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Conversation: 621-018

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Start Date: 20-Nov-1971 8:45 AM

End Date: 20-Nov-1971 10:45 AM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Shultz, George P.Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Kissinger, Henry A.Colson, Charles W.Woods, Rose MaryWhite House operatorBull, Stephen B.Connally, John B.

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:31:56

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:24:44

621a.mp3

621b.mp3

621c.mp3

621d.mp3

NARA Description:

On November 20, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, George P. Shultz, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Henry A. Kissinger, Charles W. Colson, Rose Mary Woods, White House operator, Stephen B. Bull, and John B. Connally met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:45 am to 10:45 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 621-018 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 621-18

Date: November 20, 1971
Time: 8:45 am - 10:45 am
                                              9

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/06)



Location: Oval Office

The President talked with George P. Shultz.

[Conversation No. 621-18A]

[See Conversation No. 15-58]

H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman entered at 8:45 am.

The President conferred with Haldeman during the telephone conversation.

[End of telephone conversation]

     The President's previous conversation with Shultz

     The President's schedule
          -Trips
               -Press coverage
                      -Announcements
                      -Ronald L. Ziegler
               -California
                      -Leslie T. (“Bob”) Hope Center
               -Press coverage of American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial
                      Organizations [AFL-CIO] speech
                      -Gerald L. Warren's statement
                            -Ziegler

Henry A. Kissinger entered at 8:55 am.

     Vietnam

     Thomas H. Moorer
         -Schedule
              -Kissinger
         -Melvin R. Laird

     Kissinger's schedule
          -British Ambassador
          -Moorer
                                         10

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                 Tape Subject Log
                                   (rev. 10/06)
                                                               Conv. No. 621-18 (cont.)


International monetary situation
      -William P. Rogers
            -Conversation with Kissinger
                 -Rogers's conversation with the President
                 -Cabinet
      -Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
      -Rogers
            -John B. Connally

The President's schedule
     -Foreign visits
           -Scheduling
                 -People’s Republic of China [PRC]
     -Bill signing
           -Alexander P. Butterfield
           -Autopen
           -Congress's schedule
     -Foreign visits and visitors
           -Latin America
           -Timing
                 -Congress schedule
                 -President’s annual foreign policy report
           -PRC
           -Eisaku Sato visit
           -Australia
           -New Zealand
           -Japan
                 -Possible meeting in Hawaii
                       -Location
                 -Timing
                 -Logistics
                 -Australia
                 -American Samoa
                 -Guam
                 -Hawaii
                 -West Coast
                       -San Clemente
           -Australia
           -Japan
                 -Sato’s visit to San Clemente
                       -Willy Brandt’s visit to Key Biscayne
                                              11

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/06)
                                                                      Conv. No. 621-18 (cont.)


                -New Zealand
                -Indonesia
                -France
                -Great Britain
                -West Germany
                -Timing of announcements
                -George R.S. Baring [Earl of Cromer]
                -Timing of announcements
                     -PRC
                     -Great Britain
                     -France
                     -Press conference
                     -Lord Cromer
                -Possible meeting with Rogers

Charles W. Colson entered and the President and Kissinger left at 9:12 am.

           -Previous speech to AFL-CIO convention
                -Return to Washington
                -Press coverage

The President entered at an unknown time after 9:12 am.

           -Changes of plan
                 -Announcements
                 -Previous visit to Florida
                       -Ziegler
                       -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon’s schedule
                            -Reception
                 -Ziegler
                       -Reporters
                 -Weather
                 -Lyndon B. Johnson
           -Football game
           -California
           -Changes of plan
                 -Previous visit to Florida
                       -Press coverage
                            -Associated Press [AP]
                            -Frank Cormier
                            -Washington Star
                                            12

                         NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                    Tape Subject Log
                                      (rev. 10/06)
                                                              Conv. No. 621-18 (cont.)


         -Previous speech to AFL-CIO convention
              -Press coverage
                    -John A. Scali
                    -The President’s view
                    -New York Times
                    -Washington Post
         -Press coverage
              -White House staff activities
                    -National 4-H Congress
         -Previous speech to AFL-CIO convention
              -Reaction
              -Richard A. Moore and Scali
              -Reaction
                    -New York Times
                    -George Meany
                    -Christian A. Herter, Jr.


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[Privacy]
[Duration: 31s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4

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


    Herter
         -Colson’s view
         -The President’s previous association with Herter
         -Herter’s wife
              -Common Cause

    The President's schedule
         -Previous speech to AFL-CIO convention
              -Press coverage
                     -Cormier
                          -Cormier’s report
                                              13

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/06)
                                                                      Conv. No. 621-18 (cont.)


                     -Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
                           -Dan Rather
                     -Content and phraseology of story
                           -New York Times
                                 -Mrs. Nixon
                                 -Warren
                     -Washington Post
                           -Helen A. Thomas
                                 -Conversation with Julie Nixon Eisenhower
                     -Cormier
                -Public reaction
                -Colson’s view

     The President's previous conversation with Shultz
          -Press
          -Meany
          -The President's economic program

     The President's schedule
          -Previous speech to AFL-CIO convention
               -Press coverage
                      -Networks
                      -Associated Press [AP] and United Press International [UPI]
                      -Rather
                           -Handling of applause and laughter
                                 -Ziegler
                           -[Unintelligible man]

     Edith Efron's book [The News Twisters]
          -Press coverage
                -Julie Nixon Eisenhower's conversation with the President
                -Hubert H. Humphrey

The President talked with Rose Mary Woods at an unknown time between 9:12 am and 9:45 am.

[Conversation No. 621-18B]

     Requested tape previously dictated for James D. Hodgson

[End of telephone conversation]
                                          14

                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                  Tape Subject Log
                                    (rev. 10/06)
                                                                      Conv. No. 621-18 (cont.)


The President's schedule
     -Previous speech to AFL-CIO convention
          -Herbert G. Klein
                 -Conversation with William L. Safire
                 -Hugh S. Sidey
          -Press coverage
                 -The President’s view
          -Content and phraseology
                 -Patrick J. Buchanan's possible review
                 -John K. Andrews, Jr.
          -Memorandum previously dictated to Hodgson
                 -Colson
          -Hodgson's possible speech
                 -Content and phraseology
                 -White House speechwriters
                 -Hodgson

National economy
     -The President's program
           -Pay Board
                -Meany

The President's schedule
     -Previous speech to AFL-CIO convention
          -Press coverage
                 -Scali, Moore and Safire
          -Telegrams to Meany
                 -Colson’s efforts
                 -Possible content and phraseology
          -Possible attacks on Meany
                 -Pickets
                       -Wording
                 -Hodgson
                 -Hugh Scott
                 -Labor leader
                       -[Unintelligible name] from Peoria, Illinois
                       -James Suffridge
          -Forthcoming telegram from Frank E. Fitzsimmons
          -White House reaction
                 -Safire and Moore
                 -Connally
                                               15

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/06)
                                                                  Conv. No. 621-18 (cont.)


                           -Chairman of Cost of Living Council [COLC]
                      -Timing
                      -Hodgson's possible letter to the President

     Hodgson

     The President's schedule
          -Previous speech to AFL-CIO convention
               -Possible reaction
                      -Unknown Democrat
                      -Scott
                      -Telegrams
                      -Content and phraseology
                      -Possible poll
               -Press coverage
                      -Newsmagazines
                           -Sunday supplements
                                 -AP and UPI
                           -Safire
                      -Howard K. Smith
                           -Scali
                      -John W. Chancellor
               -David Leonard and Meany
               -Possible response
                      -Connally
                      -Hodgson's possible speech

Kissinger entered at 9:45 am.

     New York Times story
         -United Nations [UN]
         -State Department

     The President's schedule
          -Previous speech to AFL-CIO convention
               -Colson's staff
               -Press coverage
                      -Calls to Kissinger from friends
                      -News summary staff
                      -Popular impression
               -Two calls to Kissinger from friends
                                                16

                                NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                         Tape Subject Log
                                           (rev. 10/06)
                                                                     Conv. No. 621-18 (cont.)


                        -Jill St. John

     New York Times
         -Freeze

     The President's schedule
          -Previous speech to AFL-CIO convention
               -Meany
               -Henry M. (“Scoop”) Jackson
                      -Announcement of candidacy
                      -Forthcoming speech to AFL-CIO

     Polls
             -Labor issues
             -Louis P. Harris
             -Jackson

     The President's schedule
          -Foreign visits and visitors
               -Timing of announcements
                      -Great Britain
                      -France
                      -Germany

     Moorer's schedule

     The President's schedule
          -Previous speech to AFL-CIO convention
               -Willie J. Usery, Jr.
               -Victor Riesel
                      -Previous call to Colson
               -Television coverage
               -White House response

Haldeman and Colson left at 10:02 am.

     Rogers
         -Forthcoming trip to Latin America

     The President's schedule
          -Foreign visits and visitors
                                         17

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                 Tape Subject Log
                                   (rev. 10/06)
                                                          Conv. No. 621-18 (cont.)


           -Announcements
               -Effect

International monetary situation
      -Kissinger's meetings
            -Connally
            -Shultz
                  -Surcharge
            -Connally
      -Kissinger's forthcoming meeting with Connally
            -Connally’s role
      -Group of Ten meeting
      -Price of gold
            -Georges J.R. Pompidou

PRC
      -The President's forthcoming trip
           -Announcement
      -Kissinger's note to Chou En-lai
           -US negotiations with North Vietnam
                 -Lt. Gen. Vernon A. Walters
      -Le Duc Tho's schedule
           -Pham Van Dong
           -Haig's views
      -The President's forthcoming trip
      -Edwin O. Reischauer
      -The President's forthcoming trip
      -Contacts with US
           -United Nations [UN]
                 -Paris Peace Talks
      -Kissinger's forthcoming meeting
           -George H. W. Bush
                 -Rogers
                 -Possible meeting with the President
           -Rogers's and Richard F. Pedersen's views

Vietnam
     -Military dispositions
           -Fleet movements
                 -Possible statement
                      -Mining
                                               18

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/06)
                                                                      Conv. No. 621-18 (cont.)


                -Richard M. Helms
                -Propaganda
                -Fleet movement
                      -Timing
                            -Chou's possible meeting with Pham Van Dong
                -November 1972 election
                      -The President’s position
                            -Prisoners of war [POWs]
                            -Bombing
                            -Joint Chiefs of Staff
                -1972 election
                      -Possible effect on negotiations
                      -Josip Broz Tito
                -Effect on President’s foreign travel

     PRC
           -The President's forthcoming trip
           -Speech in UN
           -The President's forthcoming trip
                 -State Department
                       -Pedersen
           -Possible actions
           -India-Pakistan

     Pakistan Ambassador
          -Kissinger's forthcoming call

Kissinger talked with the white house operator at an unknown time between 10:02 am and 10:23
am.

[Conversation No. 621-18c]

[See Conversation No. 15-59]

[End of telephone conversation]

     Vietnam Peace Talks
          -Military dispositions
                -November 1972 election
                -Kissinger's forthcoming meeting with North Vietnam
                -Helms and Moorer
                                             19

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/06)
                                                                   Conv. No. 621-18 (cont.)



     The President's schedule
          -Helms

The President talked with the White House operator at 10:23 am.

[Conversation No. 621-18D]

[See Conversation No. 15-60]

[End of telephone conversation]

     The President's schedule
          -Helms

     Vietnam Peace Talks
          -Military dispositions
          -POWs

     Mrs. Nixon's schedule
          -Cambodian Ambassador
               -Cabinet
               -Rose Mary Woods
               -The President

The White House operator talked with the President at an unknown time between 10:23 am and
10:24 am.

[Conversation No. 621-18E]

[See Conversation No. 15-61]

[End of telephone conversation]

     The President's schedule
          -Cambodian Ambassador

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 10:23 am.

     Call from Connally
                                                20

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/06)
                                                                    Conv. No. 621-18 (cont.)


Bull left at an unknown time before 10:24 am.

The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 10:23 am and
10:24 am.

[Conversation No. 621-18F]

[See Conversation No. 15-62]

[End of telephone conversation]

     Connally
         -Forthcoming meeting with Kissinger

Connally talked with the President between 10:24 am and 10:27 am.

[Conversation No. 621-18G]

[See Conversation No. 15-63]

[End of telephone conversation]

     Connally

     Colson

The White House operator talked with the President at an unknown time between 10:27 am and
10:45 am.

[Conversation No. 621-18H]

[See Conversation No. 15-64]

[End of telephone conversation]

     Helms
         -Location
         -Forthcoming conversation with Kissinger
              -Vietnam

     The President's schedule
                                        21

                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. 10/06)
                                                                Conv. No. 621-18 (cont.)


     -Connally
     -Previous speech to AFL-CIO convention
          -Unknown people
          -Press coverage
                -The President's demeanor
                     -Kissinger's conversations with Haldeman

International monetary situation
      -Connally
      -The President's schedule
            -Pompidou
            -Edward R.G. Heath
      -Price of gold
            -Shultz's view
                  -Senate
      -Textiles
      -Kissinger's previous meeting with Shultz and Connally
            -Connally

American society
    -The President’s view
    -Kissinger's students and fellow faculty
    -Cabinet
          -Connally

Schedule of foreign visits
     -Announcements

Vietnam
     -Military dispositions
           -1972 election

Middle East
    -Negotiations
          -Yitzhak Rabin
          -Kissinger's conversations with unknown man
               -Syria
               -Golan Heights
               -Golda Meir
               -Israel
                     -Sharm el-Sheikh
                                              22

                              NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 10/06)
                                                                      Conv. No. 621-18 (cont.)


           -Meir's schedule
                -Anwar el-Sadat
                -Rogers's schedule
           Rogers
                -The President's conversation with John N. Mitchell
                      -US policy towards Israel
           -US aid to Israel
           -The President's schedule
                -Meir
                      -Rogers
                      -Haig and Kissinger
           -Meir's schedule
                -Joseph J. Sisco

     The President's speech at AFL-CIO convention
          -Press coverage
               -Public perceptions

Kissinger left at 10:45 am.