Conversation: 537-002
Prev:  537-001 Next: 537-003Start Date: 2-Jul-1971 2:50 PM
End Date: 2-Jul-1971 4:02 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Bull, Stephen B.; Carruthers, William H.; Goode, Mark I.; Ziegler, Ronald L.; Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:02:00
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 01:07:11
NARA Description:
On July 2, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Stephen B. Bull, William H. Carruthers, Mark I. Goode, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 2:50 pm to 4:02 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 537-002 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 537-2 Date: July 2, 1971 Time: 2:50 pm - 4:02 pm Location: Oval Office The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman White House social events -Luncheon for Consuelo Velasco Alvarado -Dinners for state guests The President’s schedule -William H. Carruthers Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 2:50 pm Meeting Carruthers and Mark I. Goode Bull left at an unknown time before 3:37 pm Schedule Carruthers and Goode entered at an unknown time after 2:50 pm National Archives speech, July 3, 1971 -Arrangements 2 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/08) -Seating, podium, camera set-up -Timing -The President’s arrival -Audience -Holding room -Makeup -Speaker Carl B. Albert, Chief Justice Warren E. Burger -Camera set-up -Off-camera announcers -Introduction of the President -Army Chorus -The President’s closing remarks -Army Chorus rendition of the National Anthem -The President’s location during anthem -Use of anthem -Timing cues for the President -Length of remarks by others -Applause -Size of audience -Camera angles -Need for holding room -The President’s method of presentation -Use of text -Closing remarks -Playing of national anthem -Timing Carruthers and Goode left at 3:06 pm National Archives speech -Arrangements Certification of the Twenty-sixth Amendment -Procedures -Administrator of General Services -”Young Americans in Concert” group -Honor America Day -Audience for ceremony -Witnesses to ceremony -Male, female -Race -Timing of ceremony 3 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/08) -Effect -Support for the eighteen-year-old vote -California -Concert group tour of Europe -The President’s schedule -California -Ohio -Oklahoma Conv. No. 537-2 (cont.) -Location, timing -The President’s departure for Camp David National Archives speech -Elements -Patriotism -Public reaction to negativism -Use of John Brown anecdote -Raymond K. Price, Jr., John K. Andrews, Jr. -Thomas Jefferson theme in William L. Safire’s draft -George Washington, John Adams -Appeal to Democrats -John F. Kennedy -Jefferson -[Thomas] Woodrow Wilson, [John] Calvin Coolidge -Deaths of Jefferson and Adams -Youth of Revolutionary War figures -Comparison to Napoleon Bonaparte, Alexander III [the Great] -Timing -Compared to the Cambodia speech -Length and pace -Theme -Use of television -Joint appearance by leaders of executive, judicial, legislative branches -Pentagon Papers case -Burger -Albert -Contrast to John W. McCormack, Samuel Rayburn -Gerald R. Ford, Hugh Scott, John Sherman Cooper Effectiveness of speakers -William P. Rogers -Melvin R. Laird, Elliot L. Richardson 4 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/08) -George W. Romney -John A. Volpe Ambassadorial appointments -Robert H. Finch -Donald H. Rumsfeld -Japan -Business interests Conv. No. 537-2 (cont.) -Peter M. Flanigan -Henry Cabot Lodge -Argentina -Finland -Henry A. Kissinger -Financial status -Assignment National Archives event -Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon’s schedule Latin America -Mrs. Velasco’s visit -Economic conditions -United States -Family assistance program Unnamed child Unemployment statistics -Washington Star News events -Economy -Kissinger -Concerns -1969 October anti-Vietnam War demonstrations -Letter to Georgetown student -General Lewis B. Hershey -Vice President Spiro T. Agnew -Le Duc Tho, Xuan Thuy -Hershey -Flanigan -The draft 5 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/08) -Popularity -As symbol of the draft -Forthcoming statement -Kissinger Ronald L. Ziegler entered at 3:37 pm News coverage -Unemployment Conv. No. 537-2 (cont.) -James D. Hodgson -Statistical aberration -Decrease -Vietnam casualties -Monthly figures -Charles W. Colson -Reporting -John A. Scali, Colson -Pentagon Papers case -Rogers’ comments -Laird -Research and Development [RAND] Corporation -Declassification of documents Pentagon Papers -Public reaction -Brookings Institute -Acceptance of classified documents -RAND Corporation -Reaction to case -Tom C. Huston -Daniel Ellsberg -Status of case -J. Edgar Hoover -Conspiracy investigation -Richardson -John D. Ehrlichman -Action on Defense Department employee [Surname unknown Cooke] -Polygraph examinations -Ehrlichman -Laurence E. (“Larry”) Lynn, Jr. -Richard V. (“Dick”) Allen -Comments about Lynn -Laird 6 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/08) -Comments -Declassification investigation -Laird -Congressional investigation -Frank Stanton -Television program about the “Selling of the Pentagon” -Congress, television -Confidential sources Conv. No. 537-2 (cont.) -Colson -Potter Stewart -Question to Washington Post reporter about publishing information -Delay or prevention of prisoner of war [POW] release in Vietnam -First Amendment rights -Alexander M. Bickel -Limitation of White House access by Washington Post, New York Times -National security stories -Background briefings -Off-the-record, political stories Kissinger’s trip -Press -Ziegler -General Alexander M. Haig, Jr. -Discussion of Pentagon Papers case with ambassadors -Ellsworth F. Bunker -Kenneth B. Keating -Leonard Unger -Press interest -Paris -Albert -Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield -Rogers, Laird Asia -Agnew, Kissinger, Laird -Focus -Vietnam -Israel -Richard M. Helms -Lyndon B. Johnson comparison Unemployment statistics 7 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/08) -Decrease -Handling of news story -Statistical aberrations -Hodgson -Comparison to George P. Shultz -John B. Connally The President, Haldeman, and Ziegler left at 4:02 pm Conv. No. 537-2 (cont.)