Conversation: 473-009
Prev:  473-008 Next: 473-010Start Date: 25-Mar-1971 3:03 PM
End Date: 25-Mar-1971 3:55 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Shultz, George P.; Ehrlichman, John D.; Hodgson, James D.; Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 03:04:59
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 03:53:37
NARA Description:
On March 25, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, George P. Shultz, John D. Ehrlichman, and James D. Hodgson met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:03 pm to 3:55 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 473-009 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 473-9 Date: March 25, 1971 Time: 3:03 pm - 3:55 pm Location: Oval Office The President met with George P. Shultz, John D. Ehrlichman, and James D. Hodgson Executive Branch reorganization -President’s meeting with staff Construction industry -Boards of control -Strikes -Wages -Appeals -Wage adjustments -Factors -Equity -Limits -Role of federal government -Executive Order -Effect -Hodgson’s view -Wage and price controls -Drawbacks -Political considerations -Democrats -Philosophical basis -Complaints, appeals 30 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Alternatives -Wage increases -Effects -Davis-Bacon Act -Effects on building trades -Building and Trade Unions -Forthcoming meeting -Demonstrations Conv. No. 473-9 (cont.) -Collective bargaining -Unions -Administration policies -A commission -Recommendations of public members -Recommendations of labor -Public members -Presidential appointees -John T. Dunlop -Recommendations -Executive Order -Wage stabilization boards -Strikes -Wage increases -”Super board” as monitor and appeal board -Enforcement -Davis-Bacon Act -Wages -Settlements -Government construction -Enforcement power -Steel strike possibility -Wages -Union leadership -Union members’ views -Steel compared with copper and aluminum -Possible stabilization boards -Jurisdiction -Plasterers, electrician, bricklayers -Union jurisdiction -MDA and Associated General Contractors of America [AGCA] -Time to be established -”Super board” 31 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Possible effects on wages -Hodgson’s view -Possible effects on relations with labor -George Meany -Building trades -Possible response to wage controls as opposed to Davis-Bacon Act -Hodgson’s report to the President -Administration policy Conv. No. 473-9 (cont.) -Unions -Management -Housing industry -Unions -Contractors -AGCA resolution -Housing industry -Union’s views -Meany -Meeting with President -President’s meeting, March 24, 1971 -Housing industry -Democrats’ legislation -President’s position -Ehrlichman’s previous meeting with leaders -Leaders’ view of Administration policy -Industry -Response of George W. Romney and group -Wage-price stabilization boards -Effects -Union response -Unemployment -Wages -Applicability to other industries -President’s concern -Aluminum -Future trends -Possible response -Shultz’s view -Steel, longshoremen -Industry -Members of boards -Appeals board 32 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Need for wage control -Shultz’s view -Compared with Hodgson’s view -View of other segments of organized labor -Support for President -Leonard Woodcock -Maurice A. Hutcheson -Carpenters’ union Conv. No. 473-9 (cont.) -Position -A Florida situation -Position -Support for the Administration -Davis-Bacon Act -Business’ position -Effects of possible action by President -”Ehrlichman group” -Position of Romney, John A. Volpe, Winton M. (“Red”) Blount, and Arthur F. Burns -Volpe’s knowledge of industry -Volpe’s view -Ehrlichman’s meeting -Other industries -Paul W. McCracken’s paper -Alternatives -Possible wage increases and controls -Hodgson’s assumptions -Management’s position -Reasons -Fortune magazine group -Meeting with President -Possible government action -Davis-Bacon -Contractual considerations -Effect -Attorney General -Possible injunctions -Ehrlichman’s view -Executive Order language -Enforcement -Boards’ authority -Davis-Bacon 33 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Emergency situation -Legal limitations -Possible meeting with President and Hodgson -Volpe -Purpose -Effect on President’s policy choices -Public opinion -Management, unions Conv. No. 473-9 (cont.) -”Ehrlichman group” -Political considerations -Ehrlichman’s view -Possible speeches by Volpe, Romney, Maurice H. Stans, and Blount -Position -Support for Administration policies -Possible meeting with President, March 26, 1971 -Possible meeting of President and Meany, March 26, 1971 -Cabinet meeting time -Possible administration action -President’s view -Hodgson’s view -Romney, Volpe, Stans, and McCracken positions -Herbert Stein’s possible response -A paper on controls -Shultz’s position -Hodgson’s work -Florida -Meany -Possible statement -Support for Administration -Relations with Shultz -Possible meeting with Hodgson or Shultz -Timing -Meany’s health -President’s position -Business community’s response -Stock market -Compared with future response -Shultz’s assessment -Profits -Davis-Bacon Act -12% wage increase -Administration efforts 34 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Compared with other industries -Hodgson’s work -Compared with steel and aluminum -Publicity -Union leaders -Davis-Bacon Act repeal -Possible time limit -Injunction Conv. No. 473-9 (cont.) -Effect on construction industry -President’s action -Effect on state laws -Meetings -Purpose -Labor unions -Meany -Davis-Bacon Act -Cabinet -Purpose -President’s remarks -President’s announcement -Timing -Ehrlichman’s view -Meetings -Forthcoming Cabinet meeting -Effect of previous actions Shultz and Hodgson left at 3:53 pm Domestic Intelligence Advisory Board -John N. Mitchell -Samuel J. Ervin, Jr.’s hearings on domestic surveillance -Mitchell’s staff’s discussion with Ervin -Executive Order -Message for Mitchell -President and Ehrlichman’s discussion Ehrlichman’s meeting with Wilbur D. Mills, March 25, 1971 Ehrlichman left at 3:55 pm 35 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08)