Unintelligible] [End of telephone conversation] Schedule The President entered at an unknown time after 1:15 pm Press conference schedule -Options -Ziegler’s view -Coverage -Radio and replays Price 28 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Staff -Lee W. Huebner -William H. Carruthers -Richard K. Cook -William L. Safire -Patrick J. Buchanan -John K. Andrews, Jr. Conv. No. 459-4 (cont.) Bull entered at an unknown time after 1:15 pm Price’s whereabouts Bull left at an unknown time before 1:44 pm [The President talked with Major General James D. (“Don”) Hughes between 1:44 pm and 1:45 pm] [Conversation No. 459-4B] Report on the Connallys at Camp David -Camp commander -Location [End of telephone conversation] The President’s speech before Iowa legislature -Television coverage -Possible network coverage Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 1:45 pm -The President’s schedule -Price -Andrews -Cook Sanchez left at an unknown time before 1:47 pm Press conferences schedule -Ziegler’s view -Frequency -Television pros and cons -Timing 29 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Options -Television pros and cons -Film -Audience [Hughes talked with the President between 1:47 pm and 1:48 pm] [Conversation No. 459-4C] Conv. No. 459-4 (cont.) Connally at Camp David [End of telephone conversation] Press conferences schedule -Timing -Strategy of communication -Focus -Benefits to the President compared benefits to press -Variation of format -Efficacy of television -Goals -Ziegler’s view -Methods of Presidential communication -Television -Press -Timing White House press corps -Role -Importance -Contact with the President -Importance -Television -Role -Press conferences -Domestic policy -Shultz -L. B. Johnson’s dealings with press corp -Shortcomings Peregrine Worsthorne’s column -The President 30 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Kissinger -Opposition to Vietnam -Domestic violence -Toleration of citizens -The President -L. B. Johnson -The Presidency -George S. McGovern Conv. No. 459-4 (cont.) -Trip to New Hampshire -Comments by unknown man -Humphrey -Vietnam -Support for President -US policy The President’s schedule -Time management -Des Moines -Blacks -Flanigan -Science Advisory -Muscular dystrophy -Communications program -Importance -Time management -Health program -Consumer program -Revenue sharing The President’s remarks before Iowa legislature -Potential impact -News coverage -Forum for communication -Domestic goals -Indochina goals -Need to respond -Laos -Laird’s press conference -Ziegler’s view -Forthcoming press conference Public relations 31 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Focus on issues -Senior citizens -Compared to youth -Importance -Need for White House coordination -John B. Martin -Hope’s conversation with Haldeman -Focus of activities Conv. No. 459-4 (cont.) -The President’s schedule -Time management -Possible meetings with senior citizens -White House efforts -Press releases and news stories -Colson -Efforts -Youth -Electorate -The President’s previous meeting with Princeton University students -Finch -White House policy Iowa remarks -Rural development -Laos -Pros and cons -President’s view -Vietnam goals Vietnam -Dole -Possible statement -Democratic caucus -American involvement -Eisenhower Administration -Democratic administrations’ war involvement -Casualty figures -Republican moves to end involvement -The President -Democratic minority -John C. Stennis -Cooper -Henry M. (“Scoop”) Jackson 32 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Possible Dole speech -Buchanan Media relations -Negative attitude of press -Administration treatment of press corps -Oval Office press conference -Pres corps view of Presidency Conv. No. 459-4 (cont.) -Reston -Kissinger -News stories -Peter Lisagor -”Agronsky and Company” -View -Impact -Rather -Wire services -Television press conference -One-on-one circumstances with the President -Joe Garagiola -American Broadcasting Company [ABC] -Importance of television -Effectiveness -Benefits -Compared to press conferences -Radio speeches -Special interest groups -Length of speeches -Live television speech -Length -Timing -Radio speeches -Use of tape -L. B. Johnson -Timing -Benefits -Live radio speeches -Television out-takes -Scheduling -Newspapers -Radio audience -Timing 33 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Youth -Women Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 1:48 pm Schedule -Telephone call -Unknown man Conv. No. 459-4 (cont.) Sanchez left at an unknown time before 2:58 pm Radio speeches -Timing -Women -Senior citizens -Issue coverage President’s forthcoming press conference -Foreign policy -Preparation -Domestic policy -Revenue sharing -Press coverage -Ziegler’s view -Pros and cons -Justification -Length One-on-one television appearances -Public perception -R. L. Wilson -Emphasis of administration -Wells -Adams’ portraits -Washington Post -Wells -Influence of Washington Post Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 1:48 pm Food 34 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) Ziegler and Sanchez left at an unknown time before 2:58 pm The President’s schedule -Dinner plans -Finch -Shultz Importance of communication Conv. No. 459-4 (cont.) -Ziegler’s role -Klein -Compared to other issues -Ehrlichman -Shultz -John C. Whitaker -Flanigan Ziegler entered at an unknown time after 1:48 pm Forthcoming Helen A. Thomas story -Foreign policy advisors -Laird -Rogers -Richard M. Helms -Possible Ziegler statement -Joseph J. Sisco -Ziegler’s statement -Focus of White House business -Foreign policy -Moorer -Sisco -Middle East -White House meetings -Participants -Topics Ziegler left at an unknown time before 2:58 pm The President’s schedule -Camp David -Connally -Weekend plans 35 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) Public relations -White House efforts -Time management -Vietnam Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 1:48 pm [Unintelligible] Conv. No. 459-4 (cont.) Sanchez left at an unknown time before 2:58 pm Public relations -White House efforts -Haldeman’s view -Issues -Polls -Harlow -John R. Wanamaker -Statement on usefulness of advertising -Use of key resources -Time management -The President -White House staff -Effectiveness -George E. Reedy, Jr. book -Use of staff -The President’s schedule 36 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5 [National Security] [Duration: 4m 16s ] MIDDLE EAST Conv. No. 459-4 (cont.) An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 1:48 pm The unknown person left at an unknown time before 2:58 pm END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5 ****************************************************************************** The President’s schedule -Camp David -Relationship between Connally and Ehrlichman Bull entered at an unknown time after 1:48 pm -Departure time for Camp David -Mr. and Mrs. Taft Schreiber -Charles W. Butterfield -A. P. Butterfield -Location -Schreiber -Finch -Tour of White House -Butterfield and Schreibers 37 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Possible meeting with President -Tour of Oval Office -Meeting by helicopter Bull left at an unknown time before 2:58 pm The President and Haldeman left at 2:58 pm Conv. No. 459-4 (cont.)