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Conversation: 505-004

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Start Date: 26-May-1971 10:03 AM

End Date: 26-May-1971 11:35 AM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Kissinger, Henry A.White House operatorRogers, William P.Woods, Rose MaryBull, Stephen B.

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:28:23

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 01:54:08

505a.mp3

505b.mp3

505c.mp3

505d.mp3

NARA Description:

On May 26, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Henry A. Kissinger, White House operator, William P. Rogers, Rose Mary Woods, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:03 am to 11:35 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 505-004 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 505-4

Date: May 26, 1971
Time: 10:03 am - 11:35 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

     Police
          -Funeral
          -Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]
          -Richard A. Moore
          -Memorandum to William P. Rogers
          -Telephone call to widow of policeman
          -Moore
          -President’s view
          -Richard S. Schweiker
          -Bill
          -John N. Mitchell
          -Vietnam
          -Demonstration
          -Constituency
          -Moore
          -Peter M. Flanigan
          -Riots
                                              5

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 9/08)



          -Police Benevolent Association [PBA]
          -Charles W. Colson
          -Moore
                -Black Panthers
          -Bobby G. Seale
                -Jury
          -Chicago
          -Unknown woman

     Marijuana
          -Statement
          -Domestic Council
          -News summary
          -Jews
                -Psychiatrists
          -Moore
          -Legalization
          -Congress

Henry A. Kissinger entered at 10:08 am.

     President’s schedule
          -Nguyen Van Thieu
                -Possible meeting
                      -Date
          -Frederick L. Hovde
          -California
                -Budget Sessions
          -North Vietnam
          -Forthcoming appointments
          -Paris
                -Meeting with Thieu
          -People's Republic of China [PRC] initiative
          -Date of Meeting
          -Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
                -Aleksei N. Kosygin’s letter
          -Walt W. Rostow
                -Lyndon B. Johnson Appreciation
          -Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
                -Proposed Trips
                      -Korea
                      -PRC
                                          6

                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                  Tape Subject Log
                                     (rev. 9/08)



                  -Greece


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National Security]
[Duration: 20s ]                                           Conv. No. 505-4 (cont.)


    GREECE


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

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


                  -Korea
                  -Thailand
                  -Japan
                       -Kissinger's trips
                            -Korea
                            -PRC
                  -Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan
                       -Kissinger’s forthcoming trip
                            -Deception


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12
[National Security]
[Duration: 11s ]


    PAKISTAN


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12

******************************************************************************
                                        7

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                Tape Subject Log
                                   (rev. 9/08)




                -Pope Paul VI
                       -Rogers
                       -John A. Volpe
                -Italy
                -Spain
                -Portugal                                Conv. No. 505-4 (cont.)
                -Congo
                -Kenya
     -Cabinet officers’ trips
          -Trip report
                -Robert H. Finch
                -Donald H. Rumsfeld
          -Maurice H. Stans
                -Reports
                -[Forename unknown] Gleason
     -Vice President's proposed trips
          -Greece
          -Indonesia
          -Australia
          -New Zealand
          -Thailand
          -Iran
          -Cabinet officers
          -Air Force One
          -Rogers

William F. (“Billy”) Graham
     -Unknown religious persecution case
           -Riga, Latvia
     -Nikita S. Khrushchev
           -Meeting with the President
     -Anti-Semitism
           -Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
           -Poland
     -James O. Eastland
           -Negroes
     -Poles
           -Anti-Semitism
     -Rogers
           -Agnew’s possible trip to Israel
                                       8

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                               Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. 9/08)




Graham

Vice Presidential trips
     -Africa
           -Congo
     -Europe
           -Austria                                              Conv. No. 505-4 (cont.)
           -Hungary
           -Scandinavia
                 -Denmark
                 -Sweden
           -Austria
           -Germany
                 -Berlin

Dobrynin
    -Summit

Planned press conference
     -Timing
     -Audience
     -Moore
     -Timing

Schedule
     -Forthcoming remarks at US Military Academy at West Point
          -Moore

Press conference
      -Timing
      -Publicity

Killing of policemen in New York and Washington, D.C.
      -Support of police
            -Staff
            -Negroes
                  -Policeman [Waverly Jones]
                        -Funeral, May 25, 1971
            -Seale
            -Mood of country
            -John A. Scali
                                         9

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                 Tape Subject Log
                                    (rev. 9/08)



         -Moore
         -Mitchell
         -Civil rights
         -Plot
Max M. Fisher and Rabbi [Forename unknown] Schecter
    -Request to see President
         -Plight of USSR Jewry
               -Telegram                                       Conv. No. 505-4 (cont.)
               -Nature of issue
               -State Department
                     -President’s comments on January 11, 1971
               -Political issue
                     -Patrick J. Buchanan

Kissinger’s forthcoming talk at Department of Health, Education and Welfare [HEW]
     -Foreign policy
     -Vietnam
           -President’s comments at briefing for Southern Regional Media, May 25, 1971
           -USSR
           -PRC

Schedule
     -Press conference
           -Timing
     -Vietnam
     -Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT]
     -Trip
     -Announcement

Letter to President from Indira Gandhi
      -India
            -Military action
      -Pakistan
            -Yahya Khan
      -Indians
            -Ambassador
            -Yahya Khan
            -Refugees
                  -East Pakistan
                                            10

                         NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                    Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. 9/08)



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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[National Security
[Duration: 39s ]


    INDIA                                                     Conv. No. 505-4 (cont.)


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3

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


    Book on foreign policy
        -Henry Brandon
              -SALT

    Press view of President
          -Domestic policy
          -Foreign policy
               -Vietnam
                     -Polls
                           -Public opinion
                     -Thieu
                           -John F. Kennedy
                           -Lyndon B. Johnson
                           -Trust
                     -Laos
                           -Cambodia
                           -Explanation
                           -Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
                           -Casualties
               -PRC
               -USSR
               -Middle East
               -Cuba

         -Domestic situation
             -Economy
                                         11

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                 Tape Subject Log
                                    (rev. 9/08)



Vietnam
     -President's meeting with Senators
           -Howard H. Baker, Jr.
                 -Abrams
     -Possibility of peace
     -Ceasefire
           -Announcement
     -South Vietnamese                                    Conv. No. 505-4 (cont.)
           -Election
     -Public disbelief
           -Gallup poll
           -Press
     -Establishment
     -Congressional action
           -News summary
           -Vote on draft
                 -Gaylord Nelson amendment
                 -John V. Tunney
                 -Tunney amendment
           -Edward M. Kennedy
     -Polls
           -Results
           -Effect of Laos
                 -Press
                 -Problems
                       -Public understanding
                              -Rogers
                              -Melvin R. Laird
                       -News blackout
                       -Abrams
                              -Cambodia
                 -Nature of war
                       -Italians
                       -US Civil War
                 -Responsibility
           -Laird
           -Robert F. Froehlke
                                           12

                        NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                   Tape Subject Log
                                      (rev. 9/08)



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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 13
[Privacy]
[Duration: 9s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 13                                           Conv. No. 505-4 (cont.)

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


               -Abrams
                     -Gen. William C. Westmoreland [?]
                     -Laird
         -Public views
               -SALT
               -PRC
               -Patriotism
               -Newspaper columns
               -Television
                     -Press
                     -[Arnold] Eric Sevareid
                     -John W. Chancellor
                     -Effect of pictures
                           -Vietnam war
                           -Casualties
                     -Laos
                           -Casualties
                           -Tchepone
               -Vietnam
                     -Negotiations
                     -Green Bay Packers
                           -Comparison
         -President’s comments at briefing for Southern Regional Media, May 25, 1971
               -Uncertainties
               -Vietnam
               -USSR
               -PRC
               -Middle East
               -Berlin
               -Cuba
                                         13

                       NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                 Tape Subject Log
                                    (rev. 9/08)



           -Vietnam
                -Possible peace settlement
                -Thieu
                     -Forthcoming election
                -Saigon

Race relations
     -Blacks                                                       Conv. No. 505-4 (cont.)
           -Vernon C. Coffey

House of Representatives
    -Camp Pendleton
          -Lease
    -Committee
    -Review

California political situation
     -F. Edward Hébert

Summit with USSR

PRC
      -United Nations [UN]
            -Rogers
      -President's meeting with Kissinger and Rogers
      -UN decision
            -Two China policy
                  -Perceived cynicism
                  -Detente
                  -Taiwan
                  -Right-wingers
      -Kissinger's meeting with Rogers, May 25, 1971
      -President's forthcoming meeting with Kissinger and Rogers
            -President’s forthcoming meeting with Councils of the Arts
            -Laird
            -National Security Council [NSC]
            -Poll
                  -UN
      -Consultations
            -Britain
      -Proposed meeting
            -Harold Lee
                                              14

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 9/08)



                -Kissinger's schedule
                     -Meeting
                -Rogers
                     -President's forthcoming call
                           -Golf
                     -PRC
                     -Press conference
                           -Timing                                Conv. No. 505-4 (cont.)
                     -Mutual and Balanced Force Reductions [MBFR]

     Vietnam
          -Kissinger's schedule
               -Trip to Paris
                     -Timing
                     -Unknown Man
                     -French
                     -Rogers’ concern
                     -North Vietnamese
                     -Jean Sainteny
                     -Kissinger's trip to England
                     -Cover for trips
                           -Rogers
                           -Sainteny
                           -Ho Chi Minh
                           -Haldeman’s view
                           -Rogers
                           -SALT
                     -Kissinger

The President left at an unknown time after 10:03 am.

                           -PRC trip
                           -Rogers
                           -Private trip
                           -Publicity
                           -Rogers
                                 -Lack of knowledge
                                 -Suspicion
                           -London
                           -Sainteny
                           -Cover
                -Rogers’ forthcoming trip to Paris
                                             15

                            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 9/08)



                            -Sainteny
                      -Elliot L. Richardson
                      -SALT
The President returned at an unknown time before 11:07 am.

                -Middle East
                     -Rogers
                -Cover for forthcoming trip                          Conv. No. 505-4 (cont.)
                     -Informing Rogers
                           -Rogers’ forthcoming trip
                           -Possible story
                                 -Gen. James D. ("Don") Hughes
                                       -Military plane
                                 -Friends
                -England
                     -Paris
                     -Sainteny

     Council of the Arts
         -Nancy Hanks

[The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 10:08 am and
11:07 am]

[Conversation No. 505-4A]

[See Conversation No. 3-126]

[End of telephone conversation]

     President's meeting with Kissinger and Rogers
          -PRC

     President's schedule
          -Golf

[The President talked with Rogers between 11:07 am and 11:11 am]

[Conversation No. 505-4B]

[See Conversation No. 3-127; one item has been withdrawn from the conversation]
                                              16

                              NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                          (rev. 9/08)



[End of telephone conversation]

     SALT
         -Announcement of agreement, May 20, 1971

     Foreign policy
          -Rogers
          -Public understanding                                    Conv. No. 505-4 (cont.)
               -Intellectual elite
          -USSR
          -PRC
          -Peace

     Vietnam
          -Casualties
               -Figures

     President's visit to Birmingham, Alabama
          -Bands
                 -Number
                 -Reserve Officer Training Corps [ROTC]
          -Schools bands
                 -Certificate of appreciation
                 -Advance men

Rose Mary Woods entered at 11:13 am.

Kissinger left at 11:14 am.

     Xerox copy
          -Typing

     Jewish vote
          -Kissinger’s view

     Typewriter
         -International Business Machines [IBM]
         -Size
                -Type
                                             17

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 9/08)



     Jews in USSR
          -Possible meeting with the President
               -Fisher
               -Paul W. McCracken
               -Rabbi Schecter
               -Fisher

Woods left at 11:23 am.                                        Conv. No. 505-4 (cont.)

     [No conversation]

     President's schedule
          -Mitchell's meeting with Richardson
                 -Mayflower Hotel
                 -Drug abuse
                       -Foundation
                 -Jack E. (“Jack”) Ingersoll
                       -President's appearance
                             -Publicity
                 -Drugs
                 -John D. Ehrlichman
                 -Publicity
          -Maine
                 -Jack J. Dreyfuss, Jr.
                 -Hughes
                       -Security check
                 -President's possible visit
                 -Weather
          -Mitchell’s and Richardson’s meeting
                 -Mayflower Hotel
          -News summary
          -Leonard Garment
          -Briefing
          -Hanks

     President's schedule
          -Forthcoming address to Council of the Arts
                 -Mayflower Hotel
                 -News summary
                 -Garment
                 -Hanks
                 -Political issue
                                                18

                            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 9/08)



               -Coverage
               -Arts
          -Public television
               -Peter M. Flanigan
                      -Frank Pace
                      -Robert [unintelligible surname]

     President’s trip                                               Conv. No. 505-4 (cont.)
          -News summary
          -Birmingham, Alabama
                -Coverage
                -George C. Wallace
                -Other trips
                      -Midwest
                            -Small towns
                      -Mobile
                      -Chicago and suburbs
          -Southern Regional media meeting
                -Midwest and South
                -Herbert G. Klein
                      -American Society of Newspaper Editors [ASNE]

     President's schedule
          -Harry S. Dent
                 -Meeting with Haldeman

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:23 am.

     President’s schedule

Bull left at an unknown time before 11:35 am.

                -Advance men
                    -Authority
                    -Haldeman
                    -Approved list
                         -Jim Martin
                         -Dent
                         -Additions
                         -Dent
                         -Cancellations
                         -State chairman
                                               19

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 9/08)



                           -Dent
                           -State chairman
     President's trip
          -Staff response
                 -William E. Timmons
                 -Coverage
                 -Alabama
                 -Coverage                                           Conv. No. 505-4 (cont.)
                 -Crowds
                 -News summary
                       -Coverage
                            -Frank Cormier
                                  -Demonstrators
                            -Dan Rather
                                  -Coverage
                            -Signs
                            -Ronald L. Ziegler
                            -Strategy

The President and Haldeman left at 11:35 am.