Conversation: 661-002
Prev: 661-001 Next: 661-003Start Date: 31-Jan-1972 3:13 PM
End Date: 31-Jan-1972 3:51 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Schlesinger, James R. (Dr.); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.; Butterfield, Alexander P.;Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 01:41:07
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:20:02
NARA Description:
On January 31, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Dr. James R. Schlesinger, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:13 pm to 3:51 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 661-002 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 661-2
Date: January 31, 1972
Time: 3:13 pm - 3:51 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with James R. Schlesinger and Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
Greetings
Atomic Energy Commission [AEC]
-Number of commissioners
-Staff make-up
-James T. Ramey
-Lyndon B. Johnson protégé
-Congressional
Alexander P. Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 3:13 pm.
The President’s schedule
Butterfield left at an unknown time before 3:51 pm.
AEC staff
-William O. Doub
-Wilfrid E. Johnson
-Clarence E. Larson
-Political loyalty
-Vacancy
-Commissioners
-Length of term
18
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 661-2 (cont.)
-Frederic V. Malek
-Replacements
-Possible appointment of woman
-Nuclear scientist
-Council of Economic Advisors [CEA]
-Marina von N. Whitman
-John von Neumann
-Jane Hall
-Los Alamos
-Political preferences
Amchitka
-Criticism
-Reason
-Effect
-World attention to US military power
-Moscow, Peking
-Press
-Scientist
-Press
-Turnaround
-Mike Gravel’s statement
-National Broadcasting Corporation [NBC]
-Native Americans
-Indiscretion
AEC
-Schlesinger’s job
-Compared to previous job at Office of Management and Budget [OMB]
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National Security]
[Duration: 20m 26s ]
ATOMIC WEAPONS
19
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 661-2 (cont.)
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
******************************************************************************
Nuclear applications
-History
-Seaborg
-John A. McCone
-Plowshare
-Projects
Plowshare
-Upcoming program
-Natural gas release
-Problems
-Public perception of safety
-Environmental concerns
-Tritium
-Australia
-Harbor construction
-The President’s view
-Environment
-Soviet advances
-Reservoir construction
-Geography
-Excavation
-Problems
-Undersecretary’s committee
-Possible violation of nonproliferation treaty
-Natural gas release
-Revenue
-Algeria
-Local politics
-Colorado
-John A. Love
-Wyoming
-Stanley K. Hathaway
-Denver
-Revenue increases
-Clifford P. Hansen
20
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 661-2 (cont.)
-Plans
-Gordon L. Allott meeting
-Political problems
-1972 election
-Fears of population
-Amchitka
-The President’s visit to Alaska
-[Emperor of Japan] Hirohito
-Supersonic Transport [SST] cancellation
-Reasons
-Leadership
Foreign energy sales
-Balance of payments
-Schlesinger talks Peter G. Peterson and John B. Connally
-Status of balance of payments
-Brazil contacts
-Joint Committee
-Chet Holifield
-Connally’s view
-Problem
-Industrial compared to government structure
-Budget process
-Availability of products to US business
-Sacrifice of foreign exchange
-Connally
-Borrowing
-Follow up with Connally
-Peterson
-Peter M. Flanigan
-Maintaining US military presence
-Foreign exchange
Nuclear applications
-New programs
-Breeder-reactors
-Goals
-Fusion
-US supremacy
-National security
-Problems
21
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 661-2 (cont.)
-Fear
-Environment
-Soviet reaction
-Timing
-Elections
-Colorado
-International talks
-Political acumen
-Undersea Long-range Missile System [ULMS]
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[National Security]
[Duration: 1m 20s ]
DEFENSE
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
******************************************************************************
Haig
Schlesinger’s family
-Alaska
Schlesinger and Haig left at 3:51 pm.