Conversation: 658-010
Prev:  658-009 Next: 658-011Start Date: 27-Jan-1972 11:47 AM
End Date: 27-Jan-1972 1:03 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Colson, Charles W.; Butterfield, Alexander P.; Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 02:45:41
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 04:05:38
NARA Description:
On January 27, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Charles W. Colson, and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:47 am to 1:03 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 658-010 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 658-10 Date: January 27, 1972 Time: 11:47 am - 1:03 pm Location: Oval Office The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman. Maurice H. Stans -Loyalty -Responsibilities -Preferences in assignments -Performance -Previous assignments George Meany -Possible telephone call from the President -Report from Murray M. Chotiner’s source -Labor relations with Administration -George P. Shultz -Charles W. Colson -John B. Connally -Alleged anti-labor feelings -Relations with the President -Treatment of the President at union convention in Miami, November 19, 1971 -Reasons -Schedule -Meany’s mood -Gift from the President -Telephone call by the President 29 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.) -Meany’s health -Reluctance by Meany to initiate call -Reason Colson entered at 11:49 am. -Shultz -John F. O’Connell -Talk with Meany -Meany’s health -Productivity Commission meeting -Treasury Department -O’Connell -Meany’s view of administration relations -James D. Hodgson, Connally -Possible telephone call from the President to Meany -1972 election -Budget briefing by Shultz -Defense -Relations right-wing Republicans -Common views -People’s Republic of China [PRC] -Defense -Communism -Health -Golf -Administration strategy -Telephone call from the President -Shultz briefing Richard M. Scammon -Recent meeting with the President -Observations -Qualities -Polling -Social science -Compared with Elmo Roper -Intelligence -Friendship with Colson -Political views -View of meeting with the President 30 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.) -Intellectuals -Domestic Council -Labor relations -Alexander E. Barkan, Meany Meany strategy -Attack on administration -Severity Scammon -Recent meeting -Social issues -Perception of Administration action -Patrick J. Buchanan -Meetings with John D. Ehrlichman -Busing -Law and order -Scatter housing -Colson's talk with Scammon -Democrats -Scatter housing -Department of Housing and Urban Development [HUD] -Busing -Amendment -Henry M. (“Scoop”) Jackson -Possible George W. Romney resignation Social issues -HUD -Romney resignation -Possible Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger appointment -Qualifications -Instructions -Scammon’s arguments -Quality -Busing -White supremacy -Richmond decision -Canada analogy -Roman Catholic minority -School system 31 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.) -Parochial schools -Tax exemption -Connally -Ehrlichman’s position -Difficulties -Washington, DC -Integration -Haldeman’s view -Colson’s view -Background -Boston -Haldeman’s view -Blacks -Administration’s treatment -Scammon’s views -Possible paper -Book, The Real Majority -Effect on 1970 election -Adlai E. Stevenson III -Peter Williams -Visit with the President -Effect on Scammon -Reason ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2 [Personal Returnable] [Duration: 5m 51s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2 ****************************************************************************** 32 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.) Social issues -Perception of administration action -Haldeman possible conversation with Ehrlichman -Need for administration action -Integration -Richmond decision -Court appointments -Possible administration action -Suburbs -Charlotte-Mecklenberg decision -HUD, HEW -Judge Robert R. Merhige, Jr. -Court appointments -Edward L. Morgan -Politics -Attorney General’s [John N. Mitchell] role -Richard G. Kleindienst -Ehrlichman -Law compared to politics question -Amendment possibility -Decision of people -Scammon’s view -Effect on other issues -Schools, housing -Authors of Declaration of Independence, Constitution ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3 [Personal Returnable] [Duration: 40s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3 ****************************************************************************** 33 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.) Social issues -Youth group -White House visit -Media coverage -Memoranda -1972 campaign -Henry A. Kissinger and Robert H. Finch meeting -Result -White House tour -Meetings at White House -The President’s availability -Kissinger’s availability Vietnam War issue -Reaction to the President’s January 25, 1972 speech -Albert E. Sindlinger -Julie Nixon Eisenhower -Texas -Telegrams -Favorable -Unfavorable -Details -Majority sentiment -Unfavorable -Dr. Carl McIntyre -Liberals -Surrender -New York Times story -John Finney -Content -Republicans -Democrats’ stand -Surrender -Administration reaction -Attack on Democrats -McCarthyism -Communism in South Vietnam -Administration strategy -Democrats’ remarks -Humphrey, Muskie -Statements 34 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.) -Wire service coverage -Washington Post -New York Times Dinner, January 26, 1972 -Colson’s reaction to the President’s telephone call -Position of Colson’s table -Others’ reaction -Rose Mary Woods -Tape -Woods’s action -Kissinger -Washington Post The President’s relations with Meany -Possible telephone call to Meany from the President -Meany’s health -George P. Shultz meeting -Meany support for the President -Michael J. Mansfield amendments -The President’s appreciation -Meany reaction Social issues -Effect on administration -Child care veto, December 10, 1971 -Scammon’s view -Nationality of social issues -Possibility -Federal Government involvement -Crime -Local problem -Education -Housing -Dinner [for DeWitt Wallace], January 28, 1972 -The President’s Reader’s Digest article on Vietnam -Timing of appearance -Speech -John Wayne’s movies -Popularity -Heckling of Jackson 35 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.) -Florida universities -Defense spending -Perception -Accuracy Edith Efron’s book, The News Twisters (1971) -Staff -1972 campaign -1968 campaign -Media coverage -Receptions -Jackson -Scammon -Leonard Garment -Sales -Testimony by Efron -Samuel J. Ervin, Jr. committee -Testimony -Daniel L. Schorr -Colson’s schedule -Ervin -Roman L. Hruska -Strom Thurmond -Viewers -Book sellers -Book publication -Promotion -Re-orders -Compared to Scammon’s book, The Real Majority (1970) -Efron’s appearance on Today show -Broadcasters’ view -Irving Kristol’s article in Fortune Public relations -Circulation of information -Q&A circulation -Kissinger’s briefing -Consistency of line -William P. Rogers -Refinement -Haldeman’s and Colson’s effort 36 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.) -William L. Safire -Alexander M. Haig, Jr. -Readability -Simplification -Kissinger’s speech draft -Negotiating points -Editing -Purpose -Main point -The President’s efforts for peace -North Vietnam’s recalcitrance Colson left at 12:26 pm. The President’s schedule -Camp David Colson -Public relations The President’s schedule -Announcement of cancer panel -Administration strategy -Make-up of panel -Photograph opportunity -Details -Brevity -Benno C. Schmidt -Pearl Bailey visit -Award -Elmer H. Bobst -Timing -Oval Office press conference -Camp David visit -Reading -Visit with US attorneys -Benefits -Drug programs -Benefit of public relations from visits -Dr. Jerome H. Jaffe -Athletes 37 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.) -News coverage -Domestic programs -Reception for athletes -Attendance -Preparation -Governors dinner -Brevity -Attendees -Purpose -Timing -Jaycee leadership conference -The President’s attendance -Length of conference -Attendance -Political considerations -Location -Reception -Volunteers dinner -Need for brevity -Long range schedule -Kissinger’s office, State Department -Set visits -State visits -Nihat Erim of Turkey -Canada -Connally -Postponement -Trade -US retaliation -Possible pickets -Erim -Dinner -Duration of visit -Scheduling strategy -Open days -Luis Echeverria Alvarez visit -Timing -Moscow summit -Television anchormen reception -George Putnam -Briefing 38 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.) -Receiving line -Photographs -Attendees -Radio disc jockeys -Benefit -Timing -Gridiron dinner -Edgar A. Poe -Timing -California visit -Timing -Congressional recess -Correspondents’ dinner [?] -Press attendance -Writing press -White House correspondents and photographers, radio and television corespondents -Overseas visits -Rogers -San Francisco -Latin America -Connally -Tehran -Soviet Union trip Ambassadorial appointment to Iran -Rogers’s recommendation -Walter J. Stoessel, jr. -Armin H. Meyer -Herman Idles [?], War College Advisor -William H. Sullivan -Kissinger’s recommendation -Sullivan -Reasons -Southeast Asia -Stoessel -Sullivan -Meyer -State Department experience -Previous experience Alexander P. Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 12:26 pm. 39 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.) The President’s schedule Butterfield left at an unknown time before 1:03 pm. ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6 [Personal Returnable] [Duration: 2m 24s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6 ****************************************************************************** The President’s possible address to black group -Patrick J. Buchanan’s recommendation -Purpose -Political possibilities -Black feeling for Muskie -Busing -Black middle class -Possible forums -Editors, publishers -United Negro College Fund [UNCF] -Whites 40 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.) ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7 [Personal Returnable] [Duration: 46s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7 ****************************************************************************** Presidential citizens medal -Raymond K. Price, Jr. -History -Intent -Awardees -Amputees, medical people, adoption program for Korean children -Voluntarism -Awarding -Public ceremony -Publicity -Cabinet officer -Julie Nixon Eisenhower and Tricia Nixon Cox -Publicity -East Room -Contrast to Congressional medals The President’s schedule -Preparation for PRC trip -Political staff -Instructions to Haldeman -Harry Dent, Buchanan -Staff access to the President -Congressional relations -Page Belcher -Access to the President -Compared to Dwight D. Eisenhower -Plane trip -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon -Church trip 41 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.) -Clark MacGregor -Compared to Bryce N. Harlow -Telephone calls to Congressmen -Birthday greetings -Votes -Letters Personnel -Maj. Gen. James D. (“Don”) Hughes -Departure -Qualities -Performance as military aide -Accomplishments as military aide -Women -Arrivals -Interservice competition -History -Delivery of reports -Prisoners of War [POWs] -Contact with dead congressmen’s families -Transition of power -Prospects -Replacement -New command -Austin, Texas -Responsibilities -Prospects -Vietnam -Reconnaissance Butterfield entered at 12:46 pm. -Herbert G. Klein operation -Ronald L. Ziegler -Colson Butterfield left at 12:47 pm. 42 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.) -Counselor to the President -Finch -Arthur F. Burns -Daniel P. Moynihan -Finch -Future -Congress -California -Campaigning -Donald H. Rumsfeld -Abolition -Expansion of Cabinet -David M. Kennedy -North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] -Richard V. (“Dick”) Allen -Job preferences -Ambassadorship -Portugal -Klein -Stoessel -European Economic Community [EEC] -Brussels -EEC -Kennedy, Allen, Robert Strausz-Hupe -Portugal -Value to the President’s reelection -Haldeman’s view -Foreign policy -Domestic political impact -Colson -National security -Responsibilities -Political attacks -Monitoring opposition -Post-reelection possibilities -Stoessel -Portugal -Allen’s fears -Kissinger -Location -White House 43 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.) -Colson -Campaign organization -Stoessel -1972 election -EEC -Connally -Strausz-Hupe -Qualifications -Franklin D. Murphy -President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board [PFIAB] Haldeman left at 1:03 pm.