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Conversation: 588-002

Prev:  588-001 Next: 588-003

Start Date: 11-Oct-1971 11:31 AM

End Date: 11-Oct-1971 2:13 PM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Moro, AldoOrtono, EdgidoKissinger, Henry A.Seidenman, Neil A.Bull, Stephen B.Cortese, AmericoGay, PeterMontemuro, FrankLandi, PaulCipriani, NicholasCercone, WilliamVolpe, John A.Butterfield, Alexander P.Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")White House operatorMitchell, John N.[Unknown person(s)]

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:03:13

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:42:10

588a.mp3

588b.mp3

588c.mp3

NARA Description:

On October 11, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Aldo Moro, Edgido Ortono, Henry A. Kissinger, Neil A. Seidenman, Stephen B. Bull, Americo Cortese, Peter Gay, Frank Montemuro, Paul Landi, Nicholas Cipriani, William Cercone, John A. Volpe, Alexander P. Butterfield, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, White House operator, John N. Mitchell, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:31 am to 2:13 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 588-002 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 588-2

Date: October 11, 1971
Time: 11:31 am - 2:13 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Aldo Moro, Edgido Ortona, Henry A. Kissinger, and Neil A. Seidenman;
members of the press were present at the beginning of this meeting.

     Salutations
          -Moro
          -John A. Volpe

     Photographs

     Southern California

Members of the press left at an unknown time after 11:31 am.
                                          2

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                   Tape Subject Log
                                     (rev. 10/06)
                                                                      Conv. No. 588-2 (cont.)


The President's welcome to Moro
     -Moro's schedule
            -United Nations [UN]
     -Italy
            -Foreign policy

Moro's remarks to the President
    -Outlook for the future
          -Italian foreign policy
                 -US
                 -Italian coalition government
                 -Italian domestic situation
                        -Forthcoming election
                        -Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
                        -Communist Party

The President's analysis of world situation
     -Free world nations
           -Italy, Germany, France, Great Britain
     -USSR
     -Asia
           -Japan
     -Future of the world
           -American foreign relations
                 -Italy, France, Germany, Great Britain, Japan
                       -US role
                       -Importance
                 -Communist countries
                 -Chad

World problems
    -The President’s view
    -William P. Rogers
          -Previous meeting with Moro
               -UN
                     -Possible expulsions
                          -The President’s view
                                -Possible effect
                     -US congress
                          -Implications
                                         3

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                 Tape Subject Log
                                   (rev. 10/06)
                                                          Conv. No. 588-2 (cont.)


Italian foreign policy
      -Moro’s view
      -European community participation
            -Relations with the US
      -UN
            -People's Republic of China [PRC]
                  -US initiative
                  -US position
                  -Italy's position
                        -Domestic situation
      -US diplomacy
            -The President’s view
            -Kissinger
                  -Comments

Italian-American relations
      -Moro’s view
          -Ambassador exchanges

Taiwan-PRC relations
    -The President's reply
         -Kissinger
    -UN
         -USSR example
               -Representation
    -PRC
                                                 4

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 10/06)
                                                                Conv. No. 588-2 (cont.)


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National Security]
[Duration: 2m 19s ]


     PRC AND TAIWAN


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

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


                -Italian domestic political situation
                       -The President's view
                            -US domestic concern

     Moro's observations
         -Middle East
               -US efforts
               -Israel and Egypt
                     -Positions
                     -Suez Canal
                     -Rogers efforts
               -The president's reply
                     -Italy's role
                     -Moro's view
                           -Italy's objective
                                  -US support

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:31 am.

     The President’s schedule
          -Sons of Italy

Bull left at an unknown time before 12:18 pm.
                                                5

                            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 10/06)
                                                                     Conv. No. 588-2 (cont.)


     Economic situation
         -John B. Connally
               -US objective

Americo Cortese, Peter Gay, Frank Montemuro, Paul Landi, Nicholas Cipriani, William Cercone
and John A. Volpe and members of the press entered at 12:18 pm.

     Greetings

     Introductions
           -[Unintelligible]
           -Standard of Ohio

     Photo opportunity

     Presentation to Moro

     The President's presentation of gifts
          -Columbus Day
               -Paper weights
          -Golf balls

     Herbert G. Klein

     Vice President Spiro T. Agnew

     Expressions of appreciation

Alexander P. Butterfield entered at 12:26 pm.

     [Unintelligible]

Moro et al. left at 12:27 pm; Butterfield and Volpe remained.

     The President's schedule
          -Butterfield
               -Unknown person's telephone call to Volpe

Volpe left at 12:29 pm.

     Weather
                                                6

                            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                         Tape Subject Log
                                           (rev. 10/06)
                                                                     Conv. No. 588-2 (cont.)



The President left and H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman entered at 12:29 pm.

     Proposal

     Connally

The President entered and Butterfield left at 12:30 pm.

     Weather

The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 12:30 pm and
12:31 pm.

[Conversation No. 588-2A]

[See Conversation No. 11-32]

[End of telephone conversation]

     Poll
            -Popular approval of Nixon
            -George Meany

The President talked with John N. Mitchell between 12:31 pm and 12:34 pm.

[Conversation No. 588-2B]

[See Conversation No. 11-33]

[End of telephone conversation]

     Supreme Court appointment
          -Mildred L. Lillie
               -Catholic
               -Husband
                    -Italian

The President talked with White House operator at 12:35 pm.

[Conversation No. 588-2C]
                                             7

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. 10/06)
                                                                     Conv. No. 588-2 (cont.)



[See Conversation No. 11-34]

[End of telephone conversation]

                -Name background

The President talked with John N. Mitchell between 12:35 pm and 12:36 pm.

[Conversation No. 588-2D]

[See Conversation No. 11-35]

[End of telephone conversation]

     Supreme Court appointment
          -Lillie
                -Husband, A.V. Falcone
          -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
          -Haldeman
                -Wife's position on Women's Liberation
                      -Woman appointee
          -Lillie
                -Position
          -John D. Ehrlichman
                -Richard H. Poff
                -Lillie
                -Position on a woman appointee
                -Mitchell
                -Robert C. Byrd
                      -James O. Eastland
                      -Steve [Surname unintelligible]
                            -Horatio Alger story
                      -Membership in organizations
                      -The President’s view
                      -Judicial views
                                           8

                       NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                  Tape Subject Log
                                    (rev. 10/06)
                                                            Conv. No. 588-2 (cont.)


Polls
        -Approval ratings
        -Meany's position
             -Compared with the President’s position
        -Labor
             -The President's economic program
             -Federal action
             -Strikes
             -Anti-inflation program
        -The President's economic plan
        -Union compared with non-union workers
             -Meany
        -Louis P. Harris
             -Charles W. Colson

Media
    -Reporting
         -Local stations
         -Public broadcasting

Gen. Albert Redman of White House Communications Agency [WHCA]

Forthcoming trip to PRC
     -Dwight L. Chapin's preparation for PRC trip
     -Kissinger
     -Peter G. Peterson
     -Use of telephones by staff
           -The President's 1959 visit to USSR
           -Redman
     -Secret Service
           -Car
     -Ground station communications and media station
           -Boeing 747
                 -Set-up
           -Capability
           -Instructions for Kissinger
                 -Inspection by PRC
     -Communications
           -Telephones
                 -Use by the President
           -Speaker of the House, Carl B. Albert
                                   9

               NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                           Tape Subject Log
                             (rev. 10/06)
                                                    Conv. No. 588-2 (cont.)


     -Ground station
            -Purpose
            -Congress
-Videotapes
-John A. Scali
-Public interest
     -Europe
-American networks
     -Coverage
-Kissinger
-Rogers
-Secret Service car
     -The President's experience with Soviets
     -Yugoslavs
     -Rumanians
     -Chinese
     -Use of car
            -The President’s view
-Communications
-Secret Service
-Secretaries
     -Kissinger
     -Women
     -Rose Mary Woods
     -Military men
            -Ability
            -Navy yeomen
            -Stewards
-Women accompanying the President to PRC
     -Woods
-Chou En-lai
     -Mrs. Nixon
     -Adele (Langston) Rogers
     -Woods
     -Kissinger
     -Mrs. Nixon
            -Rogers
            -Public relations
            -Constance M. Stuart
            -Ronald L. Ziegler
            -John A. Scali
                                                10

                            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                        Tape Subject Log
                                          (rev. 10/06)
                                                                 Conv. No. 588-2 (cont.)


             -Klein
                  -USSR
             -Robert H. Finch
             -Donald H. Rumsfeld

An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 12:36 pm.

     Polls

The unknown person left at an unknown time before 2:13 pm.

             -Unions
                  -Meany compared with Nixon
                  -Ehrlichman
                  -Strength
                  -Strikes
             -Harris
                  -US economy
                        -The President's handling

     News magazines
         -Evaluation
              -Kissinger
         -Disney World
              -Time, Newsweek articles
              -Life
              -Florida economy
              -Television special

     The President's schedule
          -Disney World
               -Television special
               -Republican women event
               -Walt Disney's widow
               -Haldeman’s role
                                        11

                       NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                 Tape Subject Log
                                   (rev. 10/06)
                                                            Conv. No. 588-2 (cont.)


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[Privacy]
[Duration: 38s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4

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

    Press story
          -Veracity

    Newspapers
        -Ziegler
             -Los Angeles Times
             -Newsday
             -Claude Irwin
             -Roland Evans and Robert D. Novak
             -Administration’s dealings
                  -The President’s view
             -Marty Schram’s article
                  -Haldeman’s view
             -New York Times
                  -Robert B. Semple, Jr.
                  -Administration's relations
                        -Klein
                  -Editorial policy
                  -Max Frankel
                  -Semple
             -Los Angeles Times
                  -Administration’s position
                  -Irwin
                        -Semple
             -Kissinger
                  -Availability to press
        -Romana A. Banuelos
                                         12

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. 10/06)
                                                                Conv. No. 588-2 (cont.)


Newspaper story on Banuelos
    -[Forename unknown] Rosenberg
          -Harry Bernstein
    -Justice Department
    -Mitchell
          -Los Angeles office

Evans and Novak
     -Kissinger
     -Book
           -Foreign policy
           -Richard J. Whalen's review
     -Access to White House staff
     -Kissinger
     -William L. Safire
     -Rumsfeld
     -Finch
     -Rogers C. B. Morton
     -Patrick J. Buchanan
     -Jimmy Allison
     -Hugh Scott
     -Clark MacGregor
     -Columns
     -J. Edgar Hoover
           -Jack N. Anderson
           -Approach
           -William C. Sullivan
           -Responses

Television
     -Comments regarding the President's Phase II economic speech
           -[Dwight] David Eisenhower, II
                -Edith Effron
                -Theory of network intent
                -Novak, et al.
                -Compared with isolation presentation
     -Slanting of presentations
                                        13

                       NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                  Tape Subject Log
                                    (rev. 10/06)
                                                                 Conv. No. 588-2 (cont.)


Media
    -The President’s Phase II speech
    -Peter Lisagor
    -Revenue sharing speech
    -Mark Hueres [?]
          -Ziegler
          -Safire
    -Possible administration approach
          -New York Times
                -James B. (“Scotty”) Reston
          -Los Angeles Times
                -Otis Chandler
          -Norman Buck
          -Washington Post
          -Relations with editorial boards
                -Associated Press [AP], United Press International [UPI], Scripps-Howard
                -The President's memories of the campaign
                      -Klein
                           -UPI

The President's schedule

Press
        -Coverage of church services
             -Mrs. Nixon
        -Mitchell

Pictures

The President's schedule
     -Press briefing, October 12, 1971
     -Bipartisan meeting
     -Leaders' meeting
     -F. Edward Hebert
     -Cabinet meeting
          -Phase II
                 -George P. Shultz
                 -Ziegler
          -Announcement of US-USSR Summit
          -Kissinger
                 -Rogers
                                  14

               NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                          Tape Subject Log
                            (rev. 10/06)
                                                           Conv. No. 588-2 (cont.)


-Editorial writers
      -Pittsburgh
      -Phase II
      -Oklahoma City
      -Vermont Royster
-World Series
-William F. (“Billy”) Graham
-Film work
      -Robert P. Griffin [?] birthday salute
      -March of Dimes
      -National Association of Manufacturers [NAM]
            -Connally, James D. Hodgson, Maurice H. Stans, Paul W. McCracken,
                  Herbert Stein
            -Possible radio statement
-Charles H. Percy
      -Chicago
            -Testimonial dinner
      -Griffin
-State Department
      -Singapore
            -International Telecommunications Satellite [INTELSAT]
      -Morocco
-Television stations
      -Sickle cell anemia
            -Gerald R. Ford
            -Mrs. Nixon, Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Telephone calls
      -Griffin
      -Percy
      -Otto Passman
-Grand Commander of the Conference of English-speaking Scottish [Unintelligible]
      Free Masonry and Supreme Council in Amity
-Congressmen petition
      -Support for Taiwan
            -UN
            -Possible presentation to the President
      -Clement P. Zablocki, Joe D. Waggonner, Robert L.F. Sikes, Unintelligible
            Name, William J. Scherle, and Passman
      -George H.W. Bush
            -Oliver F. (“Ollie”) Atkins
-Ceremonial duties
                                  15

               NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                          Tape Subject Log
                            (rev. 10/06)
                                                           Conv. No. 588-2 (cont.)


      -The President’s position
      -INTELSAT events
      -Sickle cell anemia
      -NAM events
      -Republicans
      -Radio
      -Percy and Griffin
      -[Forename unknown] Miller
      -Television
            -Radio
            -Telephone calls
-Visit of Robert S. McNamara
-Mayor and Chief of Police of Washington, D.C.
      -Crime
            -Ehrlichman
-Harris
      -Colson
-Fort Detrick
      -Cancer research, biological warfare laboratory
-Possible visit by Prime Minister of Turkey
      -Kissinger
-National Municipal League
      -Revenue sharing
      -Welfare
-American Nurses Association
      -Elliot L. Richardson
-Salvation Army
      -Norman Vincent Peale
      -New York
            -New York Hilton
      -Mrs. Nixon
      -Knights of Columbus
-Volpe
      -Presidential box at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
-President Hubert Maga
      -Republic of Dahomey
      -Reaction
      -Visit to UN General Assembly
      -American Federation of Labor-Council of Industrial Organizations [AFL-CIO]
            -State Department
            -Vietnam Prisoner of War [POW] resolution
                                            16

                         NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                    Tape Subject Log
                                      (rev. 10/06)
                                                                    Conv. No. 588-2 (cont.)


               -African nations
          -Louise Gore
               -United Nations Educational, Social and Cultural Organization [UNESCO]
               -Richardson
               -Frank Shakespeare
               -Kissinger

    Chief Zosimo T. Monzon
         -Military record
         -Future plans
         -Family life
         -The President’s appreciation and support
         -Family
         -Possible future assignment
         -Lyndon B. Johnson's staff as ex-President
         -Vocation


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 11
[National Security]
[Duration: 1m 3s ]


    PRC


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 11

**********************************************************************
                                             17

                         NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/06)
                                                              Conv. No. 588-2 (cont.)


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 2m 8s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12

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


    Walter J. Hickel
         -Future role in government
               -Alaska development
         -Stans
         -Mitchell
         -USSR
               -Siberia
                     -Kissinger
               -Plans

    Buchanan
        -Briefing Book
              -Press Conferences
              -Staff morale

    The President's schedule
         -Film appearances
              -Standard Oil
              -Big business
              -Connally, Hodgson
         -Eisenhower Theatre
              -Opening
                     -Reception
                     -Mrs. Nixon
                     -Alice Marriott
         -North Carolina
              -Trip
                     -Connally
                     -Idanell B. (“Nellie”) Connally
                                           18

                        NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                   Tape Subject Log
                                     (rev. 10/06)
                                                             Conv. No. 588-2 (cont.)


                   -Charles R. Jonas
                   -Size of delegation


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 14
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 5s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 14

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


              -Congressional delegation
                    -Wives
                    -Sects on Air Force One
         -The President's planes, Air Force One
              -Maintenance and refurbishing
              -Gen. James D. Hughes
              -Air Force
                    -Back-up plane
              -George H. Mahon
              -Purposes
                    -PRC trip
                    -USSR trip
              -Old Air Force One
              -Rogers
              -PRC trip
                    -USSR trip
              -Campaign
                    -Very Important Persons [VIPs]

    Unions
                                                19

                              NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 10/06)
                                                                   Conv. No. 588-2 (cont.)


     Public support for the President's economic policies
          -Prospects in good times
                -Hubert H. Humphrey
                      -Unemployment


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 15
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 18s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 15

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


An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 12:30 pm.

     Item for the President

The unknown person left at an unknown time before 2:13 pm.

     Press
             -Announcement of Soviet Summit

Bull entered at an unknown time after 12:30 pm.

     The President's schedule
          -Meeting with Shultz
          -Executive Office Building [EOB]

Bull left at an unknown time before 2:13 pm].

             -Shultz and Rumsfeld
                                               20

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 10/06)
                                                                Conv. No. 588-2 (cont.)


     The President's schedule
          -Meany

The President and H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman left at 2:13 pm.