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Conversation: 542-005

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Start 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

542a.mp3

542b.mp3

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.