Conversation: 477-013
Prev:  477-012 Next: 477-014Start Date: 12-Apr-1971 4:30 PM
End Date: 12-Apr-1971 5:22 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Lasky, Victor; Lasky, Patricia (Pratt); [Unknown person(s)]; Bull, Stephen B.; Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 05:32:06
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 06:25:55
NARA Description:
On April 12, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Victor Lasky, Patricia (Pratt) Lasky, unknown person(s), and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:30 pm to 5:22 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 477-013 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 477-13 Date: April 12, 1971 Time: 4:30 pm - 5:22 pm Location: Oval Office The President met with Victor and Patricia (Pratt) Lasky and an unknown man [Stephen B. Bull?] Greetings The unknown man [Bull?] left at an unknown time before 5:22 pm P. Lasky 60 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6 [Personal Returnable] [Duration: 1m 14s ] Conv. No. 477-12 (cont.) END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6 ****************************************************************************** Lasky’s book on President -Coverage -Administration -Possible title -The Man and the Myth -Writings on President -Knowledge of President -1948 to present -Alger Hiss case -Outline -President’s preparation for office -Difficulties in 1968 -Internal situation -Vietnam -Middle East -Economy -Dangers -Inflation/depression -Emphasis -Dramatic moments -Crisis handling -Publication schedule -Possible paperback edition -1972 campaign -President’s approaches to problems -Handling -Risks -Vietnam -Economy 61 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) Economy -Confidence -Controls -Inflation -Business community -Inflation -Growth Conv. No. 477-13 (cont.) -Rate -Administration’s emphasis on steadiness, responsibility -Growth -Peace -Foreign policy -Avoiding extremes, sudden shifts -Controversy -Wage and price controls -Cabinet -President’s policies -Office of Price Adminstration [OPA] -Effect on US economy -Foreign affairs -Nuclear equality -US advantages -Inflation -Harmful actions -”Diet” -Unemployment -Inflation -Optimism -New York Times financial writers Vietnam -Vietnamization -Troop withdrawals -Vietnamization -Timing -General William C. Westmoreland -Comparison with Korea -South Vietnamese -Theory -Troop withdrawals -President’s announcements 62 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -US military -South Vietnamese -President’s policy -Timing -Melvin R. Laird -1969 trip to Vietnam -Recommendations -President’s meeting with General Nguyen Van Thieu Conv. No. 477-13 (cont.) -Midway -Announcements -First withdrawals -Difficulty -Defense Department -Thieu -South Vietnamese -Pentagon -US policy -Steady course -Flexibility -Troop levels -Support for President -Henry A. Kissinger -Establishment -Criticism of the President -Overthrow of Ngo Dinh Diem -John F. Kennedy -Partition of Laos -W[illiam] Averell Harriman -American involvement -Kennedy -Beginnings -1963 -Lyndon B. Johnson -Diem -Laos -Ho Chi Minh Trail -Diem -Consequences -Establishment -US withdrawal -”Domino Theory” -President’s statements 63 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -November 3, 1969 -Cambodia [April 30, 1970] -April 7, 1971 -Support for President -Compared with previous administrations -Life -Opposition to President -Television networks Conv. No. 477-13 (cont.) -Columnists -Kissinger -”Guilt complex” -Spanish Civil War -Comparison with Vietnam -General Francisco Franco -Isolationism -Foreign involvements Israel -Compared with Vietnam -Support for President’s policies -Yitzhak Rabin -Golda Meir -[V.?] Lasky’s visit to Israel -Liberals -View of Israel -J. William Fulbright -Statement -Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield Middle East -Prospects -[V.?] Lasky’s visits -Negotiations -Israeli/Egyptian conflict -Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] -Jordan -US policy US position in world -Jordan -Cambodia -Trust in US 64 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Vietnam -Future -Indonesia -Thailand -Philippines -Japan -Trust in the US abroad -American spirit Conv. No. 477-13 (cont.) -Vietnam -Withdrawal -Pacific area -South Vietnam -Future of US -Future of Middle East -American spirit -US role in world -World peace -World freedom -Germany and Japan -Economic power -Military power -Europe -USSR -People’s Republic of China [PRC] -Establishment -America’s role -Vietnam -Need for American strength -Economy -Military strength Middle East -Jordan -Kissinger -Israel -West Bank -Golan Heights -Dodoc Kibbutz -Liliuri [sp?] Gardens -Golan Heights -Syrians -Jordanians 65 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Libyans -Israel/Egypt -USSR/US -Chief of Israeli intelligence -Israel -Relations with Arab neighbors -Internal situation -US commitments to Conv. No. 477-13 (cont.) -President’s successor -US policy -Vietnam -US obligations Staff -Kissinger -Relationship with the President -V. Lasky’s books on -Kissinger’s books -Memoranda to John N. Mitchell on Vietnam -1968 campaign -Nelson A. Rockefeller -Log -President’s concerns -Cabinet -Task forces -Arthur F. Burns’ role -Dwight D. Eisenhower Administration -Program -Domestic Council -Purpose -Burns -John D. Ehrlichman -Economic Council -Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan -Foreign Affairs Council -Domestic Council -National Security Council [NSC] -Council on International Economic Policy -Peter G. Peterson -Importance US purpose in world 66 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Military balance -Consequences to US economy -Supersonic Transport [SST] -Exploration -Connection to greatness -Historical experience -SST/space -Scientific research Conv. No. 477-13 (cont.) -Need for outward look -General Charles A. J. M. de Gaulle’s statement on France -War -Need for great enterprises -Environment -Standard of living -Minorities -Great enterprises -World power -US role -Benevolence, dynamism -Competition -Trade policy -Productivity -SST -Transportation -SST -President’s relations with Congress -Welfare reform -Revenue sharing -Government reorganization -Goals -Appointees -William J. Casey President’s disappointments -Inflation -Unemployment -Vietnam -USSR V. Lasky’s book publication schedule -Possible developments -PRC 67 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) US foreign relations -President’s PRC initiative -State Department -Soviet/PRC radio broadcasts -Isolation -Trade/travel announcements -Recognition Conv. No. 477-13 (cont.) -United Nations [UN] -Taiwan -Future -PRC, USSR, and the US -Dangers of isolation -State Department -Kremlinologists -USSR -Recognition -Relations with PRC/USSR -Ping-pong team visit -State Department -USSR -Taiwan -President’s conversation with Chow Shu-kai -Difficulites -UN -President’s position V. Lasky’s book publication schedule -Timing -Contents -President’s possible contribution to book -Unofficial Young people -Problem -Inherited -View of society and the world -Disaffection with the “system” -Global phenomenon -President’s talks at colleges and universities -Futility -Need for US success 68 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Vietnam -Economy -Benefits of living in US -Comparison with other countries -President’s own travels -PRC -Vietnam -Draft Conv. No. 477-13 (cont.) -Need for introspection -Vietnam -Environment -System -Spirit -Solutions -Excuses -Need for introspection -Self reliance An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 4:30 pm President’s schedule -Albee [sp?] [Surname unknown] The unknown man left at an unknown time before 5:22 pm Democrats -Laos -Effect -Edmund S. Muskie -Demonstrations -Position on Vietnam -Economy -Timing -Vietnam Bull entered at an unknown time after 4:30 pm President’s schedule -Meeting with William P. Rogers Bull left at an unknown time before 5:22 pm 69 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) V. Lasky’s lawyer Democrats -Unknown man’s book on Muskie -George S. McGovern -Harold Himmelman -Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy -Hubert H. Humphrey -Vietnam Conv. No. 477-13 (cont.) -Vietnam -V. Lasky’s columns -Johnson Staff -President’s address on Southeast Asia, April 7, 1971 -Kissinger -Support for President -Vietnam -Carl Sandburg -Book on Civil War -General William T. Sherman -Vietnam -Rogers -Troop withdrawal -Public opinion Presentation of gifts -Golf V. Lasky’s schedule The Laskys left at 5:22 pm