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Conversation: 642-027

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Start Date: 3-Jan-1972 11:15 AM

End Date: 3-Jan-1972 11:42 AM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)MacGregor, ClarkSmith, JodySanchez, Manolo

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 04:18:58

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 04:43:16

642a.mp3

642b.mp3

642c.mp3

NARA Description:

On January 3, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Clark MacGregor, Jody Smith, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:15 am to 11:42 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 642-027 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 642-27

Date: January 3, 1972
Time: 11:15 am - 11:42 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Clark MacGregor.

     Greetings

     Weather

     MacGregor's schedule
         -Activities

     The President's State of the Union message
          -Date
          -Congress
          -Content
                -Presentation of vision
                      -The President's stature compared to that of opponents

     MacGregor's schedule
         -Meeting with Anna C. Chennault
              -Barbara MacGregor
              -Chennault's previous meetings with Nguyen Van Thieu, Park Chung Hee and
                    Ferdinand E. Marcos, December 1971
                    -Possible summit
                          -Thailand, South Vietnam, Philippines, Taiwan, Republic of China
                                and South Korea
                          -State Department
                          -Chennault
                          -Possible location
                                -Bangkok, Manila
                          -Timing
                                -The President's forthcoming trip to People's Republic of China
                                      [PRC]
                          -Possible meeting with the President
                                            41

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. 10/06)
                                                                    Conv. No. 642-27 (cont.)


                                -Timing
                                -Australia and New Zealand
                           -Possible result

[The President talked with Jody Smith between 11:20 am and 11:21 am.]

[Conversation No. 642-27A]

[See Conversation No. 18-5]

[End of telephone conversation]

     The President's call to Smith
          -Smith's age
          -Selection as Iowa delegate to Republican National Convention

     MacGregor’s meeting with Chennault
         -Possible summit
              -Reply
                    -Timing
              -Timing
              -The President's view of Asian leaders
         -Henry A. Kissinger
              -Health
         -Chennault


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 8s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4

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


     Chennault
         -Age
                                         42

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                 Tape Subject Log
                                   (rev. 10/06)
                                                                     Conv. No. 642-27 (cont.)


     -Marriage to Claire L. Chennault
          -Age
          -MacGregor
                -Burma
     -Age
          -MacGregor

Pending legislation
     -Revenue-sharing, health and welfare reform
          -Views of William E. Timmons, Richard K. Cook and Tom C. Korologos
          -Title Four on family assistance
                 -Probable Senate action
                       -Desired effect for the President
                 -The President’s view
                       -Experimental program
                 -Risk
     -Democratic congressmen
          -Support for the President
                 -Robert C. Byrd, Harry F. Byrd, Jr., Carl B. Albert, [Thomas] Hale Boggs,
                       George H. Mahon and F. Edward Hebert
                 -Republicans
                 -Possible duration
     -Trade legislation
     -Handling
          -Delay

The President's record
     -Outlook
     -Liberals' view
          -Clark and Barbara MacGregor’s schedule
                 -Mel Elfin of Newsweek
                       -Martin Z. Agronsky
                       -Conversation with MacGregor
                       -New Year's Eve party
                            -Leonard and Grace (Albert) Garment
                            -William L. and Helena (Julius) Safire
                            -John Kenneth Galbraith
                            -Katharine L. Graham
                            -The President’s leadership
     -The President's leadership
          -Vietnam
                                            43

                         NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                    Tape Subject Log
                                      (rev. 10/06)
                                                                     Conv. No. 642-27 (cont.)


                   -Bombing strike
                        -Forthcoming PRC trip
             -India-Pakistan
                   -US handling
         -News media
             -Public opinion


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 41s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6

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


    The President's interview with Dan Rather, January 2, 1972
         -Question on the President's charisma
              -Compared with John F. Kennedy
                     -Kennedy's performance
              -Media
              -Response the President received from teenage girls at Capitol
                     -Armed Services Committee
              -Celebrities
              -Photograph of girl

    MacGregor
        -Attitude


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 49s ]
                                             44

                         NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. 10/06)
                                                                  Conv. No. 642-27 (cont.)


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7

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


    The President's interview with Rather
         -The President's response regarding foreign policy
              -Long-term view
                     -Youth
                     -PRC
                           -Korea
                           -Vietnam
                           -Nuclear war
         -View of MacGregor's daughter
              -Clark and Barbara MacGregor
              -Question on George C. Wallace
                     -Content and tone
                     -The President's response

    MacGregor’s gratitude toward President

    Attorney General position
         -MacGregor
              -Rumor regarding position
                   -MacGregor's conversation with Richard G. Kleindienst
                         -Source of stories
                              -Kleindienst’s response to press questions
                                    -John N. Mitchell
                                          -Kleindienst's response
                                    -MacGregor's request
                   -Story on MacGregor's intentions
                         -MacGregor’s conversation with Mitchell
                         -Retraction
                   -Current position
                         -Importance
                         -1972 election
                              -Post-campaign possibilities
                                    -Cabinet
         -Mitchell

    Mitchell
                                             45

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. 10/06)
                                                                      Conv. No. 642-27 (cont.)


          -Retention
          -Confirmation fight for future Attorney General candidate
          -Future political work as Attorney General
               -Robert F. Kennedy's example

     Cabinet officers
          -Honor
          -Elliot L. Richardson

     MacGregor's health
         -Back

     The President's schedule
          -California
          -Forthcoming meetings with Eisaku Sato
                -Previous meetings with Georges J.R. Pompidou, Edward R.G. Heath and Willy
                      Brandt
                      -Reaction

     The President's effectiveness

Manolo Sanchez entered and MacGregor left at 11:36 am.

     Misplaced papers
          -Sanchez's search
               -The President's suit worn previous evening
               -The President's sport coat in Executive Office Building [EOB] office
               -The President's office
               -Sport coat in EOB office

Sanchez left at an unknown time before 11:42 am.