Conversation: 501-016
Prev:  501-015 Next: 501-017Start Date: 19-May-1971 1:03 PM
End Date: 19-May-1971 2:05 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Kissinger, Henry A.; White House operator; Rogers, William P.; Ziegler, Ronald L.; Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 02:24:34
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 03:08:19
NARA Description:
On May 19, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Henry A. Kissinger, White House operator, William P. Rogers, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:03 pm and 2:05 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 501-016 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 501-16 Date: May 19, 1971 Time: Unknown between 1:03 pm and 2:05 pm Location: Oval Office The President met with H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman. Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT] -William P. Rogers’ role -Haldeman's call -President's previous meetings with Rogers -Gerard C. Smith -Antiballistic missile [ABM] -President's role -Anatoliy F. Dobrynin -Rogers’ trip to Europe -Public statements -President, Henry A. Kissinger -Presidential initiative Kissinger entered at 1:14 pm. -Melvin R. Laird -Kissinger's forthcoming meeting 29 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -President's meeting with Rogers -Smith, ABM -President's role -Rogers’ role -Smith -U. Alexis Johnson -Forthcoming call -Rogers’ role Conv. No. 501-15 (cont.) -Laird -Kissinger's forthcoming meeting -Laird's memorandum on Vietnamese modernization Kissinger left at 1:18 pm. -Rogers’ role -President's role -President's press conference -Statement of position Rogers -Call to President -Purpose -Gaylord Nelson and Michael J. Mansfield Amendments -Vice President Spiro T. Agnew [The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 1:14 pm and 1:18 pm] [Conversation No. 501-16A] [Conversation No. 3-66] [End of telephone conversation] Rogers -Call to President -Role in SALT negotiations Laird's meeting with Kissinger [The President talked with Rogers between 1:18 pm and 1:29 pm] 30 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) [Conversation No. 501-16B] [See Conversation No. 3-67] [End of telephone conversation] Presidency Conv. No. 501-16 (cont.) Ronald L. Ziegler entered at 1:29 pm. Ziegler's daily press briefing -Supersonic Transport [SST] -Boeing Corporation -Gerald R. Ford -Contract SALT agreement -White House handling -Schedule of events -Cabinet meeting -Congressional leaders meeting -Possible leaks -Cabinet -Announcements of meeting and agenda -Congressional leaders meeting -Time -Possible leaks -Ziegler's conversation with Kissinger and John A. Scali -J. William Fulbright -President's statement -Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] sensitivity -Time -Cabinet meeting -Time -Congressional leaders meeting -Ziegler's announcement -Possible leaks -Television crew arrivals -Congressional leaders meeting -Possible press calls to Ziegler -Subject -Mansfield and Nelson amendments 31 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) Foreign policy -Mansfield -Position on Nelson Amendment -Charles McC. Mathias Amendment -Time of vote -SALT agreement -Congressional leaders meeting Conv. No. 501-16 (cont.) -Rogers -Possible press calls to Ziegler -Timing of calls -Congressional vote -President's May 18, 1971 meeting with Congressional leaders -Peter H. Dominick -Mansfield and Mathias amendments -SALT agreement -Purpose -SALT agreement -Mansfield Amendment -Congress -USSR -Schedule of events -Cabinet meeting -Time -Calls to Cabinet -Ziegler's announcement of May 20, 1971 schedule -Television camera arrival -Cabinet meeting -Time -Alexander P. Butterfield -President's announcement -Forthcoming press conference -Language to be used -Significance -Duration -Significance -USSR -US position -Importance of delivery -President's demeanor -Text -Public perceptions 32 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -SALT -ABM -Chalmers Roberts -Public opinion -Peace -Students at George Washington University -Content -Significance Conv. No. 501-16 (cont.) -Public opinion -Dan Rather and commentators -Progress on nuclear arms -President’s earlier speech to the American Red Cross -Press reaction -People's Republic of China [PRC] -USSR Ziegler left at 1:50 pm. -SALT -President's announcements -Rogers’ role -President's role -Haldeman's talks with Rogers -Public statements -Rogers’ role -Haldeman's talk with Rogers -President's previous meetings with Rogers -Smith -Rogers’ call to President -Agnew's possible trip to Korea -Rogers and Kissinger -US-USSR Summit -Middle East -Rogers’ tenure -Vietnam -PRC -Kissinger -Rogers -North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] meeting -Possible Summit -PRC -Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan 33 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -State Department -SALT -USSR -Dobrynin -Paris peace talks -North Vietnam -Kissinger -Rogers Conv. No. 501-16 (cont.) -Possible meeting with President -Paris peace talks -Kissinger -Rogers -Xuan Thuy -Kissinger -Lyndon B. Johnson, Nelson A. Rockefeller -Xuan Thuy -Kissinger -Ho Chi Minh -Mansfield -Meeting with President -Yayha Khan -Kissinger -USSR -SALT agreement -Kissinger's statements -Rogers -USSR -Kissinger's briefings -PRC -Rogers -Europe -Kissinger -PRC -Yahya Khan -PRC -President's possible talk with Rogers -Yahya Khan -Joseph S. Farland Kissinger entered at 2:02 pm. 34 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -SALT -Kissinger's meeting with Laird -Weapons programs of US and USSR -Rogers’ role -Rogers’ and Laird's response Haldeman and Kissinger left at 2:05 pm. Conv. No. 501-16 (cont.)