Conversation: 542-005
Prev:  542-004 Next: 542-006Start Date: 22-Jul-1971 11:36 AM
End Date: 22-Jul-1971 12:28 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Rumsfeld, Donald H.; Sanchez, Manolo; [Unknown person(s)]; Bull, Stephen B.; Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 02:02:46
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:53:01
NARA Description:
On July 22, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Donald H. Rumsfeld, Manolo Sanchez, unknown person(s), and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:36 am to 12:28 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 542-005 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 542-5 Date: July 22, 1971 Time: 11:36 am - 12:28 pm Location: Oval Office The President met with Donald H. Rumsfeld. Foreign relations -The US initiative regarding the People's Republic of China [PRC] -Joyce P. Rumsfeld -Robert H. Finch 17 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/08) Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 11:36 am. Refreshments Sanchez left at an unknown time before 12:28 pm. -The President's conversation with H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman -Haldeman's daughter -Henry A. Kissinger Conv. No. 542-4 (cont.) -Compared to Glasboro Summit -Appeal to youth -Forward-looking action -Glasboro Summit -Kissinger -Lyndon B. Johnson -Polls -Aleksei N. Kosygin -Visits to the PRC by Democratic senators -Haldeman’s concerns -PRC’s response -US public attitude -Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy, Edmund S. Muskie, George S. McGovern -Chou En-lai -Appeal to youth -Vietnam war settlement -Generation of peace -The PRC’s future -Youth’s understanding of PRC initiative -US-PRC relations -The President's Cabinet meeting -Caution about speculation -Rumsfeld -National Press Club -The President, William P. Rogers, Kissinger -Effects of speculation -Japan, India, Indonesia -Vietnam War -Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] -Europeans -Past leaders relations with the PRC -Charles A.J.M de Gaulle, Winston S. Churchill, [James] Harold Wilson, Konrad Adenauer 18 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/08) -Length of Kissinger-Chou En-lai meetings -The President's July 6, 1971 Kansas City speech -Rumsfeld’s’ use at National Conference of Lieutenant Governors -Audience reaction -The administration's accomplishments -Uplifting effect of international breakthrough -National defense issue -National priorities Conv. No. 542-5 (cont.) -Effect on Democrats -The peace issue Democrats -October 7, 1970 Vietnam speech by the President -Effect on peace issue -Democratic focus on the economy -The Pentagon Papers case -The Vietnam war -Hubert H. Humphrey -Muskie 1968 speech -John F. Kennedy -Ngo Dinh Diem -Focus of issues -Settlement of war in near future -Democrat’s responsibility for war -World War I, World War II -Korea, Vietnam -Republican peace settlements -Domestic issues -The Nixon Doctrine -Contrast with domestic philosophy -Democratic mentality -Humphrey -Outlook -Muskie -Kennedy -Ethics -Women -Need for propriety in public life -Senators, Congressmen -Foreign trips -Drunkenness -Public demeanor 19 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/08) Vice President Spiro T. Agnew -Socializing with his staff and Secret Service agents -Secret Service -Agnew's agents -Actions -Compared to the President's actions -Secret Service, staff Conv. No. 542-5 (cont.) -Rose Mary Woods -Consideration compared to fraternization -Alcohol -The press -Relations -Midnight press interview -Reasons -PRC -Comment about Blacks -Need to keep distance from press -Tendency to let down guard -Comment about African leaders -Sese Seko Mobutu -Effect on voters -Blacks -Whites -The President’s opinion of African leaders ********************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5 [Privacy] [Duration: 4s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5 ********************************************************************** -Athletes -Olympic competition -Alcohol 20 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/08) ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10 [Personal Returnable] [Duration: 12s ] Conv. No. 542-5 (cont.) END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10 ****************************************************************************** Rumsfeld -North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] ambassador -Possible post -Office of Emergency Preparedness [OEP] ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 11 [Personal Returnable] [Duration: 44s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 11 ****************************************************************************** -NATO post -Robert F. Ellsworth -Ambassadorship -Compared to other ambassadorial post -Federal Republic of Germany [FRG] -Berlin -USSR -Japan -Range of responsibilities -Probable Senate confirmation 21 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/08) -Rumsfeld's background -Impact on Rumsfeld's position in Illinois -Great Britain, France, FRG -Italy -Qualities required for Ambassador -USSR -Japan -Cabinet and other government jobs Conv. No. 542-5 (cont.) -Other Cabinet members -Intention to remain in posts -George W. Romney -John A. Volpe -OEP ********************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7 [Personal Returnable] [Duration: 3m 16s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7 ********************************************************************** -Travels throughout country -Speeches -Property Review Board work -Drug prevention -Egil G. (“Bud”) Krogh, Jr. -Contact with John N. Mitchell -Responsibilities -New post -Need for visibly substantive job -Foreign policy -OEP -NATO -Kissinger -Mutual and Balanced Force Reductions [MBFR] -US-USSR detente 22 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/08) -Arms control -Compared to Ellsworth's tenure -Conference on European Security and Cooperation [CESC] -Possible absence during forthcoming 1972 presidential campaign -Latin American -Lopez [Surname unknown] comments -Possible role -Rumsfeld’s conversation with Kissinger Conv. No. 542-5 (cont.) -Possible position -Roving ambassador position -Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe The State Department -Under Secretary of State -John N. Irwin, II -Rogers -Possible position for Rumsfeld -Special Trade Representative post -Irwin's possible acceptance -Rogers US foreign policy -The PRC initiative -The President's role, Kissinger's role -Rogers -The State Department -Irwin -International economic affairs responsibility -Upgrading -Importance Rumsfeld -Job possibilities -NATO -Under Secretary job -Roving ambassador job -Kissinger -Latin America An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 11:36 am. An unknown person left at an unknown time before 12:28. 23 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/08) -Absence during 1972 election -NATO job -Tenure -State Department -Kissinger -Children -Ages Conv. No. 542-5 (cont.) -Move abroad -State Department -Buildup of economic post -John B. Connally's actions as Secretary of the Treasury -Rogers -Focus on economic issues -Rumsfeld's background -Ambassadors, diplomats -Outlook -Loyalty -The State Department, the President -Irwin -Frank C. Carlucci -State Department -George P. Shultz The State Department -Need for changes in organization, administration -Haldeman, Peter M. Flanigan Rumsfeld -NATO post -Ellsworth's assignment -Perceptions -Significance, needs -The State Department -The President's forthcoming meeting with Rogers ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12 [Privacy] [Duration: 9s ] 24 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/08) END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12 ****************************************************************************** -Rogers’ outlook -Flanigan Conv. No. 542-5 (cont.) -Elliot L. Richardson ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 13 [Privacy] [Duration: 4s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 13 ****************************************************************************** Departmental staffs The Pentagon Papers -Demonstration of danger of leaks and breaks in security The PRC initiative -Pentagon Papers security context Rumsfeld -Possible position with the State Department Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:36 am. Diplomatic credentials ceremony -Person responsible for coordination -Length, format Bull left at an unknown time before 12:28 pm. 25 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/08) Schedule -Iowa event -Ron James (?) -Background -Centreville, Iowa -Dam dedication ceremony ********************************************************************** Conv. No. 542-5 (cont.) BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9 [Personal Returnable] [Duration: 1m 3s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9 ********************************************************************** President’s schedule Rumsfeld -Future plans -Rogers -Possible job -Kissinger's reaction Rumsfeld left at 12:28 pm.