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Conversation: 555-001

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Start Date: 5-Aug-1971 9:40 AM

End Date: 5-Aug-1971 10:10 AM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Kissinger, Henry A.Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Butterfield, Alexander P.Woods, Rose MaryBull, Stephen B.

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:09:12

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 00:36:15

555a.mp3

555b.mp3

555c.mp3

NARA Description:

On August 5, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Alexander P. Butterfield, Rose Mary Woods, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:40 am to 10:10 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 555-001 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 555-1

Date: August 5, 1971
Time: 9:40 am - 10:10 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.

     Correspondence
          -Leonid I. Brezhnev
          -Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
          -News conference
          -Georges J.R. Pompidou
          -Importance
          -Vietnam

     Vietnam War
          -Hanoi
               -Possible attack
                     -Timing
                           -South Vietnam election
                     -Previous predictions
                     -Prisoners of War [POWs]
                           -North Vietnam statement
          -Possible North Vietnam action

     News media
         -Issues
               -Kissinger's conversation with Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.
                    -Economy
                    -Foreign policy
                    -Economy
               -Kissinger's meeting with Barry M. Goldwater, Jr.
                    -Goldwater’s attitude

H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman entered at 9:45 am.

     Kissinger's schedule
          -William F. (“Billy”) Graham
                -Groups
                                             2

                         NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                    Tape Subject Log
                                      (rev. 10/06)
                                                                   Conv. No. 555-1 (cont.)


    President’s schedule
         -Possible meeting with William O. Bright
               -San Clemente
               -Campus Crusades

    Support for President
        -Kissinger's conversation with Goldwater
               -Conservatives
                     -Liberals
                     -Compared to Communists
               -Defense
               -Foreign relations
                     -People's Republic of China [PRC]
                     -Japan
                     -Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
                     -PRC
                          -Liberals
               -President’s reelection
                     -Defense
                          -Democrats
               -Goldwater’s call to William F. Buckley, Jr.
        -Kissinger's meeting with Ronald W. Reagan
               -United Nations [UN]
               -Reagan
                     -Malibu home
                          -Visit


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8
[Privacy]
[Duration: 14s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8

**********************************************************************
                                      3

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                              Tape Subject Log
                                (rev. 10/06)
                                                            Conv. No. 555-1 (cont.)


               -Compared to Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
     -Agnew
         -View on PRC and USSR

Newsweek article
    -John A. Scali
         -Agnew
         -PRC
                -Trip
                -Tone
                      -Effect
         -Taiwan
         -Middle East
         -Africa
         -PRC
    -Conservatives
         -Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT], PRC
         -Resolution
                -Timing
                      -SALT, PRC
         -SALT
                -Intention
                      -Freeze USSR missile build-up
         -Briefing
         -Defense budget
                -Strategic arms sector
                -Presidential address
                -Patrick J. Buchanan
                -Strategic arms sector
                      -Conventional forces
         -Briefing
                -James L. Buckley
                -William Buckley
                      -Kissinger’s forthcoming meeting

Defense budget
     -White House Staff
          -William E. Timmons, Clark MacGregor
                                                  4

                             NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/06)
                                                                  Conv. No. 555-1 (cont.)


                 -Anti-ballistic missiles [ABM]
                      -SALT
                             -Melvin R. Laird

     Conservatives
         -Briefing
               -Buchanan
         -1960 and 1968 elections
         -Cambodia
         -Goldwater
         -Briefing
               -List
         -[Scali’s Newsweek article]
               -Opposition to Administration
         -Administration action
               -Demonstrators
               -Police
               -Drug enforcement
                     -Marijuana
               -Catholic school aid
               -Reaction
                     -James J. Kilpatrick, Jr.
                          -Radio broadcast
                          -ABM
               -National Review
                     -Frank S. Meyer
                          -Background

     Kissinger’s schedule
          -Cabinet meeting

     President's schedule
          -Cabinet meeting
                 -Agnew
          -List
                 -Forthcoming meeting with Conservatives

Kissinger left at 9:56 am.
                                               5

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/06)
                                                                     Conv. No. 555-1 (cont.)


     Arthur F. Burns
          -Note

     National economy
          -Wilbur D. Mills
                -Ways and Means Committee trip
                     -European Economic Community [EEC] meeting
                           -Timing
          -Peter G. Peterson's meeting with Mills
          -Mills
                -Import tax
                     -Connally
                     -Leaks
                           -Peterson
                           -Christian Science Monitor
                           -Peterson

Alexander P. Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 9:56 am.

     Correspondence
          -John C. Stennis
          -Burns

Butterfield left at an unknown time before 10:05 am.

     President's schedule
          -Trip to New York City, August 4, 1971
                 -Reception
                      -Theater ovation
          -Press coverage of trips
                 -Charles W. Colson
                 -Richard Moore
                 -Gerald L. Warren
                 -Ohio trip
                 -Dennis Leonard
          -Trip to New York City
                 -Press coverage
                      -Television
                 -Timing
                      -Republican senators function
                            -Statements
                                                6

                            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 10/06)
                                                                      Conv. No. 555-1 (cont.)


                            -Colson
                            -George P. Shultz
                            -Connally
                                 -Film clip

     Oval Office press conference
          -News coverage
               -National economy
               -Republican senators
               -PRC
                     -Vietnam War
                           -Swedish story
                                -POW hoax
                     -PRC and USSR
                     -Focus
                           -National economy compared to foreign affairs
                                -PRC and USSR
                                -Connally, John D. Ehrlichman
                                -Peace

Rose Mary Woods entered at 10:05 am.

     President's schedule
          -Dinner guests
                 -Timmons
                 -Invitation
                       -Unknown chairman

Woods left at 10:06 am.

     Congress
         -Recess

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 10:06 am.

     President's schedule

Bull left at an unknown time before 10:10 am.

     Administration public relations
         -Economic news
                                               7

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. 10/06)
                                                                     Conv. No. 555-1 (cont.)


               -Unemployment figures
                     -Dan Rather
                     -Colson
          -Congressional action
          -Pentagon Papers
          -Declassification
               -World War II
               -Korea
               -Bay of Pigs
          -Economic news

     President's schedule
          -Forthcoming press conference
          -National Security Council [NSC] meeting
                 -Postponement

The President and Haldeman left at 10:10 am.