Conversation 609-013

TapeTape 609StartSaturday, October 30, 1971 at 12:09 PMEndSaturday, October 30, 1971 at 12:37 PMTape start time03:09:13Tape end time03:40:56ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Colson, Charles W.;  Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob");  [Unknown person(s)];  Ziegler, Ronald L.Recording deviceOval Office

On October 30, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, unknown person(s), and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:09 pm to 12:37 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 609-013 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 609-13

Date: October 30, 1971
Time: 12:09 pm - 12:37 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Charles W. Colson.

     Campaign practices
         -Edward M. Kennedy
              -London Express cartoon
                    -Distribution

H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman entered at 12:10 pm.

     Busing

     -Poll
           -John D. Ehrlichman
     -Possible Amendment
           -Poll
           -Blacks
     -Supporters
           -Edward Kennedy
           -Edmund S. Muskie
     -Poll
           -Possible amendment
                 -1954 desegregation decision [Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education]
     -Possible amendment
           -Ehrlichman
           -Leonard Garment
           -The President’s view
     -Poll
           -George C. Wallace supporters
           -The President's supporters
           -Muskie supporters
           -Nation-wide
     -Letter from pro-busing group
           -Muskie
           -Polish-Americans
           -Boston

Edward M. Kennedy
    -London Express cartoon
         -Distribution
         -Muskie

Foreign aid program
     -Previous Senate vote
           -Henry A. Kissinger's view
           -The President’s view
     -Timing
     -White House response
     -Edward Kennedy’s statements

United Nations [UN] vote on Taiwan, Republic of China
     -Colson's conversation with George H.W. Bush
     -Bush's statement on the William F. Buckley, Jr. or “Dick Cavett” show television
           show
           -Possible UN expulsion of Israel
     -Elliot L. Richardson's forthcoming speech to the American Jewish Congress
           -President’s support for Israel
                 -Compared with Taiwan
           -Colson's conversation with Richardson
           -Statements about Edward Kennedy
           -Press conference

Foreign aid program
     -The President's conversation with Kissinger
           -Henry M. (“Scoop”) Jackson
     -The President's possible veto
           -The President’s view
           -Israel
           -Cambodia

UN vote on Taiwan
    -Bush’s statements
          -Appearances on Cavett and Buckley television shows
               -UN Secretary General U Thant's reaction
          -Forthcoming attack on Edward Kennedy
               -Kennedy’s previous statements on foreign policy
                     -Vietnam
                     -Prisoners of war [POWs]
                     -Kissinger’s trip to Peking
    -Richard F. Pederson
    -Bush's forthcoming treatment of the People's Republic of China [PRC] delegation
          -The President’ view
               -Compared with treatment of Soviet Union
               -Kissinger

Edward Kennedy
    -Effectiveness on television
         -Ronald L. Ziegler's views

The President talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 12:10 pm and 12:25
pm and requested Ziegler.

[Conversation No. 609-13A]

     Edward Kennedy
         -Compared to Robert F. Kennedy and John F. Kennedy

     The President's foreign policy
          -Press coverage
               -Kissinger’s view
                      -Soviet trip announcement
               -The President’s view

     Edward Kennedy
         -Robert J. Dole
         -Colson's conversation with Franklyn C. (“Lyn”) Nofziger
              -Possible attack

Ziegler present at 12:25 pm.

           -Statement regarding UN vote on Taiwan
                 -Press coverage
                      -New York Times
                      -Washington Post
           -Physical appearance
                 -Ziegler’s view
           -Contrasted with brothers
           -Possible White House attacks
           -London Express cartoon
           -Mike Royko column
           -Peter Lisagor's possible column

     Foreign aid
          -Ziegler’s recent briefing
          -Kissinger
          -Israel
          -Vietnamization
          -Cambodia
          -Pakistan

Ziegler left at 12:30 pm

     Press
             -Kissinger
             -Relations with the Administration
             -UN
             -Busing
                  -New York Times
                  -Ehrlichman, Leonard Garment
                  -Editorials

     Foreign aid program
          -Hugh Scott
          -Previous Senate vote
                -Administration's efforts
                     -State Department
                -Nofziger
                -Dole

     UN vote on Taiwan
         -Right-wing
         -Buckley

The President, Haldeman, and Colson left at 12:37 pm.

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

That's what I said.
I said it was the same way.
Yes, sir.
I know that, I know it.
But you've got to get it done, because the pressure's got to go on now.
And, of course, we've got it now.
The pressure's got to go on then, Henry.
And it's got to go on then very hard if I've got any businesses to hold.
No, no, but we're not going to be diddled along.
Otherwise, otherwise, the race, as this statement shows, the race between us and the Senate, the Senate and the Congress will give it away, and then we'll have no working position.
I think it's essential.
See how I, if there's a panic also, let me say, don't ever have any idea, I want to be sure that he's got this plan in mind, that I blockade, and I blockade sure, I mean, Dr. Robertson-Weggers off the wall is going to bring a proper date and direction.
So it does.
I want you to celebrate it.
I told you.
I'm just telling you today, that's good.
Yep.
Well, you think you should?
I think I should.
That we are...
I just want to tell them what the president told me, sir.
It will not be directed against them, but we've made our last best offer, and we expect a reply.
Does he know that you're meeting with him?
No, and I don't know anything.
Don't tell him anything.
Well, I've got our crew stretched out to the prison.
Yeah.
Let's go inside and have a look at it.
I think we should have a distribution of about a quarter of a million.
Here's what I have in mind.
You don't need to say that man had gotten that thing.
That thing could go to, it has an enormous amount, get a fine reproduction, and have it sent out to the north.
I think that's the best way to send it.
We have that sort of thing.
And it shows that by regions, 72% opposed in the west, 77% opposed in the midwest, 71% opposed in the east, and 82% opposed in the south.
In Mason's strong case, it says it should not be linked to racial animosity.
An overwhelming majority of Americans support the 54 school desegregation.
A majority of white parents who opposed busing said they would not have jettisoned their children to schools where they are now.
Well, the thing is this, Bob.
We have just gotten together the rest of the people, the lawyers, to just walk the goddamn way.
I know that John was the person who started the car, and all these guys are up the wall because...
Partly because of the Constitution, but also, not just because they believe in the goddamn thing.
Well, I'm against it.
I think we ought to have some way to be safe to do something other than just assume to say something, you know.
We simply got to do it.
They stood by supporters, Wallace supporters are 89% of voters, Nixon supporters 85% of voters.
And Muskie supporters, 67%, which is 25 figures.
So even the Muslim people, there are only 25 figures of us.
Nationally, it's 76 of those 18 figures.
Same as it's always been.
Oddly enough, this weekend, a committee that promotes fair education through busking has written a letter highly critical of your position against busking.
And it's
In closing, the language says we must accept bussing.
It says must be accepted bussing.
It's devastating.
It's absolutely devastating.
You couldn't bring the gun, did you?
I don't think you could get away with that, would you?
Jesus, no.
I couldn't really read the text.
It was kind of an absolutely cut-off part.
I think I'll take a look at that.
That's just sure that he never becomes present.
It is the son of a bitch.
He's on a happy record with that son of a bitch.
Jesus, I don't get that.
I get that.
Two hundred and fifty thousand, that's a hell of a thing.
The very fact that the mail-in will raise a hell of an issue by itself.
Will it make... Oh, Jesus, you heard me.
Which makes us... Who's mailing it?
Musky, of course.
No, we're not going to do that.
Huh?
We had some ways to do it.
No.
Second, it's far more political now than it was.
And third, you cannot ever try to top something you've done before.
You don't do the same thing.
So I want you to know that that would be a stupid thing to do.
Carry out all those actions.
What he was talking about with me, which I told him, if we had something for him to be for, it would be a good idea.
It was just...
We've had more names than all sorts of people.
It's got that popular name, right?
I'll never say about this room, but I must say that they should have been there.
He should have gotten, we should have had this to come.
Should I, should have sold somebody, or simply got it all, if we didn't have his mind out at all.
But anyway, what are we going to do now?
I'm sure you've got a few little rods in that, do you want to?
Well, I heard the, on the Kennedy attack last night, I talked to Bush, and Bush said he was,
First of all, he used last night on the campus show, he used last night on the Buckley program, the point that an Arab leader had come to him two days ago, and said that this now, quote, he quoted him explicitly, this now clears the way for the expulsion of Israel.
Yeah, is it, is it, or did he just make this up?
No, he submitted that an Arab leader who was very responsible, he said he didn't put much stack in, but he said it's a good line to use.
Great.
He used it on a Buckley show.
This is why we fought it as hard as we did, because our terrible implications is President Rohar that this would happen, before this vote.
Now, we will stand against the expulsion of Asia.
What will those who voted against Taiwan do?
And those in this country who encourage the expulsion of Taiwan?
I talked to Elliot about taking out Teddy Kennedy frontally.
And he said he was not ready to.
I read a statement over the phone that we wrote that just reached out.
And we're having it delivered to him at the airport.
He's taking the 255 plane to Boston.
He said he would use it at a 5 o'clock press conference.
Timing-wise, that's very bad, because most of the Sunday papers are locked up, but it may carry over to Monday.
Well, he's got a statement that says that he's very distressed that the senior senator from his state is acting in such a juvenile way.
And Elliot said he would open his press conference by...
Reading the statement at five o'clock.
The press conference is arranged by the American Jewish Convention.
They always ensure publicity.
I suspect you will get it quick.
The Jews, the state of Israel in the 40s.
Yes, yes.
Henry, you know, he was, I'm sure he was the one who said, well, I think he said that
Jackson, indicate that we will be set outside for the accident.
Go ahead and turn around.
Please hold your hands up, sir.
Be slow.
But I will never sign a particular, although part 8 I can't believe at all.
Now, the idea that we ought to get out, now we're trying to do that once before, but that's got to be clear.
They can't separate on a particular respect.
You sign that, but you're not going to take it individually.
No, because it's all interrelated.
It's all interrelated.
They tried to do that last year, Mr. President.
If you remember, we had a similar one, and we were able to set that in the Senate, tacking down the amendments, and we can set that again.
By the way, the ugliness of the attitude up there, Bush said that the point that he made last night on the cabinet show, which the cabinet was shown, I haven't seen it, was that the Secretary General had tears in his eyes during the debate, and tears in his eyes afterwards because of the kind of carnivorous attitude of the delegates, that they were just bullshit stewards of the United States.
and towards the expulsion of a member that had been a good standing committee, and that the Secretary General was actually crying during the debate and afterwards.
Was he not opposed to his vote?
No, but he was... No, but he was...
It was like...
There are people, you know, you talk for all of us, but you're in love with the goddamn UN.
And George said that it was just a black...
So, ugly clown hung over and he, a point that she made last night on DCM Black Oaks.
Yeah, it was the phrase Black Oaks.
Sorry.
It hung over and he said that people who really cared were in tears.
He kind of gave it a very emotional build up at least from what he said.
He will hit Teddy.
I want to keep the V.A.W.
's there, your trip to Peking while they're riding.
This one where he says that you were devious in effect by sending
He said fine.
He's delighted.
He takes his conscience and does very well.
George loves to do that.
He wants to do that.
He's a fighter.
He thinks it's better for him.
It's better for George to become a personality.
Well, he feels a sense of guilt over the loss of his boat, and he's willing to fight like hell now that it must be redeemed.
It was going to be lost next year.
By the park, by everything else.
He did say he wanted at some point to get some personal guidance from you on how to treat the Chinese communist delegates when they arrive.
He's concerned about how to handle them, whether he treats them cordially or treats them like he treats the Russians.
Exactly like he does the Russians.
There is not to be any cordialities to avoid cordialities.
Just proper.
Just proper.
And not as much as we possibly have.
Just a very proper, just a very cautious, right on to the law.
And we want to understand that.
Because Henry is a sucker for anybody that has nice hands.
Jerry must be just proper.
Cool, little, little, little, little, little, little, little, little, little, little, little, little, little, little, little, little, little, little, little, little, little, little, little, little.
I think the country knows what you mean.
Oh, I don't think that...
I mean, I think the fact that these intellectuals are not getting this credit on this, it's too bad.
I mean, it's happening.
He was really disturbed about the fact that the Soviet announcement, he said, I told him two days of flight, he said it should have been weeks.
I said, I didn't expect it.
No, you can't expect...
After all the other dramatic announcements.
There's another reason.
It's just that they are not going to get us any more than they have.
They've got to get us, and that's a big story.
They'll have to get us, so we can go to this big story.
But these bastards are going to do everything they can to use, I mean, press every opportunity to screw us.
You know, that's what we're going to have to do.
Sure.
Absolutely consistent in that.
We have got to have more net cutting on our side.
I couldn't reach Joe when I got maps of him.
He's writing a tough rebuttal for Kennedy.
It's tough to get bad to do it.
He should.
This is one where he really ought to have made it.
I thought that was his job.
I don't think that.
I think most things he's saying, he's not something awful.
I like the way he looks at it.
No, he's not that much of a factor.
Well, that was on the front page of the Times as well, but that's the New York Times.
He was in New York.
Banner headlines is both Boston and Stevenson.
Well, he's from Massachusetts.
Sure.
But he didn't make it in the post.
He didn't make it in the post.
He didn't make it across the country.
He went on TV together.
A little bit last night.
But you didn't...
He was carried there one night, wasn't he?
Last night.
A little bit.
Why don't you think he's affected?
Why isn't he affected?
Well, I just...
I don't think he... First of all, I don't think he looks...
This is a personal observation.
I think he looks bad.
He looks wrong.
And...
Right.
And I think that he does not, he does not project himself, well, even in the portion that made the devil, that made the big story, you know, in the New York paper, when it came over on film, I did not look forceful or dynamic, I did not project it, it just kind of, you can stumble through it.
The thing we've got to do with him is hang the adjectives, immature...
juvenile, thoughtless, inconsistent.
Those are the issues that just will kill me, because in the public mind, he's not a mature political leader.
And if you keep using our terms, you've never seen this.
But you might see it again.
Thank you.
That is very good quality for that studio.
That's about a 30 carton.
I hope the search will turn up.
I hope so.
I hope so.
Well, you know, it's a very good point.
I don't see what's so difficult about... What about the head?
Well, hold on.
We don't have kids, of course.
We did it with a Royce O'Callaghan.
But that really doesn't get enough, does it?
We don't do it with a Royce O'Callaghan.
It's a good technique.
Well, it's a good technique.
No, it doesn't.
Let's use this for the other thing.
If we do it, he'll put it on.
No, it's a little short, but that will not get enough.
Ha, ha, ha!
The foreign aid, and Cindy's breathing on that, how do they operate?
Well, you know, they're taken online, and they're locked together.
Well, the one, I guess, Henry, you talked about, was an irresponsible action.
He accepted the Congress and moved the media into the solar.
Foreign assistance has been the fundamental framework.
I want to provide partisan foreign policy for a quarter of a century.
It's vital to the United States' interests.
We feel that a piecemeal or patchwork restoration of foreign aid is not the alternative.
A carefully planned foreign aid program is essential in order to continue assisting non-developed countries in providing humanitarian, economic and other assistance to friendly nations.
They, I don't know.
The thing you've got to do, Bob, with Henry, is always keep him on down here to the barracks.
The barracks are your own, you know, totally your own barracks.
I mean, he doesn't know us anymore.
These people, these people are not going to be able to put us down here.
I mean, I'm sure of this.
Right.
I mean, he said that the editor was there, and he was promoting about it, and he said, how could that have contributed to Taiwan's economy?
The reason here is not to cry.
That's just because they're against us.
Right?
So this is what everybody's got to learn around here.
This is a political year, and they're going to get rid of it, but you just saw this.
And we've got to get rid of it.
And it is bad, in fact, to wait and get back.
I mean, we expect it.
The issue is that he kicked on, he may have kicked it out, about to take it off the U.S.
It's much more than that.
It's not that he kicked on the U.S., it must have.
Now, get her open to understand, God damn it, I want more like that.
Because I've had to be in apartments on a Sunday night or some other time, whether it's Evander or, you know, the rest of the positions.
I've got very idiotic royal criticism.
And Christ says, I've got to be in the house.
I've got to be in the house.
I've got to be in the house.
I've got to be in the house.
Well, I think this is important.
It's on the U.N. that we should be very sure we understand.
And for any of us, I would like to say that we've got to take an offer with each other.
Just as well, not to be too far out from the need.
I mean, people are not for the force, right?
They certainly aren't.
What's Scott carry that ball hat with?
Yeah, that's what Joe had to do, because we don't have to do that.
Well, I do think you've got to be practical with it.
I know they worked hard on it, but I think you've got to be careful.
And Barbara Statesby, compared to the fact that she sunk out on it.
Well, that's because Joe, I guess he had to have it.
He didn't have any signal.
He didn't know it was coming up.
We thought if he gets it, of course he'll switch.
We asked him to.
But apparently, I gathered and caught everybody by surprise.
I don't know whether it was really exquisite or not.
Well, they didn't expect it.
They voted against it, not expecting it.
To lose.
Our guys are very good at catching up.
They usually don't.
Yeah.
Yeah, well, I think they are.
In this case, they just did it.
They got started by it.
I think somebody got surprised.
You know, I was forgetting our most important thing.
I'm not going to put this back and forth.
I'm not going to put this back and forth.
I'm not going to put this back and forth.
A part of the wind is from those who want to expel the black monster.
That's right.
Rather than those who want to keep them in the right lane.
They're not going to spot them around.
They're in the U.S.
They're in the U.S.
They're in the U.S.
They're in the U.S.
They're in the U.S.
They're in the U.S.
They're in the U.S.