Conversation: 501-029
Prev: 501-028 Next: 501-030Start Date: 19-May-1971 4:38 PM
End Date: 19-May-1971 6:10 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Bull, Stephen B.; Kissinger, Henry A.; Scali, John A.; Ziegler, Ronald L.; Rumsfeld, Donald H.; Finch, Robert H.;Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 05:02:48
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 06:28:21
NARA Description:
On May 19, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Stephen B. Bull, Henry A. Kissinger, John A. Scali, Ronald L. Ziegler, Donald H. Rumsfeld, and Robert H. Finch met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:38 pm to 6:10 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 501-029 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 501-29
Date: May 19, 1971
Time: 4:38 pm - 6:10 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman. Conv. No. 501-26 (cont.)
Charles McC. Mathias Amendment
-Vote
-John G. Tower
-Democrats' strategy
-Possible support administration
-Michael J. Mansfield Amendment
-$50 million
-Potomac River announcement
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 4:38 pm.
President's schedule
-Henry A. Kissinger, Ronald L. Ziegler
-Kissinger's phone call regarding Mathias Amendment
Bull left at an unknown time before 4:44 pm.
-Donald H. Rumsfeld and Robert H. Finch
William P. Rogers and Kissinger
-Nature of relationship
-Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT] agreement
-USSR
-John A. Scali and Ziegler
-Haldeman's conversation with Rogers, May 19
Kissinger entered at an unknown time after 4:38 pm.
SALT agreement announcement
Mathias Amendment
-Vote
-Kissinger's attempted call to John Sherman Cooper
56
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
SALT agreement
-Announcement
-Wording
-Kissinger’s recommendation
Bull entered at an unknown time after 4:38 pm
Call from Cooper
Bull and Kissinger left at an unknown time before 4:44 pm.
SALT agreement
-Meeting with Legislative leaders
-Meeting with the Cabinet
Ziegler and Scali entered at 4:44 pm.
-Kissinger's briefings for media
-Number attending
-Washington Star
-Attendees
-Wire services, television
-Limits
-Television coverage
-Delivery of announcement
-Kissinger's briefing for media
-Delivery
-Selection of attendees
-Content
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-Development of agreement
-President's role
Kissinger entered at an unknown time after 4:44 pm.
Kissinger's call to Cooper
-Cooper's May 19, 1971 votes
-Mathias Amendment vote
SALT
-Kissinger's briefing
57
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Points
-Meeting with Congressional leaders
-Announcement
-Wording
-Kissinger's briefing
-Nature of breakthrough
-Previous stalemate
-Announcement Conv. No. 501-29 (cont.)
-Release to press
-President's presentation
-Kissinger's briefing
-Stalemate
-USSR
-Defensive weapons
-US position
-Comprehensive agreement
-President's previous press conferences
-President's role, USSR role
-Offensive and defensive weapons
-Negotiations
-Procedural questions
-SALT delegation
-Possible questions
-Timetable for agreement
-President’s foreign policy report
-President’s previous press conferences
-Development of agreement
-Kissinger’s previous briefings
-Scali
-Possible questions
-Congressional Leaders
-President’s role
-Aleksei N. Kosygin role
-Mutual and Balanced Force Reductions [MBFR]
-Kissinger's briefings
-Linkage to MBFR
-North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
-Role in negotiations
-Forthcoming NATO meeting
-Rogers
-Development of agreement
-Study of the issue
58
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-National Security Council [NSC]
-President's role
-USSR reaction
-Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-USSR role
******************************************************************************
Conv. No. 501-29 (cont.)
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[National Security]
[Duration: 55s ]
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA [PRC]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
******************************************************************************
-PRC
-President's speech to American Red Cross, May 19, 1971
-Kissinger's briefings
-White House activity
-Senate votes
-Mathias Amendment
-NATO, troop reductions
-Vietnam
-Cooper
-Development of agreement
-President's role
-Dobrynin
-Leader's meeting
-Kissinger's briefings
-Hubert H. Humphrey's speech, President's role
-Senate
-Mansfield Amendment
-J. William Fulbright
-President's role
-Development of agreement
59
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Gerard C. Smith
-Safeguard
-Vladimir S. Semenov
-Schedule
-Smith's role
-Attendees
-Chalmers Roberts
-Conservative columnists Conv. No. 501-29 (cont.)
-James J. Kilpatrick
-William F. Buckley
-Richard (“Dick”) Wilson
-William S. White
-Kilpatrick, Buckley, Wilson
-Adm. Thomas H. Moorer's and Smith's response
-Future
-Development of agreement
-Rogers
-Melvin R. Laird
-NSC
-Rogers
-Bureaucracy
-Knowledge
-Possible responses
-Rogers
-Smith
-Kissinger's briefing
Robert H. Finch and Donald H. Rumsfeld entered at 5:13 pm.
Kissinger's schedule
-Kissinger's previous trip to Palm Springs
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 17
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 1m 46s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 17
60
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
******************************************************************************
Haldeman, Kissinger, Scali, and Ziegler left at 5:16 pm.
Finch's and Rumsfeld's trip
-Report
-President’s approval
-Josip Broz Tito Conv. No. 501-29 (cont.)
-An unknown group
-Possible exchange program
-Tito's future visit
-Possible appearance by unknown group
-Carol (Crothers) Finch and Joyce (Pierson) Rumsfeld
-Talks with embassy wives
-Ambassador's wife
-State Department
-Rigidity of tradition
-Talks with embassy staff
-Interest in US
-Domestic programs
-Welfare
-Information from news magazines
-Response to President
Lyndon B. Johnson
-Travel
-Foreign policy
-Europe
Finch's and Rumsfeld's trip
-Response to US
-US economic policy
-Variety of perspectives articulated
-John B. Connally, George P. Shultz
US economic policy
-Variety of perspectives articulated
-Arthur F. Burns
-Treasury Department
-Paul W. McCracken and Council of Economic Advisors [CEA]
-Shultz
-Maurice H. Stans
61
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-US inflation
-Effect abroad
World economy
-Milton Friedman's article "The Mark Crisis"
-Willy Brandt
-Economic policies
-Impact Conv. No. 501-29 (cont.)
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[National Security]
[Duration: 56s ]
EUROPE
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
******************************************************************************
Finch's and Rumsfeld's trip
-Spain
-Future
-Yugoslavia
-Tito
-Unifying effect
-History
-Balkans, USSR
-Croats, Serbs
-Rumania
-Economy
-Compared to Yugoslavia
-Compared to West and East Berlin
-People
-President's previous trip
-Computer development needs
-Mrs. Finch's and Mrs. Rumsfeld's response
62
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Paris, Rome, Vienna, London
-Meeting with Pope Paul Vi
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 19
[National Security] Conv. No. 501-29 (cont.)
[Duration: 18s ]
VATICAN
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 19
******************************************************************************
-Mrs. Finch and Mrs. Rumsfeld
-Black dress
-Gifts
-Photograph
-Vietnam
-Gregorio Lopez Bravo de Castro
-US troop levels
-South Vietnam
-Needs
-PRC initiative
-Middle East
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 15
[National Security]
[Duration: 36s ]
EUROPE
63
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 15
******************************************************************************
-East
-West trade
-John P. Humes Conv. No. 501-29 (cont.)
-Congressional views
-Vietnam's effects
-Laws
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 16
[National Security]
[Duration: 52s ]
EUROPE
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 16
******************************************************************************
-D. Kenneth Rush
-Berlin negotiations
-Efforts
-Professional history
-Previous law experience
-Union carbide
-Walter H. Annenberg's residence
-Juan Cortez[?], bullfighter
-Photograph with Nixon tieclasp
-Robert F. Kennedy
-Popularity
-Attendance by Finch and Rumsfeld at bullfight
-Gift to the President
-PRC and USSR
-Communications by Finch and Rumsfeld
64
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-President's reading
-Kissinger
Drugs
-Military
-Possible congressional investigation
-Draft extension, Volunteer Army
-Usage Conv. No. 501-29 (cont.)
-Statement regarding importance
-Solutions
-Discipline
-Gen. Andrew J. Goodpaster
[Unintelligible]
Finch's and Rumsfeld’s’ trip
-United Nations [UN] Amendment on drugs
-President's position
-Importance of US foreign policy
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 20
[National Security]
[Duration: 2m 3s ]
VATICAN
MOROCCO
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 20
******************************************************************************
-Spain
-Luis Carrero-Blanco
-Future
-President’s view
65
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-U.S. ambassadors
-Rush
-William Leonart
-Robert C. Hill
-Future
-New Hampshire politics
-A letter
Conv. No. 501-29 (cont.)
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 39s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8
**********************************************************************
-Leonard C. Meeker
-Humes
-Graham A. Martin
-Impression
-Dinner with Finch and Rumsfeld
-Meeting with staff
-Report to Rogers
-Kissinger
-Idar Rimestad
-Possible future congressional candidacy
-Wayne N. Aspinall
-Finances
-John D.J. Moore in Ireland
-Ann H(emmingway) Watson (Mrs. Arthur Watson)
-Children
-Meeting with President
-Ambassador's residence
-Need
-Lunch, food
-Chef
-Charles A.J.M. de Gaulle's funeral
66
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
-Stuart W. Rockwell
-Stay in England
-Annenberg
-Britannia
-Meeting with staff
-US embassies
-Annenberg Conv. No. 501-29 (cont.)
-Staff
-Annenberg’s views
-Staff in Paris
-Two unnamed Princeton classmates of Rumsfeld's
-Arthur Watson's work
-R. Sargeant Shriver's work
-Holmes[?], Steigman[?], and Culley[?] [Forenames unknown]
-Holmes’ father, Julius C. Holmes
-Service under Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Policy statements
-Holmes’ work
-Career Foreign Service officers
-State Department knowledge of politics
-Edward M. Korry
-Compared with Finch
-John F. Kennedy
-Political knowledge
-Al [Surname unintelligible]
-Congressional race
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 18
[Privacy]
[Duration: 18s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 18
******************************************************************************
-Staff in London
67
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-A Conservative Democrat [name unintelligible]
-[Name unintelligible]
-British Parliament
-Ireland
-Parliament
-Population
-History
-Potato Famine Conv. No. 501-29 (cont.)
-Future trips
-Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America
-Use in speeches
-A letter
-Hill
-Francisco Franco to Johnson
-Views on Vietnam War
[Unintelligible]
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 59s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12
**********************************************************************
Campaign practices
-Edmund S. Muskie
-Hill's information from Maine attorney general, James S. Erwin
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 13
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 5m 37s ]
68
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 13
**********************************************************************
Politics
-Incumbency Conv. No. 501-29 (cont.)
-William Howard Taft
-[Thomas] Woodrow Wilson
-Herbert C. Hoover
-Johnson
-Vietnam War, economy
-Possible 1968 race
-Johnson
-Compared to Humphrey
-Critics
-Travel
-Reaction
-Television coverage
-Compared with coverage of the President
-President's schedule
-May 21, 1971 dedication of the Johnson Library
Finch's and Rumsfeld's trip
-Forthcoming press conference
-Kissinger
-Backgrounders
-Meetings with Rogers
Middle East
-Rogers’ work in Middle East
-Emphasis in Finch and Rumsfeld’s upcoming press conference
-Comment in May 20, 1971 Cabinet meeting
-State Department meeting
-Anwar el-Sadat
-Unknown staffer’s view
-Rogers’ statements in previous Cabinet meeting
US foreign policy
-Finch and Rumsfeld’s upcoming statements
-Vietnam
69
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-USSR
-PRC
-Europe
-President's travels, Johnson's travels
-Norse Capitals
-NATO
-Cooperation
-Western Europe Conv. No. 501-29 (cont.)
-World wars
-Deaths
-Peace
-Bipartisan nature of establishment
-Future
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 14
[National Security]
[Duration: 1m 36s ]
EUROPE
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 14
******************************************************************************
Drugs
-Problem in military
-Finch's and Rumsfeld's efforts
-President's meeting with Arthur G. (“Art”) Linkletter
-Linkletter's speeches at schools
-Possible tour of military bases in Europe
-Linkletter's daughter
-Compared with alcohol
-Causes
-Diversion for military troops
-Need for community among troops
-Volunteer Army
70
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
A memo from Rumsfeld regarding Special Trade Representative
-Peter M. Flanigan
-H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Future meeting with President
Finch and Rumsfeld left at 6:10 pm.
Conv. No. 501-29 (cont.)