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of Management and Budget [OMB] ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 [National Security] [Duration: 20m 26s ] ATOMIC WEAPONS 19 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv.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 END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 ****************************************************************************** Nuclear applications -History -Seaborg -John A. McCone -Plowshare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.