Conversation: 487-005
Prev: 487-004 Next: 487-006Start Date: 23-Apr-1971 10:40 AM
End Date: 23-Apr-1971 11:56 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); [Unknown person(s)]; Safire, William L.; Bull, Stephen B.; Woods, Rose Mary;Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 01:17:41
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:17:34
NARA Description:
On April 23, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, unknown person(s), William L. Safire, Stephen B. Bull, and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:40 am to 11:56 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 487-005 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 487-5
Date: April 23, 1971
Time: 10:40 am - 11:56 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
The President's previous conversation with John A. (“Jack”) Mulcahy
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal-returnable]
[Duration: 22s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
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Mulcahy
-President's schedule
-Possible trip abroad
-Visit
-Ireland
-Helicopter
22
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
Arthur S. Fleming
-Assignment
-White House Conference on Aging
-Stature
Aircraft
-Gen. James D. (“Don”) Hughes' memo to the President
-Use by family Conv. No. 487-5 (cont.)
-Cost
-Secret Service
-Cost to the President
-Hughes' memo to the President
-Purpose
-Use by family
-Jack N. Anderson
-Story
-Secret Service
-Military aircraft
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-President's position
-Money
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 9s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
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-Cost
-Money
-Expenses
-Political contributions
-Cash
-California campaign
-Reimbursements to the President
23
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Personal expenses
-Money
-Hughes' memo
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4 Conv. No. 487-5 (cont.)
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 28s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
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-Problem
-Reimbursements to the President
-Political considerations
-Possible criticism of the President
-President Johnson
-Haldeman's trips to Williamsburg
-Carlisle H. Humelsine
-Payment for lodging
-Personal expenses
-White House staff
-Robert D. (“Bobby”) Baker
An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 10:40 am.
The President's schedule
-William L. Safire
The unknown man left at an unknown time before 10:56 am.
Personal expenses
-William P. Rogers and Warren E. Burger
24
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 31s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5 Conv. No. 487-5 (cont.)
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-Business expenses
-Integrity
-Graham B. Steenhoven
-Trip to People's Republic of China (PRC)
-President's meeting with Rio Grande High School student group
-Merchants
-Money
The President's expenditures
-White House expenses
-Secret Service
-Spending decreases
-Symbolism
-President Johnson’s expenses
-Travel
-"Cronies"
-Company for wives
-Hairdresser
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 25s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
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25
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
Safire entered at 10:56 am.
Forthcoming Chamber of Commerce speech
-Welfare
-President's speech at Williamsburg Republican Governors' Conference
-Administration position
-Public assistance Conv. No. 487-5 (cont.)
-Guaranteed annual wage
-Wilbur D. Mills' conversation with John W. Byrnes
-Possible House action
The President's speech at Republican Governors Conference in Williamsburg
-Welfare
-Prepared text
-“Ad lib” remarks
-President's mother
-Activities
-Work
Welfare
-President's position
-Self-help
-Capacity for self reliance
-Children
-First step
-Independent businessman
-Possibility of failure
-Loan from rich uncle
-National revulsion
-Governors
-Nelson A. Rockefeller's position
-Ronald W. Reagan's position
-President's speech at Republican Governors' Conference
-Reaction
-Television
The President's upcoming Chamber of Commerce speech
-Words regarding welfare
-Spirit of people
-President's conversation with Haldeman, April 22, 1971
-Free medicine
26
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Free housing
-Guaranteed income
-Society
-Theme
-President's position regarding needy
-President's schedule
-Open door hour meeting
-Blind and deaf child Conv. No. 487-5 (cont.)
-Self-help
-Demagoguery
The President's speech at Republican Governors Conference,
Williamsburg
-Welfare women
-Menial jobs
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 19s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8
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Welfare
-Administration position
-New York City
-President's position
-Welfare state
-Popular reaction
-Working people
-Views regarding non-workers
-Food stamps
-President's meeting with construction industry leaders
-Upcoming speech
-Blacks
-Blacks and non-blacks
27
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Puerto Ricans
-Mexicans
-Whites
-President's speech in 1969
-Family assistance program
-Guaranteed annual income
-President's position
-Material needs Conv. No. 487-5 (cont.)
-Special individual quality
-President's conversation with Haldeman, April 22, 1971
-Self-help
The President's upcoming Chamber of Commerce speech
-Administration's goal regarding work
-Opportunity
-Government's role
-Economic policy
-American business community
-Wording
-Guaranteed annual income
Unknown Texas woman
-Television appearance
-Capitol steps
-Demonstrators
-Remarks on work
The President's upcoming Chamber of Commerce speech
-Freedom phone
-Welfare workers
-Menial tasks
-Self respect
-Definition
-Help from others
-Needy
-Categories
-Deaf
-Blind
-Unemployable
-Mentally retarded
-Older persons
-Rest homes
28
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Welfare recipients
-Young people
-Home for the Incurables
-President's visit
-Charity
-Needy
-President’s view
-Improvement in care Conv. No. 487-5 (cont.)
-Quality of care
-Effect of non-workers
-Self-help
-Non-strivers
-Thrust
-Theme
-Welfare rolls
-Figures
-“Loafers and bums”
-California numbers
-Non-workers
-Way of life
-Possible effect
Family assistance
-President's position
-Support for the President
-“Loafers and bums”
Welfare
-President's position
-Character
-Mothers with children
-Work
-Child care
The President's upcoming Chamber of Commerce speech
-Welfare
-Text
-1968 campaign
-Welfare rolls
-Numbers
-Text
-Length
29
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Cuts
-Cuts
-Science and technology
-Length
-Cuts
-Length
-Copy
-Text Conv. No. 487-5 (cont.)
-Possible additions
-Bridge
-Character of country
-Government
-Effect on people
-Character
-Text
-Changes
-Notes
-[Forename unknown] Flaherty
-President's meeting with Congressional leaders
-Arthur F. Burns
-Memo
-Writing
-Time
-Safire's schedule
-President's schedule, April 24, 1971
-Camp David
-Time
-Safire's schedule, April 24, 1971
-Courier plane
The President's afternoon schedule
-Visit to David and Julie Eisenhower
-Safire's schedule
-Chamber of Commerce speech
Safire left at 11:15 am
-Plane trip
Public relations activities
-Safire's assignments
-Speechwriting for the President
30
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
Welfare rolls
-Safire's view
-Recipients
-Administration's position
-Numbers
-Welfare workers
-Children
Conv. No. 487-5 (cont.)
People's Republic of China [PRC]
-Memorandum
-Rogers
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Haig
-Press Release
-Rogers
-Draft
-Draft release
-State Department
-State Department
-Marshall Green
-Rogers' schedule
-Press release
-Kissinger
-State Department
-National Security Council [NSC]
-Undersecretaries committee
-Ronald L. Ziegler and John N. Irwin, II
-Haldeman's possible conversation with Rogers
-NSC
-Undersecretaries committee
-Irwin
-Press release
-Irwin
-State Department
-Rogers
-Press release
-Haig
-Rogers' schedule
-Costa Rica
31
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Press release
-Marvin L. Kalb
-Rogers' schedule
Office of Emergency Preparedness
-Candidates for directorship
-Gen. Leonard F. Chapman, Jr.
-George W. Anderson Conv. No. 487-5 (cont.)
-Chapman
Central Intelligence Agency [CIA]
-Lt. Gen. Robert E. Cushman, Jr.
-Lt. Gen. Vernon A. Walters
Marine Corps
-Chapman
-Commandant
-Cushman
-Chapman
-Cushman
Reassignments
-John J. McCloy
CIA
-Walters
-President’s decision
-Kissinger
-Mitchell's view
-Assignment
-Role
Chapman
-Politics
-Loyalty
-Hughes
Marine Corps
-Mission
-Chapman
-Qualifications
-Kissinger's view
32
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
John N. Connally, Jr.
Personnel
-Need for public relations efforts
Department of Transportation
-Secretary
-Donald H. Rumsfeld Conv. No. 487-5 (cont.)
-Rumsfeld
-Qualifications
Personnel
-Clifford M. Hardin
-Rumsfeld
-Richard G. Kleindienst
-Effectiveness
-Mitchell
Mitchell
-Effectiveness
-Qualifications
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 35s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10
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-Justice Department
Department of Justice
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Kleindienst
33
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
Kleindienst
-Possible assignment
-Future fole
Ehrlichman
-Attorney General
-Role
-Domestic policy Conv. No. 487-5 (cont.)
-Value
-Justice Department
-Role
-Justice Department
-Department of Health, Education and Welfare [HEW]
-Robert H. Finch
-Domestic policy
-Importance
-Possible assignment
-Justice Department
-Attorney General
-Aspirations
-Supreme Court
-CIA
-Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]
-FBI
-Directorship
-J. Edgar Hoover
-Assignment
-Role
-Election
-Possible assignment
-FBI
-CIA
-CIA
-Ehrlichman and Walters
-CIA
-FBI
-FBI
-Directorship
-CIA
-Directorship
-Dispositions
-Intelligence activities
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Aspirations
-CIA
-FBI
-CIA
-Career aspirations
-Supreme Court
-CIA
-NSC Conv. No. 487-5 (cont.)
-Foreign policy
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:15 am.
The President's schedule
-Meeting with Rose Mary Woods
Bull left at an unknown time before 11:27 am.
National secretary week
-Woods
Woods' activities
-National secretary week
-Television
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] "Morning Show"
-"Today Show"
-Mike Douglas
-Haldeman's note to Woods
-"Today Show"
-Woods' note to Haldeman
The President talked with Bull at an unknown time between 11:15 am and 11:27 am.
[Conversation No. 487-5A ]
President’s schedule
[End of telephone conversation]
Woods' activities
-Television show interview
-Timing
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
Woods entered at 11:27 am.
-Tom Jerrell
-American Broadcasting Company [ABC]
-Jerrell's views
-"Morning Show"
-Speeches
-Television Conv. No. 487-5 (cont.)
-Los Angeles
-[Unintelligible]
-Format
-Interview
-Speeches
-ABC program
-"Today Show"
Haldeman left at an unknown time before 11:47 am.
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 11
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 53s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 11
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Unknown man
-Television documentary music
-"Victory at Sea"
-Gift to the President
-RCA Victor
-Woods' possible response
Woods' schedule
-Kentucky Derby
-California
36
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 13
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 7s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 13 Conv. No. 487-5 (cont.)
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-Lucy A. Winchester's schedule
-Woods
-Transportation
-Mitchell
-Schedule
-Transportation
-Woods' schedule
-[Forename unknown]Yeager
-Louie B. Nunn
-Mitchell
-Transportation
-Hughes
-Cornelius V. (“Sonny”) Whitney
-Dinner dance
-Woods
-Mitchell and Martha (Beall) Mitchell
-Governor's Derby breakfast
-Massachusetts
-Woods' schedule
-Whitney dinner dance
-Woods' possible call to Hughes
-Mitchell
-Transportation
-Speech
-Winchester's schedule
37
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 14
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 3m 51s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 14 Conv. No. 487-5 (cont.)
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Woods' schedule
-Visit to [unintelligible name]
Massachusetts
-Woods' activities
-President's supporters
-President's meeting with Navy League leaders, April 21, 1971
-Unknown man's remarks
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 15
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 41s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 15
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-Universities
-Harvard
-Massachusetts Institute of Technology [MIT]
-Brandeis
-Smith
-Holyoke
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Boston University
-Boston College
-School system
-Left wingers
[A transcript of the following portion of this conversation was prepared under court order from
December 1978 through March 1979 for Special Access 8, Ronald V. Dellums, et al. v. James M.
Powell, et al., No. 71-2271. The National Archives and Records Administration
Conv. No.
produced
487-5 (cont
this .)
transcript. The National Archives does not guarantee its accuracy.]
[End of transcript]
Press
-President’s view
-Left
-Status
-Woods' conversation with unknown man
-George [Surname not known]
-Harold Rice [?]
-Reporting
-Story
-Secretary's job
-Difficulties
Woods left at 11:47 am.