Conversation: 475-021
Prev:  475-020 Next: 475-022Start Date: 8-Apr-1971 1:12 PM
End Date: 8-Apr-1971 2:00 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.; Lewis, Bryan; Pine, Jenifer; Little, James; Hoffman, Erich; Carswell, Harman; Horsley, Susan; Eags, Carol; Gellis, Amy; White House photographer; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Bull, Stephen B.; Strachan, Gordon C.; Dempsey, Jack; Dempsey, Jack (Mrs.); Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 03:24:31
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 04:23:35
NARA Description:
On April 8, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, Bryan Lewis, Jenifer Pine, James Little, Erich Hoffman, Harman Carswell, Susan Horsley, Carol Eags, Amy Gellis, White House photographer, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Stephen B. Bull, Gordon C. Strachan, Jack Dempsey, and Mrs. Jack Dempsey met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:12 pm to 2:00 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 475-021 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 475-21 Date: April 8, 1971 Time: 1:12 pm - 2:00 pm Location: Oval Office The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler, Bryan Lewis, Jenifer Pine, James Little, Erich Hoffman, Harmon Carswell, Susan Horsley, Carol Eags, and Amy Gellis; the White House photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting Greetings [General conversation] -Texas -Missouri -Introductions -Stephens College -University of Texas -Hometowns -Austin 31 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) Photo session -Oliver F. (“Ollie”) Atkins -Ziegler University of Texas football -Gift to the President -Picture Conv. No. 475-20 (cont.) -[Forename unknown] Wooster [sp?] -Notre Dame Interested in politics Presentation of gifts -Paper weight -Presidential Seal Pictures Mood of country Lewis, et. al. left at 1:17 pm; Ziegler remained President’s remarks at end of speech on Southeast Asia, April 7, 1971 -Surprise -President’s decision to include remarks -Timing H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman entered at 1:18 pm -Notes -Staff -Decision -Timing -Check with military aides -Major General James D. (“Don”) Hughes -Sergeant Karl Taylor’s son -Name -Age -Kevin Taylor -Salute -Hughes’ response 32 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) Dinner for W. Clement Stone, April 8, 1971 -Foster G. McGaw, American Hospital Supply Corporation -Neal Ball -Appointment to Ziegler’s staff -McGaw -Ball’s qualifications -Deputy Press Secretary Conv. No. 475-21 (cont.) President’s speech on Southeast Asia, April 7, 1971 -Extemporaneous nature of conclusion -Press -United Press International [UPI] -Washington Post -Story on Shirley Taylor -UPI -Son President’s meeting with K. Taylor -Brother -Karl (“Skipper”) Taylor, Jr. -Nickname “Skipper” -Possible news story -”Skipper” -Kevin Taylor’s salute -Hughes -”Skipper” Ziegler left at 1:23 pm Poll results after President’s speech on Southeast Asia, April 7,l971 -Rating -Figures -Compared to Columbia Broadcasting System’s [CBS] “60 Minutes” -Tricia Nixon President’s schedule, April 9, 1971 -Paul W. McCracken -Composition of council -George P. Shultz -David M. Kennedy -Trip 33 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -California -John B. Connally -Church service -Duration -Phil Watts -Dr. John Harper -Pictures -Hughes Conv. No. 475-21 (cont.) -Secret Service -Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon -Watts -Mrs. Nixon -President’s instructions to Haldeman -Dean Burch -Camp David -Cabinet meeting Camp David -Weather ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 [Personal Returnable] [Duration: 52s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 ****************************************************************************** Support for President by staff -Difficulties President’s meeting with William J. Casey -Postponement -Schedule -[April 14, 1971] -Swearing-in ceremony -[Casey as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission] -Leonard W. Hall 34 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Bernard J. (“Bunny”) Lasker -Fred C. Scribner, Jr. Domestic briefing for administration wives, April 8, 1971 -Mrs. Nixon -John D. Ehrlichman and Mrs. Nixon Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 1:23 pm Conv. No. 475-21 (cont.) President’s schedule Gordon C. Strachan and family -Arrival -Background -Attorney for Nixon, Mudge Bull left at an unknown time before 1:36 pm Strachan -Background -Work on staff -Jeb Stuart Magruder -Herbert G. Klein -Schedule -Speeches State visits -Henry A. Kissinger’s review -Changes in schedule -King [Moulay] Hassan II -April -Josep Broz Tito -General Lon Nol -August -Emilio Garrastazu Médici -September -Tito -Schedule -October -Yakubu Gowon -October -Indira Gandhi 35 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -November -King Malik Faisal ibn Abd al-Aziz al-Saud -May or June -Willy Brandt -June -Leopold Sedar Senghor -Anastasio Somoza Debayle -State dinner Conv. No. 475-21 (cont.) -Anniversary -Twenty-fifth -Nicaragua -Guillermo Sevilla Sacasa -Schedule -Rogers -Thailand -Somoza Debayle -Graduation exercises -Luncheon with Maurice H. Stans -Dinner with President -Juan Velasco Alvarado -[Unintelligible name] -July -Lon Nol -Health -Agha Muhommad Yahya Khan -Emperor Hirohito of Japan -Kissinger -Schedule -Textile negotiations Bull entered at an unknown time after 1:23 pm Introduction of Strachan and parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Dempsey Bull left at an unknown time before 1:36 pm Strachan and Mr. and Mrs. Dempsey entered at 1:36 pm; the White House photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting Greetings Residence 36 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -California -Santa Rosa -Valley of the Moon Education -Law school -University of Southern California -Berkeley Conv. No. 475-21 (cont.) Photo session -Atkins Tour of White House grounds -Rose Garden -Tulips Presentation of Presidential gifts -Presidential Seal -Cufflinks Rose Garden Strachan and parents left at 1:40 pm Strachan and parents President’s meeting with White House staff members -Unstructured basis Domestic briefing for administration wives, April 8, 1971 -Complaints by unknown man -Upcoming briefing for Congressional wives at State Department Staff -Enthusiasm -Appointment of staff members -Need for loyalists -President’s speeches Press -Impact on administration families -Need for new staff 37 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) News summaries -President’s instructions to Haldeman -Read and take action -President’s forthcoming interview by editors -Significance -”For your information” -President’s wish to focus on important matters Conv. No. 475-21 (cont.) President’s speech on Southeast Asia, April 7, 1971 -Exercise at end -Effort in preparation -Staff -Story -Raymond K. Price, Jr. -Staff -Theodore (“Teddy”) Roosevelt -Story -Anecdote form Administration women -President’s briefing -Attitude of wives -Social events -Women in general -Gossip -Attitude -Virginia H. Knauer -Loyalty to President -Professor “Higgins” -Role in government -Women in general -Clothes -Conversation -Social events -Social events -Idanell (Brill) (“Nellie”) Connally -Wives of Italian and Nicaraguan ambassadors -Giulia (Rossi) Ortona -Doña Lillian Somoza de Sevilla Sacasa -Somoza’s daughter 38 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4 [National Security] [Duration: 14s ] Conv. No. 475-21 (cont.) FOREIGN AFFAIRS END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4 ****************************************************************************** -D. L. S. de Sevilla Sacasa -Wife of British ambassador -Catherine (Dove) Freeman Domestic briefing for administration wives, April 8, 1971 -Value Vietnam -President’s speech, April 7, 1971 -Conclusion -Poll results -Rogers’ view -Administration’s policy -Hugh Scott -Emotion -Intellectuals President’s speech on Southeast Asia, April 7, 1971 -President’s credibility -Effectiveness -Camera work -President’s pause -Impact -Chart -Effectiveness -Rogers’ chart 39 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Graph -Use of illustration of soldier -Audience -CBS -Ziegler’s report on press reaction -Possible criticisms by press -Laos -Credibility Conv. No. 475-21 (cont.) -Connally’s response -Defense of Lyndon B. Johnson -Previous administration’s policies -Responsibility for involvement in Vietnam -1972 campaign -Charts -William L. Safire -Kissinger’s draft -Casualties -Rogers’ response -Contribution -Emotional impact -Reaction by “doves” -Possible poll by television -Opinion Research Corporation [ORC] -Tom Denham [sp?] -Support for President -Release of results -Timing -George H. Gallup -Lieutenant William L. Calley, Jr. -President’s decision to review case -Demonstrations -Haldeman’s conversation with Denham [sp?] -Distribution of results to Senators and Congressmen -Republican National Committee Polls -White House relations with ORC -Haldeman’s conversation with Denham [sp?] -Refusal to tamper with figures -Selective use of figures -David R. Derge and Charles E. Benton -Reactions to Calley actions by President 40 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Popular reaction -Calley case -Strength in Presidency -Contrast with Congress -Calley -Vietnam -Personal approval -Possible overstatement by President Conv. No. 475-21 (cont.) -Democratic Caucus -Approval of war -Figures -”Hawks” President speech on Southeast Asia, April 7, 1971 -Polarization on Vietnam -Demonstrations -Supporters -Opponents President’s schedule -Florida -King [Moulay] Hassan II -Florida -Demonstrations -Daughters of the American Revolution [DAR] dinner -King Hassan II dinner -Florida -Chamber of Commerce meeting -Time-off period -Shultz Bull entered at an unknown time after 1:40 pm David Rockefeller -Luncheon with President -President’s schedule Bull left at an unknown time before 2:00 pm President’s schedule -Stone dinner -Questions and answers session 41 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Duration of dinner -President presiding -Breakfast -Remarks at Stone dinner -Questions and answers session -Media response Polls Conv. No. 475-21 (cont.) -Rating on President’s speech on Southeast Asia -Emotion Bull entered at an unknown time after 1:40 pm President’s schedule -Date -Executive Office Building [EOB] -Briefing -Stone dinner -Questions and answers session -Breakfast Bull and Haldeman left at 2:00 pm