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Conversation: 642-001

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Start Date: 2-Jan-1972 9:07 PM

End Date: 2-Jan-1972 11:59 PM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Goode, Mark I.Carruthers, William H.Richardson, Donald W.Wussler, RobertAtkins, Oliver F. ("Ollie")Rather, DanManning, GordonLeonard, William A., IIWarren, Gerald L.

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:00:34

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 01:32:43

642a.mp3

642b.mp3

642c.mp3

NARA Description:

On January 2, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Mark I. Goode, William H. Carruthers, Donald W. Richardson, Robert Wussler, Oliver F. ("Ollie") Atkins, Dan Rather, Gordon Manning, William A. Leonard, II, and Gerald L. Warren met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:07 pm and 11:59 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 642-001 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 642-1

Date: January 2, 1972
Time: 9:07 pm - unknown before 11:59 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Mark I. Goode, William H. Carruthers, Donald W. Richardson, Robert
Wussler, James Wall and members of the Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] technical crew.

     Voice level

     Lighting

     Introductions
           -Wussler
           -Wall
                -Previous work with the President during primaries

     Camera angles
         -Shots

The President, Goode and Carruthers left at an unknown time before 9:30 pm.

     [General Conversation]

     [Equipment noise]

The President, Goode and Carruthers and Oliver F. (“Ollie”) Atkins entered at an unknown time
after 9:07 pm.

     Photograph session
          -Timing

     Temperature in room

     Microphones

     Make-up
                                                2

                            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 10/06)
                                                                           Conv. No. 642-1 (cont.)


     [General Conversation]
          -Heat in room
          -Opening remarks

     Time until broadcast

     Microphones

     Photograph session
          -Arrangements
               -Timing
               -Microphones

     [General Conversation]
          -Time

     Time until broadcast

     [General Conversation]
          -The President’s schedule

     Time until broadcast

     Make-up
         -Lighting

     Time until broadcast

Goode, Carruthers, et al. left and Dan Rather entered at an unknown time after 9:07 pm.

     Rather’s gratitude

     California

The President was interviewed by Rather at 9:30 pm.

[A transcript of the following portion of the conversation appears in Public Papers of the
Presidents, Richard M. Nixon, 1972, pp. 1-17]

[End of transcribed portion]
                                             3

                         NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/06)
                                                                      Conv. No. 642-1 (cont.)


     Recent interview
         -“Ms.” Question
         -The President’s forthcoming trip to the People’s Republic of China [PRC]
         -Rather
                -Overtime

     PRC trip
         -Rather
              -CBS
         -Mike Wallace
         -[Howard K.?] Smith

Gordon Manning, William A. Leonard, II, Gerald L. Warren, press photographers, Atkins and
members of the press entered at an unknown time after 9:30 pm.

     Introductions

     Recent interview
         -Length

     Photographers

     [General Conversation]
          -Wussler

     Unknown event in 1958

     Chicago

     CBS staff scheduled to go to the PRC
         -Peking

     Football game, January 2, 1972
          -Miami Dolphins

     [General Conversation]
          -Atkins
                                               4

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                        Tape Subject Log
                                          (rev. 10/06)
                                                                   Conv. No. 642-1 (cont.)


The President left at 10:34 pm.

     [General Conversation]

The conversation was cut off at an unknown time before 11:59 pm.