Conversation: 631-011
Prev: 631-010 Next: 631-012Start Date: 7-Dec-1971 6:28 PM
End Date: 7-Dec-1971 7:04 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Ziegler, Ronald L.; [Unknown person(s)]; White House operator; Rogers, William P.;Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 03:52:07
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 04:26:29
NARA Description:
On December 7, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Ronald L. Ziegler, unknown person(s), White House operator, and William P. Rogers met in the Oval Office of the White House from 6:28 pm to 7:04 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 631-011 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 631-11
Date: December 7, 1971
Time: 6:28 pm - 7:04 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
The President's schedule
-Haldeman's talk with William P. Rogers
-Call from the President
-Rogers’ location
-North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
-Secretary of State attendance
-Photograph session
-Departure
-Timing
-Senate leadership meeting
-Joseph J. Sisco
-Edward M. Kennedy
-Frank F. Church
Ronald L. Ziegler entered at 6:32 pm.
India-Pakistan situation
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Press
-Reactions
-The President's 1967 visit to India
-Kissinger’s previous conversation with the President
-War
-Negotiations
-Bangladesh
-Kissinger’s attempts for peace
-Backgrounder
-Rogers and the State Department
-Support
-Indira Gandhi
-Rogers speech on December 6, 1971
-Possible fallout
-Canada
38
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 631-11(cont.)
-Impact of Rogers’ speech
-Rogers' talk with Ziegler
-Timing
-Concern from Rogers
-Kissinger’s point
-Canadians
-Kennedy and Church
-Against US policy
-Kissinger’s perspective
-Margaret Chase Smith
-J. William Fulbright
-W[illiam] Stuart Symington
-Support of US action
-Leadership Meeting
-Possible UN action
-Kissinger
-Edmund S. Muskie
-Kennedy
-“Out of reality” rhetoric
-East Pakistan
-Supposed lack of compassion by Administration
-Foreign aid
-Amount
-Diplomatic contacts
-Trip to India
-Gandhi
-Previous meeting with the President
-Pakistani government
-Withdrawal of forces
-Bangladesh
White House social affairs
-Entertainers
-Jews
-Performing at the White House
-Francis A. (“Frank”) Sinatra
-Itzhak Perlman
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
-Beverly Sills
39
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 631-11(cont.)
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Privacy]
[Duration: 4s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
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-John D. Ehrlichman
-Singing style
-Ballet background
-Talent evaluated
India-Pakistan situation
-Kissinger
-White House statement
-Press coverage
-War
-Negotiations
-Kissinger’s scheduled
-Meeting with the President
The President’s schedule
-White House [white-tie] dinner
-1972 election
Ziegler talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 6:32 pm and 6:46 pm.
[Conversation No. 631-11A]
Ziegler conferred with the President at an unknown time during the telephone conversation.
[End of conferral]
40
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 631-11(cont.)
Kissinger's location
-Situation Room
[End of telephone conversation]
Kissinger
-Managerial style
-Staff meeting
-Particular actions at meetings
-Foreign policy discussions
India-Pakistan situation
-Kissinger’s feeling
-War
-Impossible to avoid
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-Gandhi
The President’s schedule
-Rogers
-White House dinner
-Attendance
-Rogers’ previous telephone conversation with Haldeman
-Press conference
-India-Pakistan
-Kissinger
-Backgrounder
Press
-Coverage
-People's Republic of China [PRC]
-Middle East
-Rogers
-Ziegler
Ziegler left at 6:46 pm.
Kissinger
-Rogers
-Ziegler
-Rogers’ toast at White House dinner, December 6, 1971
41
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 631-11(cont.)
-Comments
-Kissinger
-Possible fallout from Rogers’ toast
-Ziegler
-Concern
-Kissinger’s previous conversation with the President
-Peter G. Peterson
-Maurice H. Stans meeting
-Questions raised about Peterson’s attendance
-Secretary of Commerce
-Stans
-Perks attributed to being Secretary of Commerce
The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 6:46 pm and
6:51 pm.
[Conversation No. 631-11B]
[See Conversation No. 16-35]
[End of telephone conversation]
India-Pakistan situation
-United Nations [UN] vote
-Unknown pollster
The President talked with William P. Rogers between 6:51 pm and 6:55 pm.
[Conversation No. 631-11C]
[See Conversation No. 16-36]
[End of telephone conversation]
Rogers
-Rose Mary Woods
42
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 631-11(cont.)
Kissinger and staff
-Sensitivity towards others
-Methods
-Compared to John B. Connally
The President’s approach to others
Kissinger
-Jews
Entertainers
-Jews
-Perlman
Leonard Garment
-Respect from the President
Polls
-India-Pakistan
-Anticipated results
-Politics
-Problem of war
-Defense budget
-USSR and clients
-Amount
-Domestic viewpoint
-Busing
-Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan
-Elmo Roper
-Question
-Economy
-Perception
-Meaning
-Vietnam War
-Media
-Doubt
-Cambodia
-Air war
-Trips abroad
-New Hampshire comparison
-PRC trip
43
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 631-11(cont.)
-Edmund S. Muskie
-USSR trip
-Timing
-California and Oregon primaries
-Economy
-Importance
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 2m 19s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10
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Haldeman left at 7:04 pm.