Conversation: 596-003
Prev: 596-002 Next: 596-004Start Date: 19-Oct-1971 10:14 AM
End Date: 19-Oct-1971 10:55 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Mitchell, John N.; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Bull, Stephen B.;Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:08:25
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 00:49:27
NARA Description:
On October 19, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, John N. Mitchell, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:14 am to 10:55 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 596-003 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 596-3
Date: October 19, 1971
Time: 10:14 am - 10:55 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with John N. Mitchell.
Greetings
-Weather
The President's schedule
2
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 596-3 (cont.)
-Previous evening event at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
-Mitchell’s view
-Mrs. J. Willard Marriott
-Kennedy family
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Privacy]
[Duration: 7s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
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-Kennedy supporters
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Board of Directors
-William D. Blair, Jr.
Supreme Court appointments
-Lewis F. Powell, Jr.
-Mitchell's previous conversation with Powell
-Health concerns
-Powell's schedule
-Mitchell's forthcoming conversation with Lawrence E. Walsh
-American Bar Association [ABA] approval
-Woman candidate
-Mildred L. Lillie
-Chance of ABA approval
-Lillie's husband
-William French Smith
-Powell
-Qualifications
-Smith
-Candidates
-Corporate lawyers
-ABA
3
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 596-3 (cont.)
-William H. Mulligan
-Catholic
-Age
-Circuit Court of Appeals
-Potential problems with ABA
-Powell
-Mulligan
-Possible ABA vote
-Length of time on court
-Political appeal
-Smith
-Mulligan
-Woman
-Smith
-Mulligan
-Mitchell’s assessment
-Powell
-Charles D. Breitel
-Age
-New York Court of Appeals
-Media
-Liberals
-Powell
-Health
-Ability to perform duties
-Mitchell’s previous conversation with Powell
-Warren E. Burger
-George A. Tesoro
-Edward T. Gignoux
-Mitchell’s view
-Age
-Harold R. Tyler, Jr. and Walter R. Mansfield
-Robert Braucher in Massachusetts
-Professor at Harvard Law School
-Lillie
-Mulligan
-Burger’s assessment
-Regional candidates
-Northeast
-Tyler
-Mansfield
4
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 596-3 (cont.)
-Mulligan and Breitel
-[Forename unknown] Lombard, Henry Jacob Friendly
-Paul C. Reardon
-Gignoux
-Mulligan
-Approval by the ABA
-Mulligan
-[Unintelligible]
-John M. Harlan
-Distinguished candidates for the Court
-The President’s view
-Burger
-Harry A. Blackmun
-Problems
-[Forename unknown] Wright
-William O. Douglas
-Edward H. Levi
-Alfred Y. Kirkland
-ABA approval
-Lillie
-Smith
-Mulligan
-Previous ABA action
-Smith, Lillie
-Approval of the President's appointments
-Breitel
-Mansfield
-Powell
-Health
-Howard H. Baker, Jr.
-The President’s view
-Burger
-Ages
-Mulligan
-Dean of Fordham Law School
-Catholic
-Age
-Harvard Law School
-Nelson A. Rockefeller
-Smith
-ABA
5
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 596-3 (cont.)
-Los Angeles
-Corporate lawyer
-Powell
-Background
-Richmond
-Municipal bonds
-Mulligan
-Qualifications
-Deans of law schools
-Age
-Leonard Garment's recommendations
-Casper W. (“Cap”) Weinberger
-Mitchell’s view
-Smith, Mulligan, Baker
-ABA
-Chances of Baker's approval
-Media
-The President’s view
-ABA
-Burger
-Powell and Baker
-Elimination of woman candidate
-Baker, Mulligan, Powell
-Baker's background
-Law practice
-Confirmation prospects
-Hugh Scott
-Robert P. Griffin
-Burger
-Douglas, Hugo Black
-Everett M. Dirksen
-Potter Stewart
-Senate
-ABA
-Mulligan
-Compared with Baker
-Burger
-Dan H. Kuykendall
-Baker compared with William E. Brock, III
-Busing
-Powell and Baker
6
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 596-3 (cont.)
-South
-Senate
-ABA
-Robert C. Byrd
-Haldeman
-Leaks to press from White House staff
-Hugh Sidey
-Time-Life
-Powell
-Baker
-Background
-Forthcoming meeting with Mitchell
The President talked with Haldeman at an unknown time between 10:14 am and 10:50 am.
[Conversation No. 596-3A]
-Baker
-Age
-Background
[End of telephone conversation]
-ABA
-Submit name
-Baker substituted for Lillie
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 10:14 am.
The President's schedule
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.'s secretary
Bull left at an unknown time before 10:50 am.
Supreme Court appointments
-Baker, Powell, Lillie
-Approval
-ABA
-Charles S. Rhyne
Haldeman entered at 10:50 am.
7
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 596-3 (cont.)
-Baker
-Background
Bull entered at an unknown time after 10:50 am.
John D. Ehrlichman
Bull left at an unknown time before 10:52 am.
Supreme Court appointments
-Baker
-Education
-Navy
-Law school
-Knoxville law firm
Haldeman left at 10:52 am.
Supreme Court appointments
-Approval
-Byrd
-ABA
-Media
-Baker and Powell
-South
-Clement F. Haynsworth
-Strom Thurmond
-G. Harrold Carswell
-Elimination of woman candidate
-Baker as lawyer
-Mitchell’s view
-Powell
-Walsh, forthcoming conversation with Mitchell
-The President's options
Plays
Mitchell left at 10:55 am.
8
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 596-3 (cont.)