Conversation: 531-024
Prev: 531-023 Next: 531-025Start Date: Monday, June 28, 1971 10:50 PM
End Date: Monday, June 28, 1971 11:25 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Colson, Charles W.; Butterfield, Alexander P.; Sanchez, Manolo; White House operator; Scouten, Rex W.Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 01:45:51
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:21:39
NARA Description:
On June 28, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, Alexander P. Butterfield, Manolo Sanchez, White House operator, and Rex W. Scouten met in the Oval Office of the White House from 6:50 pm to 7:25 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 531-024 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 531-24
Date: June 28, 1971
Time: 6:50 pm - 7:25 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Charles W. Colson.
Alexander P. Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 6:50 pm.
Items for the President
-Signature
Butterfield left at an unknown time before 7:05 pm.
Pentagon Papers
-Daniel Ellsberg
-Pending judicial action
21
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Prior restraint
-Theft of documents
-Intent
-Government proof
-Handling by government
-Public reaction
-President's barber
-Poll Conv. No. 531-22 (cont.)
-Colson's carpenter
-Prosecution
-Effect on Democrats
-Congressional hearings
-Pending judicial action
-Lyndon B. Johnson, John F. Kennedy
-Possible additional leaks
-Cambodia, Laos
-Casualties
-Reaction
-Harry F. Byrd, Jr.'s conversation with Colson
-Prosecution
-Prosecution
-Possible effect
-Ellsberg
-President's phrase "stolen documents"
-Repetition
-Press reaction
-Prosecution
-Martyrdom
-Credibility of administration
-Ellsberg's motives and associates
Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 6:50 pm.
Sanchez's schedule
President's schedule
Refreshments
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 7:05 pm.
Pentagon Papers
22
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Prosecution
-John N. Mitchell's views
-Leonard Garment
-Raymond K. Price, Jr.'s, Richard A. Moore's views
-Credibility of administration
-Effect on Democrats
-Hubert H. Humphrey
-Justification Conv. No. 531-24 (cont.)
-Liberal media
-Phil Potter of the Baltimore Sun
-Effect on career
-Effect on Edmund S. Muskie
-Administration’s efforts
-1968 election
-Muskie's defense of Johnson’s war policy
-H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Popular reaction
-Administration polls
-Gallup and Harris polls
-Opinion Research Corporation [ORC]
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 31s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
**********************************************************************
Alexander P. Butterfield entered at 7:05 pm.
Presidential statement and event
Butterfield left at 7:08 pm.
23
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 22s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2 Conv. No. 531-24 (cont.)
**********************************************************************
Pentagon Papers
-Impact on John F. Kennedy image
-Robert S. McNamara
-Public opinion
[The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 7:08 pm and
7:12 pm]
[Conversation No. 531-24A]
[See Conversation No. 6-10]
[End of telephone conversation]
Pentagon Papers
-Effect on public opinion
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
-Duration
[The President talked with Rex W. Scouten between 7:12 pm and 7:13 pm]
[Conversation No. 531-24B]
[See Conversation No. 6-11]
[End of telephone conversation]
President's schedule
-Chowder and Marching Society dinner
24
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
Pentagon Papers
-Impact on administration
-Impact on Democrats
Polls
-National economy
-Public perception
-President's standing Conv. No. 531-24 (cont.)
-Vietnam
-Pentagon Papers
-Economic changes
-Effect
National economy
-Unemployment
-President's comments to Cabinet, June 28th
-Administration statements
Polls
-Public perception
-Effect of media
-National economy
-Five-year performance
-Trend
-War issue
1972 election
-John P. Roche's column
-President's prospects
-1956 election
-Economy
-War
-Advantages
-”Aura” of the Presidency
25
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 21s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3 Conv. No. 531-24 (cont.)
**********************************************************************
National economy
-Harris poll
-National Broadcasting Corporation [NBC] Television News reports
-Public confidence
-President’s previous meeting with the Cabinet Committee on Economic Policy
-Council of Economic Advisors [CEA] leaks
-Colson's comments to Paul W. McCracken
-Dan Rather's statements
-John B. Connally as spokesman
-Arthur F. Burns
Vietnam
-Duration as issue
Pentagon Papers
-Ellsberg
-Jury selection
-Judicial process
-Alger Hiss case
-Duration
-Ellsberg's possible testimony
-Reaction
-Byrd
-Miami Herald
-Detroit News
-Copley chain
Forthcoming issues poll
-Louis P. Harris
26
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
Harris
-Views on 1972 election
Polls
-Trial heats
-Contrast with election process
The President and Colson left at 7:25 pm. Conv. No. 531-24 (cont.)