Conversation: 526-002
Prev:  526-001 Next: 526-003Start Date: 18-Jun-1971 8:45 AM
End Date: 18-Jun-1971 9:38 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Butterfield, Alexander P.; Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:08:25
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 00:53:29
NARA Description:
On June 18, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:45 am to 9:38 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 526-002 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 526-2 Date: June 18, 1971 Time: 8:45 am - 9:38 am Location: Oval Office The President met with H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman. Pentagon Papers -Upcoming statement by President -Content of written message -Patrick J. Buchanan -Public relations -Support for war -Content of message to National Security Council [NSC] -Content of message to be submitted by staff -Preparation -Effect of consensus -Need for chief writer -Buchanan -Role for press conferences -Media memorandum -Raymond K. Price, Jr. -John D. Ehrlichman -Content -Need for confidentiality in negotiations -Declassification 2 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/08) Awarding of honorary degrees -President Leopold Sedar Senghor of Senegal -Reflection on "Today's" schools -Harvard University -University of California at Los Angeles [UCLA] -Accomplishments of Sedar Senghor -Haldeman’s experience on Board of Regents of UCLA -Role of recipients -Value of honorary degrees -Senghor accomplishments -Compared to some US mayors -Size of Senegal -Heads of Black African states -Haldeman’s view -Attractiveness as honorary degree candidates -Honorary degrees Pentagon Papers -Statement by President -Efficacy -Nixon administration role in Vietnam -Ehrlichman -Bombing halt -Request for Henry A. Kissinger and Haldeman meeting -Consequences -Administration strategy -Two issues -Relationship of content to administration’s policy -Seriousness of security breach -Need for clear focus of administration strategy -William E. Timmons -Support for administration -Among publishers -James S. Copley -Carl T. Curtis opposition -Rationale -Barry M. Goldwater -Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor -Promotion -Gale W. McGee -Congressional strategy 3 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/08) -Timmons -Relationship to Alger Hiss case -Potential headlines -President's support during Hiss case -Issues -Attack on New York Times -Kissinger statement -Ronald L. Ziegler Conv. No. 526-2 (cont.) -Use of Kissinger on Rochester trip -Hypothetical attack on liberals -Joseph McCarthy -Statement by President -Content -Impact -Constraints due to court case -Use of national television -Nature of audience -Herbert G. Klein -Position of press -Freedom of press -Klein and Ehrlichman role -Impact of statement concluding a briefing -Domestic emphasis -Domestic policy -Comparison with Birmingham remarks -Use of national audience -Personal letter to editors and television producers -World War II classified documents -Korean classified documents -Washington Post story -Dwight D. Eisenhower [?] -Source -Implication -Post use of Pentagon Papers -Administration reaction to use of documents -Klein’s outlook -Use of Kissinger -Effect on Senators or Congressmen -Air Force One -Possible comments -Timing of fight with Times -Effect of court decisions 4 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/08) -Charles W. Colson -Use in Congress -McGee -Image of White House action -Political impact of Times story -Involvement of Democratic Presidents -John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson -Franklin D. Roosevelt Conv. No. 526-2 (cont.) -Harry S. Truman -Confidential advice -Effect on current negotiations -Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT] -Middle East -Berlin negotiations -Weighing of good story against US interests -Rationale for statement -Report of President's statement -Robert J. Dole statement -Content -Political nature of the battle -Dole statement -Content -Partisan play by Democrats -Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy -Hubert H. Humphrey -Humphrey statement -Johnson -Dole statement -Effect on Johnson -Opposition to Vietnam War -Robert H. Finch -Return from Chicago -Views -Freedom of the press -President’s relationship with the Times -Future relationship -George P. Shultz -Times reaction -Peter Lisagor reaction -Restriction of Times -Coverage -John F. Kennedy 5 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/08) -Herald Tribune subscription -Subtlety of attack -Comparison with Spiro T. Agnew attacks -Timing of Presidential statement -Relation to judicial process -Daniel Ellsberg story -Current play -Ellsberg disappearance Conv. No. 526-2 (cont.) -Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] visit -Leak of Kissinger recollections -Ellsberg actions in Vietnam -Kissinger and Ellsberg visits -Santa Monica Outlook story -Source -Kissinger’s view -Leslie H. Gelb -Ellsberg -Kissinger backgrounder on Air Force One -Ehrlichman outline for statement -Haldeman and Ehrlichman meeting -Timing of statements by President -Relation to court case -Dole statement -Response to order from President -Partisan political impression -Press reaction to administration response -Press reaction to lack of response -Ehrlichman -Kissinger backgrounder -Possible comments -Timing -Florida trip -Air Force One to Rochester Drug policy -Drug policy statement -Media play -Dr. Jerome H. Jaffe -Organization -Personnel moves -Shultz report -Allen J. Ellender 6 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/08) -Hospital staffing -Early Jaffe moves -Hospital closing -Effect -Shultz's report Vietnam -Coverage of casualties -Walter Cronkite statement Conv. No. 526-2 (cont.) -Other reporters' statements -Coverage of anti-war amendments in Congress -Wording of reports Alexander P. Butterfield entered at 9:28 am. Schedule -Letters -Memorandums Butterfield left at 9:31 am. -Arrival of President Senghor of Senegal Pentagon Papers -Kissinger backgrounder -Benefits of statement President Senghor Pentagon Papers -Kissinger backgrounder -Ehrlichman -Notification of press President's schedule Pentagon Papers -Effect on administration -Reaction by administration -Administration response -Dwight L. Chapin -Humphrey -Dole attack 7 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/08) -Kissinger's role Haldeman left at 9:38 am.