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Conversation: 502-019

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Start Date: 20-May-1971 2:09 PM

End Date: 20-May-1971 2:46 PM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Rogers, William P.Colson, Charles W.

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 02:28:36

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:49:36

502a.mp3

502b.mp3

NARA Description:

On May 20, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, William P. Rogers, and Charles W. Colson met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 2:09 pm and 2:46 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 502-019 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 502-19

Date: May 20, 1971
Time: Unknown between 2:09 pm and 2:46 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President dictated a memorandum to William P. Rogers.

     Memorandum
        -Rough draft
        -Secret
        -Middle East

Charles W. Colson entered at 2:16 pm.
                                         27

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                Tape Subject Log
                                   (rev. 9/08)



Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT] agreement announcement
      -Implications
      -Administration's position
      -President's political position
            -People's Republic of China [PRC]
            -Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
      -Soviets
      -”Doves”                                                    Conv. No. 502-19 (cont.)
      -Political opportunities
            -Hubert H. Humphrey's comments on February 1, 1971
                  -Antiballistic missile [ABM], Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry
                        Vehicles [MIRV]
                  -SALT negotiations
            -Edmund S. Muskie's comments on SALT
            -Humphrey
      -Democratic candidates position on SALT and ABM
            -Political implications
            -Humphrey
      -Senators
            -Supporters
            -Critics
      -President's credibility
      -John A. Scali, press
            -John W. Chancellor's commentary, May 20, 1971
      -President's political position
      -Muskie
      -Humphrey
      -SALT negotiations
      -Critics and commentators
      -Public opinion
            -Mystique
            -Length of announcement
            -President's stature
            -Arms
            -PRC
            -Public image of the President
            -Peace
      -North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
      -Humphrey's comments
      -”Doves”
      -J. William Fulbright
                                           28

                        NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                   Tape Subject Log
                                      (rev. 9/08)



    Public affairs
         -President's cabinet meeting on May 20, 1971
         -Casualties in South Vietnam
         -Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1941 freedom speech
               -War production
               -State of the country
               -Political impact
                                                             Conv. No. 502-19 (cont.)
    SALT agreement announcement
        -Moscow
        -Text of the SALT agreement
        -Treaty
             -ABM
        -Mood of the country
        -Muskie's statement
        -Humphrey
        -Muskie
        -Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
        -ABM
        -Offensive weapons
        -Colson's call to Thomas J. McIntyre
             -Vote on ABM


**********************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 4m 34s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3

**********************************************************************


         -Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield
         -John Sherman Cooper
         -George D. Aiken
                                             29

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 9/08)



     ABM
        -Opponents
             -Political future
        -Barry M. Goldwater's support
             -Call from Clark MacGregor
        -Colson’s earlier call to Jay Lovestone

Colson left at 2:46 pm.                                          Conv. No. 502-19 (cont.)