Conversation: 639-025
Prev:  639-024 Next: 639-026Start Date: 18-Dec-1971 5:03 PM
End Date: 18-Dec-1971 6:35 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Schecter, Jerrold L.; Sidey, Hugh S.; Donovan, Hedley W.; Grunwald, Henry A.; White House photographer; Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 02:22:17
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 03:54:12
NARA Description:
On December 18, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Jerrold L. Schecter, Hugh S. Sidey, Hedley W. Donovan, Henry A. Grunwald, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:03 pm to 6:35 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 639-025 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 639-25 Date: December 19, 1971 Time: 5:03 pm - 6:35 pm Location: Oval Office The President met with Jerrold L. Schecter, Hugh S. Sidey, Hedley W. Donovan, and Henry A. Grunwald; the White House photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting. General conversation 27 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 639-25 (cont.) The President’s term -Appraisal -Franklin D. Roosevelt -War -January 1969 -US economy Vietnam -US role Middle East New York City Vietnam 1969 -Historical context People's Republic of China [PRC] -Communication with US Vietnam US world role -Protector Domestic issues -Economic policy -Inflation -Housing -Future price rises -Comparison to 1971 -Jobs -Inflation -Monetary policy -Meeting with Europeans -Convertibility of the dollar [?] -Environment -Drugs 28 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 639-25 (cont.) -Revenue sharing -Welfare -Work requirements -Health -Government reorganization Decisions made by the President -PRC overture -Importance -Economic policy -Inflation -Jobs -International monetary crisis -US role -Free market economy -American economy -Probable outlook -Phase II -Predictions for 1972 economy -Controls -Confidence -Inflation -Wage-price controls -Support of US citizens -Importance -Success of controls -Inflation -Decontrol -American people -Commitment to control inflation Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]-US relations -Upcoming summit -Berlin -Seabeds -Biological and accidental war -Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT] -South Asia -Middle East -President’s upcoming trip to PRC -South Asia 29 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 639-25 (cont.) -India-Pakistan conflict -Ceasefire -Areas of agreement between US and USSR -Berlin -Leonid I. Brezhnev -Arms control India-Pakistan conflict -India operations in East Pakistan and West Pakistan -Strategy -Reports -[Unintelligible] -US role ********************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 [National Security] [Duration: 3m 38s ] INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 ********************************************************************** PRC -Henry A. Kissinger -Brezhnev US foreign policy -Thought and care exercised -PRC trip -Purpose -USSR trip -Purpose -Long-term 30 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 639-25 (cont.) Upcoming election -Foreign and domestic policy -Fulfillment of objectives -Congress -Democratic majority -President's plans -Opposition candidates -Involvement in issues -PRC -USSR -Vietnam -Successful conclusion -Domestic programs -Revenue sharing -Welfare reform -Tax reform -Spiro T. Agnew -Expression of support -Praise for Agnew -Democrats' nominee -President’s opinion -Past elections -Franklin D. Roosevelt -Dwight D. Eisenhower -Lyndon B. Johnson -Majority president -John F. Kennedy -Democrats' nominee -Potential candidates -Issues -Vietnam -Economy -Cities -Youth -Race relations -Vietnam Vietnam -End of war -Understanding 31 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 639-25 (cont.) -Historical view -Possible outcome -USSR -PRC US-USSR relations -Middle East -Israel -Oil -Africa -South Asia -Cambodia -Laos -PRC -Summit meeting -Need for peace -Differences US-PRC relations -Possible future of relations -Vietnam -Korea -Japan -Power -PRC Need for charismatic leader -Types of leaders -Characteristics -Need for experience President's administration -Type of leadership -President's style -Need for confidence in leadership -PRC and USSR announcements -The President’s August 15, 1971 speech -PRC announcement -Theodore (“Teddy”) Roosevelt -Vitality and style -Mood of US citizens 32 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 639-25 (cont.) -Expectations of US citizens -Vietnam -World leadership position -President’s opinion -Recent past -Lyndon B. Johnson -Vietnam -Drugs -Violence in cities -US economy -Effect of end of Vietnam war PRC USSR Economic policy Revenue sharing Government reorganization Expectations for coming year -Pride in US foreign policy -Middle East -Importance of US leadership role -US position in the world -Domestic issues -Housing -Busing -Boston -Segregation -“Quiet revolution” US world role -Historic precedence -Expression of confidence -Peace possibilities -World War II -Dwight D. Eisenhower -John F. Kennedy 33 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 639-25 (cont.) -“Seize the moment” philosophy US relations with USSR and PRC -Strategy -Importance of PRC -Nuclear war -Global effects -Horrors -Prospects for confrontation -Japan -Need for leadership -Competition -Cooperation -[Thomas] Woodrow Wilson -UN -Times of peace -US and European power -Britain -France -Germany -USSR -PRC -Potential power -Japan -Latin America -Brazil -Africa -Potential power -South Asia -Need for balance of power -Europe, Japan Presidency -Power -Motives -[Arnold] Eric Sevareid -Maturity of political figures -Bureaucracy -Press -Enjoyment of the job -Relations with Congress 34 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 639-25 (cont.) -Opportunity for leadership -World peace -Progress Christmas decorations -Number -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon [?] [General conversation] -Walter H. Annenberg's gift -“Star of the President” President's schedule -Bermuda Gifts -Money clips [General conversation] Schecter, et al. left at 6:35 pm.