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Conversation: 527-012

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Start Date: 22-Jun-1971 5:09 PM

End Date: 22-Jun-1971 6:46 PM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Mitchell, John N.Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Ehrlichman, John D.Ziegler, Ronald L.White House operatorButterfield, Alexander P.Kissinger, Henry A.

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 03:10:52

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 04:45:53

527a.mp3

527b.mp3

527c.mp3

527d.mp3

NARA Description:

On June 22, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, John N. Mitchell, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman, Ronald L. Ziegler, White House operator, Alexander P. Butterfield, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:09 pm to 6:46 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 527-012 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 527-12

Date: June 22, 1971
Time: 5:09 pm - 6:46 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with John N. Mitchell and H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

     Greetings

     Weather
         -Miami compared to Washington, D.C.

     Dinner with businessmen

John D. Ehrlichman entered at 5:10 pm.

     Mitchell's meeting with businessmen
          -Topics
                -Crime
                -Drugs
                -Pentagon Papers
                -Politics
          -John B. Connally participation
          -Henry A. Kissinger participation
          -Demeanor
                -Enthusiasm
                -Peter G. Peterson
                -Advocacy role

     Business community
          -Academic thrust
               -George P. Shultz
                                       36

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                               Tape Subject Log
                                 (rev. 10/08)



          -Dr. Edward E. David, Jr.
          -Response to calls for advocacy
                -Arrival in Washington, D.C.
                      -Howard W. Johnson of Massachusetts Institute of Technology
                            [MIT]
                      -George J. Steigler
                      -Dr. Edward C. Banfield
                -Robert H. Ebert's role
                      -Harvard Medical School
                -Dr. John E. Jeuck's role
                      -University of Chicago
                -James R. Killian's role
                      -MIT
                -Fredrick J. Geitz
                      -Nelson A. Rockefeller
                -Dr. H. Gayford Stever
                      -Carnegie-Mellon University
                -W. Allen Wallis
                -Milton Friedman
                -Johnson
                -Steigler
          -Response

Pentagon Papers
     -Melvin R. Laird and William P. Rogers’ meeting with Carl B. Albert
          -Clark MacGregor
          -Arrangement
     -MacGregor
          -President's talk with Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield
                -Breakfast
     -Mansfield
          -Bipartisan committee
                -Political ramifications
          -Scope of documents
                -World War II
                -Korean War
                -Bay of Pigs
          -Talk with MacGregor
                -Executive and legislative relations
                -Make up of bipartisan group
                -Comparison with Joint Committee on the conduct of the War
                      -Abraham Lincoln
                                  37

               NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                          Tape Subject Log
                            (rev. 10/08)



     -Tactics to let President release documents
           -President’s cooperation with Mansfield
                 -Bipartisan committee
                 -Richard B. Russell [?]
                       -Gen. Douglass MacArthur
     -Effect on litigation of committee
           -Composition
                 -Hugh Scott                              Conv. No. 527-12 (cont.)
                 -Mansfield
                 -Albert
                 -Gerald R. Ford
                 -Paul N. (“Pete”) McCloskey, Jr.
                 -Bella S. Abzug
-Bipartisan committee
     -Mansfield's role
     -Albert
     -MacGregor
-Mansfield
     -View on the war
-Press coverage of bipartisan committee
     -Robert S. McNamara's role
     -McGeorge Bundy's role
     -Clark M. Clifford's role
     -John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson circle
     -Timing
     -Dean Rusk
     -Questioning
     -Impact on Democrat party
           -Albert
           -Mansfield
           -Johnson
           -Edmund S. Muskie call for Lyndon Johnson testimony
                 -Refusal
                       -McNamara
                 -President's opinion
-Ronald L. Ziegler's statement
     -Turning files over to Congress
     -Ehrlichman
     -President's meeting with Ziegler
     -Focus on President's initiative
     -Reference to Lyndon Johnson and Kennedy administrations
           -Mitchell's use
                                               38

                              NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 10/08)



                 -Dwight D. Eisenhower's administration
           -Washington Star headline
                 -Beginning of Vietnam
                 -Boston Globe story
                       -Charles W. Colson
                       -Attack on Kennedy
                             -Ngo Dinh Diem reference
           -Statement by President                                   Conv. No. 527-12 (cont.)
                 -Attack on Henry Cabot Lodge
                 -MacGregor's contact with Albert
                       -Mansfield reference
           -Ziegler
                 -Liaison
                       -Kissinger
           -Statement by President
                 -Ziegler
                 -Effect on litigation
                 -Format
                 -Criticism of timing
           -Problem of spill over
                 -Focus on Democratic administrations
                 -President visits in Vietnam
                       -Support
                 -Nguyen Van Thieu's election

Ziegler entered at 5:38 pm.

           -Ziegler's briefing
                -Reporters' demeanor
                -Laird's comment
                -Public’s right to know
                -Declassification procedures
                -Compromise of published material
                -Court decision on Times publications
                       -Level of classification
                -Department of Defense
                -Other court decisions
                -Task force study
                       -Background
                -President's role in public release of information
                       -NSC directive
           -Administration's strategy
                                               39

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/08)



                 -Laird and Rogers action
                       -Albert
                       -Mansfield
                 -Possible meetings with President
                 -Laird calls to Mitchell
                       -Authorization by Mitchell to Laird for statements
                 -Media solidarity
                       -Effect on clarity of issues                     Conv. No. 527-12 (cont.)
                             -Public perception
                 -Volatility of information compromised
                       -Judge Murray Gurfein
                             -Description of administration
                             -Appointment
                                   -Rockefeller
                                   -Jacob K. Javits
                                   -Thomas E. Dewey
                                         -Law partner
                 -Poll
                       -Questions
                       -William L. Calley poll
                       -President's statements
                       -Results
                             -Awareness of Times controversy
                       -Freedom of press question
                             -Results
                       -Effect of criminal actions
                       -Guilt
                             -Results

Ziegler left at 5:39 pm.

                 -Legal decisions
                      -John M. Harlan
                      -Warren E. Burger
                      -Timing
                      -Effect of forthcoming Mansfield statement
                      -Public relations problems
                            -Suppression of information

Ziegler entered at an unknown time after 5:39 pm.

                            -Mechanics of court decision
                                              40

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/08)



                           -Decision related to facts
                                -Effect on administration appeal

Ziegler left at an unknown time before 6:16 pm.

                           -Decision related to law
                                 -Effect on appeal
                           -Supreme Court schedule                      Conv. No. 527-12 (cont.)
                                 -Effect on administration action
                           -Legal motivation of administration
                           -News revelations
                                 -Mansfield committee revelations
                                 -Public perception of administration legal attack
                           -Polls
                                 -Perception of administration motives
                                 -Publication of stolen documents
                                 -Legality of Times publication
                                 -Right to know versus the law
                           -Focus on theft of classified documents
                           -Focus on legal questions
                                 -Post, Times, Washington Star legal coverage
                                 -Drawbacks
                           -Comparison with Alger Hiss case
                                 -Grand jury
                           -Colson
                           -George T. Bell

     International Brotherhood of Teamsters Union
           -Influence
                 -James R. (“Jimmy”) Hoffa
                 -Frank S. Fitzsimmons
                 -James R. Hoffa, Jr.
           -Effect of visit by President
                 -Franklin D. Roosevelt
           -Cooperation of Union and administration
                 -Social Security issue


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[Federal Statute]
                                           41

                         NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                    Tape Subject Log
                                      (rev. 10/08)



[Duration: 12s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4

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

                                                              Conv. No. 527-12 (cont.)
          -Harold J. Gibbons
          -Lawyers at meeting with President
          -Mitchell's action on New York grand jury
               -Union election
               -Fitzsimmons
                      -Commitments
                      -Indictments
     Pentagon Papers
          -Supreme Court
               -Appeal process
               -Support for administration
                      -Burger
                      -Harry H. Blackmun
                      -Byron R. White
                      -Potter Stewart
                      -Harlan
               -Approach of Court
               -Stewart
               -Opposition to administration
               -Burger and Blackmun
               -Stewart opinion against newspapers
                      -Unknown woman
               -Public relations problem
               -Appeal to Supreme Court from other sources
               -Public relations problems of appeals
               -Focus on facts
               -Focus on law
                      -Effect of split Court
                      -Need for definitive decision
               -Need for administration’s decision
               -Court schedule
               -Ethnic prejudices in civil rights cases
                      -Kissinger
                      -Leslie H. Gelb
                                          42

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. 10/08)



               -Prior prosecution
                     -Communists
                     -Elizabeth Bentley
                     -John Abt
                     -Victor Perlo
                     -Lee Pressman
                     -Use of photographic shop
               -Joseph McCarthy's efforts                Conv. No. 527-12 (cont.)
                     -Mistakes
               -Jewish predisposition
          -Supreme Court decision on golf club
          -Jewish protest of Soviet emigration policy

Mansfield amendment
    -Vote
    -Cook-Stevens amendment
    -John C. Stennis’ amendment
          -Prisoner of War [POW] release
          -Vote
          -Reconsideration
                -Vote
                     -Mansfield maneuver
    -"Sense of the Senate" resolution
          -Cook-Stevens
          -Provisions
                -Proclamation of withdrawal date
                -Ceasefire negotiations
                -POW return for withdrawal
          -Vote
    -Impact
          -Kissinger
    -Other resolutions
          -Impact
    -Impact of Mansfield amendment
          -Problems
                -Lack of leverage

Pentagon Papers
     -Timing of court decisions
          -President's schedule
                -Dinner for businessmen
                                               43

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/08)



     President's schedule
          -Dinner for businessmen
                 -Peter M. Flanigan's speech

     Stock market
          -End of trading standing
               -George P. Shultz information
               -Volume                                                Conv. No. 527-12 (cont.)

     Pentagon Papers
          -Need for administration attack
          -Assessment of documents
                -Adm. Noel Gayler
                      -National Security Agency [NSA]
                      -Compromise of information collection
          -"Select committee" concept
                -Structure
                      -Scott
                      -Ford
                      -MacGregor’s view
                      -Mansfield
                      -Albert
                      -Witness selection
          -MacGregor's role

[Ehrlichman talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 5:38 pm and
6:16 pm]

[Conversation No. 527-12A]

[See Conversation No. 5-128]

[End of telephone conversation]

     Stock market

     President and Congress tension over foreign policy and defense

     Stock market
          -Performance
               -Fluctuations
                                             44

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 10/08)



     Pentagon Papers
          -Ford call to MacGregor
          -Announcement by administration on document release
               -Timing
               -Mansfield
               -Clark call to Albert
                      -Timing
                                                                Conv. No. 527-12 (cont.)
     Mansfield amendment
         -Administration response
               -Ford
               -Scott
               -[Thomas] Hale Boggs
         -Control of administration supporters in Congress
               -Albert
               -Scott
               -Ziegler statement
                     -Issues covered by President already
                           -Ceasefire
                           -Withdrawal of POWs
                           -Withdrawal of armed forces

     Pentagon Papers
          -Administration response
               -Declassification process
                     -Laird's role

     Schedule
          -Kissinger

Mitchell and Ehrlichman left at 6:16 pm.

Butterfield entered at 6:16 pm.

     Seating at upcoming stag dinner
          -Flanigan’s suggestions
          -Robert O. Anderson
          -Donald T. Regan
          -Howard J. Morgens
                 -Procter and Gamble
          -Edward W. Carter
                                               45

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 10/08)



Butterfield left at an unknown time after 6:16 pm.

Kissinger entered at 6:16 pm.

     Mansfield amendment
         -Stennis
         -Impact
         -Contents                                                  Conv. No. 527-12 (cont.)
               -Ceasefire
               -Administration policy
         -Statement by administration
               -Contents
                    -Deadline drawbacks
                    -Respect for Senate and House
         -Rationale
               -Republicans
               -Public revelations by President
                    -Tactical benefits
               -Warning of Senate
                    -Mansfield
                    -Effect on negotiations
         -Force of amendment
               -Budget implications
         -Administration statement
               -Responsibility of amendment supporters

     Vietnam Peace negotiations
          -North Vietnamese reaction
                -US contact with People’s Republic of China [PRC]
                -US reaction to rejection of proposals
                     -Possible television appearance by President
                           -Clifford's efforts
                           -Times efforts
          -Administration response
                -Effect on amendment's supporters
                -US contact with PRC
                     -Soviet reaction
                -US position
          -Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT]
          -administration response
                -Focus on US offers to North Vietnam
          -Negotiations in Paris
                                                46

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/08)



          -US obligation to set withdrawal date
               -Future credit-taking
               -Lack of support for President
                     -Comparison with Abraham Lincoln
          -Republican support
               -Justification
               -Vote
               -Cook-Stevens amendment                         Conv. No. 527-12 (cont.)

     Businessmen stag dinner
          -Reception format
               -Quality of group
               -Donald McI. Kendall work trip

     President's meeting with Frank J. Shakespeare
          -Haldeman's comment to Shakespeare
                 -Efficacy of presentation
          -Effective presentation
          -Format
          -Jack R. Miller's report
                 -India-Pakistan segment

     Support for administration
         -American Medical Association [AMA] meeting
         -Problems
                -War in Vietnam
                -Media
         -Need to fight

Ziegler entered and Haldeman left at 6:36 pm.

     Press briefing
           -Statement on Mansfield amendment
                 -Force of amendment
                      -Defeat of restrictive amendments
                 -Consideration of Congressional views
                 -Contradictory nature of amendment
                 -Objectives of administration policy
                 -Inconsistencies of amendment
                 -Force of amendment
                 -Defeat of restrictive amendments
                 -Effect of deadline
                                               47

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 10/08)



                 -Results of Congressional efforts
                      -Wording
                             -Use by others
                             -Robert J. Dole
                             -Stennis

Ziegler left at 6:42 pm.
                                                                Conv. No. 527-12 (cont.)
     Kissinger's schedule
          -Paris
          -Businessmen's dinner
          -Kissinger's contact with businessmen
                -Pentagon Papers
                      -Rogers
                      -Lyndon Johnson
                -Vietnam
                      -Negotiations
                -US and Soviet Union relations
                -US and PRC relations
                -New basis for foreign policy
                      -Domestic problems

     Administration response to critics
         -Cambodia
         -Laos
         -Democrats
         -Republicans

The President and Kissinger left at 6:46 pm.