Easy NixonAbout

Conversation: 522-002

Prev:  522-001 Next: 522-003

Start Date: 16-Jun-1971 10:39 AM

End Date: 16-Jun-1971 12:07 PM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Ziegler, Ronald L.Bull, Stephen B.Kissinger, Henry A.White House operatorBahr, EgonBunker, Ellsworth F.[Unknown person(s)]Butterfield, Alexander P.

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 01:36:19

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 03:01:36

522a.mp3

522b.mp3

522c.mp3

NARA Description:

On June 16, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Ronald L. Ziegler, Stephen B. Bull, Henry A. Kissinger, White House operator, Egon Bahr, Ellsworth F. Bunker, unknown person(s), and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:39 am to 12:07 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 522-002 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 522-2

Date: June 16, 1971
Time: 10:39 am - 12:07 pm
Location: Oval Office

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

     Pentagon Papers
          -Administration response
          -John D. Ehrlichman role
               -Strengths
               -Charles W. Colson
               -John N. Mitchell

     Domestic issues
         -Florida barge canal
               -Ehrlichman’s role
         -Alaskan pipeline

     President's schedule
          -George P. Shultz
          -Shultz and Ehrlichman's access to President
          -Henry A. Kissinger's access
          -Preparation for visits
          -Shultz access

     Ehrlichman's staff
           -Domestic issues
               -Effort of staff
               -Williamsburg
               -Daughters of the American Revolution [DAR]
               -Press conferences
                                         17

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                 Tape Subject Log
                                   (rev. 10/08)



                -Focus

Pentagon Papers
     -Ehrlichman
     -Assignment of roles to staff
           -Background
     -Need for leadership in administration
           -Richard A. Moore
           -Raymond K. Price, Jr.
           -William L. Safire
           -Patrick J. Buchanan
           -John A. Scali
                 -Qualities
     -Kissinger’s role
     -Egil (“Bud”) Krogh, Jr.
     -Kenneth R. Cole, Jr.
     -Impact
     -War issue and domestic issues
     -Administration handling of Vietnam
     -Department of Justice
     -Use of White House staff
           -Ehrlichman

Domestic issues
    -Ehrlichman
    -Shultz
    -Coverage by press
          -Shultz
    -Rochester speech
          -Ehrlichman
          -Need for domestic coverage
          -Birmingham, Alabama speech
          -President's schedule
    -Domestic issues
    -Public view of issues
    -Use of press conferences
    -Gallup poll
          -Relative importance of issues
                -Vietnam
                -Economy
                -Drugs
          -Drugs' previous performance
                                               18

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                         Tape Subject Log
                                           (rev. 10/08)



                -Vietnam fluctuations
                -Pollution
          -Constituency demographics
          -Gallup poll
                -Methodology
                -Timing
                      -Previous polls
                -Formation of questions                                Conv. No. 522-2 (cont.)
                      -New York Times problem
          -Rochester speech
          -Interest of listeners
                -Previous speeches
                      -Topics
                             -Domestic Council
                -Administration accomplishments
          -Speech coverage by press
          -Tone of speech
          -Rochester speech
                -Need for revenue sharing
                -Ehrlichman
                -Buchanan
                -Order of topics

Ronald L. Ziegler entered at 10:59 am.

                -Release of information before speech
                     -William P. Rogers’ statement
                     -Presidential statement
                           -Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield activities
                     -Kissinger’s role
                     -Scali role
                     -Winston Lord role
                     -Robert C. Mardian

     Campaign Financing
         -Bluhdorn meeting
              -Meeting with campaign contributors
              -Ambassadorships
                   -Italy
                   -Amounts

     Briefing
                                 19

               NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                          Tape Subject Log
                            (rev. 10/08)



-Ziegler role
     -Gerald L. Warren role
-Flexibility
     -Coverage of new ground
-Comment on Times story
-Comment on Mansfield action
     -Scali and Mansfield’s meeting
            -Mansfield intentions                        Conv. No. 522-2 (cont.)
                  -Hearings
                        -Vietnam involvement
                  -Tie to Times activities
-Comments on Times story
     -Administration handling of Vietnam
     -Rogers television comments
     -Speculation on original Vietnam involvement
     -Publication of classified information
     -Lyndon B. Johnson and John F. Kennedy administration
            -Robert S. McNamara
            -Clark M. Clifford
     -Current administration posture
            -Formation of issues
                  -Administration response
-Comments on Mansfield action
-Administration concern with history
     -Release of facts
-Comments on publication of classified material
     -Defense of national interest
     -Pearl Harbor information
            -Release
            -Sun Times
     -Administration view of secrecy
     -Protection of previous administrations
     -Obligation to protect governmental process
     -Current secret discussions
            -Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT]
            -Mutual and Balance Force Reduction [MBFR]
            -Berlin
            -Vietnam
            -Reasons for secrecy
                  -Rogers coverage
     -Efficacy of statement by President
     -Other statements
                                            20

                         NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                    Tape Subject Log
                                      (rev. 10/08)



                    -Scali
                    -Kissinger
                    -Colson
                    -John D. Ehrlichman
                    -Mardian
                    -State Department

                                                           Conv. No. 522-2 (cont.)
******************************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[Privacy]
[Duration: 17s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5

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

    Times story [Pentagon Papers]
         -Scali's previous conversation with Rogers
         -Identification of leaker
               -Daniel Ellsberg
                     -Newsweek article
                           -Tip from McNamara
                           -[David ?] Norman interview of Ellsberg
                     -Action against Ellsberg
                     -Political beliefs
                     -Rationale for action
                     -Penalty for action
         -Murray I. Gurfein role in legal battle
               -Rogers
               -Thomas E. Dewey background
               -Nelson A. Rockefeller
               -Preparation for case
               -Herbert Brownell
         -Action against Ellsberg
               -Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] role
               -Newsweek story
         -Effect of publication on national interest
               -Definition of issue
                     -Complicating factors
                                                21

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/08)



               -Types of classified material
                     -Briefing book for President
                           -Willy Brandt meeting
                           -MBFR
                           -Berlin
                           -SALT
                           -Effect of publication on negotiations
               -Public negotiations                                      Conv. No. 522-2 (cont.)
                     -Effectiveness
               -Ehrlichman to Herbert E. Kaplow
                     -Secrecy
               -Response to Kaplow
                     -Publication of Franklin D. Roosevelt's efforts to enter World War II
               -Emotional nature of Vietnam
          -Implication of past administration
               -Effect of injunction
                     -Upcoming Kennedy disclosures
               -Naming of papers
                     -Kennedy-Johnson
               -Effect of injunction
                     -Upcoming Kennedy disclosures

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 10:59 am.

     President's schedule
          -Kissinger and Bunker meeting with President

Bull left at an unknown time before 11:21 am.

     New York Times story [Pentagon Papers]
         -Administration counter action
               -Times access to White House staff
                    -Times place in pools
                    -Future comments regarding Times
                          -Scali
                          -Ehrlichman
                          -Kissinger
                    -Kissinger attendance at upcoming gathering

     Drugs
          -Bipartisan meeting June 17
               -Effect
                                              22

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 10/08)



           -Statement by President
           -Krogh and Ehrlichman’s effort
                 -Description of program

Kissinger entered at 11:21 am.

                     -Expenditures
                          -Public relations effect                    Conv. No. 522-2 (cont.)
           -Dan Rather comments

Haldeman and Ziegler left at 11:22 am.

     Pentagon Papers
          -Kissinger calls to Rockefeller, John B. Anderson and Johnson regarding Times story
               -Anderson efforts
          -Johnson efforts
          -Rockefeller's view of problem
               -Impact on public
               -Rockefeller action
                     -Public comment
                            -Rockefeller role on Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board [PFIAB]

     Kissinger/Ellsworth Bunker talk
          -Bunker action
          -Kissinger activities

     President's schedule
          -Bunker schedule

     Federal Republic of Germany [FRG] and US relations
          -Brandt toast at previous evening dinner
               -Allusion to Vietnam
               -Allusion to Pakistan
               -Lack of "Grace Notes"
               -Kissinger’s call to Egon Bahr
               -Brandt’s upcoming meeting with US press
               -Brandt Debt to US
                     -President’s view
                     -Mansfield Amendment
                     -Monetary policy
                     -Berlin negotiations
                     -Brandt trip with Hubert H. Humphrey to Woodrow Wilson Center
                                              23

                         NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. 10/08)



                           -Use by Humphrey
               -Kissinger’s call to Bahr
               -President's comments to Rogers
               -Domestic German political atmosphere
                     -Kissinger
                     -Franz Josef Strauss
                     -Contrast to Swedish Prime Minister and Danish Prime Minister
                     -Left wing activity                             Conv. No. 522-2 (cont.)

[Kissinger spoke with the White House operator at an unknown time between 11:22 am and
11:32 am]
[Conversation No. 522-2a]

[See Conversation No. 5-91]

[End of Telephone Conversation]

     FRG and US relations
         -Berlin negotiations
         -Brandt comments to US press
               -Support of the Presidents
         -Role of "Left" Around the World
               -Confidence in Great Britain


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
[National Security]
[Duration: 8s ]


     EUROPEAN AFFAIRS


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6

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


[Kissinger spoke with Bahr at an unknown time between 11:22 am and 11:32 am]
                                               24

                            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/08)



[Conversation No. 522-2b]

[See Conversation No. 5-92]

Ellsworth F. Bunker entered at 11:32 am.

[End of Telephone Conversation]
                                                                        Conv. No. 522-2 (cont.)
     FRG-US relations
         -German leaders


An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 11:32 am.

     President's schedule
          -Press photo session
                 -Arrangement
                 -Document security

The Press entered at 11:40 am.

     [Camera noise]

The unknown person and press left at an unknown time before 11:40 am.

     President's schedule

     FRG-US relations
         -Kissinger’s conversation with Bahr
              -Explanation of Brandt toast
              -Perception of toast
              -Follow up by Kissinger
              -D[avid] Kenneth Rush
         -Brandt

     Vietnam
          -US-South Vietnam meeting
               -Benefits
               -Drawbacks

     Pentagon Papers
          -Effect of Times story
                                                25

                            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/08)



                -Publication of Pearl Harbor documents
                      -Status
                -Origination of leak
                      -Ellsberg
                -Ellsberg reputation
                -Extent of leak
                      -Method
                -Extent of Rand Corporation's classified holdings Conv. No. 522-2 (cont.)
                      -Security
                      -Other Times stories
                      -Arthur K. Watson
           -Army of the Republic of Vietnam [ARVN] status
                -US withdrawals
           -George S. McGovern-Mark O. Hatfield Amendment status

Alexander P. Butterfield entered at 11:40 am.

     President's Schedule
          -Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon
          -Preparation for meeting

Butterfield left at 11:43 pm.

     Vietnam
          -US goal
          -Defeat of domestic enemies
          -Effect of President’s meeting with Nguyen Van Thieu
               -Election effects
          -US support
          -Kissinger and Bunker’s contact with Thieu
          -Vietnamese elections
               -Duong Van Minh
               -Nguyen Cao Ky prospects
               -Ky and Minh deal


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[National Security]
[Duration: 2m 34s ]
                                            26

                        NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                    Tape Subject Log
                                      (rev. 10/08)




    VIETNAM


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4

******************************************************************************
                                                           Conv. No. 522-2 (cont.)

         -Drug Impact
              -Effect on McGovern-Hatfield Amendment
                   -Involvement of South Vietnamese leadership
                   -Thieu



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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
[National Security]
[Duration: 5s ]


    FOREIGN AFFAIRS


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7

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


              -Need for US action
                   -Thieu awareness
              -Effect of Vietnamization
              -South Vietnamese shake up
                   -New head of South Vietnamese Customs
         -Thieu Needs
              -Long-term economic assistance
                   -Kissinger authority during Thieu contacts
              -Acceleration of modernization of weapons
                   -Laos (Lam Son) operation
                   -Effect of modern weapons
                            27

         NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                    Tape Subject Log
                      (rev. 10/08)



            -Command Problems
      -Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
      -US materiel
            -The President’s instructions
-Air Support
      -Thieu
      -Laos (Lam Son) operation
      -Up-coming dry season activity                Conv. No. 522-2 (cont.)
            -North Vietnamese tactics
      -Size of attack planes
      -US role
            -Comparison with earlier efforts
            -Future effects
-US budgetary problems
      -Melvin R. Laird
      -Priority shifts
      -Role of air support
      -Role of interdiction bombing
            -Future effect
                  -Future offensive
                  -Laos
-Air support
      -Tactical necessities
      -Counter moves
-Economics
      -US reforms
            -Effect on price levels
      -South Vietnamese Minister of Economy
            -Thieu role
-Observer group's offer form Thieu
      -Democrat and Republican roles
      -Upcoming Adlai E. Stevenson and Bunker’s meeting
            -Rationale
            -Clark MacGregor
      -Composition of previous group
            -Richard M. Scammon
            -Donald Herzberg of Rutgers University
            -Dipandon (?) Of Georgetown
                  -Backgrounds
            -Nature of South East Asian election
            -Nature of Latin American elections
            -Scammon role
                                                28

                            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                         Tape Subject Log
                                           (rev. 10/08)



                                 -Benefits
                            -Watson’s view
          -Casualties
                -Laos (Lam Son) operation
                      -Performance of ARVN
                            -Cambodia
                            -Abrams and Bunker efforts to change ARVN Commander
                                  -Thieu and Bunker meeting          Conv. No. 522-2 (cont.)
                                  -Gen. Richard G. Stilwell [?]
                                  -Abrams
          -Minh
          -Situation in South Vietnam
                -Drugs
                -Thieu election prospects
                -Election details

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:43 am.

     President's schedule

Bull Left at an unknown time before 12:07 pm.

     Vietnam
          -Upcoming Midway meeting with Thieu
              -Public relations of Kissinger’s trip
                     -Department of State
                     -Laird
                     -Rogers
              -Commitment to meet Thieu
          -Bunker’s appreciation of President's support

Bunker and Kissinger left at 12:07 pm.