Conversation: 483-004
Prev:  483-003 Next: 483-005Start Date: 20-Apr-1971 9:46 AM
End Date: 20-Apr-1971 11:15 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Kissinger, Henry A.; Bull, Stephen B.; Ziegler, Ronald L.; Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:10:42
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 01:30:20
NARA Description:
On April 20, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Henry A. Kissinger, Stephen B. Bull, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:46 am to 11:15 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 483-004 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 483-4 Date: April 20, 1971 Time: 9:46 am - 11:15 am Location: Oval Office Conv. No. 483-2 (cont.) The President met with H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman; the recording begins at an unknown time while the conversation is in progress. The President's schedule -Upcoming meeting with agricultural editors -Possible remarks -Press interviews The President's press interviews -Remarks -Staff preparations -Des Moines -Future preparations The President's schedule -Upcoming meeting with agricultural editors -Welcome -Remarks -Television cameras -Agriculture -Importance -Press coverage -Speech -Advantages -Upcoming meeting with International Red Cross committee -Upcoming meeting with US Jaycees officials -Resolution -Presentation -Story William P. Rogers -Press conference -Timing 6 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Announcement -William H. Sullivan -Testimony -Paul N. (“Pete”) McCloskey, Jr. -Timing -Administration's possible position -Testimony regarding war powers -Schedule -Trip to Israel and Egypt -Publicity -Press conference -Henry A. Kissinger -Middle East -Press conference -Timing Vice President Spiro T. Agnew's press interview at Williamsburg, April 19, 1971 -Reporters -Kissinger -Schedule -Meeting with Israeli official -Deputy Prime Minister -Suez Canal -Reporters -New York Times -Los Angeles Times -Washington Post -St. Louis Post-Dispatch -Los Angeles Times -Conversation with reporters -Timing -Williamsburg Lodge -Duration -Aides -Victor Gold -Roy Goodearle -Peter Malatesta -Malatesta -John A. Scali's view -Administration's policy regarding People's Republic of China [PRC] -Calculated leak versus discondant policy -Conservatives 7 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Possible confusion -Policy regarding PRC -Agnew’s lack of information -Gold's call to Herbert G. Klein, April 19, 1971 -Haldeman's conversation with Klein -Los Angeles Times Lighting of buildings around White House Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.) -Constitution Hall -Red Cross -Pan American Union -Corcoran Gallery Corcoran Gallery -Red exterior design -Leonard Garment -Modern art -Abstracts -Modern art -Kissinger's paintings -Corcoran -Exterior design -Los Angeles County museum -Metal structures in court yard -Corcoran structure Lighting of buildings around White House -Constitution Hall -Red Cross -Daughters of the American Revolution [DAR] -Pan American Union -DAR -Finances -National Symphony -Kennedy Center -Fees -Prospects -Capitol police -Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon's views Agnew's press interview at Williamsburg -Haldeman's possible conversation with Scali 8 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Scali's view regarding the President's PRC initiative -Effect on Vietnam critics -Asia -Peace -Circumstances -Reporters -Congressional campaign -PRC reference Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.) -Discussion on press -Gold -Judgement -Associated Press [AP] reporter's [John Roderick] story on PRC ping- pong team PRC -Agnew's view -Ping-pong team -Use of second string team -Art -Food -Use of second string team The President's schedule -Harry S. Dent -Robert H. Finch ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 15 [Privacy] [Duration: 41s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 15 ****************************************************************************** Personnel UN staff -[Charles W. Yost] 9 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -George H.W. Bush -Removal Stock market -Publicity -Rise -Peter M. Flanigan -Associated Press [AP] reporter [Dave Burke] Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.) -View towards administration -Washington Post -New York Times -Washington Post compared with New York Times -[Burke] -Instructions for Klein -Ethnic background -Unknown AP reporter in Laos -Klein -Lyndon K. ("Mort") Allin -[Burke] Agnew's press interview at Williamsburg -Scali's analysis Stock market -Rise -Value of stocks traded The President's previous meeting with Republican Congressional leadership -Attendees -George P. Shultz -Topics -Draft -Agency for International Development [AID] -Topics for future meetings -Clark MacGregor The President's schedule, April 21, 1971 -Bipartisan leaders meeting -AID -State Department AID 10 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Rudolph A. Peterson -Peter G. Peterson -Public relations aspects United Nations [UN] commission report -Henry Cabot Lodge -Release -Timing Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.) -Publicity -President's meeting with Lodge and committee -President's position -Lodge -State Department -Lodge -Possible reassignment to Southeast Asia -Report -President's position President's schedule -Israel -Kissinger UN commission report -Release -President's position President's schedule -Meeting with Kissinger Haldeman talked with Kissinger at an unknown time between 9:46 am and 10:13 am. [Conversation No. 483-4A] Request that Kissinger join him [End of telephone conversation] Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:46 am. Kissinger's schedule 11 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) The President's schedule -Upcoming meeting with agricultural editors -Press -Upcoming meeting with International Red Cross officials -Photo Bull left at an unknown time before 10:13 am. Agnew's press interview in Williamsburg Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.) -Bryce N. Harlow -Judgement -Remarks regarding PRC -Reporters -Circumstances Kissinger entered at 10:13 am. Rogers -Conversation with the President -Trip to Middle East -Invitation -Timing -Itinerary -Europe -Middle East ********************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7 [National Security] [Duration: 15s ] MIDDLE EAST END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7 ********************************************************************** -Trip to Middle East 12 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 16 [Privacy] [Duration: 3s ] Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.) END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 16 ****************************************************************************** -Conversation with the President, April 19, 1971 -Itinerary -Israel -Jordan -Egypt -Administration's Position ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 17 [National Security] [Duration: 3s ] MIDDLE EAST END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 17 ****************************************************************************** -Joseph J. Sisco -Invitations -Suez negotiations Israeli-Egyptian conflict -Suez negotiations 13 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Sisco -US policy -Sisco -Alexander M. Haig, Jr. -Suez negotiations -Possible Israeli position -Kissinger's initiatives -Egyptian reaction Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.) -Possible deadlock -Administration's initiative -State Department -President's conversation with Rogers -Suez negotiations -Anatoliy F. Dobrynin -Israelis -Rogers plan Rogers -Itinerary -Israel -Reception -Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] -Dobrynin -Andrei Gromyko -Possible Summit -National Security Council [NSC] meeting Sisco ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 18 [National Security] [Duration: 14s ] MIDDLE EAST END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 18 14 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) ****************************************************************************** Rogers -Possible visit to USSR -Gromyko -Dobrynin Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.) -President's position -Dobrynin ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 19 [National Security] [Duration: 4s ] USSR END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 19 ****************************************************************************** -Suez negotiations -Prospects -Israel -Kissinger -US policy USSR -Possible summit meeting US-Israeli relations Agnew's press interview at Williamsburg, April 19, 1971 -Story recounted -Unknown reporter -Time of meeting 15 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Topics -Press -Campaign -Duration -Remarks on PRC -Possible effects -Administration's position -Scali's memorandum Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.) -Calculated leak versus discordant policy -Vietnam -Conservatives -Possible confusion -Possible administration reaction -Haldeman's conversation with Klein -Klein's view regarding Kissinger's role -Difficulties -Possible statement by Ronald L. Ziegler -Press -Stories -Reporters -Drinks -Possible scenario -Agnew and Gold -Agnew, Goodearle, and Malatesta -Press -Off-the-record remarks -Kissinger's possible briefing -Vice President and foreign policy views -NSC -Agnew's possible statement to press -Ziegler's possible statement Ziegler entered at 10:25 am. The President's PRC initiative -Ziegler's conversation with Agnew at previous Republican leadership meeting -Ziegler’s press conference -Comments -Gerald R. Ford -Ford -Ziegler’s background -Press 16 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -President's position -Ziegler's statement at press conference -Agnew’s support of US policy -Expressions of news in NSC meetings -Agnew’s role -Policy regarding PRC -Ziegler’s conversation with Agnew -Agnew's position Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.) -Possible PRC reaction -The right -US Public opinion -Liberals Ziegler's activities -Press briefing -Republican leadership meeting -Ford -Hugh Scott -McCloskey -Joseph McCarthy -Economy The President's schedule -Upcoming meeting with agricultural editors Agnew -Foreign policy views -President's position -Ziegler's possible press statement PRC initiative -Opposition tactics -Agnew Agnew's press interview at Williamsburg -Ziegler's conversation with Gold -Remarks regarding PRC -Circumstances -Gold Ziegler left at 10:32 am. 17 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) President's PRC initiative -Agnew Briefing -Haig -Agnew's views -Judgement -USSR -Chiang Kai-Shek -Taiwan Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.) -USSR -Agnew -Foreign Visits -Taiwan -Korea -Taiwan -William F. Knowland -Chaing Kai-Shek -President's policy -Agnew -Recognition of PRC -Admission of PRC to UN -Trade -Taiwan -Henry Kearns -Conversation with Chiang Ching-Kuo -News story -Hubert H. Humphrey ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 20 [National Security] [Duration: 7s ] PRC END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 20 ****************************************************************************** 18 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -US bureaucracy -Possible discussions with PRC -Lt. Gen. Vernon A. Walters -Kissinger's possible initiatives -Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield possible visit to PRC -Nicolae Ceausescu -Walters Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.) -Senators -Mansfield -Ceausescu -Kissinger's forthcoming activities -North Vietnamese -Vietnam negotiations -Kissinger -PRC -Walters -US/PRC discussions -Contact with President -Warsaw ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 21 [National Security] [Duration: 10s ] PRC END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 21 ****************************************************************************** -Jean Sainteny -Georges Pompidou -Walters -PRC emissaries -State Department 19 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Kissinger's possible initiatives -Possible contact -Agnew -Development/preparation -President's meeting with American Society of Newspaper Editors [ASNE], April 16, 1971 Agnew's press interview Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.) -Publicity -Knowledge of foreign policy -Possible impact on Agnew McCloskey -Testimony -Timing -Scali -MacGregor -Sullivan -Testimony -Rogers's upcoming press conference -Laos and Vietnam -Administration's position -Rogers -Schedule Rogers -Middle East visit -Israeli/Egyptian conflict -Press conference -Laos and Vietnam Kissinger left at 10:40 am. Kissinger's schedule -Laos -Scali Monday night dinners -Haldeman, Kissinger, John D. Ehrlichman, and Shultz -Informal discussions -Time -Peter G. Peterson 20 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Shultz -Loyalty -Peterson -Staff attendance -MacGregor -Ziegler -Peterson -Area Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.) -Location -Shultz, Ehrlichman, and Kissinger -Morning staff meetings -Kissinger Rogers -Middle East visit -Conversation with the President -Invitations -Kissinger's view -Prospects -Kissinger's view -Israel -Credit -Visit to USSR -Middle East visit -Previous conversation with Haldeman -Itinerary -Israel and Egypt -Jordan -Saudi Arabia -Turkey -Central Treaty Organization [CENTO] -State Department -PRC -Haldeman, Ehrlichman, and Shultz -White House -Kissinger -Visit to USSR -1970 European trip -Publicity -Visit to USSR -Summit -Edmund S. Muskie 21 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Dobrynin Middle East -Kissinger's reaction -Possible motivation -Credit -NSC -Rogers Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.) President’s schedule -Meeting with Republican Congressional leadership Scott -Defense of McCloskey McCloskey -Ford -Peter H. Dominick -William B. Saxbe -Dominick -MacGregor White House Youth Conference, Estes Park, April 16, 1971 -Weather -News story -President's resignation -Weather -President's possible attendance The President's appearance at DAR, April 19, 1971 -Support for the President -DAR women -Appearance -Presidential appearance The President's speeches -Raymond K. Price, Jr. -Anecdotes -Personal and other -Importance -William L. Safire -Upcoming speech 22 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -US Chamber of Commerce, April 26, 1971 The President's address at DAR -Anecdote -American flag -Prose -Story Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.) Stories -Importance -Type -Historical -Biblical -Biographical -Speech writers -John K. Andrews, Jr. -Price -Safire -Patrick J. Buchanan -Unknown President's address at DAR and at Republican governor’s conference -Extemporaneous remarks Kissinger -Work habits Agnew's press interview at Williamsburg -Remarks regarding NSC meeting -Attendance at NSC meetings -Remarks regarding NSC meeting -Press story -PRC policy -Opening -Two China policy -Press story -Quoted Agnew -Position within administration -Behavior -Beliefs 23 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Press -PRC policy The President's forthcoming meeting with US Jaycees officials -Handshakes -Presentation of resolution -Remarks -1970 convention Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.) Agnew -Staff The President as Vice President -Staff -Robert L. King -Robert Ladd -Christian A. Herter Agnew -Staff -Malatesta -Goodearle -Relationship with the Vice President -Problem The President's speeches -Preparation -Study -Ideas -Jaycees -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. -Whitney M. Young, Jr. -DAR -Republican Governors' Conference -Young -Television coverage -Nature of event -Chamber of Commerce -DAR -Governors -Mileage -DAR -Demagoguery 24 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -President's appearance -Length of speech -Emotion -Ziegler -Klein -Press reaction -Governors -Television coverage Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.) -Welfare reform -Guaranteed annual wage -Ehrlichman and Shultz -President's position -Department of Health, Education and Welfare [HEW] -Busing -Integration -Credibility -President's position on issues -Buchanan's intuitions -Integration -Busing -Abortion -Guaranteed annual income -Abortion -Ziegler Ziegler entered at 11:03 am. Supreme Court decision on school busing -Garment -Findings -Charlotte-Mecklenburg case -De jure/de facto segregation -Pasadena case -Los Angeles County case -Garment -Robert C. Mardian -Ziegler's conversation with Richard A. Moore -Justice Department -Ziegler's possible comment -Administration's position -Parameters -Review by departments 25 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Issue -Parameters -De jure/de facto aspects -De facto segregation -Local options -Court's intention The President's schedule Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.) -Upcoming meeting with agricultural editors -Story -Statement -Cameras -Pool -Cameras -Wire story Ziegler left at 11:07 am. -Press -Meetings with groups -Wire coverage -Upcoming meeting with Jaycees -Wire -Press -Photo pool and reporters Supreme Court decision on school busing -Charlotte-Mecklenburg case -Constitutional amendment -Freedom of choice Agnew -Qualities -Haldeman's conversations with John B. Connally -Pace -Connally’s possible involvement The President's schedule, April 22, 1971 -Meeting with Connally Agnew's press interview at Williamsburg -Statement about NSC 26 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Compared with George W. Romney and John A. Volpe -Maurice H. Stans -Wage and price controls -Vice President's responsibilities -Support for President Rogers -Possible visit to USSR Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.) -Prospects -Gromyko -President's position UN commission report Loyalty of administration members -Holdovers within government -Resolution of doubts Clifford M. Hardin -Job offer at Purdue -Possible acceptance -President’s possible action Reassignments of Cabinet posts -Hardin -Secretary of Agriculture -Stans -Secretary of Commerce -Hardin -Agriculture -Rogers C.B. Morton -Interior -Volpe -Romney -Hardin The President's schedule -Upcoming meeting with agricultural editors -Greeting Supreme Court decision on school busing -Wire story 27 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Constitution -Desegregation -Racial composition -White/black ratio system -Charlotte-Mecklenburg district -Opinions -Earl Warren -1954 court case on segregation Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.) -North Carolina anti-busing law -Constitutionality -Implementation of desegregation plans -De jure plans -Involuntary busing -Blacks -Administration's position -North Carolina anti-busing law Haldeman left at 11:15 am.