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Conversation: 503-006

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Start Date: 21-May-1971 9:53 AM

End Date: 21-May-1971 10:43 AM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Ziegler, Ronald L.Kissinger, Henry A.Bull, Stephen B.Smith, Gerard C.Nitze, Paul H.Thompson, Llewellyn E. ("Tommy"), Jr.Farley, Philip J.Butterfield, Alexander P.Rogers, William P.

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 01:09:39

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 01:44:38

503a.mp3

503b.mp3

503c.mp3

NARA Description:

On May 21, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, Henry A. Kissinger, Stephen B. Bull, Gerard C. Smith, Paul H. Nitze, Llewellyn E. ("Tommy") Thompson, Jr., Philip J. Farley, Alexander P. Butterfield, and William P. Rogers met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:53 am to 10:43 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 503-006 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 503-6

Date: May 21, 1971
Time: 9:53 am - 10:43 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler.

     Economic issues
         -Consumer Price Index [CPI] increase
         -John B. Connally
         -George P. Shultz
         -George W. Romney
               -Congress
                     -Spending
         -Full employment budget
         -Price parity
         -Shultz's reaction to CPI figure
         -Food price increases
               -Last year's food price rise
         -Inflation
               -Rate

     Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT]
           -Henry A. Kissinger’s briefing
                                                14

                             NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 9/08)



            -President's initiative
Ziegler left at 9:56 am.

Kissinger entered at 9:56 am.

      SALT negotiations
          -William P. Rogers
          -Gerard C. Smith                                               Conv. No. 503-5 (cont.)
          -Level
          -Rogers
          -Timing
          -Accidental war
                -Hot line
          -Possible statement
                -Smith
                -Vladimir S. Semenov
                -Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
          -Helsinki
                -SALT delegates
                      -Leaks
                            -Anti-ballistic missiles [ABM]
                            -Offensive weapons
          -US position
                -ABM
                      -Safeguard
                            -Dobrynin
                -Kissinger's briefing to the press
                      -ABM
                      -Offensive weapons
                            -Multiple Independently-targetable Reentry Vehicle [MIRV]
                            -Submarines
                -Press reaction
                -President's involvement in SALT agreement
                      -Role of Joint Chiefs of Staff [JCS]
                      -Support for President by press in coming election
                      -President

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:56 am.

      Forthcoming SALT delegation meeting with the President

Bull left at an unknown time before 10:03 am.
                                              15

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 9/08)




     Kissinger's meeting in his office with two reporters
     Change of Kissinger's scheduled meeting on Vietnam until May 22, 1971

     Kissinger's future meetings with
          -[Forename unknown] Franco of Newsweek
          -Osborn Elliott
          -James J. Kilpatrick, Jr.                                    Conv. No. 503-6 (cont.)
          -William F. Buckley, Jr.

     SALT
         -Press reaction
              -Times editorial of May 21, 1971
              -People

Rogers, Gerard C. Smith, Royal B. Allison, Paul H. Nitze, Llewellyn E. Thompson, and Philip J.
Farley entered at 10:03 am; photographers were present at the beginning of the meeting.

     Science Medals

     Seating arrangement

     Photographs

     SALT negotiations
         -Vienna
         -Outcome of the SALT agreement
         -Press
         -Defense Department and their supporters
         -Leaks
               -White House
               -Rogers
                     -State Department
               -Bureaucracy
         -President's position on inclusion of safeguards in SALT
               -Press
               -Henry M. ("Scoop") Jackson
               -ABM
                     -Washington, D.C.
         -Perception of Soviet interests
               -Offensive weapons
         -President's expectations of SALT
                                 16

               NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                          Tape Subject Log
                             (rev. 9/08)



      -Senators
      -Press columnists
      -Press conferences
      -Soviet and American domestic problems
            -Agreement
-Negotiating strategy
      -Rogers
-Public perception                                  Conv. No. 503-6 (cont.)
      -J. William Fulbright
-Congressional action
-Smith
-US security
      -Leaks
-Success of negotiations
      -Consultation
      -Information
-American security
-Strategy
-Perception of Soviet arms
      -Agreement
-Hot line
-Time period
-Treaty
-President's China policy
      -French
      -British
-ABM
      -Soviet advantage
-US defenses
      -American security
-Soviet missiles
-A comprehensive treaty
      -Scope of the SALT agreement
-Missile sites
      -Smith
-Thomas H. Moorer
-Options
-Radar
-European Security Council
      -Rogers’ forthcoming meeting
      -Their reaction to SALT
-Soviet-American policy
                                                 17

                                 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                          Tape Subject Log
                                             (rev. 9/08)



                  -Influence

      Science awards
           -Peace

Alexander P. Butterfield entered at 10:40 am.

      President's schedule                                            Conv. No. 503-6 (cont.)
           -Science awards ceremony
           -International Telecommunications Satellite Consortium [INTELSAT]

Rogers, et al., left at 10:43.