Conversation: 467-041
Prev: 467-040 Next: 467-042Start Date: 17-Mar-1971 3:58 PM
End Date: 17-Mar-1971 5:52 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); [Unknown person(s)]; Ziegler, Ronald L.; Woods, Rose Mary; Ehrlichman, John D.; White House operator; Chapin, Dwight L.; Rogers, William P.;Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 02:24:44
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 03:46:28
NARA Description:
On March 17, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, unknown person(s), Ronald L. Ziegler, Rose Mary Woods, John D. Ehrlichman, White House operator, Dwight L. Chapin, and William P. Rogers met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:58 pm and 5:52 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 467-041 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 467-41
Date: March 17, 1971
Time: Unknown between 3:58 pm and 5:52 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
President’s image with press
-President’s call to William L. Safire
-Hugh S. Sidey
-John F. Osborne
-President’s accessibility
-President’s Quaker background
30
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-President’s campaign speeches
-President’s interviews
-Ronald L. Ziegler’s office
-Sidey
-Richard L. Wilson
-Distribution of list
-President’s instructions
-Haldeman’s role Conv. No. 467-40 (cont.)
-Safire
-Peregrine Worsthorne
-Cyrus L. (“Cy”) Sulzberger
-Worsthorne
-Background of interview
-Haldeman
-Cambodia
-Ziegler
-Sulzberger
-Background of interview
-Safire’s knowledge
-Barbara Walters
-Background of interview
-Edward VIII’s [Duke of Windsor] visit
-Interview with Julie Nixon Eisenhower and Tricia Nixon
-Safire
-Theory of new image
-Public relations
-President’s interview with Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS], August 1970
-Ziegler
-Frequency of interviews
-Meaning
-President’s interview with three networks
-President’s interview with representatives of women’s press corps
-Background
-President’s interview with Walters
-President’s call to Safire
-President’s Quaker background
-President’s speech at [Thomas] Woodrow Wilson International Center for
Scholars
-Safire
-President’s meetings with mayors
-President’s interviews
-List
31
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
[Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 3:58 pm and 4:15 pm]
[Conversation No. 467-41A]
-Delivery
[End of telephone conversation]
Conv. No. 467-41 (cont.)
-Safire
-Interest
-White House responsibilities
-White House efforts
-President’s appearances
-Safire
-State of the Union address
-Changes
Whitney M. Young, Jr. funeral
-White House attendees
-Press coverage
-White House staff efforts
-Donald H. Rumsfeld
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Leonard Garment
-Press coverage
-Ziegler
-Rumsfeld
-Press coverage
-White House staff efforts
-Live television
-Evening news
-Haldeman’s viewing
-President’s eulogy
-Interviews
-John Conyers, Jr.
-An unidentified CBS reporter in New York
-Publicity
-Thurgood Marshall’s comments
-Coverage
-Importance
32
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-White House staff
-Role
-Public relations
-President’s eulogy
-Preparation and delivery
-John Marshall reference
-Compared with toasts and arrival ceremonies
-Importance Conv. No. 467-41 (cont.)
-Unknown Congressmen
-Compared with Martin Luther King, Jr.’s funeral
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-Johnson’s attendance
-Date
-Johnson
-President’s attendance
-Robert F. (“Bobby”) Kennedy’s attendance
-President’s eulogy
-Importance
-Raymond K. Price, Jr.’s staff’s work
-Delivery
-Importance
-Other participants
-[Name unintelligible]
-A black minister
-Teacher at Young’s school
-Margaret (Birchner) Young
-Background
Ziegler entered at 4:15 pm
William Proxmire
-Supersonic transport [SST] story
-White House influence on Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
[HEW]
-Ziegler’s response
-White House response
-William M. Magruder
-John B. Connally
-Charges
-Proxmire’s comments to press
-National Institutes of Health [NIH] scientist
-White House response
33
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
W. M. Young funeral
-Possible publicity
-Network coverage
-Wire service coverage
-Gerald L. Warren
Ziegler left at 4:18 pm
Conv. No. 467-41 (cont.)
President’s schedule of meetings with press
-CBS
-Sidey
-R. L. Wilson
-William S. White
-William Raspberry
-Carroll Kilpatrick
-Sulzberger
-Frequency
-Numbers
-Frequency
-Compared with President’s phone calls to press
-Change in 1971
-Background interviews
-Television interviews
-Safire
-Forthcoming call from Haldeman
-List of interviews
-Frequency
-White House response
-Numbers
-Frequency
-Compared with previous years
-Sulzberger and Worsthorne interviews
-Walters
-Background of interview
-Previous breakfast interview
-Herbert E. Kaplow
-Nancy (Hanschman) Dickerson
-CBS interview with Bernard Kalb and John Hart
-Henry Brandon
-Need for White House response
-Formats
-One-on-one interviews
34
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Post-1970 election
-Women’s press representatives
-New Year’s Eve [1970?]
-Entry in log
-November and December 1970 meetings
-Women’s press representatives
-Importance
-Need for public relations efforts Conv. No. 467-41 (cont.)
-Effect of Cambodian and Laotian operations
-Importance of columnists
-Safire
-Sidey
-Osborne
-Influence
-Sidey
-Osborne
-Future contacts with Safire
-Sidey
Safire
-Work
-Public relations efforts
-President’s view
-Haldeman’s view
-Compared with other speechwriters
-Anecdotes
President’s speeches
-Garment
-Delivery of W. M. Young eulogy
-Speechwriters
-Fuller quote
-Safire
-Price
W. M. Young funeral
-President’s delivery of eulogy
-Press coverage
-Television
-Camera angle
-W. M. Young’s daughter and wife
-The President
35
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-White House role
-Vernon C. Coffey, Jr. and Ronald H. Walker
-Order of service
-Coffey
-Bugler
-M. Young
-Coffey
-Bugler Conv. No. 467-41 (cont.)
-President’s exit
-Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon
-M. Young’s exit
-”Taps”
-President’s role
-Compared with New York service
-Nelson A. Rockefeller
-John V. Lindsay
-Jacob K. Javits
Thomas E. Dewey funeral
-President’s possible role
-Eulogy
-Compared with [Forename unknown] Lipscomb, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and
Everett M. Dirksen funerals
Catholic and Protestant funeral customs
-Kennedy funeral
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy’s role
-President’s attendance
President’s image with press
-Safire’s role
-President’s interviews
-Worsthorne
-Background
-Sulzberger
-Andre L. Fontaine
-Le Monde
-Brandon
-Times of London
-Frank Giles
-Sulzberger
-Previous interviews
36
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Background of interview
-Press story
-President’s interview with Sulzberger
-Frequency
-Ziegler
-Safire’s role
-Purpose of President’s press conferences
-Purpose of President’s interviews Conv. No. 467-41 (cont.)
-President’s Quaker background
-Safire
-Price
-President’s mother’s views on war
-1968 acceptance speech
-Safire’s knowledge
-Columns by Nicholas P. Thimmesch
-References to Haldeman
-Charles W. Colson
-President as sports fan
-Sports Illustrated interview, March 27, 1969
-Effect of Eisenhower’s death on story
W. M. Young funeral
-President’s eulogy
-A quote from Fuller Stors lecture
-Lawyers
-Rose Mary Woods
-Yale Law School
-Reference to morality
-Compared with John F. Kennedy, R. F. Kennedy, and E. M. Kennedy press coverage
-Press coverage
-Compared with President’s speech at T. W. Wilson Center
-White House efforts
-Compared with President’s other events
- T. W. Wilson International Center for Scholars
-John Quincy Adams portrait ceremony
-President’s trip to Nebraska
-White House efforts
-Garment
James Farmer
-Importance
-Future with Urban League
37
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
Woods entered at an unknown time after 4:18 pm
President’s eulogy for W. M. Young
-Stors lecture
-President’s remarks
-Press release
-Call to Garment
Conv. No. 467-41 (cont.)
Woods left at an unknown time before 5:17 pm
President’s image with press
-President’s call to Safire
-Methods of improvement
-Connally
-Cabinet officers
-White House staff efforts
Public relations
-”Open Door”
Head of State visits
-Alexander P. Butterfield
-Gifts from the President
-Forthcoming Visit of King [Moulay] Hassan II
-Gifts for the President
-Gifts
-Emil (“Bus”) Mosbacher, Jr.
-Disposition
-Butterfield
Louie B. Nunn
-Proposal to name a school for W. M. Young
-Funding
-Relations with W. M. Young
-President and Nunn’s attendance at W. M. Young funeral
-Haldeman’s contacts
-Public relations efforts
Public relations
-March 22, 1971
-President’s call to an unidentified policeman’s wife
-Press coverage
38
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
Dewey’s funeral
-Attendees
-William P. Rogers
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Peter M. Flanigan
-Rogers
-President’s role
-President’s schedule Conv. No. 467-41 (cont.)
-Other guests of the President
-Javits
-James L. Buckley
-Compared with Kentucky trip
-Javits and Buckley
-Rogers
-Flanigan
W. M. Young funeral
-Demonstrators
-Attendees
President’s appearances
-W. M. Young funeral
-Working the fenceline
-Naval base at Quonset Point
-Charles R. Larson
-Logistical problems
-Working the fencelines
-President’s position
-Extent
White House social evenings
-Receiving lines
-Mrs. Nixon
-Alternative
-Diplomatic reception
-White House military staff
-Compared with State Department staff
-William B. Macomber, Jr.
-Financial people
-State Department protocol staff
-Military aides
39
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Receiving line, March 16, 1971
-President’s schedule
-Length
-Mrs. Nixon
-Alternatives to receiving lines
-Christmas party
-Compared to “working the fences”
-Experience with royalty in 1953 Conv. No. 467-41 (cont.)
-Mohammed Reza Pahlavi [Shah of Iran]
-Public opinion
Public relations efforts
-Package on Nixon Administration reforms
-White House staff assignment
-Content
-Safire
-Package on crime problem
-White House staff assignment
-Administration trademark
-Congress
-”Generation of peace”
-John M. (“Jack”) Lynch’s arrival ceremony
Boxing match
-Remark by [Name unintelligible]
-Effect
-Madison Square Garden
-Coverage
-Compared to Super Bowl
-Compared to first lunar landing
-Cost for seat
-Patrick J. Buchanan and family
President’s schedule
-West Point Commencement ceremony
-Naval Academy
-Options
-Commencement
-Parade
-Convocation
40
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
Mailings
-President’s speech at Newport, Rhode Island
-Further distribution
-Press coverage
-[Dwight] David Eisenhower, II
-Clifford M. Hardin
-Agriculture
-President’s speech at T. W. Wilson International Center for Scholars
Conv. No.event
467-41 (cont.)
-President’s speech in Nebraska
-Use
-Importance
Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan
-Haldeman’s forthcoming conversation with Moynihan
-Future
-Flanigan
-Maurice H. Stans
Speechwriters
-Assistance to the President
-Speech material
-Adams and T. W. Wilson events’ speeches
-Work
[The President talked with Ehrlichman at an unknown time between 4:18 pm and 5:17 pm]
[Conversation No. 467-41B]
President’s schedule
-Possible March 18, 1971 meeting
-Ehrlichman and George P. Shultz
Public relations
-Possible statement
-Haldeman and John N. Mitchell
-The President’s view
-Connally
-Role
-Position on an unknown issue
-Ehrlichman’s view
President’s work on trip from Kentucky
President’s forthcoming call to Shultz
41
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
[End of telephone conversation]
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal Returnable] Conv. No. 467-41 (cont.)
[Duration: 1m 42s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
******************************************************************************
President’s schedule
-Departure time
[Haldeman talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 4:18 pm and 5:17
pm]
[Conversation No. 467-41C]
Call to Dwight L. Chapin
[End of telephone conversation]
W. M. Young funeral
-President’s eulogy
-Method of delivery
-Publicity
-Garment
-Safire
[Haldeman talked with Chapin [?] at an unknown time between 4:18 pm and 5:17 pm]
[Conversation No. 467-41D]
President’s schedule
-Hugh Scott
-Meeting with the President
-Purpose
42
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Time
-Mitchell’s participation
-Haldeman
[End of telephone conversation]
-Signing ceremonies
Conv. No. 467-41 (cont.)
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 17s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
******************************************************************************
-Signing ceremonies
-House Resolution [HR] 16
-Possible March 19, 1971 ceremony
-Timing
-Prisoners of War [POW] and Missing In Action [MIA] week
-Possible White House ceremony
-Attendees
-Congressmen
-Frank Borman
-Representatives from the families
-Publicity
-Use
-Benefit
-A Michigan high school choir
-Gerald R. Ford
-Possible appearance in Rose Garden
-Possible demonstrators
-Previous appearance in Grand Rapids
-Tour of White House
-Presidential participation
-Future appointments for this type of group
-”Open Hour”
43
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
[The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 4:18 pm and
5:17 pm]
[Conversation No. 467-41E]
Call to Rogers
Conv. No. 467-41 (cont.)
[End of telephone conversation]
President’s schedule
-National Association of Newspapers
-Ziegler
-A workshop
-Date
[The President talked with Rogers between 5:17 pm and 5:24 pm]
[Conversation No. 467-41F]
-Dewey’s funeral
-Time of departure
-Rogers’ possible attendance
-President’s forthcoming press conference
-Domestic policy
-March 16, 1971 dinner
-Announcement of Tricia Nixon’s engagement
-Jazz concert
-Edward R. F. Cox and Harvard law students’ response
-Dennis Day
-Fred MacMurray
-Length
Dewey
-Dwayne O. Andreas
-Plans to attend President’s March 16, 1971 dinner
-President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board [PFIAB]
-Connally replacement
-Dewey’s possible appointment
-President’s view
44
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 30s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4 Conv. No. 467-41 (cont.)
******************************************************************************
President’s March 16, 1971 Head of State dinner
-Lynch
-Comments
-Toasts
-Publicity
Dewey funeral
[End of telephone conversation]
-Rogers’ attendance
-Wives’ attendance
-Mrs. Nixon
-Hotel Pierre in New York City
-Proximity to church
-Adele (Langston) Rogers and other wives
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 10s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
******************************************************************************
-[Name unintelligible] attendance
45
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Possible meeting en route with President
-President’s guests
-New York Congressional delegation
-Scott
-Position in 1948 campaign
President’s schedule
-Possible press conference Conv. No. 467-41 (cont.)
-Questions
-”Today” show appearance
-Possible press conference
-Possible television coverage
-April 8, 1971 speech
The President left at an unknown time before 5:52 pm