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Conversation: 579-011

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Start Date: 28-Sep-1971 5:23 PM

End Date: 28-Sep-1971 5:51 PM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)McClellan, John L.Cowen, Eugene S.Flanigan, Peter M.White House photographer

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 03:44:16

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 04:12:06

579a.mp3

579b.mp3

579c.mp3

NARA Description:

On September 28, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, John L. McClellan, Eugene S. Cowen, Peter M. Flanigan, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:23 pm to 5:51 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 579-011 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 579-11

Date: September 28, 1971
Time: 5:23 pm - 5:51 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with John L. McClellan, Eugene S. Cowen, and Peter M. Flanigan; the White
House photographer was present at the beginning of this meeting.

      Greetings
           -US relations with Japan

      Meetings with the President
           -Time

      Supreme Court appointments
           -Richard H. Poff
           -Timing of the President's decision
           Philosophy of Supreme Court Justices
                -G. Harrold Carswell
                -Clement F. Haynesworth
                -Poff
                -Woman candidate
                                            45

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                 Tape Subject Log
                                   (rev. 10/06)
                                                                  Conv. No. 579-11 (cont.)


     -Stature
           -Warren E. Burger
           -Harry A. Blackmun
           -William J. Brennan
           -Thurgood Marshall
           -Byron R. (“Whizzer”) White
           -Liberal Eastern press
           -Hugo L. Black
           -Abe Fortas
     -John N. Mitchell
     -Poff's qualifications and character
           -Carswell
           -William H. McCulloch
           -Emanuel Celler
           -Age
                 -Length on Court
     -Vacancies on Court
     -American Bar Association [ABA]
           -Edward L. Wright
                 -John M. Harlan
                 -Desire to submit name
                 -Age
     -Lewis F. Powell
           -Virginia

US economic policy
     -Wire to the President from McClellan
     -Possible White House conference
          -Conference on aging
     -Need for action on profits
          -Possible propaganda for opposition to the President's actions
                -Impact
          -Regulations of wages
                -Workers' reaction
          -Limiting excess profits
                -Public support for the President's program
                -Investments
                -Expansion
                      -Employment

Cable television
                                       46

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. 10/06)
                                                               Conv. No. 579-11 (cont.)


     -McClellan's position
          -Subcommittee of Judiciary
               -Patent, copyright
     -Supreme Court ruling

Copyright laws
    -Regulations

Copyright bill
    -Section written by subcommittee for bill
          -Votes for and against
                -Number
    -Copyright law
          -Revision by subcommittee
                -Cable television's problems
          -Copyright committee
                -Jurisdiction over subject
                      -Commerce Committee
    -Commerce Committee
          -McClellan's conversation with John O. Pastore
                -Suggestion for bill
                -Amendment
    -Federal Communications Commission [FCC]
          -Jurisdiction of bill
          -Promotion of regulations
                -Suggestions
          -Conversation with Pastore
          -Proposals
                -Promulgation of rules
                -Comparability to McClellan's bill
    -Broadcasters
          -Objections to sections of bill
    -Commission appointed by the President for cable television
          -Actions
                -Possible intentions
                -Long range problems
    -McClellan's conversation with Dr. C. Thomas Whitehead
          -Dr. Whitehead's intentions within Presidential Commission
    -Advice to cable television people
    -Cabinet committee
          -Dr. Whitehead
                                             47

                            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. 10/06)
                                                                   Conv. No. 579-11 (cont.)


                -Reasons for creation
                -FCC regulations in comparison to copyright bill
                      -Dean Burch
                -Agreement with cable television people and FCC
           -Broadcasters
                -Action to block copyright bill
                -Relationship to administration
                      -Judicial process
           -FCC
                -Taking jurisdiction
           -Senate Commerce Committee
                -Position
           -Long range policy
                -Periodic examination
           -Broadcasters
                -Feelings about cable television
                -Friends on Senate Commerce Committee
                -Administration's position
           -Burch and FCC
                -Short term resolution
                      -Copyright bill
                -Long term resolutions
                      -Relationship with Congress
           -Burch
                      -Conferences with McClellan
           -Television industry
                -Copyright bill
                      -Broadcasters' position
           -McClellan
                -Knowledge of situation
                -Dr. Whitehead's contacts
           -Involvement of White House
                -McClellan's position
                -White House position
                      -Burch
                            -Relationship with White House

     McClellan
         -Re-election

McClellan, et al. left at 5:51 pm.
                                             48

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/06)
                                                                Conv. No. 579-11 (cont.)